Meet Our $650 Range Rover Test TruckJustin HeltonThere are easier ways to build a long-term test vehicle than starting with a $650 P38-gen Land Rover Range Rover, but there wouldn't be nearly as much fun in it. I bought this one, with a failed air suspension system and a lot of potential, a few years ago. I swapped the air suspension for conventional coil springs, fitted a set of mud tires, refreshed the fluids, and put some miles on it. It was never particularly polished, but it was cheap, capable, and useful.Then it was hit by another Range Rover, which, according to my neighbors, quickly fled the scene, and it subsequently spent nearly two years off the road while the repairs slowly came together. The extended downtime didn't do the Rover any favors. As it sat, various electrical gremlins and mechanical quirks had plenty of time to pile up, adding to the list of things that needed attention. Now, it's finally back on the road, although calling it finished would be generous. It needs some love, which makes it a particularly useful long-term test vehicle.The leather upholstery is in solid shape but could use a good cleaning and some conditioning.Justin HeltonOver the coming months, we'll use the P38 to put some of the automotive products and gear we'll be testing through a real-world evaluation. Its neglected exterior and interior provide plenty of opportunities to revisit everything from polishes, ceramic coatings, and trim restorers to upholstery and carpet cleaners, leather products, wet vacs, and more.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe idea isn't simply to make the Rover look good for a photo; we'll see which products actually make a difference on a 20-year-old truck that has spent years being used, neglected, and left outside. The factory 18-inch Hurricane wheels that came with the truck have already served as a test bed for wheel cleaners, and the rest of the Rover will eventually get the same treatment.A wet vac would go a long way in the cargo area.Justin HeltonThe project won't be limited to detailing, either. The P38's off-road prowess gives us a good starting point for exploring the world of overlanding and off-road gear. We'll use it to test things such as all-terrain tires, roof racks, rooftop tents, winches, recovery equipment, portable compressors, lighting, storage systems, power stations, and other accessories designed to make an SUV more capable away from pavement. Some products will be installed temporarily for individual tests, while others will stay on the truck long enough to see how they hold up to actual use.All of the wiper blades have seen better days.Justin HeltonThat's ultimately what makes this particular Range Rover interesting as a long-term test bed. It's not a pristine collector's car, and it's not so valuable that we're afraid to experiment with it. It's an old, complicated, capable truck that has already survived a cheap purchase, a suspension conversion, an accident, two years of downtime, and a growing list of P38-specific problems. Now it's back on the road and has a lot left to prove.Over the coming months, we'll clean it, fix it, modify it, load it with gear, and take it on some proper adventures. If everything goes according to plan, we'll end up with a better Range Rover and a much better idea of which products and equipment are actually worth taking along for the ride.There are plenty of these sorts of scratches.Justin HeltonEven has a check-engine light thanks to a bad oxygen sensor.Justin HeltonAdvertisementAdvertisementYou Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
+75 others
![First look at the Range Rover GT in real life [Video]](https://cdn.topcarnews.net/thumb/id/aHR0cHM6Ly9pMC53cC5jb20vZWxlY3Ry-ZWsuY28vd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRz-L3NpdGVzLzMvMjAyNi8wOC9SYW5nZS1S-b3Zlci1HVC1maXJzdC1sb29rLmpwZWc_-dz0xNTAwJmFtcDtxdWFsaXR5PTgyJmFt-cDtzdHJpcD1hbGwmYW1wO3NzbD0x/7e62453b34a62508aad03e76a66e0bf5.jpeg?t=20260825&post_id=52992)