So, talk to me about Freelanders...

[camel_landy]

300bhp/ton said:

camel_landy said:

bakerstreet said:

The LR Experience guys fit a steering guard to their FL2s. Its the only LR they fit under body protection too if memory serves.

All the LR Experience cars have protection of some sort. All of them have steering/sump guards but the FL2 has an additional guard to protect the fuel tank. It's also worth noting that most of the LRE cars run standard road tyres too...

M

They don't really run much extra protection (other LR's). It's so worth noting most LR Experience trails look more extreme than they actually are and are often of relatively high grip surfaces. Very "wow" if you've not done much off roading, but nowhere near as extreme as you could encounter at a pay n' play or competitive trial.

Depends which course you're doing... There are plenty of tracks around Eastnor that'll have little or no traction at this time of year. It also helps that the ruts are created by cars with similar clearances and not some sodding tractor.

M

[300bhp/ton]

HarryW said:

I know these are favourites with caravaners and have a lot of fans but what are they like off road http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Just had a quick look. Didn't realise they come with a ladder chassis and high/low ratios too...

Edited by HarryW on Monday 8th October 22:37

I don't have any first hand experience of these off road, but I'd have thought fairly horrendous and I'd rather opt for a Freelander.

I have been in a Sorento (my brother used to sell Kia's at a maindealer) and it was alright as a general SUV. Mild green lane, grass field and snow it should be fine. But lacking in clearance, departure angles and wheel travel for any proper off roading and I don't think they have any traction aids, so will likely lift a wheel too easily and be left spinning diagonally opposite wheels.

EDIT: Maybe that's a little hard on the Kia. With a lift and some MT's it's probably ok, similar ability to a Vauxhall Frontera or Daihatsu Fourtrak. As in, you'll be fine getting it to scrabble over trails. But not in the same league as a Landy, Jeep or Suzuki Jimny if you are really wanting off road ability and long travel suspension.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 8th October 23:16

[PH lurker]

Efbe said:

this does sound slightly like a typical PH what car thread though.

OP: Should I buy this car?
1: no
2: no
3: no
4: no
5: no
6: no
7: no
8: no
9: no
10: no
11: no
12: no
13: no
14: no
15: no
16: no
17: no
18: no
19: no
20: no
21: no
22: no
23: no
24: no
25: no
26: no
27: no
28: no
29: no
30: no
31: no
32: no
33: maybe
OP: In that case it's the perfect car, I'll go and get it now.

So true.

[mikeh501]

Efbe said:

unfortunately no pics of the damage, but it dropped down on the right hand side of the jeep, denting the side a bit. excellent fun though, and would have been so boring in anything more expensive; i probably wouldn't have even attempted this climb then.

That looks like a long long way up. Was it the camera angle, or is that climb like 200ft!

You see thats the problem with everyone saying "ok for greenlaning", "no good for pay and play". It all kinda depends on what terrain ultimately. Ive seen some greenlanes which are really really gnarly, and areas of pay and play sites which are pretty straight forward to be honest. For instance both of these are green lanes!

Theres no way your doing this in a freelander without breaking bits off!


Whereas this greenlane looks to be easily passable in a car never mind a freelander! lol

[camel_landy]

mikeh501 said:

Theres no way your doing this in a freelander without breaking bits off!

If someone was outside 'spotting' I'd do that in a Freebee.

The trick to driving a Freelander in those conditions is to actually think about where you're going and picking your line.

M

[clunkbox]

camel_landy said:

If someone was outside 'spotting' I'd do that in a Freebee.

The trick to driving a Freelander in those conditions is to actually think about where you're going and picking your line.

M

Yeah that looks passable with care, I would at least give it a shot in a Freelander. Keep to the passengers side and keep it slow. I think you'd get up it OK too.

[mat13]

camel_landy said:

mikeh501 said:

Theres no way your doing this in a freelander without breaking bits off!

If someone was outside 'spotting' I'd do that in a Freebee.

The trick to driving a Freelander in those conditions is to actually think about where you're going and picking your line.

M

If thats stanage (which im pretty sure it is) its had a fair few freelanders down it.

[camel_landy]

mat13 said:

If thats stanage (which im pretty sure it is) its had a fair few freelanders down it.

That's where I think it is too...

...and have driven down it a few times myself.

M

[Clivey]

Sorry for the late reply everybody, I've been dealing with a home emergency - Mike mentioned water inside the car...not ideal, but not as bad as when it's coming through your living room ceiling.

mikeh501 said:

Cant help thinking that you've already made your mind up with regard to buying a freelander and your looking for someone to tell you it "isnt that bad" off road.

No, I'm not after that at all (I did not mean to give off that impression). I fully realise that it's NOT the same as a full-size 4x4, Defender etc. - I would love to own a Disco but for reasons such as running costs (the TD5s do ~24mpg around town), it wouldn't be practical for us at the moment.

What I am after is any 'buyers guide' type information on the Freelander TD4. - Information on the VCU and electrics was useful, as were those that have told me that the facelift TD4s are much more reliable than the pre-facelift cars (reading reports on those is somewhat off-putting).

The reason I say it's the 'right kind of car' for us are that it can do all the weekday stuff, isn't extortionately expensive to run and is capable of some green laning etc. I have come to realise that for c£6k, I can't have a vehicle that is very capable off road (like a Disco, Grand Cherokee etc.) and is also decent on fuel. - I do not have the room for 2 more vehicles so buying a 4x4 and another daily driver for her isn't an option. Plus that would mean 2 lots of tax, insurance etc. etc.

mikeh501 said:

I think that by adding all that stuff to it to make it even possible to go off road your going to compromise it significantly and make it good at neither.

That's what I want to find out...if specific modifications (e.g. a 2" lift) would mess it up as a road car, they wouldn't be an option. I doubt that rock sliders and a sump guard are bad ideas though.

Having said that, I have read the comments of 2 owners of lifted Freelanders. They both claim that the lift hasn't compromised it on-road. I'm currently trying to find more info on LR forums.

mikeh501 said:

Its a decent enough road car which will see you through winter, snow, ice, flooding etc. It just isnt going to cut the mustard off road unless were talking the most gentle of green lanes...

Then I guess the "most gentle of green lanes" will have to do unless there is a better alternative to a Freelander bearing my other requirements in mind?

mikeh501 said:

Have you been off roading yet? I think it would open your eyes as to what to expect, and what you can expect from the freelander. If your in Staffs/Cheshire/Derbyshire area id happily show you.

Thank-you. I'm near Derby and would love to.

I went with a cousin that used to own a classic Rangie when I was a kid, but haven't had the chance since.

mikeh501 said:

Remember that just because you dont want to get into the gnarly stuff with your vehicle it can still be damaged. Plenty of trees, branches, water, mud (inside and out), tree stumps etc which can catch you out even when the terrain looks passable. Just the treading mud in and out of the vehicle is a royal PITA if you need to keep it clean for the missus to use the next day.

Duly noted. However, the missus will be coming off road with me so she'll be equally responsible for getting it dirty!

PH lurker said:

Efbe said:

this does sound slightly like a typical PH what car thread though.

OP: Should I buy this car?
1: no
2: no
3: no
4: no
5: no
6: no
7: no
8: no
9: no
10: no
11: no
12: no
13: no
14: no
15: no
16: no
17: no
18: no
19: no
20: no
21: no
22: no
23: no
24: no
25: no
26: no
27: no
28: no
29: no
30: no
31: no
32: no
33: maybe
OP: In that case it's the perfect car, I'll go and get it now.

So true.

Except that if you actually read the whole thread, there are just as many posters saying it's ideal...I do know what you mean about the average thread though!

Edited by Clivey on Monday 22 October 16:06

[Ayahuasca]

I note that you said 'no defenders' because you will use the car for an urban commute.

I use my defender 110 for an urban commute including nose to tail city traffic jams and a multistorey carpark and it performs brilliantly. Just saying like.

[Ayahuasca]

I note that you said 'no defenders' because you will use the car for an urban commute.

I use my defender 110 for an urban commute including nose to tail city traffic jams and a multistorey carpark and it performs brilliantly. Just saying like.

[Clivey]

Ayahuasca said:

I note that you said 'no defenders' because you will use the car for an urban commute.

I use my defender 110 for an urban commute including nose to tail city traffic jams and a multistorey carpark and it performs brilliantly. Just saying like.

Fantastic (if it were just me, I'd have a TVR and a Defender )...now try selling that idea to your average woman.

I'm trying to ease her in gently (please don't misquote this).









Oh, go on then...

[HarryW]

Clivey said:

Ayahuasca said:

I note that you said 'no defenders' because you will use the car for an urban commute.

I use my defender 110 for an urban commute including nose to tail city traffic jams and a multistorey carpark and it performs brilliantly. Just saying like.

Fantastic (if it were just me, I'd have a TVR and a Defender )...now try selling that idea to your average woman.

I'm trying to ease her in gently (please don't misquote this).









Oh, go on then...

If it was a 90 rather the big bus of the 110 you could always mention Rosemary and Thyme to her. Problem I have is the opposite, my misses still wants a 90 because it looks sweet on the programme but has no concept that they are slow, noisy, uncomfortable, cold, leaky, rusty, heavy and dare I say it unreliable. Great motors though........

[Ayahuasca]

slow - yes, but you won't want to go fast in it anyway, and anyway it feels fast
noisy - yes, all part of the character
uncomfortable - noooo - I find mine very comfy.
cold - don't know, I live in the tropics
leaky - nope, keeps out tropical downpours a treat
rusty - body is aluminimum so less rusty than most cars
heavy - yes, other cars are your crumple zone
and dare I say it unreliable - nope, been fine so far

Where it beats the othe LR products is CHARACTER - it has it in spades.

[arollingstone]

6K would get you a nice cushy discovery...

[HarryW]

Ayahuasca said:

slow - yes, but you won't want to go fast in it anyway, and anyway it feels fast
noisy - yes, all part of the character
uncomfortable - noooo - I find mine very comfy.
cold - don't know, I live in the tropics
leaky - nope, keeps out tropical downpours a treat
rusty - body is aluminimum so less rusty than most cars
heavy - yes, other cars are your crumple zone
and dare I say it unreliable - nope, been fine so far

Where it beats the othe LR products is CHARACTER - it has it in spades.

Don't get me wrong, I'd have a Series or Defender in my collection any day. I must however take exception to the Ali body no rust line. As a TVR owner I understand what issues can be had with rust proof body balancing on a 'steel' chassis, so much so I wouldn't touch a series landie unless someone else had put a Galvanised one on it.
The original point I was making though with that list was I 'know' my misses wouldn't get on with one.

[utgjon]

one thing i'll add into the mix...

depreciation.

compared to a Disco TD5, which don't seem to be budging much, or the incredible residuals on a defender...the freelander doesn't appear to hold it's value quite so well.

might be something to consider when you're weighing up the difference in cost of diesel? depends on your mileage i guess?

[Ayahuasca]

utgjon said:

incredible residuals on a defender

Interesting to see how they hold up when the ultra-new one comes out.

[Clivey]

arollingstone said:

6K would get you a nice cushy discovery...

And I'd like one...but they're quite simply too big and thirsty for us. We live in a suburb and the missus commutes through the city centre every day - this and shopping etc. will be what it's used for 90% of the time, with outings at the weekends and hopefully the occasional green lane (maybe every one or two months at least initially). This is why the Freelander's 30mpg urban is attractive. It allows us to have a 4x4 with some off road ability without being totally unsuited to the daily grind. We're still young (20's), so there's plenty of time for bigger 4x4s later on!

HarryW said:

The original point I was making though with that list was I 'know' my misses wouldn't get on with one.

Precisely.

[JVaughan]

Have you thought about a new ish Grand Vitara ??? for around £6k you could get a sub 60,000 grand vitara, leather, 5 door, 1.9 diesel (thats 42 extra urban, and 37 combined), selectable 4wd, great to drive on or off road (change the tyres for all terrains and you can play with the big boys) ?

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/suzuki/grand-...

Edited by JVaughan on Monday 12th November 23:58