I was just thinking about the FL2 compared to its direct rivals and those weird crossover things.

We all know about various niggles with the FL2 and I knew before I purchased but it didn't stop me. The FL2 is more expensive but for me, worth every penny.

I have read various other owners forums, e.g VW Tiguan, BMW X3, Nissan X-Trail and no matter how much they boast about their cars good points, they are all second fiddle.

Clearly we are biased but when all things are considered, there is no better compact 4x4. Forget BMW having a prestige badge, in the 4x4 world the only 'real' badge is Land Rover. It has fantastic on road manners and creature comforts but will go much further off road or in heavy snow etc. If I ever park up next to a rival 4x4 in a car park, I always feel special, like the FL2 is just in a different league.

I just felt the need to sing the praises of the FL2. No matter whether you have an 'S' or an SD4 HSE or anything in between, a manual or an auto, whatever the colour, age or mileage, we all own a truly great car. Our rivals can pretend all they like, they can rely on the odd magazine review victory if they like, but they are just the pretenders.

The throne is and always will be ours.

GIVE IT UP FOR THE KING: THE FREELANDER 2

P.S, a message for rival owners reading this: Didn't anyone ever tell you there's one 4x4 you never challenge off road, if you're smart, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow, there's one 4x4 you never ever challenge off road..... The Freelander 2! LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Ay up Doc!
Great post and i can't agree more. Even my 16 year old son loves our FL2. Is that cool or what?
I'm not going to knock rival 4x4's; i don't need to. You're quite right in that if i owned, lets say another 'premium brand' 4x4, i'd consider anyone with a FL2 with innermost jealously.
But i've got a FL2.
Smug, happy and even a cool Dad. And made in the UK (it very much matters to me)
I couldn't wish for anything else in a motor.
Except maybe the Mulsanne. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Doc
What did you put in your bedtime Horlicks last night - whatever "happy juice" it was you should sell it to LR to help promote sales.

But seriously, the other week at the hospital I came across a German weekly motoring magazine (whose title I cannot recall but it was a November issue) that carried a long term review (2yrs) of their staff diesel Tiguan. Not happy reading if you were a VW fan. Lots of faults reported, running costs were higher than expected, depreciation higher than forecast, and it dumped their reporters twice on the side of the road unable to be fixed and requiring low-loader to nearest dealership. Their conclusion was that VW need to review their QA on the Tiguan.

So when you read FL2 reports about poor build etc., just remember - no manufacturer is perfect.

But most 4x4 FL2 owners never drive it off-road so whats the point of using that function as a comparism to its rivals

All the competitors in the same 4x4's catagory are just as capable as the FL2 on asphalt and many are less expensive to boot. I think what The Doctor is talking here about is status. A Land Rover has more status - too whom I wonder . If that is realy important to you it seems a rather pointless point of view . Dont get me wrong, our FL2 is the best vehicle we have ever owned, love it and hope never to part with it . However to get the most out of what it was designed for you have to get it a bit muddy occasionally , drive it well away from the urban asphalt on some rough and bumpy mountain track, then you will have all right to call it the king - that is where the FL2 beats out the likes of X-BMW and Q-Audi poof's .

Get ya rubber's dirty guys - then tell us about it  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Doc, if you ever think of running for Parliament/Prime Minister....You've got my vote

Got stuck in a pub car-park the other day. Literally jammed in, couldn't reverse or shunt my way out as the other eejits had parked badly. 2 foot grass bank in front of me leading to the main road...

If you've got it, flaunt it. Great vehicle.

(and yes, I get it very muddy, very often).  We Don't Care About Pot Holes !!

I know what you are getting at Andy C but I have taken mine off road once (nothing like the LR course) and plan to do so again but it is in deep snow which proves the worth of the FL2. All things equal on the tyre front the FL2 will get through deeper snow than x-trail etc.

Besides all that, I always think that Clarkson made a valid point when he spoke about his wrist watch. He said that it was waterproof to 1000 metres but he will never ever dive that deep but it's nice to know it's ok if he drops it in the sink.

The FL2 may never be put through the extremes it can cope with by its owners but its nice to know we are the best there is if the occasion ever occurs or the weather gets extreme. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Well I have been lurking here for a while, with a view to 'splashing the cash' sometime soon, and am VERY torn between the FL2 and the new X3. Although I currently drive a BMW, I have owned a RR classic and swmbo currently has a FL1. As such, I have some experience of both main dealers and their products etc. I look forward to magazine comparison road tests between the 2 vehicles, hopefully sometime soon !!

Forget the X3 mate, FL2 all day long.  We Don't Care About Pot Holes !!

Pedro wrote:

Well I have been lurking here for a while, with a view to 'splashing the cash' sometime soon, and am VERY torn between the FL2 and the new X3. Although I currently drive a BMW, I have owned a RR classic and swmbo currently has a FL1. As such, I have some experience of both main dealers and their products etc. I look forward to magazine comparison road tests between the 2 vehicles, hopefully sometime soon !!

I'd go for a Freelander 2 over any BMW.

Owned both a BMW 3 Series and a MINI and both spent more time in the dealers than any of my Land Rovers (Discovery TD5, Discovery II, Freelander 2 SE and now a Freelander 2 XS)

I have been occasionally going to some offroad tours. I must say thet fl2 manages very good with stock 19" tyres against all those monsterly modified stuff. We go together with modified disco 1 and 2, nissan patrols or toyota hilux.

Friends we go with were sceptic about an suv driving with them at the beginning, especcially about 19" rims and offroading, but fl2 gained respect from all of them. Although I am having on road problems with the car, offroad performance is very good. And driving back on the highway or back in the city with all the mud on it is priceless. 2010 Freelander 2 Select TD4 auto....gone
2011 Freelander 2 TD4 auto ...current

I love my freelander but I think LR missed a trick in not updating it more when they released the recent updates. Most people would be very hard pressed to know the difference, I was looking forward to a more modern interior, perhaps similar to the disco4 or Evoque. I can't help feeling they have ignored the FL2 until it is replaced by an all new model. The trouble is the competition have not stood still and all have better warranty and servicing costs.
At least the engine mods have made it more competitive. For me driving the freelander gives me a feeling of confidence that whatever I meet I will be able to deal with it, a bit like the 1000mtr watch, most likely never going to need it, just nice to know it's there. My biggest complaint is the lack of proper seat adjustment, somthing that would have cost penny's to fit, but is left off for marketing reasons, unless you buy the HSE.

I dont think the Frelander2 as we know it will be replaced/updated

Or rather it already has been replaced in the form of the Evoke models.

You must think a bit further ahead than just the UK when it comes to LR sales, and the Freelander just will not sell in a year or two, and as an export vehicle it is already a dying model  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Always look on the bright side!