| Author | Message | ||
     ron morgan (Rpm2429) New Member Username: Rpm2429 Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2003 |
My wife test drove a freelander and now wants to get one, I will keep the disco though. How do you owners like them? Freeway merging? Stopping? Handling? Any advice would be appreciated, thx, ron 96 disco. | ||
| Wm. A. Lee Clarke III (Walc) New Member Username: Walc Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2003 |
I've been driving a 2003 Freelander HSE, as a dealer loaner, for the past few days, while my 2003 Discovery S is being repaired. I thought I would like it. IMO, the Freelander is junk. It is a heavy, slow, gas hog, with poor fit and finish- pieces fall off regularly. It reminds me of my pre-Ford Jaguars; except, not as nice to look at. IMO, there are many better vehicles for the same $ or less. | ||
| Axel Haakonsen (Axel) Moderator Username: Axel Post Number: 516 Registered: 02-2003 |
I couldn't disagree more. We got a Freelander S for my wife a year and a half ago, and we are very happy with it. Compared to my Disco it handles great, and get decent gas mileage for it's size. Plenty of power, too. We drove ours cross country this summer, and found it to have plenty of room, and it was a comfortable ride. We averaged low 20's while cruising along at 80-85, which I think is reasonable for an SUV. We haven't had any major issues with ours, either. Of course there are other alternatives that are cheaper, faster and get better mileage, but if you are looking for a road biased Land Rover as a second vehicle, the Freelander is a good choice in my opinion. - Axel | ||
| Bill Rogers (Dc_plasterer) New Member Username: Dc_plasterer Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2003 |
The Freelander is a nimble on-road car with much more off-road prowess than its given credit for. I've taken mine cross-country from California to Maryland and on moderate rocky and muddy off-road trails - its performed very well and I highly recommend one. BILL | ||
| Chris von C. (Chrisvonc) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Chrisvonc Post Number: 285 Registered: 07-2002 |
I agree with Ax and Bill. We love our SE3 for those very reasons. Honestly, I cant see how Wm. can possibly think the Freelander compaired to a Disco of all trucks, is heavier (which it is not), and a gas hog (which gets better milage than a Disco). Slower maybe if you compaire it to a 4.6. | ||
| Wm. A. Lee Clarke III (Walc) New Member Username: Walc Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm glad you folks, who own Freelanders, like them. That is the true test of a vehicle. I guess I am just disappointed. I really thought I would like the Freelander, until I drove it and really saw the fragile interior; for example, when I lifted the leather top of the center console, it came off in my hand. We have had it, as a loaner, for a week and neither my wife nor I want to drive it. While waiting for the 2003 Discovery S to have the heater core replaced, we prefer driving our 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. | ||
| Bill Rogers (Dc_plasterer) New Member Username: Dc_plasterer Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2003 |
William, You really should take advantage of learning how to drive the "Hippo" while you have it. Get it out on a windy road and experiment using the "CommandShift" transmission, which IMHO is one of the best transmissions on the road. It definately isn't a Disco or a Rubicon on the trail, but on road, I think it's got both beat hands down for comfort and performance. And it gets me where I want to go off-road just fine. | ||
| Wm. A. Lee Clarke III (Walc) New Member Username: Walc Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2003 |
Dear Bill, Maybe that is my problem. I haven't really tested the Freelander, because I don't own it. It's a dealer loaner and I don't want to abuse it, before someone else buys it. I am really glad to see that those of you who own Freelanders like them. You are in a much better position, than me, to "rate" it. | ||
| Don Collins (Donc) Member Username: Donc Post Number: 113 Registered: 04-2002 |
William, That leather top you are refering to is a add on arm rest that LR finally put into the 03 models. It has 4 screws to hold it down and it seems like someone either at the dealership or in England forgot to put them on. I have had a 02 Freelander since Sept of last year. 43K in 1 year and it has been doing very well for me. I sold my 96 Disco when it went over 100K since I was driving between 500-1000 miles a week. This past year with the FL has great and I have no regrets in getting it. I have wheeled it as shown in the Freelander picture section here and I will keep it even when I get the 04 Disco I am looking at now. Drive it a few more times and even go to a dealer event and try it off road. Yes I know the ground clearance sucks but they are really fun in the mud and sand. | ||
| Tony DiFranco (Nhrover) Member Username: Nhrover Post Number: 94 Registered: 11-2002 |
I have a '00 D2 and my wife has an '02 freelander. I love the disco but the freelander it is a very good vehicle. Got her through a lot of snow last year. It is mainly an onroad vehicle for us and so far very reliable. Gas mileage is OK at best but we wont get rid of it anytime soon! -Tony | ||
| Wm. A. Lee Clarke III (Walc) New Member Username: Walc Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2003 |
You guys have all made excellent points and I believe my negative opinions were premature. Moreover, I'm really impressed that you disagreed with me in a "classy" way. If you guys are representative of Freelander owners, I would be proud to be one too.  | ||
| Bill Rogers (Dc_plasterer) New Member Username: Dc_plasterer Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2003 |
Wm, You wouldn't be abusing the vehicle to take it out for a "serious" spin on windy roads. To me that's where the FL excels over the other LR products. Once you get use to using that transmission, its really a FUN car to drive. Oh yea, here's a few of us on an off-road adventure a few weeks ago. http://members16.clubphoto.com/william766536/1741548/owner-c2a9.phtml | ||
| Wm. A. Lee Clarke III (Walc) New Member Username: Walc Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2003 |
Bill, The photos are very impressive! The FL appears to perform very well. Now, I'm almost sorry the Disco is supposed to be repaired tomorrow. |
