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bebechoon

Member Since: 22 Apr 2014
Location: In ze middle of Frainsch nul part
Posts: 454

What could replace a Fatty?

Joe90’s story of “deserting the ranks” (https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic51851...1bcd2b0b5d) struck a chord with me as there are certain similarities with my own experience.

I owned Solihull products for 20 years in all. My first Range Rover was a 2.5 diesel VM Classic (2-door) in 1995, my last a Nov 2004 TD6 HSE purchased in October 2009 with 77,500 km on the clock which I sold at the back end of 2016 with as near as dammit 123,000 km recorded.
So, after just under 50,000 km and 7 years: was it happy motoring?

Well yes, mostly! It was a superb, imposing, classy, wafting car (as you all know) and I loved it to bits.

It served as our limousine for our wedding in 2011:

and has shown its capabilities in many skiing resorts here in France:

But it wasn’t without heartache: having to replace the gearbox at 95,000 km after less than 2 years ownership was a bit of a shock to the system … and the wallet. (This was before I joined the Forum; had I joined earlier perhaps I may have learned that I should have – at the very least – changed the gearbox oil!)
Apart from that, the only really expensive items were the front air bags & struts, one of which went bang at 122,500 km, and the BCU which I replaced at around the same time and km to cure an intermittent door-locking and heavy steering issue.
For the rest, it was mainly routine service items.

From this, I guess you could say I got off fairly lightly, but looking back it seems there were constant niggles and towards the end of my ownership I was losing confidence in it.

Having now retired, and suffering the after-effects of a costly divorce, a newer Fatty was unfortunately out of the question. But I had grown accustomed to the comfort of the Fatty – what was I to do?
Downsizing was the answer, but I wanted to retain as many of the creature comforts as possible, while switching to a petrol engine (the writing was on the wall as regards diesels here in France …).
4WD was a must, as was an auto box. The only solution – at an affordable price – was a Suzuki. So here I am now with a 1.4 BoosterJet S-Cross Style Auto I bought brand new in Feb 2017. Since then I’ve covered +/- 20,000 km in two-and-a-half years and I have not had a single fault … not one!

Slightly boring it may be, but reliable it certainly is … so far!
Regrets? Well yes, oeuf Corse!

It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

20th Jul 2019 1:40pm

Rosco

Member Since: 20 Jan 2012
Location: Beyond the wall.
Posts: 2589

2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Baltic Blue

Bloody Hell, not content with direct upkeep costs. they ruin marriages as well, WHY do we have the things not demeaning your obvious traumatic divorce

20th Jul 2019 2:03pm

Weegie

Member Since: 09 Jun 2014
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 3260

2008 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 Stornoway Grey

Hi Steve, Nice to see you are getting on with the Susuki.

Hope you are both well. Well settled in after the move?
John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue - SOLD
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT-Sold

20th Jul 2019 3:10pm

Joe90

Member Since: 29 Apr 2010
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 6419

Photos ?

Nice review here .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

20th Jul 2019 3:14pm

bebechoon

Member Since: 22 Apr 2014
Location: In ze middle of Frainsch nul part
Posts: 454

Thanks, John - I have E'd you

Steve

It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

20th Jul 2019 3:24pm

bebechoon

Member Since: 22 Apr 2014
Location: In ze middle of Frainsch nul part
Posts: 454

@Joe90 (Tim?)
I wouldn’t dare lower the tone of the forum by posting photos of my Sue’s Ooki!
You’ll have to make do with the ones in the review (for which thanks ). Mine's white ...

Steve
It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

20th Jul 2019 3:29pm

nicedayforit

Member Since: 11 Jun 2011
Location: Beside the Solway
Posts: 3979

2004 Range Rover Vogue Td6 Giverny Green

My wife has had a few Suzuki Vitaras and Jimneys over the years, the one redeeming feature of them all, never had the slightest problem with any of them, they just go when you want them to.
Good choice.

20th Jul 2019 5:00pm

ilard

Member Since: 21 Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 713

Why does nothing rhyme with Suzuki? A poet’s nightmare on wheels.

20th Jul 2019 10:29pm

IanV8

Member Since: 14 Jan 2010
Location: Dunfermline
Posts: 502

2011 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Santorini Black

Having had 6 fatties just changed to a Velar, it is a step down but time will tell.

Ian

21st Jul 2019 11:54am

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