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clearstone22



Member Since: 26 Aug 2014
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 XS Auto Orkney Grey

I have been to Luton Hoo twice, once in the Freelander 2 and the other time in the DS. (2014 and 2016 respectively). Both occasions were very enjoyable and both instructors were really helpful and enthusiastic throughout. I think wherever these courses are held, you need to get involved and explain what you really want to do. I can only compare it to the old (and now defunct) Ashford Experience Centre which I did in a Freelander 1 and I found both occasions at Luton were much more fun.

The half day is split between an artificial obstacle area and driving around the various tracks on the Luton Hoo estate. The entire area is based around arable fields. I can understand the comments about the artifical obstacle area as it may not be as extreme as some of the areas you see on TV. (or at least it can seem that way)

There were however plenty of oppotunities to drive around the more wooded areas where the ground does get muddy and rutted enough to test the cars. Both times I went, the driving areas were slightly different as they had to rest various areas as they do get quite churned up when its wet.

Post #317104 8th Feb 2017 4:10 pm
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rnlisg



Member Since: 10 Oct 2016
Location: romney marsh kent
Posts: 400

England 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

we have done 4 lr/exp days over the years,3 at the old excellent ashford site with woodlands and deep quarry etc.2 were in d3,s and the last one in a fl2,all were very enjoyable and consisted of road work forestry,log rolls,water and mud sections,the fl/2 was done in the winter,loads of snow and frozen tracks,i was amazed how good the freelander coped it never got stuck once,there were a couple of places where the disco,s rr sports and defenders went where we could not go as we did not have the articulation or ground clearance.the last one was july 2016 at the Honiton site,a friend had recently bought Another d4 Whistle so as we were near by on a caravan site he booked it there.3 of us went(he has had landrovers all his life and used to go into competitions)we stayed on site through the woodlands,it was very good,our friend who came had a go as well,he had never driven a 4wd in his life and could not believe how good the car went.he now has a freelander2 Laughing

Last edited by rnlisg on 14th Feb 2017 1:50 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Post #317225 10th Feb 2017 5:15 pm
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druand



Member Since: 07 Sep 2009
Location: south ayrshire
Posts: 825

Scotland 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 GS Auto Fuji White

Dunkeld Scotland.
I have been there driving FL2 after heavy snow, standard road tyres worked perfectly even with only 3 wheels touching the ground at times.
Check my gallery for pictures. Silver FL2 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.

Post #317350 12th Feb 2017 5:40 pm
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rnlisg



Member Since: 10 Oct 2016
Location: romney marsh kent
Posts: 400

England 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

Great pics Druand,fl2 looks happy playing up there Laughing .must say the evoque looked a bit of a beast,what did it go like?
cheers
sandy

Post #317373 13th Feb 2017 7:59 am
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druand



Member Since: 07 Sep 2009
Location: south ayrshire
Posts: 825

Scotland 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 GS Auto Fuji White

Evoque powered by 6.2 litre V8 LS3 engine used in many US vehicles. This derivative from Corvette. Sequential gearbox.
Other variants have the Jaguar V8 with twin turbos.
Don't think I need to describe how they go in the forrest!!!! 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.

Post #317405 13th Feb 2017 12:06 pm
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jenks1950



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Stevenage
Posts: 254

England 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 XS Auto Santorini Black

Thanks for the replies. I have decided that as it is a freebie and because it is so close, I will book with Luton Hoo

Steve

Post #317416 13th Feb 2017 1:47 pm
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lukev01



Member Since: 31 May 2014
Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 94

United Kingdom 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Santorini Black

Luton Hoo is good as the first you go to but is quite limited compared to other venues.

I am local to Luton and have been there on a number of occasions. You will still have a fantastic time there but I would also consider Rockingham where the area used is much larger and there is more in the way of muddy hills, woodland tracks etc.

Don't let that put you off though, I cannot recommend the experience highly enough and once you have seen what all LR vehicles can really do in the rough stuff, you'll be amazed, even the so-called less capable Evoque, its auto gearbox and other gizmos make a transfer box irrelevant.

Have a great time and report back here!👍

Post #317437 13th Feb 2017 8:40 pm
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Past master



Member Since: 30 Jun 2010
Location: Isle of Ely
Posts: 2710

United Kingdom 

Had a freebie morning in a DS at Eastnor today and must say it was very enjoyable. Instructor Richard was very friendly and knowledgeable. In contrast to a previous experience elsewhere there was very little of the artificial concrete track and lots of moderately testing woodland track - unfortunately pretty dry today, although we did get the DS nice and muddy. There was a lot of emphasis on taking it slowly over the areas where grounding was a possibility (fair enough) and we used some features that my own DS doesn't have and a few that I had forgotten about. Richard pointed out a number of tracks that are used for the more extreme (ie paid for) trips, and they looked pretty good. Lots of other people at the centre and all the ones I spoke to were having a good time. Being Eastnor there were a few LR engineers there doing pretty extreme stuff in the cars. I also saw a heavily disguised ELECTRIC Land Rover whizz through the car park, and there were some Jaguars going round as well.
Unusually, we did the more extreme stuff first, then I think he still had a bit of time to kill and took me onto some routes that were more farm tracks than anything else. Still interesting though. Eastnor is a long drive for me but I had some private business in Malvern so it suited me well. I'm tempted to go back for a more extreme full day.
The DS I drove had done 3000 miles almost entirely off road, and had stood up to it very well. One small trim rattle but that's hardly surprising. They use the cars on a one day on one day off basis.
Edit: Richard also said that quite a small percentage of owners actually take up the half day offer - get out there and enjoy it folks! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Post #320971 7th Apr 2017 8:54 pm
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JulesK



Member Since: 07 Dec 2014
Location: Ceredigion.
Posts: 1652

Wales 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Firenze Red
Half Day.

Anyone been to the Cheshire course, just managed to get a date there November as a LRE. lots and lots of free dates IF I was paying Rolling Eyes

Nothing in Ledbury (nearest ) until late 2018. If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Post #330342 3rd Sep 2017 4:17 pm
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dorsetfreelander



Member Since: 20 Jul 2013
Location: Dorset
Posts: 4336

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 XS Auto Loire Blue

Odd thing, a few nights ago I was watching a TV programme about the Queen's Balmoral Estate in Scotland and during the advert break there was a phone in competition to stay in some posh hotel and have a Land Rover experience. Sounds like they really are trying to go up market although we all know that the Queen drives LandRovers anyway (and used to fix cars during the war). 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Post #330344 3rd Sep 2017 4:47 pm
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red

Had couple of days at Eastnor in 2001, pics are from a very wet day.
Got to drive FL1, TD5 Disco, Rangey and Defender. No concrete , just muddy tracks

FL1s kept getting stuck /grounding and needed towing by the TD5


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 Jules

Post #330355 3rd Sep 2017 8:30 pm
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IanMetro



Member Since: 11 Sep 2017
Location: Somerset BS21
Posts: 2747

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 Metropolis LE Auto Fuji White

Just returned from a LR Experience morning at Honiton. (A freebie with my latest FL2)
Had a very informative and enjoyable time with my brother who shared the driving of a RR Sport. I chose to drive both on and off-road.

Will, the instructor, very thoroughly demonstrated (and allowed us to experience) the various transmission modes both on and off-road. The RRS seemed to cope with conditions more smoothly than the DSport I drove last year, and I was suitably impressed with difference.

I was also impressed with the enthusiasm and knowledge of the instructor, especially as he must do this twice a day. I have learnt a lot more about how to judge what conditions need which transmission mode, and felt the difference. (Handy for future use on my FL2)

I am now saving for a modern RRS for when my FL2 wears out. My Piggy Bank says that I will never make it, so I will have to rely on my Lottery ticket.

Great Day Out! FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 74k+ miles) (MY2015)

Post #351506 14th Jun 2018 3:45 pm
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JulesK



Member Since: 07 Dec 2014
Location: Ceredigion.
Posts: 1652

Wales 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Firenze Red

Glad you had a good day Ian doing a bit of hint dropping to SWMBO after having a day at Peckforton Castle LRE would like to try somewhere else for next birthday Wink
Amazing what these vehicles can do when shown how Laughing If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Post #351507 14th Jun 2018 4:04 pm
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