After 7 years & 50,000 km of Fatty ownership, and two-and-a-half years on this Forum, it’s time for me to say goodbye

My Td6 was at the ripe old age of 12, albeit with only a lowly – for its age – 123,000 km (75,000 miles) on the clock. Apart from the gearbox which gave up the ghost at 95,000 km (+/- 60,000 miles) and a burst front airbag just recently, I have only had minor problems, many of which have been resolved with help from the super-helpful contributors on this Forum … and my IIDTool!
This car has given me some supremely comfortable miles but I am afraid I considered it had reached the age when it was well past its ‘best before’ date, when by rights things were really likely to start to go wrong.
So I have sold it.

Now it’s time for a new steed: I wanted a brand new car with a 5-year guarantee for stress-free motoring while I still have the physical capacity to enjoy it (I’m closer to 70 than to 60 …). Unfortunately my budget doesn’t stretch to anywhere near Land Rover territory, so for the first time in 20-odd years I will be without a Solihull product on my drive.
My choice? Well the closest I could get to the equipment levels and specifications of my Fatty but at a price I can afford is the new Suzuki S-Cross 1.4 Boosterjet with auto box and ‘Allgrip’ 4WD. I have swallowed pride and ordered one (sorry!); delivery in February.

Even though I have never met any of you personally (apart from Cam-Tech Craig & Lorna), I consider you all as friends. The Forum remains an interesting read, so I hope you will not mind if I remain a ‘lurker’ even after leaving the fold. Besides I will be putting my IID tool on here for sale …

Thanks to all of you who have contributed in so many ways to such an enjoyable experience . Long may the Forum continue!  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!)

lurking is good Steve, but be careful i nearly got arrested for doing that....

you will always be welcome here...  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Au revoir Steve.
As Stan says, lurk away!.
Tony

I was in the park the other day and this young lady said I was a looker.
I was pretty chuffed.

Actually, the exact word she used was voyeur  If it ain't broken, fix it till it is.

--> Charlyfarly
 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!)

Tu nous manqueras, Steve. Bon courage.  John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

Au revoir bebechoon, sorry you're going, I hope at sometime to use your great wiki thread on the reverse camera, thanks for that.
I'm sure you will lurk about.
Greg.

Do it, Greg, it's a really worthwhile mod.
And if I can do it ...
Good luck!  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!)

bebechoon wrote:

reached the age when it was well past its ‘best before’ date,

Two years newer than mine and half the miles..... I knew I was past it, now it's been written down...

Your new steed looks nice though Steve... I had to look one up...



Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

good luck steve great looking Suzuki I must admit the warantys companys are giving now is not to be sniffed at and I bet the mpg will be great great move on your part me thinks good luck

--> Pete: I'm not sure I like the look of it any more, from your pic! (A bit over-stated, maybe???)
Too late anyway, it's ordered.
From one 'past-it' to another ...

And also thanks Stan, Charlyfarly, John, Greg, and builder1966 for your kind comments.
Brings a bit of a lump to my throat

I looked at the Suzuki forums. It just ain't the same as here.

Keep tinkering, guys!  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!)

Nothing to stop you from having an occasional peek

Good luck  Regards
Royston

2008 4.2 Supercharged Autobiography
1994 Classic Vogue SE
1999 Rover BRM
1987 Rover Vitesse Twin Plenum

You'll be back....and we all hope you will be.... Bon Chance  Tony
You're always in the ........it's just the depth that varies
2014 L494 5.0 S/C AB Silver
2014 L494 3.0 HSE in Chilli
2014 SL63 AMG White


Gone:
2011 5.0 L322 White (Stolen)
07 4.2 SC in silver.
06 4.2 SC in black RSE
RRS 4.2 SC in Black RSE
52 4.4 Vogue in silver
04 Mercedes CLK 320 Conv
03 4.0 V8 ES Disco in Silver
00 TD5 90 County
98 4.6 HSE in Epsom x3
97 3.9ES Disco
93 L 4.2 LSE in black
too many classics to mention !

Good luck with the new motor,should keep in with the forum as i am sure your input would always be welcome. Full fat 4.2 Sc
Full fat vogue 4.4 petrol
Jaguar XJR super charged
Porsche cayenne
Tvr tuscan mk1
Bmw mini cooper

I bet you are sorry to see the FF go, but understandable.
I often think what vehicle I will own when approaching 70. Truth is I don't know.
I will have a small private pension and the state pension, but what funds will be available by then, not sure.
Keep lurking, I was a lurker on here for 5 years before I registered after getting our first FF.

Steve. 1968 Series IIA Pastel Green, nearly there project

There is nothing better as peace of mind for the next 5 year!
Thanks for all your reactions and input about these rear camera's.
Stay healthy, happy and on line

You could just stay and pretend...like Suzuki...you can cheat a little

Click image to enlarge