Saw a Freelander today

[Schludwiller]

I thought it was the new Honday CRV, really!! Just thought maybe it was a cheaper version without the rear light indicators on the upper pillar like the Honda. It wasn't until I got in front of it that I realised it was the Freelander.

Seems pretty small. Not much visually.

[RticQl8]

No not much visualy but by far one of the best small SUV's on the market. Took one for a test drive the other day (for the wife) Have to say I love it. Handles great lots of low end torque and plenty of power. Fun and comfortable. The discovery/defender is more my speed but the freelander is great for under 25k

[RticQl8]

I should say one of the best (smaller than xterra) SUV's on the market. Dont want any confussion

[Xlax]

Nice expensive car, That is all it is, Looks like a scraped budget version of all the good models Landrover has put out over the years....shame on them

[RticQl8]

Given the price of the other models they needed a budget version. And the freelander being a "scraped budget version" still blows away the compitition. One thing it is not is over priced at 25k, sure its ugly but all the "cars" in its class are i.e. RAV4 and Forester. If you haven't driven the Freelander you realy dont know what your talking about. Im no landrover lover couldn't afford to be, untill now but they have always produced 1st class vehicles and I suspect will continue to do so for quite some time

[Xlax]

Buddy I do not need to drive it to feel that Landrover has lowered their standards to compete in the RAV4/ Escape/Mazda category. I agree if I was forced to drive a "Soccer mom mobile" I would prefeer the Freelander.. But in my mind they could have come up with something more suited to their image

[RticQl8]

I dont know where you come from but in CA soccer moms drive Tahoes and Expeditions. My wife drives a civic and has never been interested in anything other than a car. for us Guys looking to get their wifes interested in a 4x4 the Freelander is perfect and a lot closer to a "real" 4x4 than an Escape or a RAV4, but like I said you wouldn't know that if you haven't driven it. And yes you do have to actualy drive a car before you can have an intelligent conversation about it.

[scott.com]

Originally posted by RticQl8
And yes you do have to actualy drive a car before you can have an intelligent conversation about it.

So I take it you've driven an Acura then :finger:. How else would you know about how much power one has.

[superjens]

the Freelander is perfect and a lot closer to a "real" 4x4 than an Escape or a RAV4

How, exactly? What makes it more "real", specifically? Did you take it offroad? How's the clearance? Does the rear end's Independant Suspension differ radically from the Rav4 etc.?

It's a minivan, nothing more. The cheap man's knock off wanna be "looks like" a real 4x4 but doesn't compete on any level. This is a 4x4 forum, why are you here talking about the Freelander? 8 inches of travel doesn't lend itself very well to anything other than parking lot speed bumps and the occasional train track. This is a vehicle designed for women and those that aspire to be.

[Schludwiller]

Originally posted by superjens

This is a 4x4 forum, why are you here talking about the Freelander?

Easy big guy.

I started the thread about the Freelander. I was just surprised at how cheap it looked. I guess I was hoping that Land Rover wouldn't follow the "just keep rounding the corners every year" design concepts that have been so popular with the new SUV's this year.

By the way I'm offering $50 to the first person that posts a "real" picture of a FreeLander with an ARB snorkle.

[brad77]

Edmunds.com : "Small inside and lacking a low-range transfer case, the Freelander won't appeal to buyers looking for a seriously capable small SUV, despite the Land Rover name on the hood. Think Jeep Liberty."

"Land Rover freely admits that the Freelander won't go places a Defender can, but claims it leads the segment in off-road ability. We think Jeep may beg to differ."

"Unibody construction and a four-wheel independent MacPherson strut suspension won't impress hardcore off-roaders, but Land Rover has dialed in 7 inches of wheel travel in front and eight in back." (emphasis added)

LA Times : "This newest Land Rover is not the go-anywhere, haul-everything piece of automotive engineering that owes allegiance to Monty's World War II tanks and the locomotives of British Railways."

Carpoint : "As is the case with other vehicles in its category, the Freelander cannot travel very far off the beaten path given its average ground clearance, lack of skid plates and inadequate tires."

Granted I haven't driven the car yet, so I'm no expert. It does appear to be the most capable of the mini-SUVs off-road (present company accepted of course. The X is considered a mini-SUV ). I heard it referred to as a great "soft"-road vehicle.

Draw your own conclusions...

brad

[RticQl8]

Originally posted by scott.com


So I take it you've driven an Acura then :finger:. How else would you know about how much power one has.

Yes I've driven an Acura. My father in law wont buy anything else. I think hes had an acura from the minute they came off the boat. His latest is pretty peppy for a front wheel drive sedan but I woudln't even begin to call it powerfull. Hell Acura doesn't even make that claim.


Im not trying to argue with everyone on the board. All im saying is that I test drove the Freelander expecting the worse, rolling my eyes at every mention, but when I actualy got behind the wheal and drove it on the road and through the dealerships Mok off road course I was pleasantly suprised.

[Schludwiller]

Ok. Road Trip!

Next meeting of PNWX will be at the Land Rover dealership. We'll all go take the Freelander through their obstacle course. Maybe if we bring donuts they'll let us run the Xterras through it too.

[rrdstarr]

Originally posted by brad77
Edmunds.com : "Small inside and lacking a low-range transfer case, the Freelander won't appeal to buyers looking for a seriously capable small SUV, despite the Land Rover name on the hood. Think Jeep Liberty."

"Land Rover freely admits that the Freelander won't go places a Defender can, but claims it leads the segment in off-road ability. We think Jeep may beg to differ."

"Unibody construction and a four-wheel independent MacPherson strut suspension won't impress hardcore off-roaders, but Land Rover has dialed in 7 inches of wheel travel in front and eight in back." (emphasis added)

LA Times : "This newest Land Rover is not the go-anywhere, haul-everything piece of automotive engineering that owes allegiance to Monty's World War II tanks and the locomotives of British Railways."

Carpoint : "As is the case with other vehicles in its category, the Freelander cannot travel very far off the beaten path given its average ground clearance, lack of skid plates and inadequate tires."

Granted I haven't driven the car yet, so I'm no expert. It does appear to be the most capable of the mini-SUVs off-road (present company accepted of course. The X is considered a mini-SUV ). I heard it referred to as a great "soft"-road vehicle.

Draw your own conclusions...

brad

Bingo! Brad hit it right on the head! I saw one at the Auto show and it looked real cheap and felt real cheap!

Mosi's Disco II is a real 4WD! 4hi and lo range! That is one sweet 4WD!

[Schludwiller]

Originally posted by RticQl8


Im not trying to argue with everyone on the board.

I know you're not. Christ, someone has to have a differing opinion or it's going to get real booring. Just watch out for the Canadians here. They hunt in packs ya' know.