The Vauxhall was a commercial vehicle and as such it’s like comparing apples and pears. I in my time owned a older Bedford van and a brand new fiat. The fiat had rot in year 2. No doubt it was socialist conspiracy 🤥 FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Don't confuse the term 'socialist conspiracy' with 'fascist dictatorship'.....although on paper they are one and the same

SouthamFL2 wrote:

I challenge that Yorky - it was replaced with a 1980 Fiat Mirafiori, which lasted significantly longer than the Vauxhall.

The Alfa Romeo - AlfaSud ........... came with a dustpan & Brush !!!

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I have owned or leased 8 Vauxhall cars and 1 Bedford M/Caravan. Yes, cars in general did not start to become reasonably rust resistant until the 1980s, and my Vauxhalls were no different. (As were my Fords, Triumphs, and Brit Leylands).

This wasn't a British car problem, in fact, in Germany in the 60s it was common to have the car chassis cleaned twice a year and then fresh wax or oil was spayed underneath, all in an effort to prolong the normal 5 - 8 years before rust really got a grip.
Even then rust spots used to appear from the inside under the paint, and glass fibre was thought to be the complete answer to rusted out door sills, windscreen surrounds, and floors. Never mind the crash structure.

By the way most of my later cars proved very reliable, even doing large mileages, due to the nature of my work, starting first time, day and night, summer and winter. Of course they were all properly and regularly maintained.

I am sure that forum members with inside experience of the car trade will be able to tell me what changed to allow us to get the anti rust and perferation warranties we now enjoy. I thought it was better quality steel and galvanisation, plus less 'designed in' water and mud traps.

PS I have still got some glass fibre and resin left over in my garage ---- just in case. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Meanwhile, stocks of FL2’s have gone back up to 20 and there are even four of them in glorious full colour

The people that LR use to scout out classic LR’s for their refurbishment programme must be out and about scouting for FL2 ‘barn finds’ now too

are they looking for the other half of this one ?



I think this was the first 2WD

That windscreen is in better condition than mine  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Yes Yorky, I spotted the screen was in good nick.
Early screens suffered from a 'milky' look, where water ingress had got between the laminates.

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While they’re still out there, there’s still hope

Back up to 21 again and I even saw an Approved 62 plate one going back out again at my dealer last week.

Park one or two in amongst the sea if used DS’s and it really lifts the ambiance of the place

now 23 FL2 left on the approved site but the prices are ridiculous

£23500 for the most expensive one - 14 plate Metro with 23k on the clock

if the price equates to the mileage im selling mine now for 63k

If it’s either that, or a DS for 50% more, which would you choose?!

With only a handful available and it being sought after still, I’d look to make as much money as I could with the little stock available to me

If I were to sell my MY13 privately (which I'm not) with 56k on the clock and a full history, I would be advertising it circa £15500 and looking to get as close to that as possible.

A neighbour who runs a used prestige car operation locally has advised that he would have it on his forecourt for £16495 with a view to taking £16200 for it and not a penny less. He would only give me £13500 for it on a cash one way basis though, and has advised me that given its condition, I keep hold of it. Which I intend to.

It will be interesting to see what impact Citizen Khans ULEZ has on prices in the London area  2007 TD4 XS The work horse that earns its up keep
2013 SD4 HSE The posh one for towing the caravan
1973 Triumph Stag I bought in 2009 and restored.

yeh that LEZ is just another stealth tax, I used to work shifts near Park Royal just off the North Circular. Public transport from Nottinghamshire was non existent for the times I worked so I had no choice but to drive. I would have been hammered around £50 a week