2007 Freelander preview...

Leslie

Leslie

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Unlike the old FJ's, though, the Patrol didn't have a following here; there were only a thousand or so at most. People know Land Rovers, people know CJ's, people know FJ's... the Wrangler is still kickin', the FJ's back.... Rover's moved from its roots, but if the Defender did come back, it'd hang in there... The Patrol, it'd just be seen as a FJ-copy... pretty much what it was then, anyway....

The old bugs weren't for the US, though... it's like India and the old CJ-3B's... some places, you can get away with still making originals, but in the US, you can't bring in the more recent versions of the older vehicles, til they are changed so much to conform that they are no longer what they originally were.

-L
 
jsonova99

jsonova99

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Leslie said:
Unlike the old FJ's, though, the Patrol didn't have a following here; there were only a thousand or so at most. People know Land Rovers, people know CJ's, people know FJ's... the Wrangler is still kickin', the FJ's back.... Rover's moved from its roots, but if the Defender did come back, it'd hang in there... The Patrol, it'd just be seen as a FJ-copy... pretty much what it was then, anyway....

The old bugs weren't for the US, though... it's like India and the old CJ-3B's... some places, you can get away with still making originals, but in the US, you can't bring in the more recent versions of the older vehicles, til they are changed so much to conform that they are no longer what they originally were.

-L
Click to expand...

Good points. I wouldn't count on the Defender thing though. Didn't somebody have a more recent picture of what the new Defender would actually look like at some point? It's supposed to share the T5 LR3 chassis and drivetrain I believe which, if true, kind of makes the Defender rather unappealing, atleast to me. Gadgets and luxury items are good for the LR3, but not for the Defender. Kind of like Mercedes with the G-wagen. Great truck, but it was much cooler as a utilitarian vehicle. Although in the G-wagen's defense, it did atleast still sit on the basic frame and runing gear that it always did and was still just as capable.
 
Leslie

Leslie

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Exactly; the G-wagen is still a G-wagen, an new Defender would be the underpinnings of an LR3, as-is the RRS, just a different body. Not bad, but not what the enthusiast is wanting. (And I'm not counting on it, either.... )

-L
 
jsonova99

jsonova99

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Just an observation, but does the Freelander get a lot of it's positive spin on this site just because it has a Land Rover badge on it? If Honda or better yet, Kia were releasing the exact same vehicle would it be getting completely bashed left and right by 100% of everybody on this site? It just seems like the new Freelander has 0% of anything that people on this site would generally be looking for in an SUV.

I'll admit that I was considering picking up one of the previous ones at one point as a DD, but I sat down and thought about it, and I realized that the Land Rover name was really the only thing driving me in that direction, because the Freelander really has nothing that I personally am looking for in a vehicle.

Just a thought, I'm curious if anybody else has found them in that same thought process.
 
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garrett

garrett

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i think the Freelander gets shit on plenty on this site and deservingly so in my opinion. i can't wait til it dies and becomes a bad memory. :) it may deserve the LR badge just as the LR3 may, but i don't really like either......regardless of the LR badge or not. both of these CARs are taking LR in the wrong direction. so far there are no solid signs of LR has any true off road vehicles in the pipeline. that can change and lets hope it does, because like i have said Toyota is ahead of the game. regardless if you like the looks of the FJ, it's more of what LR should be shooting for right now.

LR should leave the mini SUV gas savers to Ford, Honda and Toyota and stick to what they have done best in the past.
 
jsonova99

jsonova99

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I can't get past the fact that it sits on a Focus/Mazda 3 platform. I'd rather just have a Mazda 3 sport wagon for close to half the price if I wanted something sporty to drive, or if you want to take it out and do some ralyy style driving with it, get a Subaru WRX which will outperform and still cost less. I'm sure LR will sell a few of these things, but I just don't know why other than the fact that the LR3 pricing came in siginificantly higher than the DII which may put it out of reach for some LR wannabe owners out there.
 
R

Rocky

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Apr 23, 2004
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Theres alot of Volvo v50 in the next Gen Freelander engines transmissions etc rather than the dull stuff that goes into the Focus platform. Lets compare apples with apples. LR positions itself as a premium brand. If you want generic buy an escape
 
garrett

garrett

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but wait.........what makes the Freelander stand out and not "generic"? i drove a Freelander for a few days and it was as plain vanilla as it gets. i have driven lots of SUVs, cars, etc and like i said the Freebie is as boring as they come.
they need to do ALOT more to this car to make it worth the extra $$$ when compared to other small/medium sized SUVs.
the Freelander has no soul, no guts and certainly even less style. and the market has agreed.
 
Roverlady

Roverlady

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I've always thought the Freelanders were 'cute' and I'd consider one over a wagon for running around town, driving to work, etc.

That being said, they really need to spice up the design, make it a little more sexy like the RRSport and give it some real 4wd mechanics. Hell, even a Jeep Liberty has low range.....but I'm afraid they won't be listening to me. I bet it will have automatic 4wd like the Escape.
 
Roverlady

Roverlady

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I did actually read in a magazine last night (Motor Trend or Car/Driver, can't remember) that the new Freelander will have a low range....hmmm.....maybe they have been listening a little.


I still want a RRSport. :)
 
garrett

garrett

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low range or not it is still a Barbie car. no flex, minimal upgradeability, below average looks, overpriced and just a bore in general. far too many other better options at better price points. i love my rovers and the brand, but i will error on the side of better judgement. no one wants these things. i see them at the auction and they get 0 bids most of the time. gee i wonder why?
 
Roverlady

Roverlady

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True...true...haven't seen many on the road.

I actually like that new Ford Edge thing....not as an off-roader, but it's a neat looking crossover
 
T

Thai

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Don't forget about the upcoming '07 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon:

- 32" BFG M/T standard
- 4:1 transfer case...crawl ratio is 73:1 for 6-speed manual tranny! Yes, 73:1!
- Front & rear electric lockers
- Front axle Disconnect (like PowerWagon) = RTI 832!!
- ESP...stability control for on-road safety with full OFF capability when off-roading (I am a BIG fan of ESP as you may know)
- ABS with Brake Assist that is tune for off-roading...will allow wheel lock when braking on loose terrain
- Stronger Dana 44 (gears are larger, the pinion is larger and the shafts are now 32 spline instead of 30 spline) & 100% stronger frame than before
- Standard rock sliders...along with skidplates
- Side airbags available
- Approach/departure angles = 44/40
- More room inside...more cargo space (double size)
- Warn Winch is available!
- Coolest hardtop EVER!

The new Rubicon will literally blow away everything else in it's class in off-roading (Hummer H3, Toyota FJ Cruiser).
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jsonova99

jsonova99

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I think I like the TJ Rubicon better. I definitely prefer the 4.0 I6 to the 3.7 V6. The new one will grow on me though I'm sure.
 
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