LR Factory Tour

[Watpub]

Hi all,

I'm putting myself into the "lucky bast#$@d" category here :D...

I discovered last week I've got to make a quick business trip to the UK in November... and that my meetings will be only 20k's from Solihull. Hmm, thinks I, I wonder if there are factory tours there?

Yep, certainly are, and they also have "Landrover Experience" days which combine tours with driving - the gold and silver tours involve half a day around the factory and the other half driving their off-road course. (I know that there is at least one other thread which covers the Gold Experience tour but this was written in 2006 so it is now a few years gone.)

Here's a bit of a blurb on what happens:

"Finally, get behind the wheel or experience an impressive demonstration with our expert instructors, included in our Silver and Gold tours. The Solihull demonstration areas have a wide variety of terrains, both natural and man made. The Jungle Track is a nature refuge which will fully immerse you in another world, and the Adventure Zone is a collection of obstacles which are specifically designed to showcase the most extreme aspects of Land Rover capability. Experience a 45 degree downhill slope, articulations, side slopes, our swing bridge and more."

When I made the booking I was able to nominate a D4 as my preferred drive vehicle. ;)

Drats, now I'm getting as excited as I was when I ordered the vehicle - and again I'll have to mark time waiting!

I'll post a full report with pictures when I've done the day.

Regards, Ron

[sniegy]

the "lucky bast#$@d" category

You said it...:p

I noted you chose the D4, any reason why you didnt do it in the RR Vogue, luxury on wheels as you dont get to drive it every day[thumbsupbig]

Have a great time...And dont forget the:rulez::rulez: We want lots & lots of them (photo's)


p.s. you dont need a p.a. while you travel do you?:eek:

[RichardK]

What a great opportunity:D:D I am envious:mrgreen::mrgreen:

I did a course at Eastnor a couple of years ago and had a very enjoyable day as well as learning a lot about the capabilities of the D3 and some of the driving skills

[GeorgeK]

Hey Ron, Its my birthday today and you get the present...its not right I say.

Congrats on your trip. I, like many many others, are jealous as heck!

Please post the photos when you get back. You lucky lucky bugger.

Cheers

George

[Neil P]

I'll post a full report with pictures when I've done the day.

Ron , I assume you'll get very limited factory access with no
photos allowed ?
I couldn't photo or talk to staff at Gibson Nashville , but Guild Westerly
were access all areas ...... go figure .
Have a great time and a few curries :)

[mickyd24969]

Ron,

Make sure you give them some "what's for" about the D4 & 19" wheels :mad::mad:

I might be the only way to get the message through! :angel:

Michael

[Disco4SE]

Hey Ron, if you remember, ask them why the Disco 3.0Lt diesel puts out 180Kw and the same engine in the Jag puts out 200Kw.
Have a great time mate
Craig

[Reads90]

I have been on land rover factory tours quite few times.

I have not been for a few years as I have been over here. But last time I took 120 members from the land rover club I was chairman
They used to do trips around the factory and the cost was a donation to the local hospital. But the best bit was the bloke who took you round were staff that were semi retired and had worked there for years and could tell you some great stories. One time I was there they were showing us their £8 million leak test machine which is where they test the cars for leaks. We asked the chap taking us around if you put defenders in their. He relied god no we don't need a £million thing to tell us they leak we know that already ,that's why we give away wet suits with defenders. He then started to tell us the toyota cat joke

They let you look and touch pretty much everything I remember being in a engine bay of a RR with the bloke was showing me how he put in the wiring loom and then his mate doing the brake fluid. But this was 6 years ago as I said I have been here since

But they are pretty much booked up so phone them now and get on the list their number is 0011 44 121 7222 424 ( that's the number from here )

Ali




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Watpub]

Thanks all for the comments (sorry dor the delay but work's been interfering too much in my life of late ;))

Reads90
I'm almost afraid to ask... what's the Toyota cat joke?

Disco4SE
Done deal Craig... and if there are any bits on the Jaguar engine that account for the difference I'll see if I can purloin one!

mickyd24969
Top of my list Michael!

Neil P
I was wondering just how much access I'd get and whether photos are allowed. There seems to be quite a few amateur videos on UTube so I might be in luck.

GeorgeK
Happy birthday George! We'll catch up on the road somewhere soon.

RichardK
I want to do a dealer day here in Australia but work has been flat out. I figured seeing I'm over there for work I might as well give it a go.

sniegy
Pete, providing you can squeeze into an Antler mid-size suitcase, weigh less than 24kg, and are willing to shout me a fresh pair of jocks and socks and when I get there, you're more than welcome to stow aboard!;)

I opted for the D4 to sus out a pommie one in pommie conditions. I figured it would be interesting to compare. They haven't guaranteed a D4 but have only slated me down for one - I'll have to wait to see what they offer up.

[Disco4SE]

Thanks Ron. I'm with you, work gets in the way of a good time.
Having said this, I am kicking back in sunny Hawaii at the moment and not looking forward to coming back to Melbournes weather.
Aloha

[Watpub]

Thanks Ron. I'm with you, work gets in the way of a good time.
Having said this, I am kicking back in sunny Hawaii at the moment and not looking forward to coming back to Melbournes weather.
Aloha

Hawaii?? Jeez Craig that's a long way to take the Disco... ;)
Have you seen any D4's with steering wheels on the wrong side??

Regards, Ron

[Narangga]

How much he asks thinking ahead to a planned trip in 2013???

[MartyJB]

Ron,
I've been in the UK for nearly 4 weeks for work and I was hoping to get on a factory tour/experience day except they were only on during the week when I unfortunately have to work.....
Go figure my company send me over here business class, put me up in a fancy hotel in Mayfair and then they expect me to work.....
Hope you manage to go so you can tell me what I've missed out on!
Marty

[Disco4SE]

Hawaii?? Jeez Craig that's a long way to take the Disco... ;)
Have you seen any D4's with steering wheels on the wrong side??

Regards, Ron
Only seen one so far Ron. They have a pretty cool Landrover Discovery add on the TV here.
I have been driving around in a Jeep Wrangler soft top. Pretty hard to get used to driving from the passanger seat at first.
Oh well, back to doing nothing.
Cheers, Craig

[Disco4SE]

BTW Ron. This is a photo from our balcony.
Not bad hey???
29066

[Watpub]

Ron,
I've been in the UK for nearly 4 weeks for work and I was hoping to get on a factory tour/experience day except they were only on during the week when I unfortunately have to work.....
Go figure my company send me over here business class, put me up in a fancy hotel in Mayfair and then they expect me to work.....
Hope you manage to go so you can tell me what I've missed out on!
Marty

Marty,

Don't you have any up-country "meetings" you need to attend??? wink, wink ;)

[Watpub]

How much he asks thinking ahead to a planned trip in 2013???

190 of the Pounds Sterling stuff. You do get a couple cups of tea and a lunch for this. And this is the Gold Tour which covers the full day. I suspect the Bronze and Silver tours, which cover and do less, are cheaper.

Ron

[Watpub]

BTW Ron. This is a photo from our balcony.
Not bad hey???
29066

Jeez Craig,

Who's the lucky bast#!*d now?? Is this Waikiki and have you been long-boarding yet??

Ron

[Neil P]

190 of the Pounds Sterling stuff.

Two hundred quid ! Are you kiddin' ?
They don't need to sell vehicles when they gouge
that much from punters !

[Red October]

I just fronted up to the factory back in 1991 hoping to find out about tours only to discover that I was a day too late / six days too early. I had to settle for a photo outside the gates, but it was still worth it!

[Watpub]

Two hundred quid ! Are you kiddin' ?
They don't need to sell vehicles when they gouge
that much from punters !

A bit like marriage really... it costs a bucketload on the day, but at least you can say you've done it once!

Oh, and the memories last forever ;)

PS The docs they sent clearly state no photos or videos!

[Neil P]

...The docs they sent clearly state no photos or videos!....

I thought as much , since nobody on D3UK has posted anything.
You'll notice how clean and quiet these factories are these days.
When I visited Ford Halewood in '74 it was filthy , smelly and
noisy.

[Disco4SE]

Jeez Craig,

Who's the lucky bast#!*d now?? Is this Waikiki and have you been long-boarding yet??

Ron
This is Kaanapali (Maui). Stayed 4 nights in Waikiki first. Have given the boards a go but waves are quite small at the moment.
Oh well, back to the beach