All,

I've had the incredible privilage to drive TD5s and Pumas (90s and 110s) extensively at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. I've also been involved in hosted events for sales people and clients of other manufacturers at the same facilities. I do not work for Land Rover as a salaried employee of any nature, I purely volunteered due to my associasion with local LRO clubs.

The procedure would be to allow them to take their vehicles around the course (chaperoned by LR Experience guys) and to let them inevitable fail by getting them stuck or stranded. The Defenders would show up and tow them out to the staging area. Next you would load them in vehicles in direct market class comparison. Top of the range Toyotas and Mitsubishis in Rangies, BMWs in Discos etc. As nothing compares to Defenders, they are left alone at that stage. We would take them around, in and over the "impossible" obsticals they failed on in their own brands with the inevitible ooohs and aaahs. Next would be the "cherry on the cake" when we load them in the Defenders and show them what real offroad travel is in factory standard vehicles. They might still not like the look or the utilitarian interior, but they all leave with an understanding of what the ultimate idea behind a Defender is. There is no comparison to a Defender.

Those vehicles work hard and while they don't do the mileage (Kilometers!) of a touring vehicle, the low percentage of problems in the 09 vehicles is definite testament to the improvements from earlier ones.

I just bought my very first "Shiny", a brand new 90 from Southern Land Rover in Perth and the dealer experience was the best "Land Rover Main Dealer" I've encountered anywhere in the world. I won't put the mockers on myself by predicting no problems, there was no chance of ever buying a diferent brand.

Looking forward to continue waving at the rest of you out there!