Freelander 2

[Mikey1]

The difference in cost is the LR is a true off roader as well,so which ever model you buy this all comes as std.The others are soft off roaders which to add off roading gear you have to pay extra.

The top HSE model has everything on it so you couldnt ask for more,retains 50% of its value too.Hyundai and Kia only 40% and if companies discount new models by huge amounts this can have a big effect on used values too.

Its what you can afford at the end of the day.

 

[Mikey1]

Hi Rodger

Try the new ML with the 3 l diesel a lovely car tows fantastic never wanting for power,big van on the back cruise control set at 60 still did 60 up the big drag to Plymouth,so comfortable.

 

[JasonR_374341560]

FL2 is having reliability problems for numerous owners, residual values as with Disco 3 are said to be low. Cramped rear seats and small boot space.

It has good off road ability that will never be used caravanning, you don't go mud plugging or traversing rocky canyons with caravan in tow. If AWDC is your thing, well then it could be an option. The car is reported to be expensive on fuel and that's solo, what will it return when towing?

Taller and narrower than some competitors is not likely to help when towing.

Our Disco3 try outs included off road demonstration, great fun but complete overkill for ours and most other caravanning users needs. Then the LR salesman and a reluctance to let us have a decent test with the car. We had 2 and 3 day trials from the upposition and spent money eleswhere. LR had nice cars, poor dealer and in every day use other cars are better, more practical and do a better all round job.

If we ever find the need to wade metre deep water or mud, climb 1 in 3 shale slopes or cross boulder strewn rocky velleys, we'll get an old cheap stripped down Defender and leave the caravan at home.

 

[MikeG2]

Freelanders - you either love 'em or hate 'em. They probably polarise the market more than any other car (exept perhaps other Landies). If you want an honest opinion, look on the LR2 forum (http://www.freel2.com/forum/) and you'll get it warts and all from people who actually drive the thing. You will find that those contributors (from around the world) are very critical of the car, but most if asked would still buy the car. Other makes suffer from reliabilty issues and have poor dealer support, but for some reason the Landie gets bad press. I haver seen some toe curling stories about the Honda/Kia/Nissan/Toyota products, and I have heard from owners who wouldn't touch one of these again because of their experience.

My original Freelander was sold on to my son at 4 years old with original tyres on (and still on nearly one year later). It broke down once because I tried to run it on petrol. It towed my van wherever I wanted with minimum fuss.

My current (all bells and whistles HSE) model is light years better, and trouble free. Yes it's expensive - but worth it.

 

[Mikey1]

Jason

I beg to differ Who needs mud plugging ability?

I would like to add that a many a soft off roader has been grateful of the 4 wheel drive LR has to offer on the Rally field.I can think of at least 5 in my experience ,that was towing onto the field and off it.They have saved many a peoples weekend

 

[RogerL]

Most caravanners don't rally, most sites have tarmac roads.

For the vast majority of caravanners, off-road ability is irrelevant.

Those that caravan in the mud need a good off-roader, but for the rest of us, on-road capability is all-important.

 

[JasonR_374341560]

We came very close to buying a Disco3 even after seeing a dealers service manager fend off two disgruntled owners of the same model.

Our chosen car is four wheel drive and gets in and out of rally fields with no problem towing large twin axle.

"mud plugging" off road as I described is not something I've found caravans pitched in!

Forums such as FreeL2 can be one of the worst places to get just advice re reliability, to many brand loyal people.

New LR products still get more than their share of adverse reports, motor trade reports are still far from good re reliability.

No one is questioning LR superb ability on the rough, but the sort of rough where LR thrives is not what you find on the average caravan site or rally field.

Towing our van we wanted a car capable in all weathers and on the odd caravan field, we toured for nearly six months last year and the car needs to be comfortable and spacious and have car like performance when not towing.

LR does not do that as well as some others.

Land Rover is sold on off road ability, very few will ever need that ability and we were glad we were not swayed by caravanning friends, and two LR owners agree we made a better choice.

 

[Colinn]

Hi Roger,

Like many others, I too was interested in the Freelander 2, and I'm sure it's a great car. But in my final choice, I think I did better - I bought a nearly new ML.

As you already have an ML, you won't need me to tell you how good they are. Well the new model has been universally acclaimed by the motoring press and there are lots around at very competitive prices now, which makes them great value too.

Have a look here for example:

http://www.mercedes-benz.motortrak.com/detail?template=/mb_national_06/hitlistdetail&vid=13537542&engine=2&capacityto=3400&pricefrom=30000&priceto=35000&yearfrom=2006&yearto=2007&extra=105&pricerange=30000-35000&lang=en&country2=GB&searchtype=matrix&model15=609&model15=3075&model15=522&model15=3036&model15=885&model15=4228&model15=569&model15=807&model15=697&model15=4229&bodystyle15=3&franchise15=26&vids=13537542,13543825,13569901,13288951,13267528,13533687,13473745,13253733,12846209,13562792,13242002,13087299,13369318,13543768,13537719&vidindex=0
You say your wife thinks the ML is too big for her to drive and she wants another Freebie.

Well I wonder if you realise that the Freelander 2 is actually fractionally wider and higher than the new ML, so she might find the ML is actually easier to manoeuvre into car park spaces! True, it's a bit longer - but that's why it has a huge boot (and the Freelander doesn't).

Agreed, the car (mentioned above) is a few months old, but what's 10,000 miles on a three-litre diesel? I have set aside money to buy 4th and 5th year warranties to keep mine under guarantee for as long as pos - and I reckon I'll still be quids in.

My first service cost

 

[MikeG2]

I'm sorry to go on, but we clearly have some comments here from the hate 'em brigade. Every make of car has its fair share of bad dealerships - this would never affect my choice of car, only my choice of dealer. I have seen many examples of car manufacturers who don't appear to care for the users of their products (BBC Watchdog features these regularly). I have never had a problem with Land Rover as a manufacturer fulfilling their liability - and know of no-one else who has. The "old" Freeelanders suffered from reliability, partly because of engine choice (the petrol was underpowered abd the diesel was unreliable). The TD4 ended that.

The LR2 forum is unquestionably very frank and critical of the car, and is very honest about problems as they occur - have a look and see, don't take anybody's word for it. You will get opinions from around the world - not all caravanners - some biased (but not as many as here) most not.

Land Rover has brand loyalty, and this current model is a cracker - with a superb engine, and is very car like to drive. It isn't even built in a Land Rover factory, sharing a production line with a Jaguar.

I looked at all the others. The ignorant Kia dealership didn't put me off the car - I just didn't need something as big and ungainly. I accept the current model is better, but the one I looked at was flashy and ungainly. The old Honda looked like a van with wheels - but was superbly engineered (the new one still looks too strange to me). The Nissan was too noisy and crude (but also originally clever). The Toyota . . . . a bit too girly for me. The Hyundai lumbered about. Have I missed any out?

Oh the LR2 - great looks, ability and 150KG noseweight - it's a pity they left out the Disco air suspension.