You'll love the FL2 although it is a fair bit bigger than a Yeti. They are a very reliable car.

Not sure what you mean about production moving to China? Just out of curiosity where is the Yeti built these days?

"All UK Yetis are built in Kvasiny, in the Czech Republic, but production sites exist in Russia as well as India since 2010 and we have decided to produce in China as well from 2013"



Land Rover will manufacture the Freelander and Evoque in China
Chief executive Dr Ralph Speth told the BBC: “We will start with either the Freelander or the Evoque.” But he also confirmed that the Range Rover, and the Range Rover Sport, are unlikely to be built abroad.

“To build the very complex products, we will always be here in the UK,” he said.

The Freelander is already assembled in Pune, India from kits sent out from the UK, and the Land Rover Defender is assembled in several locations, including Kenya.

But the Shanghai plant will be the company's first true manufacturing plant abroad, and will use Chinese parts. The company insists that foreign expansion is no threat to jobs in the UK.

Welcome

I'm not entirely sure that UK LR's will be made in China, the reason I've heard they're moving there is for sales purely in China. The import taxes in China pretty much triple the cost of the car, by producing in the country they avoid these taxes. And seeing as though China is the quickest expanding market for pretty much every car maker...

Our's is a 2009 HSE TD4 Auto, fantastic car, and personally I think it's better built and drives nicer than the updated 2011 MY cars (which were introduced in 2010 on 60 reg plates). The auto's lovely and smooth.

On a good run you'll get 35 mpg (occasionally slightly more) but short town trips will lower this into the mid 20's (NPinks can back this up again!). Towing, the FL is fantastic. And the driving position gives excellent visibility when reversing.

Get a car with a FSH and you should be ok...all the parts are proven in other vehicles in Ford's stable and there are no major issues to be aware of (steering rack not included, a used car would have had this problem by now if it's going to fail). With a 2009 model you won't have any DPF issues either, something you'll read alot about on this site!

+1 recommending getting a full size spare. Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Thanks Big Dave for the heads up on the pre-facelift 2009 model

Went for a quick spin in an SD4 White edition FL2 (GS spec with painted wheels and leather seats) this afternoon, these are my first impressions:

Good +
Liked the high driving position
The auto very smooth
Very easy to drive and reverse
Golf clubs fit across the boot
My wife found the car easy to drive too

+/- Didn't feel like a car, more utilitarian

Poor -
Seat base a bit short
Engine very noisy

On the basis of this very short drive we would be happy to get one

Next step is to try a RX400h, I'll keep you posted

I've read the technical section of this forum and I've decided not to purchase a LR product.

Many thanks for all the replies I've had to my questions etc. and Iam very happy that I found this forum before buying a FL2. I know many FL2 owners are in a state of bliss and some are pulling their hair out and most are in between but the one common denominator is Land Rover and their attitude to owners when their vehicles fail.

Many thank, this is a wonderful forum and this is my only regret


.

You're biggest regret might be that you didn't buy a FL2. But that means more for the rest of us

With less than 1% of Freelanders registered with users on here and a great many of those with no posts that is a very short sighted decision not to buy, based on the technical section on here.

Good luck with whatever you get.

People with problems are going to post about them, those who are happy with the service they receive are more likely to just get on with things! Forums like this will always concentrate these issues and make them appear magnified!

I had some issues with the Stratstone dealer (Doncaster) we bought our car from (they misled us on the state of the cars service history) but Landrover UK Customer Service where actually very helpful and through them applying pressure to the dealership through their franchise manager we where offered an acceptable solution to the issue by Stratstone!

Farnells in Leeds where I have taken the car for some minor repairs and checks have been brilliant, no quibbles about minor warranty repairs (headlight washer not working, high level brake light leaking and lubication on the powerfold mirrors) and no questions about servicing a noisy differential!

They have also provided really good customer service, attentive, helpful and always provide a courtesy call the day after a visit to make sure everything is ok! They always wash and vac the car and the dealership itself is always welcoming and the coffee isn't bad either!

We have had our FL2 for just over 7 months now and it has had 1 visit to the dealer for the above minor issues all of which have been resolved in one dealer visit, all under warranty, no questions asked! For all the horror stories that people share on here there are good dealerships out there!

I guess the issue is that some dealerships are not providing the service that people expect, which leads to a bit of a postcode lottery - perhaps someone local to you could provide feedback on local dealers to sway your decision?

I can understand your reasoning not getting an LR product because of the 'technical' section here...it's enough to put anyone off!!

However, do bare in mind that forums are usually a place for sorting issues...few people in post about how amazing their experiences are with a vehicle compared to the people with problems.

I have a Golf GTI and the GTI forum would put you off one too!! The Lexus forum may be the same?? I have a couple of tales about them too...although they are known for customer service.

Good luck with what you buy, my advice is: don't let forums put you off too much, and there are LR dealers that do care and will go out their way. (Guy Salmon dealers are part of Sytner group, and they have BMW dealers, Porsche etc etc so the service is on a par ) Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Well having said I wouldn't get a FL2, the wife and I did the 1/2 day experience at Wessington Farm, last week, in their FL2 HSE Auto and we were both very impressed They now include a handbrake test from about 40mph to demo the electronic brake which was interesting as no warning was given We also tried the decent control on road and all the other traction options to experience the different engine maps etc. and prep for the off-road session.

The off-road part of the session was great and being my first time I couldn't believe just how well the FL2 performed, the only limitation seamed to be ground clearance and my ability but I only touched down once.

We did the Lexus RX400 Hybrid test drive, twice, and in my view it isn't good enough and didn't feel "special" enough.

So the FL2 is back in scope

lexus = kitchen appliance on wheels. also not any help to the UK economy what so ever. and and I say ugly ? 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

CG. I'm looking at buying a new British built caravan, with external BBQ point so I can eat lots and lots of chicken on holiday.
Can I have your blessing?

no 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

So that's a yes then!