My Father, who is 81, received a voucher from Land Rover after he bought an ex-demo model from Lancaster in Gloucester. He doesn't want to do the LR Experience so has suggested that I do it instead (after all, if I hadn't bought my Freelander, he wouldn't have bought his).

So, the question is, can he transfer his voucher to me?

If he can, which is the best place to do it - Luton is nearest to me (45 minutes, 41 miles), but I could go as far as Eastnor (1hr 53 Minutes, 112 Miles), or Rockingham Castle (1 hr 52 Minutes, 100 miles).

Obviously if there isn't much difference, I'll do it at Luton, but if the consensus is that either Eastnor or Rockingham is much better I'll travel the extra distance.

Also, can I take my 14 year old son with me?

Regards,
Dave.

Last edited by davep1628 on 3rd Sep 2014 12:59 pm. Edited 2 times in total

1: Yes, provided it is not already "named"
2: General opinion is Rockingham
3: Yes, and he is likely to "have a go" on the offroad part.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Thanks Bob,

I don't think it's named, apart from My fathers name in the address on the letter.

My son will be really please if he can come along - even more so if he can "have a go" - I might have to take him to an empty car park or somewhere where he can have a go at stearing a car (might have to borrow the wife's Honda Jazz )

I'll see if any more people vote in the poll before I make a decision on the venue.

Dave.

Dave
Presumably your Dad is a "Mr Smith" or whatever and you are too! No problem!

I took my grandson to Rockingham at age 15. He had NEVER driven a car before. So the first car he drove was a Discovery 4 HSE Auto! He did the full offroad course after I had my turn. No probs!

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

That sounds great - I won't tell my son anything yet, though - it'll be a really great surprise for him if he does get a go

Dave

It's not a problem in transferring the voucher - once it's booked you will receive a confirmation in whichever name it was booked in allowing you and a guest to attend if in a Freelander or Evoque and you and two guests in any other vehicle.

No problem with a 14 year old driving providing you are happy for him to do so.

I'd strongly recommend Rockingham but then again I might be a bit biased!!

Have done Eastnor and highly recommend it. Miles and miles of tracks and plenty of deep water (when we went). Had already done the 'demo' section at Coniston and wasn't interested in any on road driving so my OH and I spent the whole time driving off road, other than a brief introduction by the instructor at the start.

Not tried Rockingham so can't compare.

Like you, Luton was the closest but the view of many is that it is too artificial.

Luton was great for the vehicle that I chose to do it in - a Defender 110.

Alcester (Ragley Hall) was my least favourite, but the lad was learning to drive an Evoque

For Discovery or Freelander, or any of the larger variants for that matter, Rockingham is the dogs danglies.  Foraging near Gaydon....
——————————————
MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

I was very disappointed at Luton, but it could be they are all like that nowadays. Silly concrete obstacles to demonstrate how to lift a wheel, not much mud or fun. And I wasn't enamoured of the supercilious instructor who made it clear my driving was rubbish (I'd have believed him, if he hadn't kept telling me "facts" about my FL2 which proved that he didn't know nearly as much as he thought he did).
And I didn't get a freebie when I bought my ex demo last year, so well done! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

So I couldn't wait any longer - I've booked myself & my son for a Freelander at Rockingham Castle on 12th October.

Well my son & I had a fantastic time at Rockingham Castle this afternoon. we both got a good session driving the Freelander around the course. I knew that these cars were good, but the things they can do and the way they do it is truly amazing!

I have to say, though, that if I ever manage to blag another Experience voucher, I will opt for the Defender and try to learn how to do all that clever stuff the hard, old fashioned way

For what it's worth. My son went on the LR Experience near Honiton a few months back and said it was OK and learned a few things. However he drives around farms daily for his job and before he could afford an FL2 (which very occasionally gets stuck) he had a Renault Megane (which often got stuck !). His view was that the Megane would have done about 90% of the Honiton course.

I've been to several Landrover Experience Centres and Eastnor is the best by far. Green Discovery 300tdi Modified,
Green td5 ES Premium "Esme"
Freelander 2 "Phoebe"
Blue Range Rover P38 "Saffi"
West Wales LSR Discovery Owners Club