Initial impressions are that it feels like driving a Rover 800 on top of a waterbed. BMW 2.5 TD lump isn't quite as dog slow as I expected it to be. Cruises OK at legal motorway speeds without too much noise and vibrations. Air suspension works well and gives a better ride than the 86-92 Range Rovers I've owned in the past. Super comfy waftmobile over distances. Not too bad on fuel.
So why did I buy this stripped out Solihull shitbox?
TBH, I'm not entirely sure myself. I do need a dog-friendly car which my Ioniq wasn't. I used to get asked whether I'm happy to carry dogs in my taxi and my answer was yes, except my own as she shits and pukes whenever she's had to be transported by car. She hated my Ioniq so much she'd pull on her lead to go the long way to avoid walking past it, even when I dragged her past the Hyundai the sound of it opening its mirrors as we walked past would put the shits up her! I'm hoping that a different vehicle may make her a little more car confident.
Another dog related thing to consider is due to the separation anxiety from both whippet and Claim_Bird our only chance of a holiday involves me doing a bub tribute act and buying a caravan so we can take the pets with us to dog friendly campsites. Due to the Ioniq being an auto hybrid without a towing rating I'd have had to have bought a tow car anyway.
Interesting shade of green. There's still a few of these floating about here but I don't think they sold a base spec one in the States, they were all mostly fully loaded with options like mudflaps and spare wheel covers.
My parents had a '99 A4 in which their dog would repeatedly chuck up if she had to travel more than 10 minutes. Replaced with a Mazda 3 and now the dog apparently loves to go places.
My friend had one of these,an R plate diesel manual and was meant to be rather a low spec but had digital hvac, leather heated seats too. Was down as an auto but had manual box. He barely seen more than 21 mpg out of it though. Sold it as he wanted another disco but ended up buying an ldv convoy flatbed. I must say they are rather growing on me though.
