Hi Guys

I'm a new poster here, but have been a member at Disco3 for over 5 years and owned a Disco 3 since Nov 2004 and earlier models before that.

My wife needs a new car and we're looking at various options, but probably top of the list at the moment is a FL2.

She currently drives a Galaxy (don't start) - which she quite likes, and wouldn't mind another - but, would also like 4WD as she spends most of her time driving round lanes taking the kids to school etc. Fine in the summer, but can be a bit hairy in winter as there are quite a few slopes which can become slippy.

Budget is up to about £14K, maybe a little more, but hundereds not thousands! So what should we get?

Some thoughts:

Must haves:

4WD
5 doors!
At least 5 seats and room for a biggish dog.
Reasonable stereo.
Rear PDC
Front passenger air-bag disabling.

Nice to have, but far from essential:

Leather
iPod / mp3 playability (or possibility to add it)
Heated seats
Front PDC
Bluetooth phone (or possibility to add it)

Really not needed:

Sun roof
Fancy wheels
Sat Nav
Fancy stereo
Significant off road ability

This list may change / be adapted as time goes on!

SO, what does everyone think we should be looking at? Ideally, we'd like something with about 25-35,000 miles (or less!). I've just started looking around, and just about within budget and mileage have seen:

S: 2009 09
GS: 2008
HSE: 2007 57

Nice as it would be to have an HSE, I don't think we need all the 'kit', unless we stumbled across a fantastic bargain.

It will be used mainly for school runs (about 20 mins each way), shopping trips and transporting the dog around etc. All things going to plan, I'll be getting a new or nearly new Disco 4 sometime this year, so that will be our main vehicle for family trips / holidays / towing etc.

Thoughts and advice gratefully received. Also, is there an easy reference where I can see the different model's specifications - ideally as at 2007-2009 as that looks to be the likely age range we'll be looking at.

Many thanks.

XS spec year 08 for you

1/2 leather
bluetooth
front rear park
no sat nav
no sunroof

mine was worth 17,000 to trade in at 30000 miles a few months ago, but I understand prices have slipped since.

in 08 gs had no bluetooth but parrots can be fitted At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Thanks CG.

What are the main differences between a GS and an XS at that age? There don't seem to be too many XSs around, not for that sort of price / mileage anyway.

Are there any specific 'extras' that might have been fitted that are worth looking out for?

I've also seen a few with body kits (is this HST - or is that something different?). Are these worth having or to be avoided?!

Hst kit is classed as fugly by many, me especially

xs has better radio, door mirror lights, nicer dash trim, slightly different alloys.

usual useful extras include privacy glass,side tubes or steps.

expect to pay a premium for black paint worth every penny


Avoid cars with towbars towing caravans will have wrecked the suspension, engine and gears. especially on manuals as the clutch is a bit fragile even before towing  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Thanks again.

Does the GS have the half leather and rear PDF?

Is the auto box better? Or is that one of those debates that could start a multi-page thread - and probably has if I hit search properly?

Calcul@tor wrote:

Is the auto box better? Or is that one of those debates that could start a multi-page thread - and probably has if I hit search properly?

Debatable (at length), yes and yes again.

Calcul@tor wrote:

and room for a biggish dog.

She's a lab - so not huge and heavy. Yep, just bounces up without a second thought.

Last weekend, we were going away for a couple of days and, obviously sensing 'packing' and not wanting to be left behind, she jumped straight in as soon as I'd opened the top half, before I'd even had chance to lower the bottom half! So the FL2 should be fine.

But thanks for the thought.

chicken george wrote:

Hst kit is classed as fugly by many, me especially

xs has better radio, door mirror lights, nicer dash trim, slightly different alloys.

usual useful extras include privacy glass,side tubes or steps.

expect to pay a premium for black paint worth every penny


Avoid cars with towbars towing caravans will have wrecked the suspension, engine and gears. especially on manuals as the clutch is a bit fragile even before towing

No need to concern yourself if it shows signs of having a towbar, the transmission will be fine, just watch out if it has 18" pretend HSE wheels (Iffy's) though, we don't want any more members becoming a laughing stock

Ignore him the clutch on a vanners car will be burnt out as they cannot reverse for toffee, many vanners on here comment on how the clutch smells if they try and reverse.

look for wheels like this ... sweet
 At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Thanks guys - I think!

Other than 'the bay' and Auto T, are there any other good places to look for second hand FL2s?

There's obviously the LR site - but I suspect I'm unlikely to get a bargain there!

So, where else is it worth looking?

Many thanks

This site has a few on offer by members at the moment, you will pay over the odds at a dealership but should anything go wrong then hopefully it will be put right, unlike the private sector. So save some money in the purchase privately and hope for trouble free motoring or over the odds with a warranty, its a gamble either way

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic9694.html
http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic9688.html

Hi I just bought a 58 2008 GS with 30K on the clock, only extra a full LR tow bar - dont get as an after market fit as LR charge a fortune and you dont pay extra by having one already on a second hand F2. Cost me £14800 with no road tax - came with the remainder of the LR warranty until 1st Jan and then a full non LR dealer warranty for a year from 1st Jan 2012.
Call me and I can give you more details. Simon

Last edited by Simon67 on 30th Aug 2011 7:32 am. Edited 1 time in total

Any luck in your search yet?