Had a an hour spare this morning and decided to see what other FL2 tranportation was out there (seeing as though I am due to change in March) . Came across the Q5 which I must admit to having a soft spot for but whilst i love the rear end styling the rest looks too 'plump'. I then surprisingly stumbed upon the X3 which I hadnt even considered before, I know the mk1 was dreadful but this new one, especially in Msport packaging looks very nice - but also very expensive when you rack the options up to spec it to FL2 HSE levels. Then finally to my shame I came across the new Ford Kuga, the soon to be released Titanium X Sport package looks very appealing and the spec you get is quite impressively - electric tailgate, electric panoramic sunroof that actually opens more than half way like the FL2!, an electric blind to cover the sunroof, full voice sync including the ability to read your texts to you from your phone, parking assist then the usual stuff like privacy glass, xenons, auto lights, auto wipers, sat nav, A CENTRE ARMREST WITH STORAGE!!! Yes I know it wont be as good off road but my FL2 tends to stay on tarmac 99% of the time anyway. Am i mad to consider a Kuga or just thinking with my wallet? (Its cheaper and more economical than the FL2) On the plus side leasing a Kuga for 2 years will be considerably cheaper than leasing a FL2 whilst waiting for the FL3 to come out. Any thoughts (other than me needing to stand in a middle of a field awaiting the gunshots)

...

So, ask yourself "Why am I hesitating, given the list of benefits outlined?"

My experience with Ford has put me off for life. I'm sure the quality, dealerships & brand are all better than when I had a Ford (1 x XR31 (sh ite), 1 x Orion (ohmygawd... cambelt snapped twice... ), 1 x Fiesta ("WHY WHY won't you accelerate?") etc. but having had some terrible experiences I can't imagine buying a Ford Anything...

FWIW...

... ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

Our experience of Ford couldn't be more different. For ten years before she retired in 2011, my wife Tricia ran a Fiesta 1.25 Auto on her daily 55-mile commute from Runcorn to Sale. Predominantly motorway mileage and with very few short runs, this was as easy a life as a car could have when in regular use. Starting at 20-odd thousand miles and three years old, she added over a hundred thousand over the ten years. We had it regularly serviced, changed tyres as needed, renewed brake pads and linings an changed the battery once. Other than that it cost us nowt except for the fuel and oil. 100% reliable.

It was easily the most efficient car we've ever had in terms of doing what it was bought for. OK, I don't want another 'cos it's too small for my liking and not a convertible so Tricia doesn't want one again. It was a bit like owning a fridge or a cooker in that it didn't excite any emotion, other than being an utterly dependable machine. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

Only ever had 1 Ford in my life back in the mid-80's....Series 1 Escort RS Turbo. Converted to a Cavalier SRi130 in '88, and stayed loyal to the brand throughout the years until last year when I switched to JLR.

My Escort, nightmare though it was, put a smile on my face every time I drove it back then. Like most Manufacturers, I dare say they have improved in the 25 years since I last drove one...my advice would be to weigh it all up, and go with what your wallet tells you...it's only going to get more expensive after all!  Foraging near Gaydon....
——————————————
MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

For kuga is a great car and did consider one myself but the LR product just oozed more refinement at the end of the day and for me the towing ability of the FR 2 finally did it..

I did also consider the fuel economy as my auto was dreadful but now having the manual although its only done 700 miles its averaged 40 + and on on long run of 200 + miles averaged over 42.8 so I consider that reasonable for everyday motoring.

I also think if its doing 40+ already it should improve when it loosens up.

I must say I think I could go as far as to say the quality of the LR product has improved blimey did I really just say that  Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !

shilen wrote:

I then surprisingly stumbed upon the X3 which I hadnt even considered before, I know the mk1 was dreadful...

Regarding the first BMW X3:

Buy a 5 series touring (proper beemer) for the same money and put winter tyres on it. In view of it being crap off road, there's no reason to buy one over a 5 series touring (as they sum up at the end of the video).

Shilen, don't be fooled by the SYNC system. I have it on my new fiesta and its very hit and miss. Slow sometimes and it's never read a text out. Does for some people but it varies from phone to phone. Can't fault the Bluetooth aspect though.

Just as an add on, you probably do plenty of miles to justify a diesel but if not, Ford are king of the hill right now with the award winning ecoboost petrol engines. I have the 1.0 in mine and its great.

123bhp, turbo, 147lb ft torque, 0-60: 9.1, 122mph top speed, claimed 65mpg, FREE ROAD TAX. (Have seen 60 mpg on a good run)

Previous shape Fiesta figures: 118bhp, 1.6 NA, 112lb ft torque, 0-60: 9.6, 120mph top speed, claimed 48mpg, £125 12 months road tax.

New engine is superior on all fronts. Brilliant car and never had trouble with previous Fords. Defo take a Kuga of your choice for a spin and see what you think. I've sat in some in showrooms and felt they were not up to FL2 standards but things may have improved and lots of car for the money. Depreciation is the real caveat but leasing will save you suffering the problems that cash buyers face  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I had an (54-reg) X3 for three years. I came to realise what a bone-shaker it was. Might as well have been on wooden wheels. ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

We've had many secondhand Fords over the years without any major problems and two from brand new because we could (still can) get them on a disount ticket through the Ma-in-Law. A 53 plate 1.4 Fiesta Zetec, had it 3 years only problem was it had to have the ECU updated once when it went into limp-home mode. After that we had a 2006 2.0 TDCI Focus Titanium for 3 years with no problems whatsoever. I think we lost £2.5k on the Fiesta and £5.5K on the Focus when we sold them after 3 years ownership which I dont think is too bad but it would have been more had we bought them at retail prices. I serviced them myself from new too. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

I think that comparing the original X3 with the current one is probably like comparing the FL1 with the FL2 (Although saying that my wife's FL1 has had fewer problems than my FL2 !!). I looked seriously at the X3 but plumped for an FL2 due to the 6 - 9 month X3 waiting list at the time. My recollection of comparison reviews at the time is that the FL2 is more rugged and better off road than the X3 but that the X3 was far more economical, cheaper to maintain / tax and with a more premium interior. Nowhere did I read that the X3 was ' crap off road ' just that the FL2 was better. Some later magazine reviews also compared the FL2 and or X3 with the Kuga so it will be well worth trying to find those online or in back issues. FL2 HSE Auto Galway Green
Evoque SD4 Auto Blue.
FL1 HSE TD4 Manual Black - Gone.
RR Classic V8 EFI - Gone

I had a new mark 1 Kuga for 2 years. Great car and did 40 plus mpg. New Kuga is nowhere near as chunky looking I think. Freelander is in a different class above the Kuga. * GONE. GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* GONE.2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Rocket ship. 33mpg.
* Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

The Kuga is a great car nearly bought one myself but at the time , two years ago the finace was cheaper on the land rover , a good friend of mine has one and loves it , but was disappointed with it in the snow , he thought his focus handled it better 

Click image to enlarge

X3 has no place for spare wheel. I am about to say goodbye to a BMW 3 Series convertible (330d) with run flat tyres. Wonderful car fitted with the worst tyres ever made, drive carefully and you might make them last for 9000 miles. BMW offered, if I bought an X3, to replace tyres free if I needed new set within 5 years. But main dealer service has been poor and BMW Insurance also poor service. Will be sorry to part company with the splendid car, but glad to see the back of a pretty sorry support service.

Let me put it to you like this; FL2 confirmation bias aside.

You will not get a better aftersales service than LRUK from either BM(****ing)W (the lairy, wide-tie wearing, failed estate agent, jagged-haired, gobsh*tes) or F(oh we're still somehow selling fancifully 'animalesque' named cars on the historical basis that we once represented the greater part of good old Blighty's economy, about 30+ years ago before we ran out of odd meditteranean names for rubbish cars)ORD. You just won't. Ford are still Ford.

Try showing an interest in a BM(****ing)W and walking away and you'll need to send death threats to them to cease and desist from repeat calling you to pressure sell something you glanced at in passing, never mind their ridiculous excuse for a warranty. They are not your friends! Yes their 4x4's aren't based on a historical agricultural basis, as LRs are and yes their in car tech is better and their true MPG is better too but their company isn't better than JLR and when it goes a bit wrong, I'd rather be dealing with the really efficient staff at Caffyn's Lewes any day.

What's the oldest Ford you have seen around recently? Whereabouts unknown stop going to follow stream until reach civilisation stop message ends

I think customer service depends upon the garage you are dealing with rather than the brand. The dealer I used for problems with my first Fl2 was 4 mile from where I live and they were absolute rubbish, their attitude stunk so bad i almost handed the keys back to LR. I then went 15 miles to another dealer who were fantastic who have had my business for the past 5 years. Ocassionally there is a blip but generally i have been pleased

I still have the courtesy FL2 HSE LUX whilst mine is on holiday in a LR workshop, went to Audi and had a good look around the Q5 and sat inside and have to say when i sat back in the FL2 myself and my partner looked around inside and thought 'how out of date is this???' Im having a test drive next week but quite honestly 80% of me wants the Q5 now. It looks and feels much better and has lots of things standard unlike the FL2 (20" wheels, stainless steel treadplates, stainless steel boot plate, spoiler, privacy glass, spare wheel) plus sports seats that are really comfy. The FL3 needs to be produced sooner rather than later coz it has certainly opened my eyes today as to how dated the FL2 has become. Dont get me wrong its a lovely car but when I can get the Q5 cheaper than the FL2 in a better spec its hard to justify sticking with a FL2 Now - 2017 BMW X3 M Sport Carbon Black
Gone - 2014 BMW X3 M Sport Space Grey, faultless!
Gone - 2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Bali Blue with xenons
Gone - 2008 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Rimini Red with bodykit