Thanks guys
Even as early as yesterday I had suggested keeping the le on for a bit just to get to 200.
Having driven the Westie last night - who am I kidding!!!! Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

Lovely colour Westie Nick
Have you managed to stop yourself looking at the rev counter yet in amazement at how low it is compared to your petrol?!
I look at the rev counter more than the road  2012 Westminster 4.4 TDV8

Indeed - it seems to sit around 2k at 70mph (or maybe a bit faster ) - barely ticking over.


To be honest I can't take my eyes of the TFT instrument panel fullstop - it is a thing of beauty. That and how slowly the fuel gauge moves! I got from just south of Newcastle to London on half a tank of diesel!!! Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

Couldn't resist a gratuitous opportunity to show both together. Looks like the AB LE is going to hang around for a bit - it spent the weekend moving trailers on the farm in relatively deep mud - its currently unrecognisable colour wise.

The Westie is settling in well, already done 1000miles, had a new Westfalia towbar fitted last week and its booked in for all the diffs and transfer box fluid changes in a couple of weeks time.

Nice fleet you have there Nick.
Where will you get the diffs done?
Greg Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

Thanks Greg!

I have a friendly local mechanic who keeps these all running and happily does my Range at the weekends because its only at home on the farm at the weekends, in London during the week - I just get the parts in advance for him. Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

So things have just been a bit quiet recently as the TDV8 starts its life up and down the M4 each week. Its already done 7,000miles and recently had a small service and all the diffs done. I think I'm going to book it in for the gearbox fluid shortly, it just doesn't quite feel 100% when its cold. That and the flipping annoying press the start button and nothing but a click. I know on here several say operate the wipers first but that really only gets it about 80% of the time - will get it in for a starter motor under warranty soon. Bought a Gap tool recently and been playing with that - managed to program a new key I bought off eBay as it only came with one - pleased with that. Set up the DRL's and the digital speed reading

So as for the AB LE - well its still in regular use although its mileage is a lot less as it gets used on the farm for fetching and carrying - why not! Its just sailed through its latest MOT at 196k and has been treated to new pads and discs all round.

The only issue I had recently with it was back in January when a cloud of steam emerged from the engine bay while hitched to a trailer being loaded with horse feed - the top hose where it feeds into the thermostat had separated from its connecting part. Had to salvage it with a jubilee clip from the tool box in the boot but it wasn't until the replacement part arrived that I found its a moulded all in one piece - I couldn't quite get my head around how it had been connected up until then. Anyway that got replaced with no drama and all is good. A mate borrowed it last week to go to Bristol for a couple of days and brought it back singing its praises. My wife did question when I was planning to sell it, the other day. I just responded with, I'll get round to it at some point and the conversation returned to farm topics, so I might have got away with it a bit longer.

Hi Nick - how are things with the original ff? Has the mileage crept up much? I meant to ask do you have the noisy vanos on once warm that most of the high milers do? Current stable:
2006 BMW M6
2007 4.2 V8 S/C FF
Gone:
2002 4.4 V8 FF

All good here Dan - yes the mileage is a little over 196k now. There is a slight vanos rattle when it’s idling but nothing really that concerns me Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

Excellent - have you had the steering angle sensor go yet? Mine failed at Xmas and looks like i got a lemon as it’s gone again and you can’t really fit it wrong! Yes my vanos rattle is not too concerning but there after she’s nice and warm (silent when cold) just coming up on 172k myself - my challenge is 3 more years - which will be about 250k the way things are currently I may be being a bit hopeful  Current stable:
2006 BMW M6
2007 4.2 V8 S/C FF
Gone:
2002 4.4 V8 FF

Hi Dan
No not had any issues with the steering angle sensor (touch wood) !

For me, the mileage at 200k isn't a concern, I think the mechanicals will far outlive the body anyway but I'm going to have to do the rear wheel arches properly this summer although the lower edge upper tailgate repair from 3 years ago is holding up well. My wife borrowed it the other day after her Shogun went for a service and I think she has now laid claim to it - one Shogun for sale shortly I reckon. Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

So the Westie has now clocked up 10,000miles already! Could barely see through the windscreen coming home on Friday night, all the bug splatter so extracted the diesel powered hot pressure washer we have for the farm machinery and gave it a good blast - but of course now all back on again after its Sunday night slog back up the M4. However fairly moot point as somewhere around Reading a large stone cracked the front screen. If its not one thing.....



The AB had a plate change at the weekend, my wife's plate from the Shogun has moved across as she is going to use it more. At some point I'll put my plate from the AB onto the Westie but as its still one of the newest cars I've ever owned I've left it for now. Shogun is back on its normal plates so I may well put that up for sale at some point. Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)

Its been a quiet few months - the Westie has just turned 93k so reckon that by early January that will be 25,000 in the first year. Its just had another service and the gearbox drained and refilled - definitely feeling a lot smoother now although my mechanic said the oil didn't look that bad. I picked up a crack in the windscreen a few months ago but with MOT coming up in a few weeks time to get it changed. Glad I left it as I picked up another chip just last week. The perils of M4 driving.

Totally off topic Nick, but is your dog a Bernese?
How does he or she get on with getting in the tailgate, or do you drop the back seat and use the rear passenger door?
We are trying to find a Golden Mountain Dog but are a bit worried as our last GSD had difficulty with a drop tailgate. Phil

Hi Phil
Yes that’s Ranger, one of my three Bernese! Love ‘em.

The tailgate is a bit high for them but I got a folding dog ramp of amazon a while ago and they love it. Was only about £30 or so

Always options! Current Fleet:-
2018 Discovery 5 3.0 HSE
2021 Ford Ranger Wildtrack
2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8
1993 Defender 90 200TDI Pickup

Gone - not forgotten
2016 L405 4.4 SDV8 Vogue SE
2012 L322 4.4 Westminster
2004 L322 4.4 V8 Autobiography LE
2000 P38 RR 4.0 HSE (ex Clarkson test car)