kaushama

Noop BMW ones are base models too. I don't think anyone can expect a premium Brand vehicle for just 25000$, which is the limit for permit. You should have been a politician to get such luxury, without wasting your time educating yourself. Then you have would intimidated the other drivers to get the real driving pleasure without the scare of getting copped for speeding. We tried several times to raise the permit limit to 30000$ but could not succeed. If you aim for an high-end Japanese or Euro car, there are very little options for this permit. Best Jap offerings are CRV and Monte sports (made in Thailand) and they are too base models. IMHO I wouldn't say that BMW or LR2 not luxury models just because they are base models. One can add some of the options later, which I would do. Sunroof, Satnav and many other things, which are not there in fact unnecessary things for local usage. They become luxury models because the superior ride quality, handling and performance that they offer and the badge value.

It is not the HSE. They probably added some options on the base model. Sunroof, leather seats, 6 CD changer, DVD/Sat nav and Xenon auto levelling headlights are not offered. It is 150 HP base s version with some added options, I think.

Respect for the seniors!

Thanks! I would either buy FL2 or bimmer. Just wanted to know the least troublesome one between two. FL2 is the best overall package coz it does serious off-roading. Though both brands are not as reliable as Japanese cars I would still love the ride. But obviously like to have least trouble after paying 6+ mil rupees. If not for the FL2 reputation most probably it earned from its older genaration cars, I would have gone for it without any doubt as I would love to have a proper SUV.

This is what I have found too. Electrical and electronic problems. This is quite an issue for a car which relies on electronics for its most features including terrain response.

It is! Unfortunately places in distant parts of the country need the capabilities of a real off-road vehicle than a soft-roader or an extreme soft-roader like Freelander or X-Trail. For example going to one of the rural monasteries I go often, could be done only with a Bajaj three wheeler, unless one goes there with a 4X4 pickup!!!! Some nice Korean soft-roaders struggled to go there. The last lap of it. But still there is an ancient road and a village with nice friendly people at the end of it. The road obviously had not been maintained for some long time. This and several other reviews keep FR2 off-roading ability almost on par with a real off-roader! One of the most capable soft-roaders. No dispute over there. I am just seeking the information regarding the reliability with regards to sri Lankan conditions.

Not really! It involves wild life and exploring some interesting places in here, where civilians could not go till late. But I could use a 4x4 or defender to go to these places. For that kind of off-roading it is ridiculous using a 15mil worth vehicle. But going to some distant places in Sri Lanka equates to HARDCORE soft-roading any way. My issue with FR2 is, whether it would break down frequently in places far away from Frontier. Probably there are very few FL2 users to get some first hand experiances here.

I do not want to go for a mudalali Monty I want some good driving pleasure with a euro car. Off roading is a bonus with the Land Rover offering. I do some light off-roading when time permits. National parks etc. For other expensive hobby (photography) But this is in some very distant parts of the country, so if it breaks down I do have a problem. If the vehicle is not reliable, it will not end the journey with obstacles, even if it is an ultimate offroad car. Any way many thanks for the advice. I want some real user experiances please!

And it defeats the whole concept of being ultimate off road machine if it breaks while off roading often. Towing back????? By a lesser vehicle

Yes I read those reliability indexs before posting. Freelander one had lots of issues. We all know it. In UK, the country of origin, it is hated by many. But freelander 2 seems to ironed out some of those issues. I read some user reviews, and people seems to be happy. I wanted Landy specialists opinion on this. It is not logical to pay 6.5 mil and have the car spending time in service even they offer 3 year comprehensive warranty.

2011 Freelander 2 got a facelift and two new engines! So it is unlikely that FL2 is going to be phased out soon. Freelander 1 has horrible reputation for reliability. http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic5020.html?view=next

RAV 4 is not available for permits. The SUV offerings are FL2, Mitsubishi Montero Sports, KIA Sorento/Sportage, Hyundai SANTAFE/TUCSON and BMW X1.

320D/X1 vs freelander 2 TD4? What would be the better buy? Almost one million differ enc between two. Bimmer has the badge value and better reliability record. FL2 has better over all package. Only issue is the reliability. I do not want to pay 1 mil more and have numerous repairs and issues. Any thoughts?

LR Freelander 1 had notorious reputation for reliability issues. Freelander 2 seems to be doing little better according to web reviews. How do they perform in Sri lankan conditions? Please post your experiences!

Is it true bimmers and freelanders are giving horrid time with maintenance in tropics? As they are designed for temperate climates! Vs their jap contenders! Even Korean ones! I mean to say that they brake down frequently due to hot and dusty conditions? We had some Peugeots long time back they were pretty reliable. I have never used a bimmer here in Sri lanka except Japanese cars and SUVs. The ride quality and driving pleasure is far better in European siblings though. Just checking before I commit. But what if it brakes down out of Colombo frequently? Have to tow them back to agents or Milroy???

Now what they offer are 320D and X1 sDrive 20D!

Are these petrol or diesel?

But of course if we can find the identical models; which are offered by the local agents, I do not see a reason why we can not do this and avoid these massive agent fees. For Europeand cars though there is another problem with the discrepency in the exchange rates. For example GBP vs US$ vs Euro!

I saw both freelander and Montero sports today. Montero sports looks good but interior sucks. Just ordinary! Probably they are going to be around 5.5 mil for auto and with fabric seats less sunroof. seven seater but 3rd row is less roomy than that of Santa fe. Freelander looks nice and loads of room! 5 seater and lots of road presence! 1.5mil agent fee is a real turn off. It will cost 6.4 mil. Considering the previous generation Freelander issues the local market perception of the Freelander seems to be not that good as I have spoken to many car enthusiasts. I suggested that the agent fee going to be a real obstacle for their sales. If they narrow down the gap many Monte customers would trek into the Land-rover zone. They offer Defender 90 too for the same price. Problem with importing directly from UK is the agent CIF! If you go for highest value segemnt. Government allows to bring down models below 25000 US$ and they quote the CIF from local agents. Many of these top of range vehicles that the principle importers offer, are trimmed downed models or special business arrangements with the manufacturers. For example A*W failed their effort to bring down X-Trail due to CIF limt. It should be remembered it is the original CIF they take at the limit. Not the depreciated value! Hence many of the models agents offer, we wont be able to bring down as European domestic models would have higher CIF values.

Undervaluing and offsetting is a possibility, but it is gonna be a hard exercise as the treasury is aware of this now. I think they are going to probe into all recent imports according to my knowledge. But it is possible that they do not take any manufacturer profit out of the CIF value of the car (Usually agents get a commission from the manufacturer too) and trying compensate it from local charges!

Yes I have contacted them directly. And that was their agent value!!! I think it is too much.

E90 surely looks better than X1. But new F30 is gonna be gorgeous it seems. There are some renderings based on spy shots of test cars. Freelander 2 HSE is on offer for the permit. But the agent fee is 1.5 mil!!!! So the final Price would be around 6+ mil.

Yes But I have never seen goats and cows commuting in the trains here!

Yes the cabin space is not the strong point of X1. It can only accommodate four adults comfortably. Not typical Indian family with their extended one including goats and cows. I think Europeans like it coz it is sporty and economical.

I know but I was pointing out the popularity! Specially in Europe! The reasons are probably car like dynamics, fuel efficiency and cross road ability. I think it demarcates new niche for urban softroaders. Indians probably go for same reasons and brand name.