I was hoping to get peoples opinions on purchasing an F2. I have a budget of up to around £12k and have been looking for a few weeks now to get an idea of what is out there.

I want to buy from a dealer as I have a car to part ex and want some level of cover with a warranty so I'm not going to be looking privately.

For the money I seem to have two choices. An 09-10 plate XS spec up to around 60k miles or a 10-11 plate GS spec of lower mileage so around 40-50k.

It seems that the xs would be right at the top end of my budget with only a few available. I test drove one the other day which was ok, but cosmetically it was a bit shabby. Am I over reaching myself expecting a good XS on my budget? I want it to be 09 onwards as the spec got much better with the addition heated seats and screen etc and has the updated haldex. I'm not sure if id be disappointed if I ended up buying a GS spec after having seen how nice the XS is. Or would I be better sucking it up and try to find a mint GS?

In terms of places to buy from, everyone seems to get negative reviews. I guess that is the way of the internet though. I'd been looking at independent dealers on autotrader as well as through Evans halshaw as they seem to have a huge stock of vehicles in my price range that are reasonably priced and have warranty etc but they will transport them to a local dealer if I find one nationally. Ive looked at main dealer franchise websites but they generally only seem to have stock of newer cars £14k plus. Can anyone recommend anywhere else to look? Ideally id like to buy from somewhere with a decent rep and service, warranty etc.

Cheers!

Just to add, these are two examples of both the lower mileage variety gs and better spec xs that I'm looking at... can't decide what's the better way to go...

GS
http://www.evanshalshaw.com/search/vehicle...n-dv10xyo/

XS
http://www.wheelerschippingnorton.co.uk/us...d4-xs-3980

Spec is a very personal thing. I prefer older and higher spec so I would go for the XS. You will definitely be looking at independent dealers in that price range/age. Evans Halshaw are a large chain so you would assume you would be reasonably well looked after if things went wrong. I inquired about a couple of cars from Evans Halshaw a few years back and both were missing service history. I found it difficult to obtain accurate information from my local dealer about cars that were on other sites so be prepared to be messed about and given wrong information. I would definitely buy locally if you can. FL2's are complex vehicles and can and do go wrong. Having the seller on the doorstep is a huge bonus in my view.

the difference between 59 and 10 plate is minimal in terms of age. but for the difference between the earlier XS spec and the newer GS spec, I would go for the newer GS spec.

IIRC the main difference is the leather bolsters on the seats and the alloys on the XS, neither of which is a deal breaker. The GS you listed has the factory hands free but may not have the subwoofer in the boot floor, again not a deal breaker IMO.

The GS being a 10 plate, and nearly 20k less miles, the prospects are better for resale value in the future, and the colour is also better IMO.

It really is a question of which feels right for you.

Me I would go for an auto every time. There was a facelift about 2011, so visually the 2009 and 2010 look similar (I prefer the look of the wheels on the XS).
As an owner with 178,000 miles on the clock the 15,000 miles difference is a mere drop in the ocean.
The GS is a TD4.e is that the dreaded stop/start or two wheel drive? Only you can know if you can put up with the stop/start thing. Two wheel drive only makes sense if you are a company car driver trying to reduce the tax burden, because if it's fuel consumption you are really panicking about, then buy an Insignia/Golf/Mondeo/Octavia - other euro boxes are available. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

The GS is a TD4.e ????????????

My TD4 GS (MY13) is certainly not 2 WD  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Td4e was start stop. The ed4 was the 2wd version. The start stop wouldn't really bother me, we have it on my partners car and its ok.

Manual or auto I'm not that bothered, I've driven both and they're both good enough.

And the XS would have the revised spec so a bit more than the half leather. It'd have the heated seats, screen etc.

I guess from peoples replies it doesn't sound unreasonable to expect an 09 onwards in xs spec in good condition and low mileage for my budget. Maybe best holding on a bit longer then and carry on looking for one.

as a slight comparison, in August this year I sold my 2010MY HSE Premium auto with 85k on clock, full LR main dealer history, side steps, privacy glass etc etc etc, and it would have gone on to be sold for around £11.5k

The heated screen was nice to be fair, as were heated seats etc. The sat nav was OK, but a retro fit TomTom or similar in the cubby hole of the GS/XS spec was much better.

the auto FL2 is IMO a much better drive than the manual FL2, and yes the higher specs are nice to have but not all the goodies are noticeable day to day (mine had memory seats/mirrors but there was only me ever drove it)

Must admit the looking is fun.

Trouble is we are being too specific
Must be HSE - or whatever the Ewok equivalent is.
Must be auto
Must be red (orange would be best)
Must be less than 30,000 (I do 30k a year)
Must be 2014 - LR warranty

Shame is I want a FL2, Gill wants an Ewok. ........ Ewoks seem to be around £10k more for the same year/mileage!

Still dragging Gill around LR dealers beats being dragged around the Trafford Centre.

In our house memory seats are a must, I'm 5'10" Gill is 4'10"
As are leather seats - muddy dog paws just wipe off. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

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is yours a genuine G4 FL2 Andy ? if so not many of them around so worth hanging on to just as an investment surely ?

Ha yes I will admit the looking is fun! It's the committing that I'm not good at. I always assume whatever I buy will be a money pit and imagine the worst.

I'm not in a huge rush so can wait a couple of weeks more so will keep a look out for an XS I think. Even my Defender which I'm swapping has heated seats which I've gotten used to... I really think I'd miss them!

Just on my other query, I don't suppose anyone is aware of other franchises other than Evans Halshaw / Stratstones that have a decent stock of 'older' used cars? As I say, they seem to be the only main dealer who keeps a stock of them in their group. Listers, Guy Salmon etc all seem to only stock Approved Used age vehicles.

Try these as they seem to offer cars with differing warranty periods.

http://www.marshallweb.co.uk/land-rover/used-cars/ FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

RogB wrote:

^^^^^^^^^^^

is yours a genuine G4 FL2 Andy ? if so not many of them around so worth hanging on to just as an investment surely ?

One of only seven
Strangely enough the G4s don't command much of a premium.
My worry is the mileage is creeping up, I need a car for work, and as she passes 200k Clementine might turn into a money pit.
The auto box is playing up when hot and towing, dropped the trans oil a few months ago, and she has been marginally better, so have 24 litres in the garage, and the first dry weekend I am going to do an oil change / flush. If it works it works, if not then Clementine has to go  Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Freypal,

Good luck with your search. I agree that looking is part of the fun! I shopped about for a while until I found mine. I wouldn't get too hung up about age/mileage etc. There's plenty of examples of low mileage cars causing issues on here!!! Just buy the car and the spec that you want and don't compromise or you'll end up regretting it. I always wanted a HSE but originally bought an XS. I never really got attached to that car.

I've ended up with an older HSE as I missed the Freelander so much when I got rid of the other one. This time i stuck to my guns and spent time looking for what I wanted. It was going to be a HSE with full LR service history. I know people say that independents are probably better than main dealers, but the way I saw it, if the car goes to a main dealer for 7 years then it's no expense spared. Previous owners aren't going to cut corners on anything else.

I found a 2009 HSE just over 6 months ago for £9.5k. It had 85k miles on it but had just been serviced at a main dealer, 12 months mot etc. It was from a small dealer who picked it up trade from an LR main dealer.

I love it to be honest. It's as tight as the XS I had previously, even though the mileage is double. They're pretty timeless cars with a few cosmetic tweaks over the years.

I know it's risky buying such a high miler, but I thought for the price difference I could buy a few repairs!!! Anyway, good luck with the search!

Dan