I've been a Freebie Classic owner for the last seven years, but the time has come to replace it now it's ten years old and done 100k miles with a fair bit of off road (ab)use.

Last month I took delivery of a 2014 FL2 GS manual, the third FL2 I've had after having had two 2011 XSs as courtesy cars (one of them long-term).

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Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

Hi Gordon, did you have the seat/back issue with the GS, as I feel they are the most comfortable seats? Do you have lumbar support in the XS? How is your seating position?
I get back issues but never driving MY07, which is one of the many reasons why I boght the car. Might be worth playing with different seating positions if you haven't already: height, reach, uprightness, etc.
Lovely car by the way

as above the seats do take quite a bit of adjustment to get them perfect. i think i spent a good 20 minutes getting mine set up and it still wasn't right

Looks excellent in black, that was my second choice if the Bali Blue had fallen through

I have to have the seat incredibly upright on the back but find it comfortable that way. When i got mine i had it slightly more reclined and got back issues

I was getting sore knees and a sore back in mine until I moved the whole seat back and moved the steering wheel. Initially feels odd being further back but gives better pedal access when wearing boots and also helps the knees and back. No pain now FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…

Looks good. Can I ask why the 3rd one didn't last?  2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

Was it by any chance detailed by a certain D2 owner ?

It might have been...

Believe me, I've tried everything with the seat: up, down, upright, reclined, forwards, backwards, and the wheel in, out, up and down... (the Freebie version of the hokey-cokey!) And it's now in the least uncomfortable position, but still needs heavy duty painkillers and physio exercises before and after every drive.

The GS went (in just two weeks) because the seat was unbearable (as in eye-wateringly painful) and the XS's was better (must be to do with the arms), but sadly Land Rover left the lumbar support out of the 2013 refresh after having had very comfortable seats in the 2011 XSs I'd driven previously.

I think the problem is that there's no support at the base of the backrest, and as you drive along it just flexes underneath you instead of giving any support. First time I've had anything like it having driven any number of cars, vans and buses. And motorbikes. Gordon

Land Rover Defender XS Td5 DC | Argocat Magnum 8x8 | Land Rover Freelander 2 XS TD4

Hmmm, may I suggest a trip to the doctors unless you have a previously diagnosed condition.

Already done that - hence the HD pain-killers and physio...!

I've been in touch with LR's customer services department so see if there's anything that can be done, and all they've come back with is the suggestion that I RTFM as that explains how to adjust the seat  Gordon

Land Rover Defender XS Td5 DC | Argocat Magnum 8x8 | Land Rover Freelander 2 XS TD4

T Terran



'The' Car For The Modern Day UK Roads ( ie all the pot holes )

'A Freelander that leaks oil is just marking its territory' - Wise words

Now a member of the FL2 'Silly Bill' Club

Hi Gordon, are you expecting too much? If you have a serious back problem then you will be in discomfort either driving a mini or Rolls, no car can fix that. I have back issues and personnaly I think the seats are great, never gives me issues, but I suppose all back problems are different. I hope you get yours sorted.

I don't normally have a problem with car seats, so I don't think I'm expecting too much. My 18 year old Disco had a tired seat, and Defenders aren't renowned for being luxurious, but no problem in either of them.

It's the first car I've had where the seat back flexes like that, and only a Peugeot 306 has caused a similar problem (again a deckchair seat).

Reclining the seat, as in the video, does work but once my weight is on the back to stop it flexing I'm so reclined I can't drive

I guess it's just not for me  Gordon

Land Rover Defender XS Td5 DC | Argocat Magnum 8x8 | Land Rover Freelander 2 XS TD4

I agree! I have been driving for over 40 years and I have never had problems with my back caused by the car seat.

My Freelander 2 gives me a backache every time I drive it. I only have to drive it a very short distance and I end up with a backache. Even when I sit in the passenger seat I end up with a backache which takes me days to get over. Basically, the seats are crap! They are too narrow for a start and there are too many things that need to be adjusted. How come other cars have comfortable seats that do not need adjusting.
I'm ready to sell my car for this reason.

My seats are great.
Electric lumbar support is great for lower back support.
Plenty of adjustment, only improvement would be seat cooling for the summer! MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)