Hello everyone,

Thought I would just pop a quick note on regarding the Land Rover Experience in Skipton - firstly a very welcoming bunch and very knowledgeable about the car.

Second - I was very surprised actually how capable the car is - the terrain response and down hill assist stuff is hugely impressive.

One thing I didn't realise is that the different programmes aren't reserved for off road use - the snow/grass setting is perfect for use any time the road has less traction than normal, heavy rain for example. We tested this on road in the wet and it transforms the way the car handles.

So impressed with service and abilities!

Cheers
Paul.

Been to the LR Experience centre a couple of times in the D3.
Yes, great bunch and a thoroughly enjoyable [if not expensive] day out .... unless you got it free!
Not tried the FL off road yet .... heck I only got it yesterday

Now you've experienced 'off road' a good [& cheaper] day out would be one of the open days at Tong.
You use your own car [take the wife & kids], but you're on your own, so best go with another one or two.
But they do have marshalls who'd come to your asistance if stuck [as would other 4x4 drivers].

 FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.

Vince wrote:

the snow/grass setting is perfect for use any time the road has less traction than normal

Vince wrote:

One thing I didn't realise is that the different programmes aren't reserved for off road use - the snow/grass setting is perfect for use any time the road has less traction than normal, heavy rain for example.

I was under exactly the same impression to be honest but when i got there he asked me 'have you used any of the terrain response on the way down?' - i replied 'no, its only a bit of rain' thinking it was a trick question.

The instructor had a discovery 4 and had freelanders in the past and said he used the 'snow' setting whenever it rained and one of the other instructors used it in 'snow' permanently because as someone mentioned above he preferred the gear changes (mines manual so nothing there for me!) and the handling.

From his explaining it does keep it in 50/50 front rear split upto a higher speed and i did see the traction control light flash when i went around a tight corner so i'm slightly unsure of using it when i'm pottering around the houses (i'm assuming the light flashing is because one of the wheels is being forced to rotate due to the 50/50 split) but on the open road i cant emphasize enough the difference in how planted to car felt and once upto speed it just changes the traction control programme - which essentially is just software utilising some sensors.

My personal opinion is i'm going to start using it more in the wet - it handled like a much lighter, lower car and as a side thought i always think if i don't use it now when i come to NEED it is it going to work?! - might sound silly but that thought comes from previous defender ownership where i would make sure i used the diff lock and low range at least once a month (mechanical i know so slightly different but same train of thought).

I also use the GGS at times, certainly heavy rain and I also used to use it crawling in traffic, made things easier as it was more lethargic.
Mud Ruts I only ever used around Kielder, not because it needed it, simply because it was there, HDC is selected and a few times going down slopes, just let the car do it's thing.
Sand mode is probably the one that will hammer the transmission, yes it's great for quick getaways or hustling along fast country roads but I suspect with the torque and it's response it may well do more harm than good using it long term, I believe it is this mode that locks a 50:50 split into the transmission, the other modes are variable depending on conditions.
Something along these lines (borrowed from a post by Pab )

GGS: 60/40 torque, with a more gradual change to front bias as speed rises. Reduced throttle response. Tight control of wheelspin using brakes and power.

M&R: 50/50 torque. Reduced throttle response. Control of wheelspin, but less so than GGS.

Sand: 50/50 torque Increased throttle response.

If the car was designed not to do something it would tell you or simply not do it, one of our European friends had a transmission overheat error that dropped him into a lesser mode but kept him going, particularly rough terrain for miles, more than we could throw at the car over here. http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic19628.html

I got that 60/40 GGS figure from elsewhere on here, but having now understood rather more about how the Haldex and its control systems work I think it's probably wrong - I think all the special programs start off 50/50 and it's more a case of at what speed and under what circumstances they move to a front bias.

Did my rockingham LR experience last weekend in a FFRR. Wow - mightily impressed with the car. Instructor was great.
I asked about the different modes on my Freelander and was told in terms of 4wd they are the same. Ie choosing a mode does not activate the diff lock or anything? I had previously assumed it did. (Coming) 2016 RR Evoque td4 180 HSE Dynamc
(Going) 2013 TD4 GS Auto - Santorini Black with black leather. Cold Climate, UK Lighting & Armrest Packs. Privacy Glass. LR Rubber Mats. Full size spare.
60 000 miles averaging 35mpg

(Gone) 2010 TD4 Manual GS - Stornoway Grey. Sold at 3yrs old & 64k miles. Final average consumption 39.2mpg.