Firstly, both the P1 and type R are fantastic drivers cars, most of the differences are above, but here's my take on the subject
Type R, never driven one, but would love a play
Jap suspension & Jap fuel map, needs octane booster and V power to be safe unless ben remapped
Has DCCD (Driver Controlled Centre Differential)
Jap suspension
Shorter gearing, not ideal for a motorway cruise, but loads of fun on your favourite backroad
P1, now on our second, sold the first, biggest mistake we ever made car wise, so bought another
UK car, suspension tweaked by Prodrive for the UK roads
No DCCD
Higher gearing, better for long cruises
UK map, there are several sugestions to this, regarding maps fuel brocquets but a standard P1 will run quite happily on VPower
As for the engines, both P1 & Type R are very similar in this department, yes they do blow up, but there are several reasons for this, most blow while being held flat out, they will go off the dial on your favourite test track, trust me they will but that's not what they are buit for, they are a sprint car. Don't get me wrong we do use ours, but holding it flat out for a prolonged period of time isn't good.
Another popular cause of faiure is the MAF sensor, it can go faulty, but not put an engine check light on, makes the car run lean, melting pistons, or making car pink, squashing oil from big ends, causing failure, I change ours once a year and regard it as a service item
Don't buy anything with a decat, or induction kit, unless it has been remaped to suit, again makes car run weak, followed by disaster
Use quality oil, fit a set of quality guages & a knocklink (knocklink shows when engine deting by a series of lights) can also tell you when you have a dodgy tank of petrol and save the engine.
To summerise, they are superb drivers cars & we never want to sell our P1, there is a risk with any performance car, but if you take the correct preventative steps it does help
Your only here once, go and buy one, just remember to take your time and if in doubt walk away, there are plenty to choose from
More info on the P1 here www.P1woc.co.uk if you can find the build number on the N/S/F strutt top of a P1, it may of been registered here
Goo luck with your search