Volusia

Active Member
Hello. Been a club member for about two weeks now! Freelander Td4 HSE. Moved to South West France about 7 years ago.
I have owned a series 2 and a Defender in the past. Christine, the lady wife, always liked the look of the Freelander.
So, almost anniversary time, I thought I would surprise her with a Freelander as a present. Two problems, we live in South West France, which in itself is anything but a problem, but she does not like driving LHD vehicles which is.
I looked around for a RHD over here and, just as with any other French second hand vehicle, the sky is the limit on prices.
Along came a Td4 facelift HSE on ebay with all the mod cons which I won in the auction. I then booked a Ryanair flight to Stanstead under the pretext I was going for some boating bits from a chandlery.

Once there, and liking what I saw I bought the car via PaPal. and drove back to the hotel in the car I had hired for the one way trip. Later a quick look through the vehicle documents turned up everything on the cars history but the current MOT.
Now I had insured the vehicle before seeing it, I had done all the usual checks online. I knew it wasn’t taxed and was prepared to run the gauntlet on that, but not the lack of the MOT. Result I was up until 4 in the morning texting the vendor who insisted it was among all the others and that he didn’t have it but said he would look again.
He hadn't got it!
I set the alarm for 7 but overlaid till 1015. So much for a leisurely morning. Panic, had to get the hire car back before 12 as the shut on Saturday at that time.
Suffice to say I managed it with about 20 minutes to spare and got a taxi back to the hotel.
The sad part now; I had to phone home to get my wife to try and sort the test certificate problem out, which meant I had to let her know about her present.
Before telling her though, I posted some photos on FB and told her to open the page. It came as a pleasant surprise for her but sadly, not the same as rolling up in it!
Suffice to say, online,it was found to be tested until December this year.

The 600 mile or so journey back through France was great and the car performed well, other than a stiff clutch problem, now sorted by fitting a new master cylinder.
LHD Headlamps fitted too at a cost of £484 a pair, half that for the earlier version I’m told.
I took it for it’s CT on Wednesday (MOT French equivalent lasting two years) and it failed, but only on the new headlamp alignment which has now been done and retested .
Now to get it’s French reg, and number plates changed.
 
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Thanks for the welcoming response West Slope. As they say over there. Have a nice day y'all!
Thank you, I will. Please allow me to point out that the region of Merka in which I live doesn't use the colloquialism of "Ya'll". That phrase is indigenous to the southern portions of our republic. Living within the west central region of the US I am more inclined to say and hear the word "you".

However, being a learned individual with a fair amount of exposure to the rest of the country, I am well aware of ya'll. I must admit I've even uttered the expression whilst hunting with people from Texas and Louisiana. My usage of the "ya'll" must have been appropriate, because I was understood completely by those Southerners and our discussions were not slowed by the use of inappropriate or indiscernible vernacular. In fact, the Southern folk actually reciprocated and used the word "you" several times without the regional addition of "ll". They also were understood, which just goes to show the great diversity of the United States and its inclusive nature (unless you're French).

Please do not take umbrage with my critique of your first post. I merely felt it was my duty to inform you of an issue here at LandyZone. Many members here struggle with things like reading comprehensions and counting past 10, so it is well advised to keep things short and sweet, therefore allowing the greatest number of people to enjoy and partake in the repartee and add to the discussion so that they feel as though they have been a part of this great forum and have contributed to the whole of the whole thing.

Oh, and try not to use run on sentences.

Welcome.
 
Hello and welcome, not been put off by the Gaylander references after all then?
It's all just banter, you'll see what I mean if you have a look in 'Anything Goes' part of the forum :D
Where in the Haute Vienne are you? If your ever passing between Perigueux and Bergerac pop in and say hi, there's always a free aperitif for LZ members. ;);)
 
Hello and welcome, not been put off by the Gaylander references after all then?
It's all just banter, you'll see what I mean if you have a look in 'Anything Goes' part of the forum :D
Where in the Haute Vienne are you? If your ever passing between Perigueux and Bergerac pop in and say hi, there's always a free aperitif for LZ members. ;);)

Hello and many thanks. We are in the Limousin, moved over here about seven years ago. Hope to drop in someday, We often pass through with the motorhome. We were in Sarlat a couple of weeks ago.
Not worried about the Gaylander tag. Ironically a recent study from Oxford university found that the car most likely to be chosen by a gay person was one identifiably butch, with, whisper this quietly, the Defender topping the list. Maybe its a case of those Defender guys, or should that be gays, protesting too loudly! Thanks again, and the same applies if you are in this neck of the Dept of a thousand lakes!
 
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Thank you, I will. Please allow me to point out that the region of Merka in which I live doesn't use the colloquialism of "Ya'll". That phrase is indigenous to the southern portions of our republic. Living within the west central region of the US I am more inclined to say and hear the word "you".

However, being a learned individual with a fair amount of exposure to the rest of the country, I am well aware of ya'll. I must admit I've even uttered the expression whilst hunting with people from Texas and Louisiana. My usage of the "ya'll" must have been appropriate, because I was understood completely by those Southerners and our discussions were not slowed by the use of inappropriate or indiscernible vernacular. In fact, the Southern folk actually reciprocated and used the word "you" several times without the regional addition of "ll". They also were understood, which just goes to show the great diversity of the United States and its inclusive nature (unless you're French).

Please do not take umbrage with my critique of your first post. I merely felt it was my duty to inform you of an issue here at LandyZone. Many members here struggle with things like reading comprehensions and counting past 10, so it is well advised to keep things short and sweet, therefore allowing the greatest number of people to enjoy and partake in the repartee and add to the discussion so that they feel as though they have been a part of this great forum and have contributed to the whole of the whole thing.

Oh, and try not to use run on sentences.

Welcome.

Thought you were writing a chapter from the only work of literature of any worth from over there, Tom Sawyer then you lost it somehow.

Never mind, to be expected from a member of one of our former colonies who still never manage to spell colour, realise, and tyres correctly but, a valiant effort non the less.
Just one point however, it would be better diction to say:-
'......so they, too, feel they have been part of........' Rather than your, and I quote:-
'.....so that they feel as though they have been part of......', unquote.
A valiant effort none the less. Keep up the good work, and, having spent quite a lot of time in the land of the er' free you will be aware of my sincerity when I once again say;
Have a nice day. I will even add to that by also stating that I am missing you already!
 
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Thought you were writing a chapter from the only work of literature of any worth from over there, Tom Sawyer then you lost it somehow.

Never mind, to be expected from a member of one of our former colonies who still never manage to spell colour, realise, and tyres incorrectly. but, a valiant effort non the less.
Just one point however, it would be better diction to say;
so they too feel they have been part of, rather than your, and I quote;
so that they feel as though they have, unquote. A valiant effort non the less. keep up the good work and, having spent quite a lot of time in the land of the er' free you will be aware of my sincerity when I once again say;
Have a nice day. I will even add to that by also stating that I am missing you already!
Ya'll are too kind. :)
 
Thought you were writing a chapter from the only work of literature of any worth from over there, Tom Sawyer then you lost it somehow.

Never mind, to be expected from a member of one of our former colonies who still never manage to spell colour, realise, and tyres incorrectly. but, a valiant effort non the less.
Just one point however, it would be better diction to say;
so they too feel they have been part of, rather than your, and I quote;
so that they feel as though they have, unquote. A valiant effort non the less. keep up the good work and, having spent quite a lot of time in the land of the er' free you will be aware of my sincerity when I once again say;
Have a nice day. I will even add to that by also stating that I am missing you already!

You are sooo going to fit in here! You are an ideal candidate for the A.G. Section :D:D
 
We maybe ought to start a French Freelander section of the zone! We are just about 5 km from the 'real' Vienne. As you know, Haute looks down on it! :rofl:
LOL, but ,it's below us on the map:p
I don't have a Gaylander:D:D
 
LOL, but ,it's below us on the map:p
I don't have a Gaylander:D:D

But its still much higher.
I wouldn't be too quick to admit to that DT. Did you not see the study by Oxford university recently which found the car most likely to be driven by a 'Gay' person is in fact the Defender, due to it's butch appearance, I think I drew attention to it in another post on this thread. Wont be long before all Landys get the Gay tag at this rate. :mil58:
 
But its still much higher.
I wouldn't be too quick to admit to that DT. Did you not see the study by Oxford university recently which found the car most likely to be driven by a 'Gay' person is in fact the Defender, due to it's butch appearance, I think I drew attention to it in another post on this thread. Wont be long before all Landys get the Gay tag at this rate. :mil58:
I'm safe then, I have a P38:D
 

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