21st Century transportation
Last Thursday, Zack, one of our Account Executives, told me that the folks over at Land Rover of Greenville wanted me to drive one of their vehicles for a month or so and tell you how I liked it.
We picked it up that morning. Their Sales Manager, Derek Bowen gave me a complete review of all the usual things you need to know before driving a vehicle you’ve never seen before.
For me, this took some time. You see I now drive a 1999 Mustang. It’s pretty much like every other car I’ve ever driven. You get in, put the key in the ignition, turn it and the car starts. Turn signals are on one stalk on the steering column and wipers are on another. I could see right from the outset, this Land Rover 2 I was going to drive would require some education. There is no key. There’s a computer fob that you plug into the dashboard, depress the brake pedal then hit the “Start/Stop” button on the dashboard. Cool. But a sea change for traditionalists like me.
It’s now Monday and I still find myself as I go to the L.R., looking for the key?! Just as todays young people would be puzzled if presented with say a record player, or another antiquated piece of machinery, I am also adjusting to keyless cars. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not complaining. It’s just different.
The first thing you notice about the LandRover 2 is; it’s beautiful. The one I’m driving is black and I’ve always had a soft spot for black vehicles. They just look very sophisticated and cool. This one has a leather interior in tan, a nice combination. There are not one, but two sunroofs, one for the front and one for the back. The trunk area meets a crucial requirement for me. It has plenty of room for my golf clubs.
So I’ve learned all about where the controls are for everything and I’m ready to go. It floats along like a much bigger vehicle, (I think it’s the oversize tires). You don’t have to climb a rope ladder to get up in the drivers seat, which I like. It’s height also is more convenient for vertically challenged men like me (5′7″), and for smaller women. Derek explained to me that the LR2 has a transverse engine mount. In other words, it’s in there sideways. That explains how much interior room it has. Huge.
I was surprised at how much of a panoramic view you have. My Mustang is a ragtop, so the sightlines to the left and right rear are restricted. The LR2 has a wide view so you have no problem trying to merge into traffic and being able to see what’s coming.
The funniest adjustment I had to make to this new, spaceage vehicle came that evening when I was driving it home. It unexpectedly started to rain, so I looked for the wiper adjustment on the stalk on the steering column. After a couple of experiments (starting the wiper for the rear window, etc), I got the wipers going. The rain slowed. The wipers stopped. I thought “Whats up?”. The rain started again, and so did the wipers. They apparently have a built in sensor, so that when a certain amount of moisture hits the windshield and accumulates, the wipers start automatically. Now that is efficient!
I’ll let you know more about how my test drive is going (did I mention that ‘new car smell’ ?), later this week.
Keep an eye out for me on Upstate roads. I’m in the guy in the black LandRover 2 wearing the big grin.
If you’d like to know more about this beautiful Land Rover 2, give Derek a call at land Rover of Greenville, 864-232-74WD or email him at dbowen@landrovergreenville.com
Bobby Mc
