You want a new car. You draw-up a shortlist. You visit the dealerships and obtain a typical ‘20-minutes around-the-block’ demonstration. Fortunately, if your research has been intense enough, you may have garnered the views of professional testers and even other customers and settled on the ‘right’ vehicle. Alternatively, a quick punt can all-too-often lead to a drawn-out drudge, with a car you do not really want.
That’s life…or it would be, if Forces Cars Direct (FCD) did not exist. While the Lincoln-based transport services provider to the Armed Forces cannot arrange longer term test sessions with all carmakers, its Affinity relationship with Volvo, a National Programme available directly through FCD (http://www.forcescarsdirect.com/new-cars/volvo), or Volvo’s dealer network, enabled not one but two long-weekend tests for, as it happens, two serving Flight-Lieutenants in the RAF, Messrs David Jobson and Berkeley Winser. Very kindly, Volvo provided an XC90 2.0-litre D4 diesel version to the former, while the latter was gifted the keys to an XC90 T8 Twin-Engine hybrid.
David was particularly enamoured by ‘his’ Volvo. He runs presently a 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel-engined Land Rover Discovery, a car he acquired to satisfy his various sporting and outdoor activities, which include clay pigeon shooting and flying model air aircraft. As much as he loved the idea of the ‘Disco’, which is currently less than a year old, it has endured a few ‘problems’ in its young life. Yet, perhaps the most disappointing aspect is its inability to drive between his work at RAF Waddington to his Pitlochry family home, in the Scottish Highlands, on a single tank of fuel.
“The Volvo XC90 proved significantly more economical than the Discovery,” he explained, “despite possessing every bit as much power (180bhp). However, the added bonus is that the XC90 feels a lot zestier on the road, while also being exceptionally comfortable, extraordinarily well-built and rewarding to drive.”
Berkeley was equally complimentary about the T8 version of the popular Volvo SUV. As a man who enjoys a performance ‘edge’, he considers that the plug-in hybrid model is not just a technological tour-de-force but that it also provides silent in-town running for in excess of 30-miles, with amazing sports car-like verve on the open road.
“I drove it to Wales for the weekend,” he declared, “where I was able to exploit its exceptional road-holding and handling on a trip of more than 800-miles. While I never used the plug-in facility, I hardly needed to, because the brake energy recovery system and the switchable power mode meant that I could rebuild the car’s in-built battery storage on downhill sections, or when braking. The XC90 T8 hybrid is an ingenious car that appeals to my technical brain.”
While David underscored that he had enjoyed a previous business relationship with FCD and would contemplate very seriously the prospect of buying a Volvo XC90 as his next car, Berkeley had also been checking out the company’s website for his next choice of vehicle and both gentlemen stated that FCD was on their shortlists. The fact that up to a cool £5,000 saving on an Inscription specification XC90 D5 is on the cards through the FCD-Volvo Affinity partnership will surely have great appeal.
Forces Cars Direct works closely with both former, as well as serving members of the nation’s Armed Forces. It supports actively several Forces’ charities, including RAFA and SSAFA, and is a Silver Award accredited employer under the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). Its exceptionally strong relationships across the full range of manufacturers and their models mean that many privileges and opportunities are available through FCD that may not be elsewhere.
