I cant believe the Sharan at £27k doesnt have the parking ticket clip.

Having just had 3 magnificent years of FL2 diesel driving we were faced with what to buy with less outlay... After testing a ridiculous amount of cars we kept coming back to the Yeti as being the only one "close" to the FL2's atributes. Now, two months on, having gone from the luxury of the FL2 down to a base 1.2 Yeti we no longer need counciling but do miss our F2.

We really miss the superb electric seats (especially the armrests), the over taking ability of the diesel, its amazing off road and slippery conditions capability... and stating the obvious, a F2 is a far more attractive vehicle to look at! However, we dont miss the cost of tyres $300 (australia) each, the now high cost of Diesel and that lurking thought in the back of your head... it's a Landrover... how much will it cost is something (probably) breaks.

Edited 6 May, 201214 yr by kimosabi

It will be interesting to see how the Dacia Duster appeals to people who might be looking at a second hand Yeti. Probably only of interest to those really needing 4x4 though

Since this Fred has sheered off the original title, by naming alternatives, I will confess to being drawn to a Suzuki SX5 as a replacement.

£17500 for an equivalent motor - more economy, etc etc etc.

And very pretty!!

If I grew tired of waiting for my Yeti, I might be tempted by the ugly duckling, the X1. In fact, I'm off to view a used 23d on Saturday . . .

Chris

I think the main difference between the Yeti and a FL2 is economy. When I was looking at 4x4 cars, with fuel prices being what they are, it had to offer potential of getting mid 40s MPG. My brother sells Land Rovers so I've been in loads of FL2s and I've actually driven an "Ewok" too. The latter's interior was fantastic, and I like the looks outside, especially the 5 door version. But my brother gets on average low to mid 30s for MPG from his company diesel FL2, and from what I've read about Evoques, they're no better. In fact, Auto Express have a 4wd diesel Evoque and it's averaging 32 MPG, and they tried the eco model and only mustered 42, which is way short of the advertised 55 ish!

I'm really pleased with my Yeti - it's more spacious inside than the FL2 and has great visibility (the Ewok was dreadful) from it. And apart from my company MD who thinks I'm an idiot for buying one (he's got a 4x4 Lexus), everyone else I've spoken to thinks the Yeti is really good, with "cool" mentioned rather a lot!

And after 2 weeks of using it, I'm getting 45+ MPG, real world (seeing over 50 regularly on the computer).

... and stating the obvious, a F2 is a far more attractive vehicle to look at!

Is it really?!?

Since this Fred has sheered off the original title, by naming alternatives, I will confess to being drawn to a Suzuki SX5 as a replacement.

£17500 for an equivalent motor - more economy, etc etc etc.

And very pretty!!

What is an SX5? I couldn't find one.

What is an SX5? I couldn't find one.

Nor could I but Sooze-yuki keep mentioning it on their website which, for all the persistent grumblers about the Skoda site and SUK, is a whole lot worse to navigate and configure and compare and look at and find things and see things and work through and understand and - find the SX5.

It is, of course, the SX4 with the BIG diesel engine and four wheel drive system and quite similar in its kit to an Elegant Yeti Deezle.

I really hope that this has been of use to you.

I've been very lucky over the years to run a range of expensive 4 x 4's as company cars. Jeep Grand Cherokee's, VW Touraeg, Range Rover 4.6 Petrol (perish the thought now with the fuel costs) LR Discovery 3 then finally a Freelander 2. Just before I retired I bought the FL2 from the company - it was only 6 months old and was a very competitive price. That was nearly 4 years ago so at the beginning of this year I started looking to replace the FL2. It had 80,000 miles on the clock and was shortly due a major service, 4 new tyres, RFL & MOT. I was looking at a cost well in excess of £1000.

I looked at various options particularly as I pay for the fuel myself after the luxury of 40 years of company car ownership. I have settled on a Yeti - not everyone's cup of tea by any means but after 4 months of Yeti ownership we are getting along fine - ok a little smaller than I am used to (and I am not a small person - in fact the opposite) but plenty big enough for me. The luggage area is a little compact but 99% of the time it is just the 2 of us so any surplus goes on the rear seats. It cost me ¾ of what it cost to fill up the FL and goes a lot further on that fill up. It is incredibly well 'specced' and a pleasure to drive. I don't really do much 'off-road' driving nowadays but I will be interested to see hoe it performs when I do.

Peter

http://www.suzuki.co.uk/cars/cars/new/sx4/sx4/price

And actually, to compound the crassness it is referred to here as the "SZ5"

Perhaps they could have lessons from Skoda's webmaster?!?

Oh - the above is the link.

And I hope that this, too, has been really helpful to you. There is no end to my willingness to try to help, is there?

I like the look of the Freelander and from the rather sloppily put together and cheap feeling original it has developed into a handsome and well made thing-well appointed and altogether attractive.

My sister has run a series of them and the current one is very nice indeed-two thoughts though, they do seem quite big and thirsty and they seem very expensive once equipped to the equivalent Elegance spec.

If someone paid the many thousands extra to buy me one and subsidised the fuel I might be tempted.

My son both and daughter both have Freelanders and rue the day they purchased them. Quite unreliable and costly to repair. Now this could just be a coincidence but they really don't have much good to say about them.

http://www.suzuki.co...w/sx4/sx4/price

And actually, to compound the crassness it is referred to here as the "SZ5"

Perhaps they could have lessons from Skoda's webmaster?!?

Oh - the above is the link.

And I hope that this, too, has been really helpful to you. There is no end to my willingness to try to help, is there?

My wife has has an SX4 sz5 (!) for several months now and is very pleased with it. I like it too - lots of boot space compared with the Yeti and quite a pretty car (it's white, which sets off the black trim nicely). Only complaint is that the 1.6 petrol engine (we couldn't find a nearly-new diesel) runs out of steam very quickly on long uphill slopes and so you need to work the engine/gearbox quite hard.

The SZ5 bit refers to the trim level, such as S SE and Elegance on the Yeti, with the highest number denoting the highest level.

As a long time Suzuki owner (I had 6 different models) I bought an SX4 4Grip a few years ago (before they started the SZ trim levels). It had electrically selectable 4WD, 2WD and Auto but only with the 1.6 petrol engine.

I towed a Puck for a while but when I got the first Triton it was a bit short of breath. At that time the diesel wasn't available but, as the car was co-produced with Fiat they marketed a 1.9Multijet diesel called the Sedeci using the same 4WD system.

I believe the SX4 diesel now uses an improved version of that engine. Their website is almost as bad as SUK but their brochures are better!

Fred

Having owned the Fiat Sedici for a couple of years, in the 1.9 diesel spec, I can testify they are a great vehicle for snow and not too bad off road............BUT................and it is a big BUT (the cars not mine) you must test the vehicle in winter when it is stone cold. First gear can be impossible to engage until the car is warmed up. It is a known fault on the diesel and as most of these cars are out of warranty, a very expensive thing to fix, as the gearbox has to come out! Mine drove me mad, but it was livable with, even though it didn't like pulling away in second gear.

Edited 23 May, 201214 yr by Lady Elanore

I towed a Puck for a while but when I got the first Triton it was a bit short of breath. At that time the diesel wasn't available but, as the car was co-produced with Fiat they marketed a 1.9Multijet diesel called the Sedeci using the same 4WD system.

Their website is almost as bad as SUK but their brochures are better!

Well, 'scuse me. What elfin' language are we speaking here, eh?

I do not recognise any of this stuff - and I DO have my specs on, though having been to a rock band rehearsal I am a bit deaf tonight, as if that might explain it.

and Freddie my dearest, the Soooozzzoooki brochure is as impenetrable as any are. I got on t'other day and READ it cover to cover. Bits I did understand. Just.

For me, tho, the killer was that the boot with or without seats folded or unscrewed would not carry my electronic rock'n'roll kit at all. A tambourine maybe, but not the full Monty. [the "undecided" are available for hire for your fete, carnival, bar mitzvah - very cheap but loads of fun. Undecided? - well we dunno how to start a number, and we dunno how to end it - but the middles are stonkin'!!

Freshacre, I didn't say the Suzy Brochures were good, just better than SUK ones!

My SX4 ownership was blighted by the ENORMOUS "A" pillar. All the time I had it I found myself having to peer around it. Vision dead ahead OK but a few degrees left or right and forget it.

Fred

Freshacre, I didn't say the Suzy Brochures were good, just better than SUK ones!

My SX4 ownership was blighted by the ENORMOUS "A" pillar. All the time I had it I found myself having to peer around it. Vision dead ahead OK but a few degrees left or right and forget it.

Fred

Ah!

When I bought my Elegance 170tdi 12 months ago I paid £22660 including the 6 options I wanted, which was about 11% discount. At the time, I tried an IX35, Sportage, Cashcow, Kuga & even looked briefly at the FL2. But they were all too slow compared to the 170tdi, & all had higher emmissions & fuel economy too. The price increase over the Yeti to spec up to Elegance levels was between £2.5 for the Kia to £6k for the Kuga. I don't mind the 5 door Evoque, but again, to get one to the same spec, it's +£20k!!! That's another good Yeti!! Plus the fact, it's a LR, would it still be running as I've done just over 18k miles this year in the Yeti with no mechanical problems at all. The closest on performance to the Yeti 170tdi is the BMW X1, but what in god's name have they done to that?!!

Don't compare the FL2 with the FL1.

I've got a couple of friends with FL2's and they are very happy. One has done 80k miles and has had no problems with it, however he does admit that compared to the Yeti the servicing and running costs are higher. I have to admit it is better in quite severe off-road conditions than the Yeti but it is also HUGE externally but not internally.

Would I buy one?....NO!!

I bit the bullet and bought a 33 month old Suzy Vitara. Suzuki offered to extend the OEM warranty for an additional 9 months for about £80, thus giving me a years full Suzy warranty. So far so good. The boot is ridiculous for anything bigger than a waffffer thin mint and the economy is worse than the Greeks', oh and the ride is a bit like sitting on a space hopper with St Vitas Dance. On the plus side it actually handles well and I get to play with not only a proper centre locking diff, but also a proper transfer box and low ratio. Not too many hills in Manchester though

Mm, well Graham, as a big LandRover fan, I'd love to be able to say I agree, but a mate of mine had a brand new Disco 3 & after 14 dealer visits, most of them after the car going into "limp-home mode" due to air suspension failure or failure in the engine electrics in the rain. So this made way for a New RangeRover. This is currently in dock because.....the air suspension system's gone wrong.....He's a big lad though!!

Thing is, a Freelander 2 is not a Disco 3 or a Range Rover,

in the same way that a Yeti is not exactly comparable for faults with some Fabia Twin charger or the yet untried for reliability Citigo,

which have obvious snagging faults..

It can be a mistake to dismiss any vehicle from a manufacturer because of problems with others in the range. JMO.

george

Thing is, a Freelander 2 is not a Disco 3 or a Range Rover,

in the same way that a Yeti is not exactly comparable for faults with some Fabia Twin charger or the yet untried for reliability Citigo,

which have obvious snagging faults..

It can be a mistake to dismiss any vehicle from a manufacturer because of problems with others in the range. JMO.

george

I agree, but if all the other vehicles in the range have issues, the chances are higher that the other model will as well.

I'm not saying it will have issues though.

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