Hi all, joined a while ago last year shortly after getting my 09 FFRR TDV8 VSE, 1 owner, 34K miles, Black/Black etc,
here's one of the reasons I got it, changed from a Volvo XC90 SE that I'd had from new in 2004, lately it had been struggling a bit towing the 'van..........no such problems now just have to be careful I don't forget it's on the back, the best 4 x 4 by far

I too came from an XC90, the TDV8 is a world away from it...and an immense towcar.

Happy towing  Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

I agree, makes an awesome, stable and fast towcar.

Just done the first trip of the year👍 There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

What made my mind up was a trip down to the South of France in May last year for the Monaco F1, the XC90 really started to struggle going up the long drags and we went thrpugh some awful weather which battered us about, very unnerving so as soon as we got back I found this beauty and did the deed, then we went to Devon for the first trip out before a trip up to Braemar for the highland games and wow what a difference, even passing slower rigs on the uphill bits through the mountains

Now planning Monza F1 and San Marino MotoGP in September for this years petrol head feast

Did a trip to northern france last year was really easy and relaxing pootling along at 55mph with 2 tonne of caravan on the back.  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

I went from a remapped D3 to an Audi A8...then an XC90 which is where my trouble started...it was never too far from problems; wiring loom, injector fail, swirl actuator...last straw for me was on the A16 near Paris when the high pressure fuel line failed and left me stranded with 26ft caravan in 38deg heat and wifey/kids unhappy....

I took no persuading at all to look at a new 'oval',,,originally wanted a D4 but have always been an L322 fan...found a nice one owner model and hey presto....superb towcar. Got a few longer hauls this year amongst regular weekends but already looking forward to the summer hols in France  Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

Continental mileage plans are stacking up this year for me too

So far in the diary are

Le Mans weekend
Week in plan de la tour
Week in Normandy

Possibly a ski weekender too......

So that is an additional 4000 miles to add on this year in autoroute milage  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

Guess I was lucky that my XC90 never actually left me stranded anywhere, overall I was really pleased with it and didn't really want to get rid, it just felt like it was going to start going wrong so best to get shot before the big problems hit, I think it'll be fine for whoever has it now as I'd looked after it very well, I had it for 8.5 years from new and it only had 62,000 on the clock with full Volvo Main Dealer service history and it was fully loaded with every possible option on it as I never expected to need to change it (but sure am glad I did now!).

Our first trip out this year will be Easter weekend, that's traditionally when we get the cover off after winter hibernation, let's hope this lousy rain will be over by then

northernmonkeyjones wrote:

Continental mileage plans are stacking up this year for me too

So far in the diary are

Le Mans weekend
Week in plan de la tour
Week in Normandy

Possibly a ski weekender too......

So that is an additional 4000 miles to add on this year in autoroute milage

Yeh we did e Mans in 2005 and stayed in the Houx Campsite which is within track itself, we even managed to get hook up over by a perimeter wall

Have been on houx for the last few years, with possibly the most dangerous electric setup possible, leads running out of leads etc. along with a 27 x 10 ft garden marquee and 2 rangies plus a handful of Porsches.

Good times  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

Yeh we shared our area with a Porsche 911 / Golf VR6 + 3 Marcos's and next to us was a French crowd that pee'd over our electric hook up lead on a regular basis rather than walk 100 yards to the loo! unfortunately there weren't any live cables exposed near them!!

We use the tin tent all year round and so I couldn't run the risk any longer with the XC letting me down...got so bad I used to hold my breath when I turned the ignition key. Lots of XC owners told me how good their was and it's still a very practical, well spec'd car but it never made me smile driving it and when I traded it in I was a very happy bunny to get a TDV8. We have done a couple of local trips for weekends but we're heading to the lake district for easter, then anglesey for whitsun and on to the Vendee in France, plus the 20 or so weekends we have booked  Is this where I put the car details and a bit about myself ?........

Good stuff, no point have the facilities and not not making use of them!

Our first trip out is to Norfolk for Easter and we've got 3 other trips booked in the UK including a week away taking the grandkids in the school holidays which they absolutely love! plus the 3 weeks down to Italy for the F1 and MotoGP.

I was lucky I guess with the XC90 that it never actually totally let me down and apart from a niggle with the cruise control switching itself off for a couple of years it was pretty relaible, it just started to struggle with the twin axle 'van and I was worried it was going to pack up big time blowing a turbo or something, I did like it but the FFRR is way better

Looks nice

2007/2008 Swift Conqueror I see..... nice van too  Now: BMW 640d M Sport, Alpine White
Gone: Range Rover 4.4 V8 Vogue, Zambezi Silver, Charcoal Oxford Leather
Also: Mk1 Audi TT 1.8T Quattro, Brilliant Black
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Click image to enlarge

Thanks Andy, we're very pelased with both the RR and the Swift, like having our own mobile bungalow compared to our last smaller Bailey