pab wrote:

Has anyone tried sitting in the tailgate of a DS yet? Is there room for a six-footer to sit there comfortably without having their head jammed up against the roof? With the sloping roofline it looks unlikely

move to new thread Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

Last edited by realspeed on 6th Oct 2014 9:09 am. Edited 1 time in total

I've just had a text from my salesman, they have one available for a 1hr test drive next week. I will report back then.


EDIT- it's December  21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Last edited by j77 on 6th Oct 2014 9:26 am. Edited 1 time in total

Whether or not one likes change and whether or not the car suits the small number of UK motorists who put their Freely 2s to practical use in the country or off road is by the way.
The simple question is - is the DS good enough?
The full fat Range Rover is unquestionably king of the road in its market sector - because it combines fantastic off road capability with wonderful on road luxury motoring, style, image, imperious driving position etc - it is a real class act - this is why it sells worldwide even though most will never venture off tarmac.
So what does the DS offer in its market sector that might denote it as special?
Is it progress to "Discover" that it is lower, thinner, longer, less practical, more expensive and has reduced ground clearance between the rear wheels - than the outgoing car - with no air suspension lift to give it genuine off road capability? Seems very little to distinguish its from the other soft roaders it is to go up against. The high volume manufacturers have the pockets to easily out- innovate Landrover and in terms of efficiency and reliability they have the volume to gets things right more often than Landrover. LR simply do not have the worldwide dealer and distribution networks and economies of scale to compete as a high volume producer. With a unique selling point they can profitably dominate sub sectors of markets. They should concentrate on what they do best - the mix of on road/off road capability which is the very essence of the brand - and that is where the DS seems to loose the plot - too much emphasis on style, not enough targeted engineering.

Badger1970 wrote:

pab wrote:

Has anyone tried sitting in the tailgate of a DS yet? Is there room for a six-footer to sit there comfortably without having their head jammed up against the roof? With the sloping roofline it looks unlikely

I did.I'm 6'1, and whilst I managed to get in ok, it was by no means comfortable, and you wouldn't want to go on a long journey in the third row.

778mm load space height on DS

885mm Fl2

Don't know if that's any good to you. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Thanks. That's quite a big difference - I don't think I'd be able to sit there comfortably. And certainly the sofa bed which only just went into the FL wouldn't go in there. Style over practicality, unfortunately!

J77 when you have your test drive can you find out if the DS can take a full size spare wheel. From LR site this is unclear and it looks like only a space saver is available. I am sure a few will be interested to know this, - particularly us caravanners.
Thanks, Steve

No full size spare due to the 7 seats, only a "reduced section spare" as LR call it.

Apparently there is a tow pack which deletes the 2 seats in the rear and increases towing to 2.5t rather than 2.2t. I can't find any mention of this though in the brochure. All other countries have the option of 5 or 7 seats. There is also rumour of an entry level S spec to sit below the current entry level SE once the new engines are available.

I would also prefer a level roof, I think it would look more Discovery like also.

Click image to enlarge

Thanks for that J77.
A tow pack would suit me fine - I have no need for 7 seats.
A tow pack may prove popular even for those that don't tow!
I will email Land Rover and ask about the tow pack.

Hopefully when the 'cheap' models come out with only 5 seats there will be room for a proper size spare

Looking at pics of the steering wheel, I thought it had a speed limiter.
i'd also prefer 5 seats & a full sized spare. SD4 HSE Lux Orkney Grey,Full size spare tyre,Ugly kid glass.

Auto express says it has room for full sizes spare, but that probably means it doesnt At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I had a look at the two cars on display at the Southampton Boat Show a couple of weeks ago. One had a space saver spare wheel the other had no spare. I was told that a full size spare wasn't available. (Personally I think a space saver is just about acceptable, but would prefer a full size spare).

Interestingly both cars had 7 seats, but the different exhaust systems. On the one with no spare the back box was transverse, similar to the FL2. On the car with the spare the exhaust split into two branches with a small silencer either side of the spare wheel.

Halewood have been in contact this morning, apparently job 'No.1' of the new Discovery Sport is scheduled for Mid October and is on schedule at this time.
I have requested some dates and will put up some options when I get them for a factory tour to see the new car being built, they did stress to advise that the existing Freelander will not be in production and you will not see that being built.

Paul