I think their issue is that they want to retain the exclusivity of the RR Marque at the £40K+ range, but that won't deliver volume so they keep the FL2 and DS to keep a hand in the lower priced but volume market. But they're worried that it will lessen the brand value if "oiks" end up driving them, hence why I don't think they want to be in the £20-£30K bracket. What might happen is the new Defender might have a baby sibling or a sport version that fills that gap.

It's a bit like BMW 20 years agao when they limited the number of cars to keep the cache in place and then eventually concluded that the money was in the volume market and sold to all and sundry.

Maybe LR are just too scared to enter the volume market while their reliability isn't up to snuff. Just too expensive!

IMHO of course

Bought the freelie SD XS as a bit of a stop gap early last year thinking the DS or even defender replacement might be on stream next year. Not keen on the DS, on paper its ok but just don't like the look of it - Defender replacement will I suspect never appear but must say am enjoying the freelie a lot - should have bought an HSE or Lux at the time. (arm rests, leccy seats, glass roof, etc. etc. just nice to have's) FL2 Ex D2, D3, RRS, etc. now all gone.

DS is still more associated with Citroen!!!

Seriously, I have lost interest in replacing FL2 with a DS. I will probably look for last edition a low mileage FL2.
A) There is no model available as yet with a spare wheel and Auto transmission.
B) Dealers offered me an EX Demo DS 10k miles still with old 2.2 engine, A bargain at £44,495. Don't care what spec or extras it had it is not worth that sort of money.
Only my opinion. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

Went to a driving experience yesterday organised jointly by Carrs of Truro and LR Experience Honiton; and drove a Jaguar XJ and a brand-spanky-new Range Rover. Shame the RR costs so much - it's right at the top of my wish list!

We examined and sat in a Disco Sport and decided it isn't a patch on the Freelander. No headroom in the back, boot floor feels cheap, exterior styling is too much like the awful-looking Evoque. The one we looked at had too many pedals too - I've only got two feet. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

j77 wrote:

The DS is pants pure and simple. Been there done it. LRs that'll do attitude ruined what could've been a good car. Too many corners cut.

I know that all products start as a point on a price/performance graph and that you always introduce your most expensive options first to soak up the early adopters. However, I do feel that LR need to get something out in the £20 - 25k bracket soon. I have said this before but my son is an Agronomist, that means he travels on roads as much as on fields and thinks that the Freelander is brilliant at what it does (pity about the reliability ) what's more most of his colleagues run Freelanders and if they go to conferences that car park is full of them. However as a working vehicle a Land Rover is just to expensive so he (and his colleagues) are now looking at things like Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi L200 etc some of which come in at about £20k including leather seats.
There is a market out there that LR is apparently ignoring (unless the new Defender brings some surprises). 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Sounds like he is looking at the twin cabs as they are classed as commercial vehicles, so less tax 😉 Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

Twin cabs are ok, but no fl2. Refinment isnt there 4wd system very basic on all but top end models. No real attempt at a foot well due to ladder chassis so your sat low with legs forward, opposite of a defender if you like.
Head room is limited,cab roof is low . Possiblly so taliban/isis can mount machine guns behind them.
Motorway trips etc arnt terrible but tiresome
Engines on many are old school low tech but mainly reliable with it. 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

Mav71 wrote:

j77 wrote:

The DS is pants pure and simple. Been there done it. LRs that'll do attitude ruined what could've been a good car. Too many corners cut.

Has yours gone now? What didn't you like about it?

Yep, 4 months into ownership and I placed an order for a 16MY Disco SE, took delivery 3 weeks ago, it has less kit but I'm loving it. The potential was there for it to be great but it falls short.

Incontrol touch over complicated and a bit of a stretch for the driver
Changing demisters settings required 3 buttons to be pressed rather than one
No seat belt height adjustment
Slide and recline seating useless, it just rattles
Ambient lighting is poor, supposed to have signature strips in the doors but you can't see it because of the door cards

I did enjoy how it drove, though the trade off was the low driving position and I do like the look of it. For some it will be perfect but for me I prefer the proper LR feel.

Here's my new run around

Click image to enlarge

 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

chicken george wrote:

Twin cabs are ok, but no fl2.
Engines on many are old school low tech but mainly reliable with it.

yes agreed but many people think they are buying dual purpose vehicle in a pickup when in reality they are just work trucks.

high end pickups maybe much better but still suffer leafsprings and general compromises 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

What about a Hummer? folk dont seem to mention those much?

(nothing gets in the way of the Hummer. Its mud-plugging prowess makes a Land Rover Defender look like a wind-up Tonka toy)

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/consumer-re...de-3615458

They didn't actually say anything bad about the DS. It is a 4wd which can actually go off road! The dated infotainment system, really!? Pretty much all the other cars have been recalled due to airbag failures and a host of other real safety issues. If the new DS is anything like the Freelander 2 in petrol without a sunroof. No recalls!

https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/952855 Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Last edited by Lightwater on 26th Oct 2015 8:55 am. Edited 1 time in total

david426 wrote:

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/consumer-reports-worst-cars-of-2015/#slide-3615458