I've got my eye on a nice looking FL2 but it's quite a distance away. At first I was quite nervous at potentially buying sight unseen but with the distance selling regulations it would seem I get a pretty cool 7 day no questions asked right to return once I've received it. I would potentially just be out for the cost of sending back (and hassle, of course).

It's from a LR dealer who I have a good impression of (both online and my conversations with them) so no reason not to trust.

Has anyone else got experience buying their freelander sight unseen?

I don't think the distance selling rules will apply unless you buy and they deliver to you.

i would put a refundable deposit on the car and then go and see it. You will have to go to see it and agree the sale. The dealer may then be prepared to have the car delivered to you to save you a second journey.

Whatever you do good luck. Remember there are lots of good cars around at the moment.

Bryan

Yeah, make sure you state that it is a holding deposit subject to viewing as opposed to a deposit to purchase.  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Did the same a month ago from a LR dealer 30mls away, all discussions/negotiations on phone/email including price for mine , put a deposit on it with proviso to refund and walk away if either of us were unhappy on viewing .
Pleased to say both parties were happy and deal done on visit .

Is it a mainline LR dealer? I have heard of dealers swapping stock so perhaps you could get it moved to a closer dealer?

Can't understand buying unseen when they are only 30 miles away,

I bought mine unseen, except for photos, from James , now at sponsors Hadley Green LR, it was totally as described, when I picked up on a minor niggle (a aux port) it was posted to me without any issue, I live in leeds they were London Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I bought mine sight unseen on auction through the well known site and was lucky, but then I did get it for a very low price and still under warranty.
Bearing in mind the colossal investment i feel it crazy to buy sight unseen; you might for example find a 100% perfect car that's been smoked in for 3 years and it smells.
Mine stunk of ladies perfume but at least that faded now.
By all means agree a nominal refundable deposit however please do go and view.
Be aware that psychologically with a deposit paid that your brain will arrive at the dealer as a buyer and your brain will find it difficult to walk away or negotiate.
Do please keep the forum updated.
Good luck 2010GS Auto ex Celeb, Santorini Black, 2011 facelift , spoiler, spats, mudflaps, LED footwell lamps, Witter detach,
Other cars:-
1958 & 1959 Austin J40 Pedal Cars under restoration (I make many J40 parts)
If you have an Austin J40 or Pathfinder Pedal Car looking for a new home pls PM me.
2009 Meriva

Last edited by fredastaire on 23rd Mar 2013 1:43 pm. Edited 1 time in total

bjb134 wrote:

I don't think the distance selling rules will apply unless you buy and they deliver to you.

They would apply But I also agree with other comments about seeing it and driving it first. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Thanks for all the feedback, good to get different perspectives.

As I understand it the distance regulations apply as long as there is no face to face contact as part of the buying process. In this case, I would be getting it delivered to me.

I didn't realise I could do a refundable deposit based on a satisfactory viewing - that's good to know. I'm not averse to going to check it out but it's a good 3 hour drive so would only want to do it to finalise the deal vs exploratory.

Re the smoke / perfume comment: that's a good point. With the distance selling thing I could return for that (you don't need to have a reason) although i'd incur the cost of getting it back to the dealer and with the hassle I could see myself just living with it (which perhaps is an argument against doing it).

Plenty to ponder - thanks!

Interesting...appears that whatever the nature of deposit I put down during the 'distance' phase it cannot be held if I don't go ahead with the purchase, even if I visit to conclude the deal.

Quote:

A consumer has to come to my showroom to collect the car, so does this mean this isn’t a distance contract?
For the DSRs to apply there must be no face to face contact for the purpose of making the contract up to the point when it is concluded. A contract is concluded when a binding agreement comes into existence, ie; when the consumer commits to buying and you commit to selling the car. It will therefore usually be irrelevant if there is contact on delivery, because the commitment to buy and sell will have already been made. The DSRs do not apply where you and the consumer make no binding contractual commitment until the car is either delivered to the consumer or they collect the car from your premises but, in these cases, the consumer will be free not to go ahead with the purchase and cannot be required to forfeit any prepayments or deposits.

When I bought mine they met me halfway for the test drive. I drove 2 hours up to leeds and they drove it down from Durham so i could have a look. Its always worth seeing a car before you buy. When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

We brought ours from James Edwards Preston, some 200 miles away, I put down £1000 deposit and told the chap at the garage that I expect it to be as per his description and photos. It was better than I expected and he also confessed that he wanted to ensure that we did not have a wasted journey. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again with a Land Rover dealer. 2009 FL2 GS
1985 90Tdi

I bought mine from a fair way away, but travelled to inspect and test drive it first.

This was because I'd viewed one at a dealer local to me and whilst it all seemed to be what I wanted in the event after a good poke round basically it was fine externally but a bit scruffy and uncared for internally. Stains on seats that hadn't quite been successfully cleaned out, the DAB radio didn't work.

Coincidentally, the day I travelled to see the one I bought, I also looked at another one, next city fro where I bought. Now I'd seen a photo of the vehicle which had been sent to me by one of the sales admins. It had a towbar fitted. When I got there the salesman had arranged for the towbar to be removed and said as far as he knew it had not been used for towing.

I bought mine new unseen from hunters in Southampton and they had a driver drive it up to me...Did a delivery inspection at the house and then drove the guy to the train station..