I was seriously thinking of getting a ex-demo Forester as our second car.

We have a D3, but sometimes I need something a little smaller but still quite practical.

4 wheel drive is a must.

Anyway, now I've had a drive in a Freelander 2, I'm in a quandry.

Has anyone ever owned, or know of someone who has owned one, and what their ownership experience was like?

I had an old Freelander XEDi and loved it.

Many thanks.

Hi Chippypip
The Freelander2 launch is Dec 7th, so you have a problem finding anyone who has had their car delivered, most will be Jan/07
I have owned three Freelander1 and been very pleased hence my ordering a new Freelander2, delivery sometime in Jan/07, I know nothing about the Forester
Good luck which ever you choose
David David

Although the Forester is a good car, I don't think it's anywhere near as good as the Freelander 2. If you've had a Freelander Xedi and liked it, you'll love the F2. Plus it'll look great parked next to your D3

The only negative I'd say toward the Freelander 2 is that it won't be as reliable as the Forester.

Andy wrote:

The only negative I'd say toward the Freelander 2 is that it won't be as reliable as the Forester.

Andy wrote:

The only negative I'd say toward the Freelander 2 is that it won't be as reliable as the Forester.

mmm I've had three FL1's since they were launched. Inc a V6 and currently a V reg 3 door 1.8 petrol.

NONE of them ever let me down. OK they've had recall work done, but thats par for the course with most manufacturers.

Don't knock it until its at least on your drive and you've covered a few miles.

Simon, I've had a FL1 sitting on the drive for the past year. Over that past year it has done 12,000 miles and has cost £1500, however that would not stop me buying another one. The FL1 is a good car and I'm sure the FL2 will be too, however a quick look at the RRS and D3 forums will show that modern Land Rovers do not have a reputation for being reliable.

Andy wrote:

however a quick look at the RRS and D3 forums will show that modern Land Rovers do not have a reputation for being reliable.

Martin, I cannot argue with that as I understand that problems are discussed on forums, however I cannot understand how you can seriously argue the point that modern Land Rovers are reliable. A post on the D3 forums made by oliver77 springs to mind, where he talks about LRA saying:

Quote:

"D3 is the picture of reliability compared with the major problems we are getting with Freelander 2 already" He said that dealer demos and press cars have been breaking down all over the place.

I was merely pointing out that the forums are not necessarily the best yardstick for determining vehicle reliability

Real-world experience is what counts - the first 6 months or so of full Fl2 production will show what the common problems are (much as what happened with the D3/RRS)

Exactly, and I'm sure there will be plenty of them

In my experience Andy, Land Rovers are somewhat more reliable than both the Volvo and the TVR that I owned..................... I've owned Land Rovers since 1992 - S1 Disco V8 ESi, Disco2 TD5 GS, Freelander TD4 GS Auto, Defender 90 TDi 300 (11 years old and still running beautifully), RR TD6SE and now the RRS TDv6SE. I have had to call out LRA 4 times - S1 Disco for a puncture when I couldn't get the Spare wheel off the back door, TD5 when it shredded it's auxy drive belt on the way to the dealers to be handed over for the Freelander (after 3 years of fault free motoring!), Freelander developed howling brakes while I was on holiday in the south of England and after a day of seriously muddy offroading and the RRS when into limp home mode 3 times during a 50 mile drive home. My Landies have always been serviced and maintained by either the selling dealer or the local dealer and I have never scrimped on their maintenance. LR's are very complex machines and I believe that the best people to look after them are the dealers or LR specialists (in the case of my Def).
My Volvo never made it south of Forton services on the M6 in 5 attempts due to the electrics drowning in heavy rain and the TVR was just awful (made worse by the fact that the nearest dealer to me at that time was 200 miles away in Barrow-In-Furness!).

In my experience LR products are the pargon of reliablity and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. I do accept that some owners have experienced less than perfect reliablity with their cars though! How can carbon have a footprint, it has no feet?
Now driving - RRE Coupe Dynamic Lux Auto with Plus pack, Fuji White, Ebony, SD4 with tow pack
Gone - 2010MY FFRR TDv8 Stornoway and Ivory, Privacy - the pace of a TDv8 RRS, the incomparable grace of a Range Rover
Gone but will be missed- RRS Tdv8 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather
Gone (only a little missed) RRS Tdv6 2.7SE Giverny Green/Aspen
Defender 90 County HT in Epsom Green

The press cars are pre mainstream production. Many of the things pointed out by the test drivers have been fixed already. Its all art of the products development cycle.

Yes I'm sure there will be some gremlins on some of the first model year builds - as said, the D3 suffered some, RRS less as most were found with the D3.

I have still yet to hear of anything remotely pointing major issues with the D3, RRS etc.

Both my BMW and Audi's suffered more mechanical and electronic issues than I have ever experienced with my, so far, 4 Land Rover's. And they were not early examples and contained the fabled 'German Engineering Prowess' many people swear by.

If you don't trust a product, don't buy it.

Many thanks for your thoughts.

I've decided on a FL2. Because of the way it drives, but also because Lakeland Landrover are only 10 miles from us. I've now had 3 cars from them and the service there is fantastic.

Another positive is that the economy is better, as Subaru only make a petrol.

Unless of course something else comes out in the next 6 months (highly unlikely!).

Good decision