wanted to post something different for my 1000th so please bear with me.

I moved to RRS ownership just over 3 years ago. It was January 2009 and the world was ending. A young (lets say sub-30) cash buyer rocking up in a Lotus looking to buy a 4x4 was a little strange for sure, but Stratstones Newport really excelled at being totally . The sales guys were excellent, but, smelling blood, I decided to push for an extra £500 off and was met with a fairly offensive rebuttal from the sales MANAGER. Suffice to say we (me and my 9 year old nephew) walked out and a deal was done later that week "up North" for exactly the same vehicle, a few thousand miles less on the clock, but at the right price. They took the Lotus in part-ex and my entry into the world of RRS began. Stratstones Newport would only be re-visited for shi4s and giggles, namely getting faulty suspension fixed and some other warranty work. The suspension (leaky bag) took 13 (THIRTEEN) visits before they caved and did what they should have done the first time. I suspect LPR would have done it a bit quicker...

What a phenomenal vehicle. MY07 57 plated TDV8 HSE, black with black with black (and privacy!). No major faults and no knocking, we proceeded over the next few years to really put LR's claim to being the best 4X4Xfar to the test, with a lot of help from James and Jeremy LPR and Salisbury plain. We had some truly cracking adventures, included bbqs, bi-planes and tractor convoys - photos of which are littered all over this forum. She was a beast. We were all amazed at how well she coped with the standard road tyres on 20s and suffice to say were blown away when these were swapped for 19s and MTR Grabbers. James and Jeremy perhaps questioned my sanity. Yes, you can do 60mph in low range! Yes, you can wade up to window sill height (briefly!). Some terrific memories. The time a rock got stuck between alloy and caliper, and blew a hole in the wheel! Trying my chances for a warranty claim with Wayne LPR after flooding the headlights with muddy water! Getting caught by the fuzz on the plain and fined for going off course, even though we were using GPS tracked Google Maps and were clearly bang on track!

In May 2010 an upgrade was due, after many months salivating over the vastly improved interior of MY10. But what's this - no TDV8 in the new car? Shocking! Much work (and patience) from James LPR tracked down one of the later examples of the engine in the new shape, that still ticked my fairly extensive list of requirements (black on black on black, dvds, extended leather, ACC....). A (very good - thanks James !) deal was done and shortly after she was collected. What an example - James hadn't let me down. An ex-LR fleet car (debateable what that actually means!) she'd been well looked after and was in terrific shape. This one was for best. No more crazy off roading and a Defender G4 ( ) was duly bought to take on that role (bizarrely only going off road, and very calmly, once before being sold onto a Defender nut!). The step-up in the new interior was just sublime. Finally a car to really enjoy driving long distance in. The nephews appreciated DVDs in the back for the first time. My brother appreciated her for a drive to the Alps. I appreciated the improved interior and the adaptive dynamics. Whoever invented Dynamic Response should be given many monies!

What an adventure - and hopefully many more years to come (although now having broken 30 perhaps a full fat is on the horizon ).

Thanks for reading  ============
2010 TDV8 HSE - ooo laa laaaaaaaaa
2007 TDV8 HSE - superb car and very reliable
============
2012 - dearly departed, sadly missed.. to return in late 2013 with a new TDV8!

Great post, great read. After all the posts about LPR my next rr will be from them. Sounds as if stratstone across the board are pretty useless I know where you coming from walked in at 21 bought a great rrs a year latter walked in wanting to buy a new used version and they were not interested.

Worth the effort to get to LPR

Great post

30 for a FFRR ? Naah, still waaaaaaaaay too young ! FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

Great post rrsboy!

Jim

Great post rrsboy, enjoyed reading!  LCFC. Receiver of threatening letters from Overfinch.

You will have to change your user name to rrsbiggerboy now you've got over the 30 mark but if you get a FFRR i can only imagine what we will name you

Great write up but you got one thing wrong...........mines the best ex LR fleet car! Lol

Here's to that great sounding TDV8

Total pleasure dealing with you RRSBoy...... I still can't believe your relaxed attitude to testing your old RRS to the limit, without being a thug.

I don't think FFRR would be 'your bag' as I've said before. Perhaps I can arrange a FFRR for next time we meet to prove that I'm right (as usual)

............ anyway, I thought you wanted an X5 next

James

MAW wrote:

Worth the effort to get to LPR

Great post matey and like yourself I'm just embarking on the RRS ownership journey and so far so good. Keep the faith  TDV8 HSE, Remap (+45 BHP + 100 Nm), Taylored sport exhaust system by Pipe Werx
20" HST alloys, Privacy glass, Side steps, Xenon Adaptive Lighting, Adaptive cruise control

thanks all. I don't know what came over me - now back to normal service of bleating about the TDV8 and asking everyone to protect their spares!  ============
2010 TDV8 HSE - ooo laa laaaaaaaaa
2007 TDV8 HSE - superb car and very reliable
============
2012 - dearly departed, sadly missed.. to return in late 2013 with a new TDV8!

wow - I thought I was the only one who went from a Lotus to a RRS  RRS HSE TDV6 Autobiography

Great post, after following the thread I worked out who LPR was, my guess was Land (Poole) Rover or something odd
Whilst I'm on this train of thought, does FFRR stand for Full Fat Range Rover?
Well I didn't go from a Lotus to my new RRS 2 weeks ago, I went from a fire breathing 600bhp AMG e55, sadly soon to be someone else's dream car as it has been for me for the last 3 years
have a peak, she might be of interest to add to your stable?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E55-AMG-Kleemann...617wt_1156
 If you've got it, spend it!

dvb247 wrote:

Great post, after following the thread I worked out who LPR was, my guess was Land (Poole) Rover or something odd

Hmmmmm, we're almost at the point where we need LPR above the doors!

James