Bender the Defender has a younger, sportier, modern lil brother!

[Richard]

my father has been looking at getting a new car, he has been driving the BMW 125 convertible he bought my mother last year for a while and she has decided she actually wanted to use it, therefore he got religated back to his nissan xtrail and soon decided it was a heap of bolts and wanted something new.

last week took a BMW X3, Jeep Grand Cherokee limited and a freelander 2 for a test drive, well as of today my Defender has a baby brother

a 2010 td4 HSE freelander 2, stornaway grey, with the premium and technology pack, date of birth is 31st of this month!!

so happy cos this means the Land Rover jokes should stop in the family

[Dorko]

2010?

Anything different to a 2009?

Dorko

[Richard]

better fuel economy i believe and a few more gadgets

[LR2Luver]

Congrats Richard! We bought our 2010 spec LR2 SE TD4 in June. Can't stop smiling about it :D Fantastic way to get around, across, over, through...... Just over 4100 kms and no problems at all. I'm sure all of you will enjoy driving it! :cool:

[Dorko]

Ohh.. is it those new TD4e?

Dorko

[LR2Luver]

No, ours is auto, beautiful 6 speed ZF box, brilliant bit of kit. No, the TD4_e has only just been released. Personally, and professionally, I think the stop/start feature is a more political/environmental stunt than anything. The fuel saving gains are minimal, at best, but enough to make the punters think it's worth it. Even Porsche has just incorporated the same technology on their new auto trans Panamera. But the feature wont stop the motor, on any car, if the temp is over a certain limit so as to keep the air-con running. Which kinda makes a mockery of the feature really.

[Dorko]

I did a google search and nothing up different in the 2010 models, just the new TD4e thing.

Well... hope to see her in the dirt :)

Dorko

[Richard]

it came in early the old man picks it up tomorrow, ill post some pics once i see it

[Richard]

ship came in early and the old man picked up his freeloader 2 today

[VladTepes]

Some people have too much money.... I wish I was one of them !


Congrats on the nice vehicle, but it must have cost a motza - I would have thought that for those $ a Disco 3 (or 4) would start to look a bit more attractive, even a Rangie Sport ?

[LR2Luver]

Congrats Richard on the new car to the family! Looks terrific ;). What's your impression of the drive experience so far? What size rims did your Dad opt for?

[Richard]

dad got the premium pack so it came with the 19 inch wheels and upgraded headlights and the colour matched door sills etc.

its a very comfy ride, i personally reckon its higher than the SE's

and dad got a really good deal, it was cheaper than the Discos and the rangies, both of which dad reckoned were too heavy or tank like, he was after something in the xtrail/softroader range and this took his eye

got the windows tinted yesterday so it looks even nicer!

cos im a defender driver and when i get the chance to drive it i now wave to other freelander 2 drivers, they just look confused!

[Scallops]

Must admit, if I were to buy another vehicle I would also choose one of these over a D3/4 or Rangie - as you say, there is something pleasing about the footprint and the overall product - well done I say! :thumbsup:

[mikehzz]

I've done 50,000kms in my 08 TD4 with no problems. Its the best car I have had by a long way. Enjoy.

Mike

[nice1guv]

Gee that looks good! :D I bet your Dad is ecstatic.

Is it just me, or do the Freelanders get bigger each year?

[BigJon]

Is it just me, or do the Freelanders get bigger each year?

It must just be you, as there have only been two Freelander bodies released. Freelander One and Freelander Two.

[Ausfree]

Hope your Dad enjoys his new Freelander,I'm jealous, wish I could afford a new one!!!! :D:D

[inside]

Mine has just clicked over 40 000km and I must say I still really enjoy driving it. Recently had 5 people in it for a 1300km holiday road trip and no complaints at all. The people in back actually like it because they sit considerably higher than the front passengers which gives them good visibility. I took it down some sand tracks in Deepwater National Park and it handled it fine, just a few strange looks form the other 4WDs. Now I'm back at work it's returned to boring commuter car which it also excels at.

I can see a problem on the horizon though, as I yearn to get further and further away from civilisation and for longer a vehicle that can carry more, be customised easier and handle the variable terrain better will likely be needed. Hmm, anyone know of a LR vehicle that could be suitable? ^_^

[djhampson]

I can see a problem on the horizon though, as I yearn to get further and further away from civilisation and for longer a vehicle that can carry more, be customised easier and handle the variable terrain better will likely be needed. Hmm, anyone know of a LR vehicle that could be suitable? ^_^

That's almost exactly why I decided to give the FL2 up and get Dad's D3. It had just come off a lease and wouldn't be able to pick up another D3 in the future for the same price so I had to take it.

I miss driving the FL2 to work each day but I like having the ability to carry more gear, get upgrades easier and cheaper, and get further off-road.