I received my first reminder from our fleet office today that I should start thinking about my next vehicle change. I know from bitter experience that some of the admin processes in the supply chain can take forever so I guess they're covering themselves by sending out the reminder six months before end of contract. But allowing for researching the new vehicle then all the admin then I'm sure the time will fly by ...

Strange it doesn't seem like two minutes since I first registered with this site to ask question before ordering the current motor. Now I'm looking at other owners forums to start the whole process again! Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

I can honestly say it been a pleasure

By the sounds from whats previously been said the FL2 is out of the ball park

So when the time comes, and if your passing our way feel free to pop in and say hi

Likewise if you fancy a little bit of off roading and a events on feel free to ask if there is a seat available  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Last edited by npinks on 6th Jan 2009 9:34 am. Edited 1 time in total

I'm sure I'll have plenty to report before the car goes back ...

Such as cold start gremlins, the recent cold spell has seen a warning for a HDC malfunction appear about 1 in 3 starts.

The glow plugs have become very inconsistent, I've cold started as low as -5c and the plugs have not operated also at +1c and the plugs have operated ??

Cranking at -5c without plugs is very sluggish

Then there's matter of still not having and alarm there was a problem with the battery back up which is built into the sounder; the only way to stop the alarm sounding erratically day and night was to remove the sounder; still waiting for the part to arrive in stock ... Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

avtur wrote:

I'm sure I'll have plenty to report before the car goes back ...

Such as cold start gremlins, the recent cold spell has seen a warning for a HDC malfunction appear about 1 in 3 starts.

The glow plugs have become very inconsistent, I've cold started as low as -5c and the plugs have not operated also at +1c and the plugs have operated ??

Cranking at -5c without plugs is very sluggish

Then there's matter of still not having and alarm there was a problem with the battery back up which is built into the sounder; the only way to stop the alarm sounding erratically day and night was to remove the sounder; still waiting for the part to arrive in stock ...

avtur - The first three remarks do not seem to be any reason at all to down rate the FL2 and in fact they seem like normal working features that you have misinterpreted as errors or problems In fact if you have read what Viking mentioned that it can take from 30 – 45 secs. To start in cold weather and mine always sends some sort of message when cold starting, but start it does, so no worries. In addition you should not forget that ALL modern vehicles with complex electronics have problems – buy an Audi and you will know what I mean, and in my opinion the FL2 has considerably LESS electronic problems than most others. – Still if you choose away from LR then the best of luck to you as I think you will need it  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Avtur,

Is this website of any use to you +

http://www.thevanwebsite.co.uk/display_van...reelander/ ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

With all due respect: the reported problems could have easily been avoided by using the recommended addition of 2-T oil. Independent 100.000 km tests of the Freely 2 TD4 in Italy and Germany have concealed soot deposits on the turbo blades, the piezo injectors and the outlet valves, which has resulted in loss of power, starting problems and increased fuel consumption. The correct information and recommendation has been available on this Forum.

YF

AndyC wrote:

Still if you choose away from LR then the best of luck to you as I think you will need it

Sorry, I think you misunderstand I am not moving away from Freelander because of these, or any other mechanical problems. I am moving away because of cost, nothing else. I am not choosing to go away from Freenlander, the car scheme I am in no longer provides the option of a Freelander for my grade of job.

Despite the gremlins this car has been more fun to own than any other over 36 years of driving. Also it has never brokendown (OK a couple of flat battery issues but even then that didn't stop me). Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

Dave wrote:

Avtur,

Is this website of any use to you +

http://www.thevanwebsite.co.uk/display_van...reelander/

Many thanks for this link Dave, some good prices there.

Unfortunately the scheme I'm tied into is quite restrictive I don't have the flexibility to spend the money where I choose. I receive a good allowance for the car but can only use it in at one leasing outfit. Also, strange as this may seem, it is a condittion of receiving the allowance that it is used through the one provider.

My only option would be to fund it completely at my own cost, something I simply can't afford to do.  Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.

avtur wrote:

I'm sure I'll have plenty to report before the car goes back ...

Then there's matter of still not having and alarm there was a problem with the battery back up which is built into the sounder;

yamaha-fan wrote:

With all due respect: the reported problems could have easily been avoided by using the recommended addition of 2-T oil.

This 2-stroke oil must be pretty powerful stuff if it can stop an alarm sounder from malfunctioning!

I wonder if it will stop my tyres wearing out too?

- Dick

dick wrote:

avtur wrote:

I'm sure I'll have plenty to report before the car goes back ...

Then there's matter of still not having and alarm there was a problem with the battery back up which is built into the sounder;

yamaha-fan wrote:

With all due respect: the reported problems could have easily been avoided by using the recommended addition of 2-T oil.

This 2-stroke oil must be pretty powerful stuff if it can stop an alarm sounder from malfunctioning!

I wonder if it will stop my tyres wearing out too?

- Dick

Oh it is !

Since using 2T oil - my car stays cleaner, my tyres keep the correct inflation pressure & the radio sounds better.

Anyone else noticed extra-beneficial effects from 2T oil

http://accident-audi-q7.skynetblogs.be/

It is confirmation of what I have been saying for a long time. The car with the most problems on the planet today must be Audi. In Norway they call them Auda which sort of means OUCH!
They are just crap  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

I Know how Avtur feels, I haven't been around the site for a while but the 2 years are up & i'm getting rid of my freelander 2 SE ( 32000 miles).
i'd set myself a budget & had test drives in range rover sports, lexus rx 400hs, Audi's , volvo xc-70s & 90s, full fat range rovers & throwing caution to the wind a quattroporte s.
the outcome ?
a 2009 HSE auto Freelander 2 diesel arrives next week, the differences over the se being auto box, full leather, dab radio & a full size spare alloy.
I just can't believe how good the fl2 se has been, ( ive had s2's ,90's, disco 2's & a Disco 3 before the downsize in jan 2007)
i've had battery failures, non starts & a leaky high vis brake light,
but pound for pound, when i sit in city traffic, horse it round silly wee roads & do London in 6 1/2 hours fully loaded at 30+mpg I just can't see further than this car,
I know I'm going to have snagging issues with it, it's a landrover after all, but I pay less insurance, less road tax & i can sleep soundly at night knowing that it may just help reinforce the brilliance of British manufacturing,
hell! i look forward to my first non-start!
best wishes to all early adopters & if the lottery numbers come up I AM getting a Qauttroporte S too. whatever she says !
btw black se SH**WYM at Taggarts Motherwell in a couple of weeks, serviced & looked after ( even off-road!)

G

well done keep up the buying British ..it is after all best  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

Been out doing some serious looking today.

In an ideal world I'm looking for diesel - estate - auto .... due to restrictions imposed by company policy I'm looking at Jag X type, Mondeo, Volvo V50 and Volvo V70.

Looked at them all today, I'd love to have the Jag on the drive, but the 'boot space isn't as big as it could be. I've got a V50 Powershift auto to test for four days next weekend but after today I'm really taken to the V70. Unfortunately I can't stretch to an auto on the V70 but when you sit in it it has a certain feel good factor, just like the FL2, I can see me compromising on the auto !! (and of course the V70 is a great tow car - sorry CG the 'van is staying ...)

Watch this space .... Stornoway Grey GS ... What a fine motor ... but not any more ... ... psst look at my gallery!
Company cars ... a thing of the past - May 2013.