Hello everyone, I am currently hoarding the coffers to pay for an FL2. I am on about a £20,000 budget so was looking at a GS from a main dealer. I would be very grateful from you current owners if you could spare a minute to offer any advice you have on buying. All thoughts and funny comments welcome!!

Don't pay more than you can afford
Other than that I can recommend black no towbar
Oh and keep £30 back so you can get clear side indicators.

Go for it though it will be a great car! try our friendly sponsor ! At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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Why not buy a higher spec (ie XS or even SE) model used at maybe a year old or so with relatively low miles on the clock?

GS is a good specification as you get the TR which is one (or the) essential piece of equipment.
I wanted to get initially a GS (Romanian specification S) but ended up with what I think you are calling XS (Romanian specification SE).
As CG said don't overstreach as there might be some extras you'll want or need (privacy, side steps aso).
On the other hand if you tell the dealer you want a GS he'll want to sell you a higher specification.
I've only read good things about our sponsor Charles Hurst so you might want to give them a call and mention that you are a forum member. FREELANDER 2 TD4 SE (XS UK) IZMIR BLUE SIDE STEPS COLD PACK BI-XENON TINTED WINDOWS - AND PROUD OF HER

elevatordude70 wrote:

Hello everyone, I am currently hoarding the coffers to pay for an FL2. I am on about a £20,000 budget so was looking at a GS from a main dealer. I would be very grateful from you current owners if you could spare a minute to offer any advice you have on buying. All thoughts and funny comments welcome!!

I have had my GS 7 months now and very happy - no regrets

I bought online from Autobytel who own Hunters LR to get best deal - they gave me a good P/x for my old car too.

Good luck

GS has all the essentials, but try to stretch to auto, privacy and full-size spare, these are extras on almost all models.  Was GS TD4 Auto, Privacy, Santorini with Tundra & Alpaca, Cold Climate Pack. Traded for Discovery Sport HSE Auto.

I didnt get a full sizes spare but it would have been a good idea as it obviously comes with a new tyre which can be used at the first tyre change. And you get a spare alloy incase one is kerbed At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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I blagged a full size spare on new s spec but it was steel not alloy unfortunately. disco td5 gone at last.

I am of course assuming the full sizes spare in the price list £120 for all models above S is an alloy one, but the more I think about it at that price it must be steel? At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Go for a GS, you don't gain enough going for the XS. My only regret is not getting the auto!

chicken george wrote:

I didnt get a full sizes spare but it would have been a good idea as it obviously comes with a new tyre which can be used at the first tyre change. And you get a spare alloy incase one is kerbed

Many thanks for all your help and advice so far, one thing still still worries me...the age long choice between auto and manual. With the price of fuel going through the roof the mpg of the manual seems attractive, my current Volvo auto drinks petrol like its going out of fashion. A lot of people seem really keen on the auto, just wondered if there was something I was missing. Thanks again

Hi

It is all down to your own opinion, but we went for the XS over the GS, as we felt the interior was lifted a lot by the silver strip on the dash,a nd the purple in the seats and door sides. We both felt that the all black was too dark, and prefered the colour.

You also get electric seats, front parking sensors and Bluetooth kit, but as others ahve said, these aren't things your need, just want.

If you don't mind the all black interior, or can pick up the silver dash trip on Ebay (I think it sticks onto the GS dash) then the GS is a good choice.

As for Auto/Man, if you are going to do any offroading, go for the auto, beats killing the clutch.

Rich

elevatordude70 wrote:

Many thanks for all your help and advice so far, one thing still still worries me...the age long choice between auto and manual. With the price of fuel going through the roof the mpg of the manual seems attractive, my current Volvo auto drinks petrol like its going out of fashion. A lot of people seem really keen on the auto, just wondered if there was something I was missing. Thanks again

I went for the manual for the economy having had auto on last 2 disco's.

I could not have lived with Manual Disco but I do not miss Auto because FL2 is so easy to drive.

Auto Disco did 22-24 Mpg - I now get 34-36 mpg normal - Auto users not doing that well.

I choose the XS because of the part leather seats,better radio and bluetooth and the above mentioned chrome strip. I stopped short of the SE as I'm not to bothered about sat nav or sunroof.
Saying that the fact that the dealer had an XS on order so shortening the waiting time considerably swayed my choice over either an GS or SE.

I do find that the more you read car forums the more it makes you want to up-spec your car! So there is a danger of reading these pages too much and over spending .
Or you can learn from a few on here and buy an S and spend money wisely to tailor make your own spec.

To 'joe public' all our cars will look basically the same and only spotters will ever see the real differences. At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race