Hi All, New to this site, but been an avid member of Defender2.net for many years.

I have a Defender 90 and a FL1 currently. The FL1 has just hit 206,000 so decided to treat the mrs to a newer FL2.

I found one at Available car and went to look at it last night, We both loved the car, and I checked for all of the usual common things you would expect from a car thats done 40K miles.

So the car was originally at Cannock, I was told the car had been 'Inspected' and would be moved to Castle Donnington for me to test drive, but they then told me that I would have to wait as it needed to be inspected again at Castle Donnington before I could drive it.. fair enough..

So we arrived last night and took the car out on a disappointingly short test drive (didnt go above 25mph) personally I like to open the car up on a test drive and see how it drives at higher speeds.. but oh well..

So we got back and I asked for 5 minutes to go over the car with my wife and discuss if we liked it enough to splash the cash.. while I was looking around I did the normal Grab hold of everything and see if it falls off and alas.. the N/S running board/ Step litterally fell from the rear mount... I looked underneath and found it to be a cheap aftermarket step with flimsy brackets and the bolt was laying on the floor underneath the mount.

I found this baffling and pointed this out to the sales guy. So now instead of collecting the car tonight, I have to wait until at least monday, so they can look at the issue and order any parts etc.

As we live down a very small lane, and spend most of our time on verges avoiding tractors/cows/cyclists I will be removing the steps anyway.. so I asked AC if they could simply just remove them and stick them in the boot, they gave me some rubbish that they had to sell the car as it appears on the website, altough it sounds like made up rubbish..

They said they may have to order parts from LR if the running board bracket is broken/bent/damaged, I explained to them that its clearly not a LR original part, but again just fobbed off..

the Icing on the cake was.. The car arrived at AC Cannock in September where it had the 'Inspection' but when I was given the MOT cert from AUGUST (from an external garage), there was an advisory for .. wait for it... N/S Step Loose...


Overall, I'm not very happy with AC, and how can you have any trust in their work when they miss something so simple and that had already been mentioned by an MOT..

Obviously this is just my current experience and It could be a one off........

I'll be making calls today to try and get the step tightened today and still collect tonight, but i'm not holding my breath..

Good luck with it mate, hope it eventually goes through ok.

Just go over the car with a fine toothcomb when you get it as it will still be covered by warranty/sales of goods so you will be covered for a short period for absolutely everything

agree that you need to ensure a good warranty is provided, unless you have very deep pockets.

Iain

Thanks Guys,

I very much intent on goining over it in detail when I finally get hold of it.

If i'm honest with myself, I probably didnt expect much better, service these days is poor at best.

There was other issues at AC last night as well, they are minor, but still issues.

Im paying an £8000 Deposit and the rest on financel, although having a deposit doesnt seem to mean much these days either..

If I were you I would pull out and find a more professional outfit to deal with. Are you happy to pay good money for a car you haven't driven at more than 25mph ? My last purchase was after I had the use of the vehicle for most of the day!!

I did think that, the issue is, its yet another credit check aginst me if i go looking else where.. I love the car, and I will be driving it home along motorway, through a city and down some narrow lanes, so If I have any issues in that time I'll just turn around and take it straight back..

If I do make it home I'll give it a thorough inspection (I was an HGV mechanic for 11 years, now an aerospace Engineer and also 12 years in the Army reserves as a mechanic) I'm very confident and thorough in my inspections..

Again, if i find any issues I'll be on the phone and straight back..

REME = reck everything mechanical easily


you should be well used to fixing Land Rovers then

Someone once said that if you have any qualms about a car at all then you should pull out, there are lots more out there.
My concern about this outfit is how will they behave if/when you have a problem. Also ask the question as to who is providing the warranty? Is it an insurance warranty or are they going to "do it themselves". I think you have had enough signals from this outfit to pull out (must be sold like on website - bull for instance.) The FL2 is a great car but expensive when things go wrong. I have had more than my fair share of FL2 problems and the worst one was the one bought from a small garage, you have to ask yourself "why isn't a low mileage car in the LR dealer network?" 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Quote:

REME = reck everything mechanical easily Laughing

you've heard of us then

I have my fair share of LR experience.. 2 tours of Iraq "Repairing" Snatch and Wolf as well as Armoured Disco's

Along with Germany, Cyprus, Falklands and the UK of course..

Quote:

Someone once said that if you have any qualms about a car at all then you should pull out, there are lots more out there.
My concern about this outfit is how will they behave if/when you have a problem. Also ask the question as to who is providing the warranty? Is it an insurance warranty or are they going to "do it themselves". I think you have had enough signals from this outfit to pull out (must be sold like on website - bull Censored for instance.) The FL2 is a great car but expensive when things go wrong. I have had more than my fair share of FL2 problems and the worst one was the one bought from a small garage, you have to ask yourself "why isn't a low mileage car in the LR dealer network?"

Also It can't be any worse than my current FL1 on 206K, its a bit loose and ropey

[quote="Browny90"]

Quote:

REME = reck everything mechanical easily Laughing

you've heard of us then

I have my fair share of LR experience.. 2 tours of Iraq "Repairing" Snatch and Wolf as well as Armoured Disco's

Along with Germany, Cyprus, Falklands and the UK of course..


I had the pleasure of driving a V8 Snatch around Bosnia, remember the accelerator cable kept snapping as the workshop had fitted one from a GS version diesel. Had to drive for 4 hours through the hills using a leatherman to grip the cable and accelerate

I believe I was also the first take a Wolf out of UK when they were brought in '97, they were really nice to motor about in

wasn't there a memo circulated around LR dealers about selling cars with aftermarket parts fitted, it might be more towards the new cars with Overfinch this that or the other fitted, but im sure it covers used too

If you was on a test drive, why didn't you set the route to open her up to higher speeds, or was it one of those accompanied drives that you get a straight on, turn left (avoiding the bump road) at the roundabout turn left (as a right turn induces steering wobble) and left again (down the narrow street with cars parked so you don't get enough speed to test the brake) and park in this large space out front, (so you don't hear the clunk when engaging reverse and the sound of the brake shoes binding when reversing)

Sound too unprofessional for me  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Well I wish you luck with it, incidentally what model/year? Watch out for the hesitation problem if it's a 2011 facelift. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

lots of garages have their set test routes now and in my experience they all do accompanied driving. Too many idiots have been driving off with cars or crashing them when unaccompanied.

When I switched my FL2 in the summer to an Insignia, the dealer was very good and took me on country roads, dual carriageway, rough surface roads through Sherwood Forest (no off roading )
I asked if this was normal and he said yes, they like to give buyers a chance to try the car on all road types, I was out about 30mins with him.

Quote:

wasn't there a memo circulated around LR dealers about selling cars with aftermarket parts fitted, it might be more towards the new cars with Overfinch this that or the other fitted, but im sure it covers used too

If you was on a test drive, why didn't you set the route to open her up to higher speeds, or was it one of those accompanied drives that you get a straight on, turn left (avoiding the bump road) at the roundabout turn left (as a right turn induces steering wobble) and left again (down the narrow street with cars parked so you don't get enough speed to test the brake) and park in this large space out front, (so you don't hear the clunk when engaging reverse and the sound of the brake shoes binding when reversing)

Quote:

Well I wish you luck with it, incidentally what model/year? Watch out for the hesitation problem if it's a 2011 facelift.