After 7 and a half years of owning my 2007 FL2 I feel it's time to move on.
Completely baffled as to what to buy though.
I would like to have raised driving position and 4wd. Obvious choice is a late model freelander.
But I'm very concerned about another diesel with DPF as I spend a lot of time sat in traffic, with a long run a few times a year. (current car doesn't have DPF)

So started looking at petrol but there's not much to choose from.
Not keen on Suzuki Vitara but test drove a Subaru Forester XT recently. Liked very much although unsure about CVT gearbox which was lovely and smooth pulling away...but a real delay when trying to overtake for example. And onboard computer was showing 25 mpg! Although no doubt someone been hoofing it.

Sat in an Evoque and a CX-5 but felt like I was sat far too low.

Anyone else been through similar though process?
Don't know if to buy a Forester or risk a diesel.

Thanks in advance.

Excuse my ignorance but what difference does having a DPF make? If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

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

So there is nothing that floats your boat or offers more than you have currently? Why change?

OK, so as a car gets older the likelihood of it costing more to run increases. Also, the longer you keep it the less it will be worth but both of these things are relative.

A newer car will depreciate more over the next three years than your current vehicle.

If city driving is an issue get a Smart Car, or something similar, and keep the Freelander for doing all the things that Freelanders do well.

JulesK- I'm ignorant to DPFs as well, but apparently cars with them fitted need a good run every few weeks to get hot enough. Could obviously do a special journey every few weeks with revs elevated for 20 mins!

C'mon man ANY excuse for a good run out
Next time SWMBO says "where you going"? the reply will be "just off to clear my DPF love"

Seriously though anyone clarify this please? If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

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

Nothing else I tried had the same commanding, comfortable, driving position as the Freelander. So I chose to look for, and buy, the latest , lowest mileage, and best equipped Freelander I could find.

If however you are only doing short slow journeys, with only the need for the occasional long journey, then I would say look at something like a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. About the same size and height as a Freelander, and will do your short journeys on electric at about a fifth of the cost.

Otherwise, keep the Freelander for your long journeys and go the whole way (electric) and get a BMW i3 for your short journeys. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

yorkshirerob wrote:

JulesK- I'm ignorant to DPFs as well, but apparently cars with them fitted need a good run every few weeks to get hot enough. Could obviously do a special journey every few weeks with revs elevated for 20 mins!

Ian went to look at a Outlander and found it a very low seating position but like you I don't think anything compares to the Freelander driving position as after trouble with dealer last time around I swore I would not go back to Landrover and tried many models ending up with Tiguan, couple of months later took a big hit and parted company. If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

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

yorkshirerob wrote:

. . . . .but test drove a Subaru Forester XT recently. Liked very much although unsure about CVT gearbox which was lovely and smooth pulling away...but a real delay when trying to overtake for example. And onboard computer was showing 25 mpg! Although no doubt someone been hoofing it.

Don't know if to buy a Forester or risk a diesel.

Thanks in advance.

The DPF does what it says on the tin - filters out particulates from the exhaust (about 99% of them anyway). The particulates are tiny, but gradually clog the filter, so the car automagically increases the heat in the exhaust from time to time to burn off the particles and reduce them to ash. This heating process (called regeneration) can only happen when the exhaust is already hottish - as in a 20 minute or more journey at main road speed every few hundred miles. Sitting in traffic or driving slowly on congested roads will cause the filter the block more quickly than open-road driving. If the exhaust doesn't get hot enough, often enough, for regeneration to take place, the filter will eventually clog and the engine management light will probably come on and you'll need an expensive trip to a garage. After many years (maybe 8 to 10...???) of a DPF regenerating normally, the ash will eventually clog the filter, and the device will need to be replaced. (Another big bill). Currently enjoying:
2011 Freelander 2 TD4 XS (SOLD)
2013 BMW X3 20D M-Sport Auto
2007 Jaguar XK 4.2 Coupe

Thanks for that SkyeGuy

automagically........... What a word!!!!  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

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

Its Welsh for "Big Garage Bill".  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

yorkshirerob wrote:

JulesK- I'm ignorant to DPFs as well, but apparently cars with them fitted need a good run every few weeks to get hot enough. Could obviously do a special journey every few weeks with revs elevated for 20 mins!

From reading this and other forums, I would agree that there are seldom any reports of DPF problems in Freelanders. I vaguely recall reading that the Freelander DPF is relatively 'old' technology, so the car only achieves Euro 5 status for emission cleanliness, but the filters are less prone to blocking. Currently enjoying:
2011 Freelander 2 TD4 XS (SOLD)
2013 BMW X3 20D M-Sport Auto
2007 Jaguar XK 4.2 Coupe

thanks loads for the input so far folks.
Outlander could be worth a look too, cheers for that.
From what's been said on my thread here and elswehere on Freel2, it would seem that the freelander DPF is less problematic than some, such as the Disco Sport.
So another Freelander may be a viable option after all!