If anyone wants a van...

The people I bought the Outlander from (Harris Vehicle Solutions)
mainly deal in vans, so I asked if they get much in at the cheap end of
the market as the off-road bods are always after them. The answer's
basically tell them what you want & they'll find it.

They've got several sites oop north, but make things easy by sending
you a bunch of photos & HPI report, then take a 200 quid deposit &
deliver it if you want it.

I won't get the Outlander 'til next week[1], so obviously if it turns
out to be a shed, I'll post a follow-up containing the phrase 'barge
pole'.

[1] They discovered a dodgy wheel bearing so they're being replaced.

 

L's review was very comprehensive and I think will pass on the white one.
Saved me a long trip for something I wouldn't have liked but perhaps taken
as I'd travelled so far (by train). Little rust breaking out on the
bodywork. As I said before, they are prone to corrosion.
I think I've done a deal. 2006 and 44k miles. Prins VSI and not OEM. Top
spec except leather (which I don't want)(1), OE wheels and 19" alloys with P
Zeros. About 5500. The 17's will be good for winter tyres.

(1) It's going to get muddy so covers are a better idea and SO wears very
short skirts (2) and hates the Saab/911 cold leather on thighs.
(2) Not something I want to discourage

 

Sounds pretty good.

17's? The originals are 16". I think there was an 18" option on the 2nd
gen model.

 

Yeah I expect he means 16".
19" P Zeros are fucking expensive, WTF he fitted those.....

 

Quite. I think that would ring alarm bells with me. Could be he's just
a poser, which would be fine (as long as they're not wide), or could be
he thinks because it's an Evo VIII under the skin it should be driven
like one. Either way I'd take a good look at the rear wheel camber.

 

Barge pole.

OK it's not a shed - far from it. But they did 'forget' to mention a
couple of problems with it. Nothing major but it obviously means they
can't be trusted. Most surprising for a used car dealer.

 

I got very close to that 06 model in Notts. The facelift is a much nicer
looking vehicle. It didn't have a spot of rust and the Prins LPG had been
fitted very nicely. The car and the owner didn't quite gell with me though
and he was living in a rather downmarket area where the vehicle stuck out.
It hadn't been owned for long. So I decided it had to be a full inspection
on a ramp (RAC or somesuch) or walk. I walked.

Thinking about it some more I always harboured a secret desire for a Kingcab
pickup...

 

... and a banjo?

 

Me too. Unfortunately they don't carry a bike with the tailgate up.
Or, at least the ones we get in the UK don't.

Am very happy with exchanging the BMW 735 for a Hilux.

 

It's not as if it's hanging from the washing line... any more.

 

I'm just not minded to gut a deer fresh off the Roo bar any more. Or even a
cunningly poached lamb. A large salmon OTOH.

I could get a Trials bike on the flatbed. Larger prey can go on a towbar
mounted rack.
I don't much fancy riding something big up a ramp that high anyway, we all
know what happens....

Have we mentioned winches yet? wInches I said.