21st January 26. Doncaster, Rain and Land Rover

Jan 28
3 min read

It wasn't the best day to be heading north to Doncaster today and especially to a BCA site to collect a Citroen Berlingo van.

From the early morning walk to the station to the moment I got home. The rain was torrential. You might have gathered, I don't like rain at the best of times. But when you're travelling, walking, waiting at stations, driving on motorways and having to stand doing appraisals and photos. Your phone screen not working because it's wet.

Rain is a hateful thing.

First part of the train journey is from Aylesbury to Princess Risborough then a short wait for the Birmingham train, getting off at Banbury. (Above)

Then the Newcastle train to Sheffield. Then onwards to Doncaster.

From Doncaster station to the BCA site. Which are usually out of town places. The Uber was a little more expensive.

Once there, knowing I had to wait for the van to be found etc. and wait outside before doing photos and appraisal.

The rain decided to hammer it down even harder. I found shelter, just, and waited.

The van arrived and I walked out to find the driver telling me he was going to clean it. The seats were covered in mould.

Another 20 minutes waiting.

I finally got the van and appraisal done was ready for the drive to Aylesbury.

The drive back to Aylesbury was just horrible. The M1 southbound was just two lanes of trucks, the usual idiotic drivers, but worse due to the rain. Driving in the second to right hand lane. No matter the number of lanes empty to the left of them.

The visibility was awful. The van was smelly and the radio didn't work properly.

This was going to be a long journey.

Arriving back at Aylesbury around 3pm meant I could grab a taxi, (No Uber in Aylesbury.)

And go to Land Rover Buckinghamshire.

(Land Rover Aylesbury obviously doesn't have the right sounding name for them)

I was collecting a last minute job. As I was going to Rochester in Kent tomorrow to collect a van. I took a job from Aylesbury . Sorry Buckinghamshire. To Chelmsford Land Rover. So a shorter train journey tomorrow by a long way from Chelmsford to Rochester.

It was getting dark when I collected the car but managed to get my appraisal done and signed.

The Discovery Sport has changed a lot since it was introduced, back when I worked for Land Rover in 2015. Inside now has the feeling of a much higher quality product than before. A shame in many ways as Land Rover, now don't have a Freelander like utility vehicle. Missed a trick there Land Rover.

When I worked for them. They produced a Freelander 2, brand new for £19.995. called the black and white edition.

Couldn't get enough of them.

I'm sure now, without looking. You can't buy a Land Rover for under £40k new.

Which, looking in the showroom is where JLR are now.

I saw a defender in the showroom and couldn't actually believe the price. So here it is. Below

My last company car Defender. When I worked there. Was a Defender 90 XS Station Wagon. We couldn't sell it at £19,995. So put it back on as a demonstration car. Only a few years later that car would be worth £40,000 . Maybe more.

Again there is no real cheap utility Defender. I'm afraid to look at the list price of them.

The matt blue Range Rover Sport in the showroom was stunning however.