I've got a lowly S and did not get stuck once in the snow last year or the year before. Just make sure you're tyres aren't rubbish. TR is by no means essential as you still have full time 4wd, just without the wet nursing some people seem to need. Defenders don't have TR and you don't see any of those stuck in the snow.

mojo wrote:

Defenders don't have TR and you don't see any of those stuck in the snow.

I have had the S since March 08 and it has been no problem in snow the last 2 years. A fine vehicle
to own with none of the many electrical problems of the higher specced Freelanders. I would imagine
most other S owners have had little or no problems also. disco td5 gone at last.

Tigger wrote:

Dave wrote:

Terrain response is not a big deal and is really a gimmick. Careful use of the right foot and it's not needed as the FL2 has traction control anyway. Never used it on my FL2 or D3 and doubt I'll use it on the D4 either.

At the end of the day it's down to personal choice and available funds.

Just my 2p worth

I beg to differ after I took my training course at Land Rover's Honiton off road training course during the summer. I spent half a day continually driving around their course with one of their instructors, including attempts in each of the TR modes and could certainly feel the difference in the way the car reacted in each of the modes. I too would have dismissed it as a gimmick until they proved the differences to me.

[quote="Tigger"][quote="mojo"]Defenders don't have TR and you don't see any of those stuck in the snow.[/quote]

But they do (usually) have All Terrain tyres, lockable diffs and a low range gearbox; this is not a fair analogy.[/quote]

And you could fit AT tyres to an FL2 if need be. Admittedly the fl has no low range but that doesn't matter in snow does it? I also thought you had to retrofit lockable diffs to a bog standard defender. Anyway, LR experience bod said that the FL2 was the best model in the snow.

I have been informed by other members on here that although the FL2 is permanent 4WD, it puts about 80-90% of the power to the front wheels and automatically puts some more power to the back if the occasion calls for it, i.e snow when the TC detects wheel slip but with one of the TR modes engaged, it puts the power down 50:50.

Back to the main point about model, I agree it is what you prefer. I always had my sights set on a GS as it strikes a great balance between equipment and price. The sat nav etc didn't interest me but the GS includes Bluetooth system, TR, cruise control, front fog lights and a rather nice Alpine audio system with subwoofer in the boot. Those items were just what I wanted. The only option pack I liked was cold climate which gave me heated windscreen and washer jets. Very useful on those frosty mornings.

Whichever you go for, welcome to FL2 ownership  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

deafener has a center dif lock as standard, comes in handy on muddy slopes but would be terrible locked while moving on snow useful you where stuck in a ditch etc maybe 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

Daves right and wrong TR helps you do the correct thing, but without it you can get along just as well if you have an idea and practice how to drive on the chosen surfaces 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

Thank you everyone. I'm glad that i asked now.

Well i found another one last night so i'm ringing the dealer first thing and hopefully going through this morning. This one is at Duckworths.

Thanks for all of the advice. Really helpful. I wouldnt be off-roading, we bought it in case we get snow and ice hanging around for weeks like we did last year and ive also got 2 dogs so it will be handy for that

They definitely work with dogs; I have the border collie hair in the boot to prove it! (though I'm sure that someone will be along to contradict me again, at length, in a few minutes! )

Please keep us posted on what you find and hope that you find what you're looking for

Last edited by Tigger on 26th Oct 2011 6:46 am. Edited 1 time in total

Im setting off at 8am as it is Boston so nearly 1.5 hrs away. Hope i'm not wasting my time

It's worth making a trip to find the right car. I really hope it's exactly what you're looking for but, remember, be prepared to walk away if it isn't perfect; it's very easy to buy a car anyway just because of how far you've traveled to see it!

Good luck!

PS: What colour is it? (warning: this will open a huge can of worms! )

Hi, I have been looking recently and noticed quite a lot of 10 registered HSE's with 10- 20k miles at the dealers, they are all around £26k. One dealer told me they were ex Land Rover, would these be the cars that have been used for off road demonstartions etc?

RJS wrote:

Hi, I have been looking recently and noticed quite a lot of 10 registered HSE's with 10- 20k miles at the dealers, they are all around £26k. One dealer told me they were ex Land Rover, would these be the cars that have been used for off road demonstartions etc?

chicken george wrote:

Daves right and wrong TR helps you do the correct thing, but without it you can get along just as well if you have an idea and practice how to drive on the chosen surfaces

No no no no no.....I might not always be right but I am NEVER wrong  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650