ajctraveler
Observer
So, I'll start with the fact that I'm pretty well beyond angry right now, but I need to sort out a solution more than I need to be angry, so let's proceed.
Background info (quick version), I'm from New York, left my life there behind to travel full time, been in Europe for 6 months, decided to make my trip an overland one and ordered myself a Defender to fulfill that roll.
Went to Canterbury Land Rover, ordered myself a brand new Left Hand Drive Defender 9.5 weeks ago, was given a delivery date for 10 weeks later, two weeks beyond normal because of LHD, so 17 October, 4 days from now.
Fast forward to today and again, short version, after pestering my salesman for a confirmation of a delivery date, I get told that my truck was never built, in fact it won't be for another 10 weeks, although he's going to try, nice guy that he is (*#*$&(#(@*&$(#*&$#@) to see what he can do on Monday.
So, like I started with, I'm PISSED, but I need to figure out a solution and could use some help since I know that I probably won't be thinking 100% clearly anytime soon.
My thoughts:
I'm not completely married to the idea of a new vehicle, although I really do prefer it. I'm converting this into essentially my home for the next few years (bed in the back) so I think that I will have an easier time "bonding" with something that hasn't been "used" by someone else before. So ideally I buy something unused, or very very lightly used if not off the showroom floor. Assuming I go the used route, who would you all recommend as dealers? Also any tips on "clean" cars on the market?
LHD vs RHD: I've obviously been driving left hand drive cars my entire life and the 15 minutes I spent test driving a RHD car felt strange, but I'm sure it's something I could come to terms with. So this isn't the end of the world, but I'd prefer LHD.
Utility vs Station Wagon: I really wanted a Utility, but I could probably come to terms with a station wagon, but I'd rather a utility, I think they look better and I want to black out all of the rear space anyway.
Telling my dealer to sodomize himself with something rusty and jagged and finding a new salesman: I don't want to write him anything right now, again, angry, but on the off chance that I decide to order another factory car, I am almost certainly going to tell him to go &$#* himself (is cursing allowed here by the way? I'm new) and order from another dealership seeing as it makes no difference with my delivery date.
Oh, also I need to buy the truck in the UK. It's the only place in Europe that I can register it as a non-resident. Truth be told if that weren't the case I would have already bought a used Land Cruiser in Germany. To be honest though, I prefer the Defender, reliability be damned. It looks and feels the part, so please help me sort this mess out.
I think that's everything. I would really appreciate any help/advice, I'm going to go get drunk now.
Background info (quick version), I'm from New York, left my life there behind to travel full time, been in Europe for 6 months, decided to make my trip an overland one and ordered myself a Defender to fulfill that roll.
Went to Canterbury Land Rover, ordered myself a brand new Left Hand Drive Defender 9.5 weeks ago, was given a delivery date for 10 weeks later, two weeks beyond normal because of LHD, so 17 October, 4 days from now.
Fast forward to today and again, short version, after pestering my salesman for a confirmation of a delivery date, I get told that my truck was never built, in fact it won't be for another 10 weeks, although he's going to try, nice guy that he is (*#*$&(#(@*&$(#*&$#@) to see what he can do on Monday.
So, like I started with, I'm PISSED, but I need to figure out a solution and could use some help since I know that I probably won't be thinking 100% clearly anytime soon.
My thoughts:
I'm not completely married to the idea of a new vehicle, although I really do prefer it. I'm converting this into essentially my home for the next few years (bed in the back) so I think that I will have an easier time "bonding" with something that hasn't been "used" by someone else before. So ideally I buy something unused, or very very lightly used if not off the showroom floor. Assuming I go the used route, who would you all recommend as dealers? Also any tips on "clean" cars on the market?
LHD vs RHD: I've obviously been driving left hand drive cars my entire life and the 15 minutes I spent test driving a RHD car felt strange, but I'm sure it's something I could come to terms with. So this isn't the end of the world, but I'd prefer LHD.
Utility vs Station Wagon: I really wanted a Utility, but I could probably come to terms with a station wagon, but I'd rather a utility, I think they look better and I want to black out all of the rear space anyway.
Telling my dealer to sodomize himself with something rusty and jagged and finding a new salesman: I don't want to write him anything right now, again, angry, but on the off chance that I decide to order another factory car, I am almost certainly going to tell him to go &$#* himself (is cursing allowed here by the way? I'm new) and order from another dealership seeing as it makes no difference with my delivery date.
Oh, also I need to buy the truck in the UK. It's the only place in Europe that I can register it as a non-resident. Truth be told if that weren't the case I would have already bought a used Land Cruiser in Germany. To be honest though, I prefer the Defender, reliability be damned. It looks and feels the part, so please help me sort this mess out.
I think that's everything. I would really appreciate any help/advice, I'm going to go get drunk now.
