Ernie Steps Out

Prior to 1998 I had never been to a Motorshow, because as far as I was concerned cars were just a means of getting from one place to another, hence the justifiable ownership to me of a Holden Barina, that's a Vauxhall Corsa to us Poms.
So when I was given two free tickets to attend the Motorshow in Sydney, I thought well why not, it will be a cheap day out, won’t it?

I’d heard stories of how some people get totally carried away by the glamour of the show and end up buying a new car that they do not really need or more importantly can’t afford. Half naked models spread over the bonnet of a Ford Capri! You know that you want me? Yes I can see just how easily it would be, but willpower that’s what’s required, a level head and plenty of willpower.

Everything was fine until I came across the Land Rover stand; it was Rule Britannia with a slight German accent. Deep down something from within was stirring my Pommy heritage, small at first but growing bigger by the minute. It was love at first sight from the moment that I first lay eyes on her, there she sat shiny and alluring, she smelt nice. The new Land Rover Freelander, I just knew that I had to have one; yes I had succumbed to the Motorshow disease. 

A few weeks later after a test drive and quite a bit of lobbying to the English Nurse to release finances, we were the proud owners of a brand new shiny Land Rover Freelander 1.8 Xei
soft-top in Epsom Green.
A whole new world began to open up for us as our weekends
and holidays were spent exploring the far reaches of NSW, even outback. Not for us the shopping mall car parks of Sydney!

Even with all the problems and frustrations that we had with
that early Freelander there was still a certain pride that only
Land Rover owners will understand. My love for Solihull
and England’s finest blossomed, so much in fact that we
purchased another one, albeit a different more rugged model.