Hi All,

Me again! Well after my other thread about wanting a Freelander 2, I've paid a deposit and booked a test drive in one for Saturday. I've only seen the car in a few pics but it's raised a couple of questions that I'm sure someone on here will know the answers too....

The car is a 2010 10 plate TD4 HSE.

Firstly its got black wing mirrors rather than body coloured. Was this a standard feature?

Secondly, it also only says Freelander 2 and TD4 on the badges on the back, nothing about HSE, again is that common?

Thanks in advance

Dan

Some don't have the HSE badge - there was a thread on here a while ago. It should have all the bells and whistles - leather seats, satnav, parking aids, sunroof, top grade radio. If it's from a LR dealer they should be able to show you the spec, and you would have a period to reject the car if need be. I think it should say HSE in the service book. If you know the reg you can register on TOPIx and look up the build details of the car.
Edit: maybe not. I think you would need the VIN for that. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Hi,

We'll I had the test drive and to be fair other than a few bodywork scratches (which the dealer would sort) the car drove and looked great.

However, after looking through the paperwork and checking the service book a couple of things rang some alarm bells and to be honest I asked for my deposit back and eventually walked away. Just wondering what anyone else thinks of my reasoning?

The car is a 10 plate HSE that's done 36,000 miles. The car was serviced at LR Aberdeen at 16,000 miles and just over a year old. However the second service was done at 33,000 miles in September 2013. Now the thing that rang alarm bells. The 2nd service was done at Renault in Aberdeen!! I also thought that servicing should be either annually or at 15,000 miles whichever was soonest, so a 4 year old car should have had 4 service stamps?

Now am I over reacting? I was offered a fair part ex on the Seat. Not brilliant but not bad and what I was prepared to accept. They also said that as the car would be inspected by them and with the deal that's on at the weekend I'd be fine as it has the 2 year warranty and 2 free services.

I'm just really surprised that they're offering an 'Approved Used Vehicle' that hasn't even got full LR service history. (And if I understand the service schedules, not enough services!) I also think that regardless of what subsequent history the car has, the fact it isn't all LR history will affect the resale value. They weren't prepared to shift on the price at all or even throw in mats! I also tried to get a full service thrown in prior to sale but again no as it had been serviced within 3,000 miles!!!

Question is, was I right to walk away? There aren't too many HSE's for sale that are approved used for under £20k and with reasonable miles on them. 10 plates with less than 40,000 miles all seem to be about the same amount.

I'm disappointed as I was keen and had accepted the hike in fuel I'd be paying over the year compared to the Seat. I know that there will probably be another used event in October, but by then the Seat's mileage will be even higher and worth even less! I really like the idea of the HSE and it's toys with the peace of mind of no big bills for a few years thrown in!

Be interested to see if you think I've been over cautious or not?

Daniel

Always trust instinct and gut reaction. You did right. * GONE. GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* GONE.2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Rocket ship. 33mpg.
* Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

Forget the mileage, on age alone that car should have had by now:

12 months - A service
24 months - B service (incs all filters)
36 months - A service (plus brake fluid changed)
48 months - B service

It is outrageous that a Land Rover dealer would select that as an 'Approved Used Vehicle'.

Guys,

Thanks for the reassurance. Having slept on it now I'm convinced I've made the right decision and even if the dealer called me up offering a discount on the car I wouldn't take it. I'm annoyed that I drove 150 miles yesterday having paid a £1000 deposit against the car only to find it's not got the correct history. Just hope they refund the deposit 1st thing Monday morning as promised. I've got paperwork saying they will!!

I might as Mike from LandRover next week as to what constitutes an 'approved used' LandRover. In my mind Full LandRover service history should be fairly high up the list!! I really don't think the dealer should be advertising it as approved.

Anyway, going to my local dealers now, to have a walk round and see what they've got. I'm ignoring internet vehicles and traipsing over the country now. Rather than me doing the hard work with the dealers and trying to buy one, the dealer can do the hard work and sell me one!! If I get one I get one, if I don't I'll wait for the next used event!!

Wish me luck!

Good luck.

PS. Try driving 400 miles twice to be sold TWO vehicles that were duff..

Personally I don't take too much notice of age related service intervals, I wouldn't walk away from a car because someone didn't want to pay dealer service prices if they have only done 3k miles that year, (not saying I wouldn't use it as a bargaining point though, especially if it was advertised as Full Service History) . The fact that they missed the first mileage service by 1k and the second by 3k and they switched from an LR Dealer to a Renault dealer is more of a concern, suggests they had a problem and a bad experience. 
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.