Howdy yall. Im currently stationed on Lakenheath AFB, UK. Im sending a car over here from home but i have a dilemma. I had an 02 Ford Escape(little suv) with low miles that i can send over here or my 03 2500. I miss the truck so much i cant stop thinking about it but everyone on base warns me against it. The roads are tiny as hell which i can deal with but the parking spots around the towns are even smaller. Insurance would be a little more than the escape as well. Am i being a stupid redneck for sending her over here? Should i just send over the escape and not worry about the parking/driving around town?Why couldn't i get stationed down south! Let me know wut yall think. Thanks

 

There's a member on this site in the UK with a 2nd gen if I remember right. Hopefully he'll chime in and give you some advice.

Having lived in 'Urp for a few years, I'd guess it'd be a wash when it comes to fuel costs (Escape gets slightly better mpgs, but diesel is cheaper- at least it used to be. Maybe you get an AAFES discount on fuel anyway?). Yes, you'd definitely stick out from the crowd in the CTD. Sometimes that's kind of fun too though. If that's not your thing pick the Escape for usability.

 

send the truck!!! When you take up a parking space, then maybe people won't park next to you and you could avoid nicks and dings. Check local law and make sure you won't get a ticket for being bigger and parking it some where.

 

If all you want to do is drive up and down the motorways then it would be OK except for the amount and cost of fuel you would use. However you must realize by now that most vehicles are VERY small over there and even those have a hard time finding parking spaces even in the car parks. I visit quite a bit and always rent a car at Heathrow, I find that driving has become much more congested especially in London, I personally wouldn't want to have to use my 2500 as a daily driver in the UK. I say leave it at home and it will be there in one piece for you when you return. Remember what they say "when in Rome"

 

Forgot to mention... I grew up there so I do know the country fairly well. I used to have a small (Ford Transit) van converted for RV use. I once got the mirrors stuck between the buildings on both sides of the road trying to get down to the sea side road. I ended up backing all the way up the hill.

 

ahh i knew what the right answer was busboy haha. the truck does get better mileage on the highway but its about the same around town which is where msot of my driving would be done(on base to and from work). Ill send the escape over and my pops will take good care of it for me. He loves to send me pictures and videos of him tooling around in the snow.....god i hate him for that. sacrifices to serve this great nation thats all right?

 

Contact member 'Motorama'. He currently has a 3rd gen in the UK and can probably give you a rundown of all the issues.

MikeyB

 

I would strongly suggest getting a vehicle that is common over there. I have several friends who have spent time in Europe and the UK and all of them have had problems with the vehicles they have brought. Parts are much harder to come by and if you ever want anyone else to work on it, that person will be hard to find. The local cars clearly work well for what they do so I would consider one of them.

 

Just buy an inexpensive Land Rover (if you need a bigger veichle) or a smaler sports car, perhaps an older BMW or Jaguar for tooling around over there. ?You can pick them up for very little and not worry with all the shipping hassles. Shoot, I would love to import an older 330d diesel. Go enjoy them!

 

Very carefully calculate how much $$ you will save by driving something other than the CTD. Upon your return, sink those savings on insurance and fuel and parking fees, etc., in some sort of upgrade to your CTD that would be cool to have, but that ordinarily you would never get. For example if it were me I would get a Ranch Hand or some other kind of aftermarket heavy duty front bumper. Is this a justifiable expense for my CTD given how I use the truck? No, but I want one anyway.

Send the dough to pops and have him put it on in time for your return.

If my family were going to Europe on vacation and one of my daughters could not go, I might buy her some ordinarily unjustifiable gift as compensation. However, i have found that telling your wife that you are doing something for your truck as though it were one of the kids is usually greeted less than enthusiastically. I am not giving you this rationale to use on her--it is for you.

Make up a different one for her. I can teach you how to fool yourself, but when it comes to fooling your wife and family, you are on your own.

 

haha thanks for the comments guys. i would have never thought of some of this stuff. it really is time for a lift and rims and tires . Even if i do have to wait two years. Thanks again yall

 

I say take the truck for sure!! You already miss it.

I have been sick with the flu for a few days and my truck sat in my driveway. I finally had to take it out last night just to get a hamburger and get out of my house. Gosh it was so nice to hear that Cummins purr again!


Take your truck. It might be a pain to park at times.......but you will work around it. And if you know you are going somewhere really tight and confined, just ride with a buddy in his little "nothingmobile". All the while your MIGHTY CUMMINS will be sitting back at the base waiting for a more opportune time to show those UKites what a real truck is! I bet they will get a real kick out of seeing it! TAKE THE TRUCK!

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https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...er.php?u=41092

And here is a link to "Motorama". He drives his Cummins over there. You will regret it if you don't bring over the truck. Don't punish yourself like that. IM serious. You only live once. How many guys are going to be able say they drove their CUMMINS powered diesel pickup in the UK?

Sell that silly 'escape' (chick's vehicle anyway) and pocket the money.


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Hi all. I didnt realise how out of date my profile was. My 98 is long gone.

I would say it really depends on how you're gonna use the truck. I've got 2 CTD's, an 04.5 3500 4x4 and an 05 2500 2WD which i use most days for work stuff and towing my car trailer but i never use them for going into town, or to a restaurant or whatever as they are just too big to park.

As much as i'd like to say hell yeah, bring it over i honestly believe it will drive you crazy if you do.

'Absence makes the heart grow fonder' LOL

 

I have owned my Landrover since 1977, they are a lot of fun and would work OK especially around town, they are not very fast though and struggle to keep 75 MPH while cars doing 100MPH are getting flashed to clear the fast lane on the motorway. (you can't pass on the inside)