You are a legend. I buy a golf club while swmbo is away and get quizzical looks as to why when she returns....you plan on 'surprising' her with a tank lmao

What can I say .....

Im a qualified driver and commander of both the CVRT and FV432 from many moons ago when i was a younger man playing army before i decided id rather do something a little more sedate lol.

I think your nuts. Having spent many many an hour operating them, they are a maintenance nightmare, that said, we did operate them heavily laden, cross country and flat out everywhere so its no wonder they broke all the time. Regarding driving tanks on the road. We are mandated to have both a Vehicle driver AND vehicle Commander. This might only be a military insurance clause, but I can fully see why aa vehicle commander would be a requirement. You field of view isn't exactly 360degrees from the driver hatch.

FWIW, The FV 432 is slooooooooooooow. If you could get the later revised "Bulldog" version(came in around 2007 iirc) they had a much more powerful engine, however still had crap suspension that meant you still couldn't nail it cross country like the CVRT and Challengers etc.

The CVRT is alot quicker, lighter etc etc , but if you really want something that will be awesome look at a Shielder. These were for making minfields with scatterable mines. Since they are out of service there should be a few of these knocking about now. Better than a CVRT and FV432 cross country largely due to the extra roadwheel and better torsion beams and from personnel experience I can tell you it is the FASTEST tank cross country in the British Army.

All valid points vRSy, use will be purely recreational so wear and tear fairly limited.

Baring in mind depreciation is practially non-existant a few grand per year on running repairs is not really the end of the world.

The key is obviously to get a good one. A set of rubber pads for road work is £600 all round and they'll last me several years.

Which brings me onto... the need to be a bit sensible.

So before I go and make a huge mistake I'm going to do my driving test for one.

Then take a bit of time and look around. Rather than surprise the Mrs.

While I was very keen on the Sabre CVRT, because they have a gun, it seems this keeps the price rather high.

For half the money you can get another of the CVRT series, like the APC and command/Sultan ones in similar condition.

So logically if I am happy with a CVRT, blowing double the money just so it looks a bit cooler may not be the way to go.

I'll have a look at the others you mentioned too.

Going to do the test and a bit of research first.

At least that way I can test drive one first too!

One good thing, at least I have somewhere to keep it out of the bad weather over winter.

i love it!

Didnt Dom Jolly get a white UN tank road legal a few years back?

On Sy's recommendation, Richard, here's a Shielder, and you could carry the Citigo around too

http://www.mod-sales.com/direct/vehicle/,37,/44504/Alvis_Shielder.htm

Nice find Brim. Cheers.

Not really the look I was going for, but fairly modern, diesel and a practical load bay.

What more could you want? (other than a big gun obviously)

Shame it only seats two though.

Where do I put the family?

I love the Scimitar CVRT and the Warrior AFV

Where do I put the family?

On the load bay, obviously

Another reason to get the Warrior, It can hold a squad of 8 in the back with a sun roof (ok its an opening for a mortar) with a large hydraulic rear loading door :p

On to the really important questions: When you get a tank ... are you going to paint it yellow?

I can remember seeing on telly about a guy ho had a yellow tank and drove it around London. It was unreliable and kept breaking down..

I'm dreading what your gonna buy next after all those nice/mental cars now a tank lol

quick question, Richard; have you told Jabbasport yet as they may need a bigger hoist :think:

Watch out JabbaSport

I don't know/never met Richard but I have to say you appear to live life to the full and that seems quite rare nowadays, Huge respect to you

Just needs a bike rack, inflatable dolphin and a wicker picnic basket to complete the WTF look.

This one Richard son love

Built in AirCOnditioning - what's not to like?

This will need a bit of paperwork completing plus demilitarisation - but should impress the neighbours.

This will need a bit of paperwork completing plus demilitarisation - but should impress the neighbours.

Especially where all 44 tons of it starts munching up local roads Mind you, the description says Commander Vehicle version has Navigation built in ! Nothing about AirCon...

But this one may be more practical and less problematic.

But this one may be more practical and less problematic.

We've been looking at these in the office today.

One of the few wheeled armoured vehicles I like the (odd) looks.

Could be a good stepping stone.

This will need a bit of paperwork completing plus demilitarisation - but should impress the neighbours.

Don't think I'll be able to do pay at pump for 1000l

Don't think I'll be able to do pay at pump for 1000l

Not to mention the fact that at 3.6m wide I may struggle in the East End of London.

I think armoured corps have tankers in their fleets for a reason

Not to mention the fact that at 3.6m wide I may struggle in the East End of London.

What they don't mention is that it's normally 4x4, but has another 4 retractable drive wheels, so you may be able to "get through" width restrictions (well for values of "get through" anyway).