Land Rover extended warranty

[mikehzz]

My FL2 is 2.5 years old with 85K on the clock and has been a great car. Recently there is a whine coming from the diff so I took it in to get it checked. There is a problem so will be fixed under warranty. While at the dealer I notice that LR is offering extended warranty of an extra 2 years and 100K for $2600. Apparently the warranty is more or less the same as the normal one, just extended out.
I am concerned that the diff is giving problems after only 85K so am seriously considering it. What do other forumites think? Do you think it's worth it? I'm thinking it's not even the cost of one major catastrophe and should add to resale value. I've got 6mths or 15K to make up my mind. Mike

[Grumbles]

I've had factory extended warranties before. Definitely worth the money - one decent claim and you either just broke even or are in front. Another claim and you are way ahead.

It won't add to the resale value of your FL but will make it far easier to sell. The potential buyer feels very secure and is more likely to buy knowing there is a decent backstop. Particularly important with 'controversial/much maligned' marques such as Landrovers.

[inside]

Can I ask how/when your diff was making noise? What did you have to do to repeat the noise? Thanks.

[mikehzz]

The noise just sort of crept up over a period of time, maybe 10000 kms. To get the noise now I just have to drive the car :)
There are references to it on freel2.com. It's a pity really as I love the car but I expect better than 85K from a diff that's for sure. I'm worried that major surgery on a Land Rover outside of warranty would involve me having to sell body parts to afford it. Mike

[inside]

Thanks. I heard LR can now just replace the offending bearings instead of the complete diff so should make it quicker in warranty and also cheaper if out of warranty. My warranty runs out in a week. I'm running the gauntlet. I hope for another 2 years of trouble free motoring, we'll see how we go.

[Phideaux]

Hello, All,
Phideaux here; (famous dog's-breakfast thinker)

Does anyone own the current LR2 diesel (either of, 110kw or 140kw) and if so, could you share your experience of car, dealer, and LR-Oz with me?

I'm currently thinking of replacing my existing car (in early 2012) with a small diesel 4WD. Freelander is the obvious winner in both off- and on-road-ability, but there's a price premium is about 30% (or more, kitted with reversing camera, GPS, tow-bar, etc).

As this may (I'm nearly 60) be my last or last-but-one car, I'm being super-cautious. FL1(petrol) had a dreadful rep; diesel seems to have been fine, even so resale value isn't the best.

A precis of me/us and what I've learned/observed/experienced. Age >60, arthritic, greenie/photographer, grandfather (reversing camera, please!). Wife short/plump hates getting stuck/loves travel/poking into disused corners. I've never owned an LR (there's two in immediate family, disco3 & Xtreme). In fact I've never 'owned' a 4WD; changed jobs (daily 4WD) in 1987 and swore I never would. The last time I had an LR as a daily drive would have been a LWB LR90/110 in 1986. Reduced mobility on foot has changed my mind. I currently use my FWD/2WD(with recovery kit) as a 4WD(?) to the occasional consternation of over-equipped 4WD drivers, but: I respect its limits, and I can't get to places I'd like to see and can no longer walk to.

So - seeking small diesel or 4WD with 7.0litres/100km, adequate storage, adequate (1500kg) towing. I'd really like a reversing camera (FL2 doesn't have, except at over-priced/don't-scratch-it end). I'm hoping for something that would be a joy to own for 200-250,000km, with reasonable whole-of-life (WOL) costs.

* Mitsubishi ASX XA Aspire 1.8DT: 5.9L/100, 110kw/300nm, all the electronica, 1050kg towing, ridiculous 440L boot-space, fun, new, unproven except for Outback mechanicals. not a genuine 4WD.
* Subaru Forester diesel 6.4L/100 (but up to 9 in practice!), 108kw/360nm (feels like less, also surprisingly top-heavy), most of the e-goodies, 1600kg towing, lots of them around.
* X-trail diesel, 7.4L/100, 127kw/360nm, most of the e-goodies, 2000kg towing, lots of them around, but: 5000km service interval!?!
* Skoda Octavia Scout, 6.6L/100, 103kw/320nm, most of the e-goodies, 1600kg towing, rare outside cities(but is mostly VW), wins hands-down on cargo space/hooks, a 2WD with helper-drive
(Ruled out: VW Tiguan - oddly uncomfortable & cramped for wife; Kia/Hyundai; seemed to have really lively motors but wrong-shape-cockpit-for-this-driver, back seat would be awful for grandkids, there's no view!)

** Freelander Td4_e, 6.7L/100, 118kw/400nm, 2000kg towing, e-goodies lacking (GPS & r-camera, in particular), seems to be rare anywhere (only 1000 or so sold last year, mostly in Toorak?), best on-road/off-road/rust-proofing/towing, comfy!, relatively expensive to buy, are they relatively expensive to own?

Noting that honest exasperation can be actionable in open forum, is there anyone who can feed-back to me privately on dealings with Lennock(Canberra) and Trivett(Sydney) to buttgdb@yahoo.com ? I've a mix of experience with one and none with the other.

Sorry this is so long. I've learned that one can make a short decision with long consequences!

PS - anyone know why a tow-bar is $2,500 for FL2 when it's ~$800-$1000 for most other marques? Is that dealer gouging?

[mikehzz]

Mine has been a good car. The diff noise is a concern but being replaced. My wife has back trouble and can't travel in many cars especially 4wd's. She loves traveling in the FL2 which is a big tick of approval. I get around 9 l/100km in mine but I'm happy with the economy. I get mine serviced at a local guy for half the dealer price. I have 87,000 kms and only paid for services and new tyres at 50k. I recommend 17" rims for comfort and off road ability. Lower profile affects both of those. I am going to extend the warranty as I really like the car. Of the other cars you listed, I would choose the Skoda. My son has an Octavia and it is very nice. Cheers

[Phideaux]

Thanks for those who responded publicly and privately. Your advice was highly valuable. I was going to get a TD4e, (manual) but wife wanted an auto - for off-road.
But: "we love it!"
On highway, it's fast. Wife: "60kph is so slow!"
Moi: "um, you're doing 120kph in a 110kph zone?"
Wife: "That's what I mean!"
Off-road - and I do get serious, and get stuck to prove it - it's so good it is almost boring. I kept taking it places in 2WD and highway tyre pressures to see just when it would go no further. For a very long time, it simply didn't need switching or deflating. Clearance is the limiter - in deep loose sand or deep, deep muddy puddles with hidden ruts dug by high-rise 4WDs.
Am willing to share my experience with dealers & tyres & towbars & off-road GPS etc - on request.
We found it 'break even' on $ and better in other ways to start our long-planned holiday with a car bought new in Perth, and to drive home to Canberra via myriad wildflowers 13,000km. Downsides: build pallet, remember everything, pack it, send it, (no probs so far, still ahead) but does it all fit??? ahhh... not quite.
Also got the extended warranty (also cheaper in Perth) - and might not need it.

[Scouse]

I kept taking it places in 2WD and highway tyre pressures to see just when it would go no further. For a very long time, it simply didn't need switching or deflating. I didn't think 4wd was selectable on the FL2.

[Phideaux]

You may be technically correct, Scouse, but basically, the 'car' setting on the 4-position dial is FWD; the others put power (via some computational/software magic) to 4WD. The '(mountain? - name escapes me)' also auto-sets HDC, I discovered today, in backwoods Tas (where I used an off-road setting only for the sake of the track).