My first post here but not what I expected to write. I've had my Discovery 1 for 25 years and it's getting to the stage that I need to replace it and I wanted something comfortable; hence looking at the F2.

I drove one for the first time yesterday - an SE Tech model, auto with the 190bhp engine. Comfortable it certainly was. I deliberately drove over drain and man-hole covers, rough bits of road etc and not one filling was even slightly disturbed.

The down side, apparent after driving it for only half a miles or so, was body control at the level of 'almost none'. The first steering movement on entering a corner resulted in an unexpected, excessive amount of body roll. The natural reaction is to open the steering a little and immediately have to add more steering input, resulting in a rather uncontrolled feeling in the car. This was at relatively low cornering speeds.

By taking corners a bit faster I could force one body roll movement so that it achieved a 'steady state' of lean for the duration of the corner.

Do all F2s drive in this manner? That's what the salesman chap said.

The car had had its full service at 4 years old at a LR main dealer only 2 weeks previously. That included a test drive by their technicians who should know how it drives better then me.

However, could this be simply knackered shock absorbers?

Mines an old 57 reg and has never handled like that,62,000 miles good Avon Ranger tyres and pressures done regularly.

My FL2 handles as I expect a high centre of gravity SUV to handle. It responds well to a slow in, late apex, accelerate out. method of cornering. I find that the FL2's steering can be a bit sensitive around the straight ahead, but I generally like the feel of the hydralic power. (as apposed to the newer electric powered steering)

I do not expect it to handle corners like a much lower car, but I am surprised that you compare it unfavourably with a Disco 1.

The FL2 is known for its comfortable ride, if you want better handling, there are stiffer, lower, SUVs out there. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 79k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

I got to say, my FL2 in a posh frock (Dynamic Lux Evoque) with standard 20” Pirelli Scorpion tyres handles unbelievably well on hard, twisty roads. More so when in dynamic mode. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Labatt,
If you are comparing it as worse than a 25 year old discovery then it has something far wrong with it. Springs / shocks must be shot?? The FL2 handling compared to the 1st discovery is like comparing a Hillman Imp to a Cosworth (no offence to Imp lovers)

Go test drive another Freelander and see as a 4 year old motor should still have very much better handling than what you described. 09 FL2 GS TD4e Current
16 DS HSE Black Current
13 FL2 GS TD4
11 FL2 GS TD4
10 FL2 XS TD4
56 FL1 TD4
72 S3, 6cyl 109 Truck Cab

Thanks for the replies so far.

My D1 has 2" raised suspension, with caster correction, and felt comparatively composed when I got back in it after driving this FL2.

LRJimmy - driving another FL2 is my intention. I was expecting replies to say that my impression of just one Freelander was not representative of the breed.

 09 FL2 GS TD4e Current
16 DS HSE Black Current
13 FL2 GS TD4
11 FL2 GS TD4
10 FL2 XS TD4
56 FL1 TD4
72 S3, 6cyl 109 Truck Cab

You’ve answered your own question! Test drive a few more ... MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

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

I had a Peugeot 504 2.0L in a previous life (stretched bodywork to fit wider rear wheels & rear air shocks with onboard compressor). My 240bhp Freelander has a lot less body roll. I suppose it depends on one's point of reference. I noticed that with 255mm tyres it has made the car even a bit more stable than with the original 235mm. I do notice the centre of gravity is a bit higher when the car's roof is loaded for the outback. Very happy with the car's handling on corrugated windy dirt roads. 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

LR NUT wrote:

You’ve answered your own question! Test drive a few more ...

Indeed I did, but it was worthwhile getting some confirmation, particularly when it was the first FL2 I's ever driven.

Welcome Labatt. Nope,you need to try another one as mine doesn't do any of that.  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Generally, I have noticed that my FL2 is both more agile, and quicker, than most separate chassis Land Rovers I come across on the road, including RRS and Disco. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 79k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

i had a LR Assist courtesy car for a long weekend. 66 plate RRS HSE Dynamic 3.0 tdv6 .... beautiful car all over and loved it apart from 2 things
1. it drank fuel......... but maybe that's because I was enjoying the 300+ bhp a little too much
2. the ride was shocking, didn't feel stable, wallowing about on the air springs all over the place

I couldn't wait to get back into my Evoque that I had at that time even with all its faults.

the Evoque ride is harsher than the FL2, and the 2013 HSE that I replaced the knackered Ewok with was a sublime ride whether it was just me driving A/B/M roads or whether it was fully loaded with 4 'grown' men going mountain biking in Snowdonia.
The FL2 ride comfort and handling is superb, you just have to allow for being higher up

I had a 1998 Discovery V8 3.9 ES Premium auto for 9 years, I replaced the springs with heavy duty 2" longer ones and expensive shocks can't remember what make, it cornered really well on road or off and didn't have much body roll, the wider track would help as well. Now got a Freelander 2 SI6 and would say that the disco had the edge cornering but only because of what I had done to it which was at the cost of a very harsh ride, standard the freebe would be better, also quicker, 232bhp, quieter, smoother and way move comfortable. Common sense isn't very common.
_______________________________
2007 Land Rover Freelander2 I6 hse Auto

I will try another FL2 as soon as I can find a suitable one a bit closer to home.

Yesterday's test drive was at the end of a 350 mile trip in the D1; followed by another 350 miles back to home.
I will not be doing that again!