We swore we would never buy another Land Rover because the Disco had been so unreliable.
So we replaced a 2003 Disco with another Land Rover.
But it's ok, this one is seven years older (eligible for the scrappage scheme unlike the Disco) and has done about 70,000 more miles.
Insane you would think - but this is not a Chav-mobile Disco, it's a Defender, aka "a proper Land Rover".
So we drove 300 miles, picked up the new vehicle and drove it 10 miles to the garage and filled it with diesel. We then drove another 5 miles before I had to flash J over because the Land Rover was leaking diesel everywhere.
Insane you would think; serves us right you would think - we should have bought the Vauxhall Zafira or Kia Carens.
Well we are sanguine about it all. The garage had given us real confidence in their work and they took us through everything that they had replaced. All the consumables (filters and the like) had been replaced and the timing belt was also replaced. They had replaced the rear discs and pads and some rear section of the chassis whose name escapes me. They were at pains to point the quality of the welding.
That's not much comfort when you are stuck in a lay-by half an hour after picking up the new truck with diesel spilling everywhere and Harriet screaming her head off. The garage staff came and tried to fix it by the side of the road but the conclusion was that it required a new fuel tank. They were extremely apologetic and explained the problem - it apparently only shows up when the tank is full and they said is extremely rare.
Anyway we drove off home and they took the truck back. It will have a completely new fuel tank and they will deliver it to us at home on Tuesday.
For the brief moments we had it, it was everything we wanted. There are indeed six seatbelts in the back so it technically is a 12 seater and can comfortably cope with all the prams and labradors we are likely to throw at it. Scamp and Pip love sitting on the rear bench seats and Harriet can sit with us in the front seat since there are no air-bags.
A bit of a disappointment but still we are looking forward to its arrival and in a strange way more confident than ever that it will be a reliable and well supported vehicle.
Sunday 14 June 2009
Sunday 7 June 2009
Defying the Clounds
J and H had gone down to Blandford on Friday and so I had an evening of pure World of Warcraft heaven. The next day I would make my way down there by public transport.
On Friday evening I realised that tomorrow was Saturday and therefore the bus ran to a different timetable. I had agreed to meet Sarah and Kathryn at 10 in Waterloo but the first bus did not leave until 8.30 so it would be a tall order. Then in the morning it struck me that while I had ensured I had enough money for the bus home on Friday I had made no such provision for today’s trip so I had a mad rush through all the places in the house that coins accumulate.
Scraping together the 2 pounds in 20p and 10p coins I set off and amazingly at 9.55am I arrived in Waterloo, met Sarah and Kathryn and hopped on the train to Poole.
We had had a sneak preview of Karen and Chris’ place the weekend but now we could spend some time properly. We took a walk in the grounds of the adjacent public school before taking a well earned pint. Then it was time to challenge each other to Wii and although some of us weren’t as good as we had trailed ourselves to be it was great fun.
Last weekend the weather was perfect for a BBQ and this weekend it was much less so. But we were determined and set off despite the foreboding clouds. The picnic tables we had planned to use were occupied by the local yoof knocking back their White Lightning and Cooking Brandy so we went off looking for a quieter spot. But then we saw the yoofs head off in search of a bus shelter so we returned and got the meal going.
After we had had our fill of boar burgers we headed home just as the rain started but before the thunderstorms.
Sunday began with a fried breakfast and in view of the weather the walk was abandoned so we read newspapers, played the Wii and then headed to the pub. A mad dash to Poole railway station and we were on our way home after a very enjoyable weekend. The M25 was just awful but safe and sound we arrived at last, just in time for the Apprentice.
No more buses needed for a while I hope.
On Friday evening I realised that tomorrow was Saturday and therefore the bus ran to a different timetable. I had agreed to meet Sarah and Kathryn at 10 in Waterloo but the first bus did not leave until 8.30 so it would be a tall order. Then in the morning it struck me that while I had ensured I had enough money for the bus home on Friday I had made no such provision for today’s trip so I had a mad rush through all the places in the house that coins accumulate.
Scraping together the 2 pounds in 20p and 10p coins I set off and amazingly at 9.55am I arrived in Waterloo, met Sarah and Kathryn and hopped on the train to Poole.
We had had a sneak preview of Karen and Chris’ place the weekend but now we could spend some time properly. We took a walk in the grounds of the adjacent public school before taking a well earned pint. Then it was time to challenge each other to Wii and although some of us weren’t as good as we had trailed ourselves to be it was great fun.
Last weekend the weather was perfect for a BBQ and this weekend it was much less so. But we were determined and set off despite the foreboding clouds. The picnic tables we had planned to use were occupied by the local yoof knocking back their White Lightning and Cooking Brandy so we went off looking for a quieter spot. But then we saw the yoofs head off in search of a bus shelter so we returned and got the meal going.
After we had had our fill of boar burgers we headed home just as the rain started but before the thunderstorms.
Sunday began with a fried breakfast and in view of the weather the walk was abandoned so we read newspapers, played the Wii and then headed to the pub. A mad dash to Poole railway station and we were on our way home after a very enjoyable weekend. The M25 was just awful but safe and sound we arrived at last, just in time for the Apprentice.
No more buses needed for a while I hope.
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