i'd add a couple of things to Battenberg's comprehensive list, having now had my first DII for a month - and all of them are things I knew before buying, so they're just comments rather than serious gripes or astounding revelations:
- if you're 6'5", the rear view mirror gets in the way when you're looking front left out the windscreen, however, if you get one with the auto-dimming facility, you can forgive any other failing whatsoever...
- but, if you're 6'5" the much vaunted "poor visibility out the back when reversing and parking" is not an issue !
- if you drive in rural areas down narrow lanes, it's desparately amusing to see non 4x4 vehicles shoving themselves in hedges, ponds, pot-holed laybys and front gardens to get out of your way - you ARE King of the Road
- the weekly shopping flies everywhere - make sure you get a load space net !
- the alarm/immobiliser is a mysterious, arcane piece of technology with many quirks and foibles, most of which leave you surveying the damage that the pressure wave created by the alarm causes when it goes off
- other DII drivers you pass on the road acknowledge you with a cheery wave or a tip of the hat only if their motor is newer than yours; D3 or gaylander drivers simply cringe with embarrassment when confronted with a decent motor, and ignore you, pretending to be aloof....
- genuine land rover accessories are stupidly expensive, but if that is going to be a problem, get a fiesta instead of luxuriating in the superiority you feel from knowing that your rear lamp guards cost more than other peoples vehicles in their entirety
- the car park staff at plumpton racecourse treat you and your DII like royalty, instead of (literally) looking down their noses at you if you tip up in a saloon car or something equally inadequate
- never go near a main dealer, for anything, at all. find one of the much-vaunted "good independents", save yourself two thirds off the price of owt, but allow at least an hour per drop off/collection, as they will inevitably engage you in cheery, knowledgable banter about your fantastic vehicle (NOTE: learn the basics of DII engineering before you go near one of these places, or you will look a complete arse - i would suggest learning one of the thorny issues that is often discussed on here and dropping it in to the conversation, so you appear to know what you're on about...)
- secure yourself farming-related stickers for your back window to give the impression that you are a "legitimate" DII owner, rather than a Fast Show "let's off-road" sort. Similarly, never drive anywhere near a school to ensure you avoid the ire of Grauniad readers and the like. Should you come across any sort of environmental protest group, simply drop the clutch and rev the thing to ensure they are enveloped in a cloud of stinking diesel fumes, before roaring off - hopefully knocking one or two off of their holistic tofu and wicker unicycles or whatever...
- do some pre-purchase groundwork with your bank manager to ensure you are in a position to secure a massive overdraft if you intend to buy a TD5 and travel more than thirty or forty miles per month
- again pre-purchase, practice your new driving position by sitting upright in an armchair, on three extra cushions off the sofa, bouncing and holding a large round tea tray to approximate the steering wheel, ideally whilst wearing an open-necked checked shirt and looking suitably agrarian. repeat with all the cushions removed to prepare you for when the air suspension packs up
that's pretty much it really - enjoy !
