I had a fun automotive Sunday this weekend. In the morning, I went offroading in the Range Rover. I found the car to be very capable, as well as quite comfortable. The model is top of the range, with a supercharged engine. MSRP was about $93,000. First we got there and they gave me my "Land Rover" wrist band. I suppose it's what Lance Armstrong would wear if he went off-roading. 
I had a Land Rover instructor with me at all times, which was very helpful. First, he explained about the car and all the offroad aids. These include a switch to set it into a lower gearing, and a second switch for "hill descent." 
Fit and finish was quite good. Though, I have to say, I am personally a big fan of wood trim, and I am kind of disappointed with luxury cars these days. They are incorporating much more aluminum or carbon fiber into their interiors, while I personally miss the days when there was lots of burl wood. 
We soon made our way to the course and starting fording streams. The car was in first gear most of the time, and we jacked up the air suspension so that it was at the highest setting. 
The RR not only goes up and down inclines really well, but it can take those inclines on the side as well. I was pretty scared we were going to tip over, but thankfully the car handled really well. We stayed fully planted. 
Funnily, when I am on an incline like this, my inclination was to steer the car towards the incline. In other words, when the car was like it was in these pictures, I kept wanting to steer to the right. It felt like by steering right, I would steer away from harm (i.e. the car tipping over to the left). But the instructor insured me that we wouldn't tip over, and that I should just hold the car straight. He was right. 
When we finished the course, we got to chill for a bit. We got to check out some of the other Land Rovers and Range Rovers that were there today. 
Inside the stables (the event was held at the U.S. Equestrian Team's training grounds and headquarters), they had a nice lunch set up, and lots of nice flowers. 
They also had other things to do, like a cooking class and some sort of perfume talk for the ladies. 
The stables are really nice. There is a real, original, Tiffany glass ceiling. There is also this glass floor below, which apparently you used to be able to walk on back in the day, but not anymore. 
On the way home, I stopped at a local car dealer, where they had an absolutely lovely XK120 roadster and E-type coupe. I really want to buy the E-type, but the maintenance scares me... 
On the way home, I also saw a nice looking 355 GTS and, in the same parking lot, a Bentley Fastback! Wow, that was a surprise. I absolutely love the Fastback. 
When I got home, I really wanted to go out for a drive in the F430. It was really windy today, but I don't often have the time just to go for a drive, so I decided to head out anyway. 
I set off. There are so many leaves on the road. It really is autumn. 
I decided to go to a scenic overlook. It really was beautiful. 
And finally, back home. 
I had a Land Rover instructor with me at all times, which was very helpful. First, he explained about the car and all the offroad aids. These include a switch to set it into a lower gearing, and a second switch for "hill descent." Fit and finish was quite good. Though, I have to say, I am personally a big fan of wood trim, and I am kind of disappointed with luxury cars these days. They are incorporating much more aluminum or carbon fiber into their interiors, while I personally miss the days when there was lots of burl wood. We soon made our way to the course and starting fording streams. The car was in first gear most of the time, and we jacked up the air suspension so that it was at the highest setting. The RR not only goes up and down inclines really well, but it can take those inclines on the side as well. I was pretty scared we were going to tip over, but thankfully the car handled really well. We stayed fully planted. Funnily, when I am on an incline like this, my inclination was to steer the car towards the incline. In other words, when the car was like it was in these pictures, I kept wanting to steer to the right. It felt like by steering right, I would steer away from harm (i.e. the car tipping over to the left). But the instructor insured me that we wouldn't tip over, and that I should just hold the car straight. He was right. When we finished the course, we got to chill for a bit. We got to check out some of the other Land Rovers and Range Rovers that were there today. Inside the stables (the event was held at the U.S. Equestrian Team's training grounds and headquarters), they had a nice lunch set up, and lots of nice flowers. They also had other things to do, like a cooking class and some sort of perfume talk for the ladies. The stables are really nice. There is a real, original, Tiffany glass ceiling. There is also this glass floor below, which apparently you used to be able to walk on back in the day, but not anymore. On the way home, I stopped at a local car dealer, where they had an absolutely lovely XK120 roadster and E-type coupe. I really want to buy the E-type, but the maintenance scares me... On the way home, I also saw a nice looking 355 GTS and, in the same parking lot, a Bentley Fastback! Wow, that was a surprise. I absolutely love the Fastback. When I got home, I really wanted to go out for a drive in the F430. It was really windy today, but I don't often have the time just to go for a drive, so I decided to head out anyway. I set off. There are so many leaves on the road. It really is autumn. I decided to go to a scenic overlook. It really was beautiful. And finally, back home. 
