Freelander vs. ??
- Thread starter expectthebest
- Start date
I test drove a Freelander when they first came out, nice little car, but hardly equipped for serious off-roading. You can take anything with 4wd or AWD down a dirt road and even some simple cross country stuff, but if off-roading was my primary reason for the purchase, there are many, many other more capable rigs. Not that there is anything wrong with them, its just they appear to have been designed as a small family suv, which is why they sold well in the UK.
The Liberty has sold a lot, but not to a lot of serious off-road people. True, there are some neat after-market shit for them, but the truth is that few (%) make it on a decent trail.
Freelander vs the Wrangler is just silly. The (did someone call it a "darby"?) is designed to be a little sporty suv, the Wrangler is used by a lot of college kids for a runabout, but is the foundation for a serious off-road vehicle. They have very little in common.
Disco I or II vs a Freelander, well my DII never sees a serious trail, only becasue my wife would kill me if I scratched or dented it. I got the Rubi for serious playing. If I didn't have it, it would be a built up XJ. Both are cheap to modify and a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to fix than my Discovery. The Discovery was purchased to lug 2 adults, 2 kids, a ton of crap and the ocassional dog up and down Big Bear in the winter.
The Liberty has sold a lot, but not to a lot of serious off-road people. True, there are some neat after-market shit for them, but the truth is that few (%) make it on a decent trail.
Freelander vs the Wrangler is just silly. The (did someone call it a "darby"?) is designed to be a little sporty suv, the Wrangler is used by a lot of college kids for a runabout, but is the foundation for a serious off-road vehicle. They have very little in common.
Disco I or II vs a Freelander, well my DII never sees a serious trail, only becasue my wife would kill me if I scratched or dented it. I got the Rubi for serious playing. If I didn't have it, it would be a built up XJ. Both are cheap to modify and a hell of a lot easier and cheaper to fix than my Discovery. The Discovery was purchased to lug 2 adults, 2 kids, a ton of crap and the ocassional dog up and down Big Bear in the winter.
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syoung
Guest
If buying something to be a trail rig primarily, of course a FL is not the way to go- nor is a KJ. Having owned a Wrangler before, I will say that the FL was far better at slippery stuff. The only other Rovers that can compete with the FL in slippery conditions are the ETC equipped Discos and Defenders. The DI can clear some taller rocks and stuff, but when it's slippery out there just no comparison at all.
a wrangler will walk away from a FL in 2wd no question. i too owned a wrangler for a stint. it was a great truck off road. lightweight, great departure/approach angles and all that. put it in first gear and in low range 4wd and it will walk all over rocks and all that fun stuff. still can't compare to a D1 though. ride, room and overall versatility is what makes the D1 work well.
again the Freelander was never really designed or engineered to be taken off road in any true fashion. it is just far too limited in so many ways.
i have seen video of a CRV doing some impressive stuff too, but comparing a DI or DII to a Freebie is again just like comparing Coors Light to Guinness. one is the real deal and the other is just watered down for the masses.
so if the Freelander is so badass Steve why are you driving all D1s, RRCs and D90s? guess the Freelander is just too much for you to handle? too badass?
again the Freelander was never really designed or engineered to be taken off road in any true fashion. it is just far too limited in so many ways.
i have seen video of a CRV doing some impressive stuff too, but comparing a DI or DII to a Freebie is again just like comparing Coors Light to Guinness. one is the real deal and the other is just watered down for the masses.
so if the Freelander is so badass Steve why are you driving all D1s, RRCs and D90s? guess the Freelander is just too much for you to handle? too badass?
garrett said:
:applause:
I like wheat unfiltered beers myself, but if I drink that dark stuff guinness is up there.:beer:
So what we learned here is freelanders are great for city dirving and a dirt road and where there is ice on the road. But for 'real' offroading you can't be serious. Pics plz?
he might come up with some pics, but none of his. Chris VonC bought Steve's Freelander and actually wheels it.
i think Steve just washes his trucks in the driveway. that pesky pollen sure is nasty stuff! yucky.
i am sure Freelanders are fun to wheel lightly with and all that, but they just can't hold up to a D1, etc.
the same time Camel Trophy went into lame mode is about the same time the Freelanders were introduced.
i'd like to see stock Freelanders do what the stock D1s in the Camel Trophy. that would be really funny. but i am sure they could. LOL.
i think Steve just washes his trucks in the driveway. that pesky pollen sure is nasty stuff! yucky.
i am sure Freelanders are fun to wheel lightly with and all that, but they just can't hold up to a D1, etc.
the same time Camel Trophy went into lame mode is about the same time the Freelanders were introduced.
i'd like to see stock Freelanders do what the stock D1s in the Camel Trophy. that would be really funny. but i am sure they could. LOL.
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syoung
Guest
Another expert about where I wheel... Funny how people I only see once at year at most seem to know what I do in my spare time.
well where are those wheeling pics boy? we want to see it in action. not just the one where it is on its side at MAR either. 
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syoung
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Qudoba
Guest
Well If I had a choice between the Liberty and the freelander Id purchace the Available Common-Rail Diesel (CRD) engine Liberty. Possibly the Fj both the new Fj and the Liberty will be easier to get parts for.
This fj looks better. Lift and 285/70 BFG and a better looking bumper.
http://www.allprooffroad.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=109
This fj looks better. Lift and 285/70 BFG and a better looking bumper.
http://www.allprooffroad.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=109
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syoung
Guest
The diesel made the Liberty much more appealing for people who don't want something huge- the ride and handling of the Liberty has always been it's main shortfall. I don't know if they got ETC, but without it they don't work well in snow.
are you saying the viscous is better then a CDL? i hope not. once again they do very different things. a DII CDL is pretty much the same as a DIs.
huh? Why not ALL D2's CDLs? How is a VC better than a CDL (in a land rover arrangement)?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the VC does not really 100% lock, does it?
no it does't lock. i think these Freebee people were misled by their salespeople. LOL that or they just don't know how the shit works. do they know what CDL stands for? well besides commercial drivers license.
it would be like saying a TT is a real locker.
"will my Freebee be able to take on those big jerks that drive D1s and kick sand in my face at the beach?"
oh snap that reminds me of the first Freebee i ever saw off a paved road. with Evan and the boys at the beach. the damn thing could not go more than 50 feet and not get stuck. we ended dragging it around the beach with a FC 101. oh those were good times. that wasn't you was it Ax?
it would be like saying a TT is a real locker.
"will my Freebee be able to take on those big jerks that drive D1s and kick sand in my face at the beach?"
oh snap that reminds me of the first Freebee i ever saw off a paved road. with Evan and the boys at the beach. the damn thing could not go more than 50 feet and not get stuck. we ended dragging it around the beach with a FC 101. oh those were good times.
that wasn't you was it Ax? 
lagged said:
Yeah and on a RR they never last past 100k miles. Too bad you cant convert to a LT230 in a FL. :banghead:
The psudeo CDL in a Freelander is a lot better than the missing CDL in some D2's. That was my point. If I still have it when the viscous coupling goes, you can bolt on a torsen diff, that will be cool. I've never had a complaint about how traction and power is handled on my Freelander. Ground clearance and lack of low range are its downsides. Other than that its flexi enough for what it is, and it has great weight distribution for low traction hills and off camber situations. And I'm sure you've seen how well it performs on its side in the mud [
Its no rock crawler, but its great in mud snow and even water. At Paragon I was on a trail with a D1, D2, and a 91 Bronco. At the end of the day they all had mud in their airfilters, but mine was clean, and we all did the same lines everywhere. Not that that means much, everyone did ok, but I think some things are designed a lot better on the Freelander. The frame just doesn't flex at all. I had mine on 2 wheels and the a frame and the doors opened perfectly. It will barrel down the highway at 115 perfectly stable before the computer stops you. If I wanted a hardcore offroader, I'd just build one from scratch. That makes a lot more sense to me than converting a luxury truck into a trail buggy. If gas doubles in price again I may have to, as fishing will become a bit too expensive.
If there were more aftermarket support for the Freelander in this country you would see some impressive rigs. Some guys in Europe are running 5 to 6 inches of lift (apparantly, never saw a picture). They have after market front rear bumpers and loads of goodies.
Discos are great trucks. I may buy a RRC very soon to use on the beach instead of beating up the Freelander or Tahoe. All Land Rovers are cool as hell. And I don't think the Freelander is an exception.
Remember this, the Freelander is what kept Land Rover in business, so that they could bring you the LR3 and all these great Ford designed trucks they have now
[Its no rock crawler, but its great in mud snow and even water. At Paragon I was on a trail with a D1, D2, and a 91 Bronco. At the end of the day they all had mud in their airfilters, but mine was clean, and we all did the same lines everywhere. Not that that means much, everyone did ok, but I think some things are designed a lot better on the Freelander. The frame just doesn't flex at all. I had mine on 2 wheels and the a frame and the doors opened perfectly. It will barrel down the highway at 115 perfectly stable before the computer stops you. If I wanted a hardcore offroader, I'd just build one from scratch. That makes a lot more sense to me than converting a luxury truck into a trail buggy. If gas doubles in price again I may have to, as fishing will become a bit too expensive.
If there were more aftermarket support for the Freelander in this country you would see some impressive rigs. Some guys in Europe are running 5 to 6 inches of lift (apparantly, never saw a picture). They have after market front rear bumpers and loads of goodies.
Discos are great trucks. I may buy a RRC very soon to use on the beach instead of beating up the Freelander or Tahoe. All Land Rovers are cool as hell. And I don't think the Freelander is an exception.
Remember this, the Freelander is what kept Land Rover in business, so that they could bring you the LR3 and all these great Ford designed trucks they have now
i am missing something........what is this "pseudo CDL" you speak of? either you have it or not.
the CDL splits the front and rear 50/50. you can't kinda have it. sorta like being kinda pregnant.
the CDL splits the front and rear 50/50. you can't kinda have it. sorta like being kinda pregnant.