Hi to all,

Looking for some honest feedback on a freelander 2, I am thinking about buying one, probably an auto box and one of the earlier models (07ish). I would love to know what they are like to live with?

Im hearing a lot of scare stories combined with a lot of positive. It will be my only car so what is it like to live with on a day to day basis?

I have got the money (just) to buy one but still need to run it.

I am looking at a disco3 as well but from what I can see the freelander2 can do a lot of the things a disco3 can do for the average user. All I will be doing is on road 95% of the time with some greenlaning and to make sure I can actually get around in the snow again (bmw's with rear wheel drive are not fun!). I have asked and recieved some very helpful advice on a disco3 forum, now its your turn please

Looking for any help and advice is appreciated

no probs with mine in 32,000 miles, its good car was excellent in the snow and ice, I didn't worry too much when my wife took my young son out in it in the bad weather - I live in a rural area where salt is a luxury to our local council.
D3 is a great car without doubt but big and (possibly) expensive to run and a pain in the bum to park. the fl2 does us fine.

The true test came recently when I polled the mrs on a future new car, every option I gave her failed she wants another fl2.. OK she want a range rover all told but she aint getting one  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

Reliability can come down to luck. Sometimes you can get a 'friday' car where someone else may have trouble free motoring. On the whole quality has taken a quantum leap forward over the FL1 (I used to own an FL1 so I speak from experience). Always worth checking owners reviews on various websites such as What Car?

I would of course recommend buying approved used for peace of mind but if you buy elsewhere you could consider paying an AA or RAC bloke to do a vehicle check to look for any issues.

The Discovery 3 is far more practical than the FL2 and vastly capable off road but it is rather sluggish apparently (probably because its as heavy as a Nimitz Class Aircraft carrier ) It will cost a lot more to run and tax as well and servicing bills will doubtless be higher.

Having owned my FL2 for a year now I am very happy with it. Very minor niggles such as a panel which was making a knocking sound but this was quickly rectified by the dealerahip which has always given excellent service. The car is quick enough once on the move with plenty of mid range grunt and a great driving position.

Yes there are other compact 4x4's that may be supposedly more reliable and the likes of the new BMW X3 and Audi Q5 may have the edge on cabin quality but nothing touches Land Rover for that 'special something'. There is a sense of prestige and a sense that it will get you there regardless of the weather. (Something else I can testify to).

Take one for a test drive and I would advise you to contact Lookers Park Royal who sponsor this site, high quality service by all accounts (I purchased mine elsewhere before joining this site).

Having done an LR experience day, the FL2 is awesome off road and takes you by surprise at just how capable it is and on normal all weather tyres at that (so much so I took mine off road recently). It is also magnificent in the snow, I ploughed through deep snow without any trouble.

Here are some links to my off roading posts and snow posts (further pics in my gallery):

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic8812.html

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic7345.html

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic7366.html LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I haven't taken delivery of my own Freelander yet, but I found driving both the Disco 4 and Freelander around the Land Rover Experience off road training tracks a real eye opener.

Firstly, the Freelander is way more capable off road than I would ever have expected and would be hugely capable of dealing with the snowfall that seems to cut our village off (Bodmin Moor) during most winters, along with a bit of green lane driving too All this and it's still capable of driving on road in such a way that I'll be happy to do my 30,000 miles a year in it for the next 3 years.

The Disco moved the game on off road, to the point where if most of driving were off road through really difficult terrain I'd love it. If I needed to carry more than 4 people, I'd want one too. But, if you don't need either of those things, it's much more compromised on the road than the Freelander is. It's handling (not to mention the mpg) is affected by the sheer weight and size of the thing in a way that the Freelander simply isn't. For that reason alone, I'd stick with the Freelander.

I had a FL1 manual for 4 years which reasonably reliable and overall a good car.
Next a D3 manual for 4 years, that was very reliable and exceptional in the snow and as a transport for up to 7 but very expensive to run and maintain. But if I had the money I would have another.
FL2 2011my manual for 3 months, this is much more nimble and a lot cheaper to run. If I had the money for a D3 and FL2 as second car life would be perfect. In the real world the FL2 is a very good car that will keep you out of trouble in the snow (as long as you don't go looking for it).
Reliability on all cars is a lottery or so it seems but I would echo previous statements and say LR has changed their game over build quality in the last few years and these cars are no worst or better than many others.
Unless you really need the load lugging and 7 seats capabilities of a D3 then the FL2 is a much cheaper option, almost as good in the mucky stuff, nicer to drive on the road and a lot less to fill up.
Strangely I find the FL2 harder to park than the D3 or maybe its just I am just prepared to go into smaller parking spaces with the FL2.

FL2 = I used to have one, Mrs Dave still has her's although she is now getting problems with the battery that will have to be replaced soon. Nice car, more car like than the D3 but smaller load space.

D3 = even nicer in my opinion. Another £200 for road tax. MPG comparable to an FL2 depending on how heavy your right foot is. Insurance for me was the same as the FL2. Just as easy to park as the FL2. Sluggish that depends on how you drive

D4 = Absolute animal - love it to bits. it lacks some of the storage space in the front cabin compared to the D3, but boy the engine is wonderful  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

The FL2 is probably the most reliable Land Rover of all, it is very well built and durable. I wouldn't go for a D3 unless it was 2008.5MY or newer. the first D3's can be unreliable. The FL2 is cheaper the run, insure and easier to live with. If you want huge amounts of space and 3 rows of seats and awesome of road ability, buy a D3. If you want a very comfy, quiet, 4x4, buy a FL2. If you are going older, get the lowest mileage, highest spec you can afford, with full service history. 2010MY Freelander 2 HSE Auto
Santorini Black with Ebony Napoli Leather

If you are buying an older FL2 any niggles will probably have been ironed out. Even so you can put your mind at rest by getting a decent warranty. That probably means going to a dealer. When I bought mine a year ago there were a lot of variations in price, partly but not always according to spec. At that time Marshalls in Bedford had some vehicles that were quite a lot cheaper than the London dealers, so I went up there and bought my present one (07 GS manual). Had it just over a year and about 15000 miles. Driven about town, farm tracks, German Autobahn and lots of snow. Loved every minute and no problems so far.

We drive an 08 plate GS auto. Love it to bits. We tow a caravan, which it does admirably. Been off roading with it in Normandy, where it kept up with the Discos and Defenders we were with. Just had to watch the ground clearance at times. Getting at least 35 mpg, which drops to 27 when towing. Luggage area could be larger, but how often do es it actually get filled to capacity.
We also drive a Disco 1, which is even more fun, especially off road, but only returns 25mpg at best! 1998 300TDi Auto Disco, never to be forgotten.
2008 Auto TD4 Freelander2, now gone?
2013 Auto SD4 Freelander!
A proud member of Landytown.com
Visit our blog at
http://paullizlifeontheopenroad.blogspot.com/ updated October 2017

With the exception of Ford Saphire Cosworths (2), Escort Cosworth, Escort Mk2 RS2000 and Mexico, 1966 Mini Cooper 1275 S an FL2 is one of the best cars I have owned and driven.
Current 2011 MY SD is my third. My first was a 2008 GS Auto and was so pleased I bought a 2010 GS Auto new.
Unfortunately this had a transmission vibration which dealers tried hard to rectify, cut a long story short, Land Rover Customer Services offered me the option of paying for the 12000 miles I covered in 8 months and supply a new 2011 SD GS, this I accepted and am more than delighted with vehicle.
Over 50k miles on 3 FL2's never a breakdown or other problem.
All vehicles regularly on forrest roads for 50-60 miles in a day at Scottish Rallies when I am officiating. Current SD did 70 forrest miles in 6-12 inches of snow running 1 hour ahead of an event and never put a foot wrong. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

Hi all, Thank you for your advice and views. Especially 'The Doctor'. I have a test drive booked on saturday to see what they are actually like to drive.
Your views about what they are like to live with have been very much appreciated, especially about the ability in the snow was a main issue with me.

I agree that the disco3 is a very good car but as most of you have said, when is it really going to be used to the fullest of its abilities?

Thanks again, And does anyone know of a Land rover/4x4 club in oxfordshire that allows non 4x4 owners along at all? Ive contacted one but not received anything back so far

If you're coming from a BMW this might be worth reading:

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic8612.html Brian

MY11 FL2 SD4 GS
Extras to same spec as XS apart from the Satnav, plus Xenons.
Ipenema Sand, Ebony.

BrianAbbot: Thanks for that link - very useful. I am driving a 325i and I get about 30mpg with a petrol engine atm. Having looked at it all I have roughly worked out that the running costs should be about the same. Should being the main word there!!!!

driftpuma wrote:

Hi all, Thank you for your advice and views. Especially 'The Doctor'. I have a test drive booked on saturday to see what they are actually like to drive.
Your views about what they are like to live with have been very much appreciated, especially about the ability in the snow was a main issue with me.

I agree that the disco3 is a very good car but as most of you have said, when is it really going to be used to the fullest of its abilities?

Thanks again, And does anyone know of a Land rover/4x4 club in oxfordshire that allows non 4x4 owners along at all? Ive contacted one but not received anything back so far

No problem. Try and talk the dealership into offering you an LR experience day F.O.C. That shows you what the car can do. I got mine after having purchased but its fantastic!

Aside from the snow pics I posted, I note that snow ability is an issue for you. All you have to do is drive sensibly because 4WD will still skid on ice under braking as I found out even doing about 5 mph!

The key is ploughing through which it does without fuss. The tyres on mine are Goodyear wrangler all weather and they were excellent. You can buy some awesome vredestein wintrac tyres but I never suffered trouble with the wranglers.

On the worst morning of snow we had here, most folks were walking to work but I came across a line of 2WD cars that had stopped for a van that had skidded and blocked part of the road. The main road was covered and had slightly drifted snow to the side. There was enough room so I simply ploughed into the slightly drifted snow like it wasn't there and went on my way. TR dial set to snow/ice mode is very useful and HDC got me down steep snow covered side streets with no fuss.

As an added bonus for you, here are some videos of me going through some very large puddles/mini floods which proved more difficult for normal cars (apologies for poor picture on 2 of them and the daft behavior ):







 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

'The Doctor', You sir, are a bad influence!! lol

I want one now!!. Having thought long and hard about it im thinking the positives of a fl2 are outweighing the extras that come with a disco3.

Thank you for the tyre info. I was wondering if I was going to have to buy a winter set of tyres.

The snow is an issue for me as it was the bad fall this year that tipped me into going for a 4x4 earlier than I was thinking. It took me 7 hours to do a 1 hour journey. The car got me home (somehow) and then didnt move for about 2 weeks. But I do realise that no amount of special tyres or how advanced the off road system is on any car. They will all skid on ice!.