Hi Guys and Gals

Well I have taken the plunge into owning my very first Land Rover almost by accident but i couldn't be happier.

I had a lovely slightly modified Renault Laguna Coupe 3lt dci monaco and absolutely loved her to death, polished her every couple of weeks, serviced her at 6k without fail and just loved the comments and queries about what she was and how good she looked (I realise its subjective but I loved her). However this all changed when I broke my back testing gravity off my Roof After healing I have been left with lower back problems meaning my lowerd sports suspension and I were no longer compatible. I struggled on for a year determined not to sell my pride and joy but it just got too much as I changed job so went from a short distance on A-roads to 45mins on back B-roads. Me and my wife decided it was time to get something bigger and kinder on my back, The great truck hunt started!

I looked at many cars all being Pick ups as I had already decided if I couldn't have my Coupe then it must be my next car itch a pick up truck, I'm quite heavy on researching my cars before buying them which turned out to be a god send when I put a holding deposit on a Nissan Navara Long way Down, found out about that every Navara from 2005 to 2016 are dead trucks driving due to chassis rot from the inside out. I went to the garage to retrieve my deposit and on my way home passed a Land Rover/Jaguar specialist garage that had lots of lovely motors on the forecourt so had to pop in.

There sat proudly in amongst the 20k Range Rovers was a gorgeous little 2008 Freelander 2 HST, after walking around her and climbing around underneath her a salesman came over and we started to chat. It turns out they had just part ex'ed it for a Range Rover Evoque, it was a one lady owner car with 60,000 on the clock and full Land Rover stealer service history. She had the odd little mark on the paint but nothing a good valet can't sort and unmarked full HSE spec leather. I drove away after an hour and a half of chatting leaving my newly returned deposit to return with my wife (who is the boss obviously) and my little girl. The following day the sales man rang me to let me know that during there usual mechanical checks it appeared the dual mass flywheel was noisy so they replaced the DMF, thrust bearing and cluck pack with original Land Rover parts

So 2 weeks now driving her and I love it!! had the EGR blanked off and a remap performed which makes it go if I need her too (obviously no where near as quick as my coupe) for a big old thing it is suprisingly quick while averaging 40mpg, I'm also really suprised at how well she handles for an SUV with not a great deal of body roll.

I'm handy with the tools but she is booked into my usual specialist garage for her timing belt, halidex and gearbox service as per the 10year service so hopefully a new loving relationship is being formed as we speak!.

The amount of information available on this site is unbelievable so a massive thank you in advance for anybody who helps this annoying Welshman in the future and I will try and recipricate if i can in the future

HST are always sought after beasties due to their rarity. Yours looks and sounds like a quality example especially with so low mileage (I wonder if the clutch and DMF were due to it being a lady owner )

this forum is amazing for information and banter, enjoy your new pride and joy

Thank you I love it and I can't remember if ive ever seen a HST before to be honest so keeping up my scarse car MO.

I will claim diplomatic Immunity about the reasoning for the DMF problem as my misses might see this but lets say she's been throuhg a fair amount of car wash machines in her time

Um the Landy not my Wife hahaha

welcome to the site, your car looks like a beauty, probably because it looks like mine Mine is the HSE with HST kit, apart from the mesh grille, I don't have that but wish I did, apart from that does anyone know any other differences ? Does HST have the sunroof? The HSE does.
I have added colour coded handles and mirror covers and wind deflectors, clear side indicators. previous lady owner . 158,000 miles same clutch !

Click image to enlarge

From the HST styling pack spawned off the dynamic styling pack. Looks nice  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

They are great looking cars aren't they, I have the mesh grill which does finish the front end off nicely. I can't decide on the colour coded caps or the chrome ones for the mirrors but I actually like my black handles they somehow work so I think they will stay. Spec wise mine is the HSE HST like yours it was badged up as HSE on the rear (at least it was until I removed the lettering). Am I right in thinking the HST kit was an optional extra on the range or was it just the HSE that had it?

Let's just say I'm glad they did 😀 because I love it just got to see if I can use the original DAB aerial and I'm done.......for now😉

I stand to be corrected, but when I got my HSE in December, I looked at Autotrader in depth, I rejected an HST as I am pretty sure they did not have a sunroof,(which I fancied). I think some of them had cloth seats, (I wanted leather) they did have the lovely side skirts and front and rear bit and the mesh grille plus the nice looking 10 spoke alloy wheels.
Yours looks more like an HSE and if as you say you have the mesh grille, it may have been upgraded, it certainly has the HSE wheels like mine.

I liked the black handles and wasn't sure about sticking the covers on, as soon as I did it , I was more than happy (apart from the price)