Hi, Everyone!

So I’ve been wearing a silly grin since Tuesday and thought I’d share a couple of photo’s of the reason why...

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Apart from Pancake Day, here are some other notable happenings which took place on February 24th:

1920 - The Nazi Party is founded.

1981 - Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.

1981 - An earthquake registering 6.7 on the Richter Scale hits Athens, killing 16 people and destroying buildings in several towns west of the city.

1989 - Ayatollah Khomeini offers a $3 million bounty for the death of author Salman Rushdie

1989 - United Airlines Flight 811, bound for New Zealand rips open during flight, sucking 9 passengers out of the business-class section.

1996 - The last occurrence of February 24 as a leap day in the Euripean Union and for the Roman Catholic Church.

1999 - The State of Arizona executes Karl LaGrand, a German national involved in an armed robbery, in spite of Germany’s legal action to attempt to save him.

1999 - A China Southern Airlines Tupolev TU-154 airliner crashes on approach to Wenzhou airport in eastern the China, killing 61.

2008 - Fidel Castro retires as the President of Cuba after nearly fifty years.

I’m just hoping for better fortune with my Landy...

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

The top colour

Though I've ordered Stornaway Grey, I must admit it looks very smart in Baltic Blue. For new orders, its changing to Biscay Blue, which seems a little paler.

By the way, 7.3 l/100km is a very good efficiency level. I presume you have the manual. Is that right?

Looks great!!!!

Can't wait till Tuesday to pick up mine

BTW MudBug, what are you loving most about it?

The drive, the look, the internal comfort...?

Thanks for the comments, Lads.

It is a manual model equivalent to the GS specification in the UK. The only extras I’ve added are a cargo barrier and side impact strips. Actually, had to add the rear parking sensors, as well, as they didn’t come as standard.

To be honest I’d really like a 110 LWB County but at €2000 for a years road tax I’ll have to wait until I meet that rich widow.

So, is the Freelander 2 a compromise then? I’m very pleased to be able to tell you that it is most certainly not!

Our roads can leave a lot to be desired but the F/L2 takes all surfaces in it’s stride and provides a really smooth ride. Reviewers have suggested that the rear seats are cramped but I have not found this to be the case. For myself, at 6’1”, the drivers seat is three stops from being fully back and the height of the seats leaves plenty of room for rear-seat passengers to put their feet, comfortably, underneath the front ones.

Visibility is superb! This is one of the few vehicles I’ve driven where the “A” pillar has not, badly, obstructed my vision and you can easily see the corners of the car when maneuvering. Also, I can now look upwards through my side window (to admire our wonderful scenery) without having to bend forwards first.

Mostly, though, there are a host of little things about the F/L2 that just give you a major feel-good factor. From the very smooth gear box (manual), to the easy access to all the weekly maintenance areas under the bonnet, to the solid sounding closing of it’s substantial doors, the F/L2 just seems to do it that little bit better than most. But, then, I’ve never owned a Bentley...

The only criticism I can highlight, today, is that the right-hand support cushion of the Driver’s (and presumably passenger’s) seat, the one you sit on when getting in and out, does not recover it’s shape very well and the fabric on the side has already started to show compression lines. I am thinking of having the seats re-upholstered in leather, when funds allow, and will certainly ask for those cushions to be replaced with a firmer material, should they continue to deteriorate.

All-in-all, however, I am one happy new owner of what I always hoped would be, and can now confirm is, one of the most enjoyable driving experiences out there, for the price.

Felicitations, then, to all lucky owners; and to those of you awaiting delivery, or still sitting on the fence of indecision, I say “worry ye not” because you’re going to love it, Missus!

Now, if I can just get the first 800Klms on the clock, I can start to rev it up past 3000rpm...

Baltic Blue. Class colour seems to have been replaced by Biscay Blue, Baltic Blue without the WOW factor, congrats on a very sound choice. still pining for my 3dr, no removeable hardtop, no drop glass tailgate, no roof rack, no pockets everywhere to stow all that man kit

Best of luck with it Mudbug!

I like the side impact strips, do you know how much extre these were?

Hi Inernest, sorry for the late reply.

I had the impact strips fitted as part of a deal on extras when I bought the car but I've checked with the Garage and they have quoted 157 Euros + fitting, which they say is quite easy for anyone to do because the strips just fit in the existing indents.

Hope this helps.

Does that mean they can be easily removed again - without damage - if you decide you don't like them?