I have a test that I apply to the cars I consider ... I call it my 100 yard fast reverse test!

I often drive on narrow Devon lanes with very few passing places. The ability to twist round in the drivers seat with an unrestricted view through the rear window and reverse at a confident pace makes all the difference.

The Freelander passes this test with flying colours. From sitting in a DS with it's restricted rear view I suspect it would fail the test.

Not that it matters much because the lack of a full size spare wheel in a 5 seat auto version DS has already disqualified it from my list.

Last week I was reminded just how important a full size spare is. In my daughter's car on the motorway we had a rear tyre puncture and destroy itself by the time we got to a safe position. We called out Landrover assist who sent along the AA who changed the wheel (I couldn't shift the wheel nuts without a breaker bar).

Sealant wouldn't have worked as the tyre sidewall was damaged, and a space saver spare would not have allowed us to continue our motorway journey in safety. And none of the local tyre depots had the needed Pirelli Scorpion Zero in stock!

So, my recommendation is always do a 100 yard reverse test before committing to a new vehicle, make sure you have a full size spare wheel, and be sure your nuts are not too tight 😀

Trouble is, there's not many cars nowdays that have the space to fit a full size spare wheel into the wheel well. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Surely if your nuts are too tight that will affect whatever car you drive?

Yes that does apply to many cars, although I believe the DS can be had with 5 seats and a full size spare but for some reason in manual form only or is it in 2wd only? Academic for me now as it won’t pass my "reverse” test.

Yes tight nuts are not LR specific I guess ….. the AA man first tried his electric wheel nut tool with no luck, then brought out a normal size wheel bar with no luck, and then brought out a metre long breaker bar which, after leaning on, did the trick. The car had, of course, just been serviced by land Rover, so much for 140Nm

DennisV wrote:

Yes that does apply to many cars, although I believe the DS can be had with 5 seats and a full size spare but for some reason in manual form only or is it in 2wd only? Academic for me now as it won’t pass my "reverse” test.

VW have implemented a strange policy.

The SE Business edition is the model most fleets will go for.........right?

They also offer s, SE, GT and R-Line

Only the GT gets a full size spare! Non of the others have a spare at all! Just a can of foam . Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

VW have implemented a strange policy.

The SE Business edition is the model most fleets will go for.........right?

They also offer s, SE, GT and R-Line

Only the GT gets a full size spare! Non of the others have a spare at all! Just a can of foam .

That's one of the reasons I had the GT. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

I heard you the first time!  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Mav71 wrote:

VW have implemented a strange policy.

The SE Business edition is the model most fleets will go for.........right?

They also offer s, SE, GT and R-Line

Only the GT gets a full size spare! Non of the others have a spare at all! Just a can of foam .

That's one of the reasons I had the GT.

Pardon? 

My Freelander is going in for a couple of tweeks next weekend & they are lending me a DS. I am taking that for a weekend away so will have a chance to comment on it. (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

PR wrote:

Interesting comments! I went to buy one and the service manager, a good friend, told me to forget it! Come back in a years time when all the niggling faults have been sorted!
Took his advice!

AND that is why

I have a Disco4 now...

Do you know your DRL'S dont work  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

its in stealth mode (new setting on TR controls for MY16)