So, as promised, a small update now that my old man has a few miles under the wheels…
From my old man's point of view there's not much to report and the update reads: He absolutely loves his Freelander2 and nothing's gone wrong with it. The end!
But, of course, that would be mean of me.
The only issue he's had was a loose wheel arch lining when he got it home. They told him to bring it back in at his convenience (which was right away) and they changed both rear wheel arch linings while he waited. They also called him the following day to make sure he was satisfied with the service and that everything in general was O.K. with the car. So, as far as he's concerned, that's 10 out of 10 for customer service. Other than that it's been faultless. And his general opinion of the car is that he likes it better than anything else he's had (last car was a Mondeo).
I drove the car for most of the long bank holiday weekend while the olds stayed over. Have to say that, despite not being my cup of tea, it really is a pretty nice car.
Not the fastest thing I've ever driven, but every bit as fast as you need a car of this nature to be. And the engine certainly doesn't sound as offensive as many diesels (my ears do not like the sound of diesels!) and the amount of noise that reaches inside the cabin seems well judged. The auto gearbox, while not seamless, is more than acceptable and is the equal of some I've driven in cars costing 4 times as much. Brakes: powerful and, importantly, progressive. If there's anything on a car that's going to take me a while to get used to it's usually the brakes but I was comfy with these within a few junctions.
I'm probably not the best person to comment on the handling of a tall 4X4. Most of you know the kind of kit I've been driving over the last few years so this is always going to feel like a bit of a boat to me. Having said that, for a tall 4X4 you can chuck it about (albeit in a lumbering fashion) and it does cope well with changes in surface direction or bumps mid bend, something that was keenly felt given my recent experience in a Passat. The ride is quite impressive. While not limo smooth it does handle the bumps in a way that filters out the pain but still lets you know what's happening under the car. For me personally an excellent compromise - I've never liked cars that smooth everything out. And I did get to give it a bit of a workout in the ride department as I had to make six journeys along a mile and a half of very rutted track leading to a farm. Basically you could just plough on with no regard for all but the deepest of pot holes (and there were some very deep ones!). If you'd have tried the same trick in my Fiesta it would have taken your fillings out.
Steering is well weighted and has a nice feel thought there isn't a ton of feedback. Mind you, that's not something I'd be looking for in a car like this.
Inside, while comfortable enough, there is too much plastic for my taste, though I guess that's pretty standard fare for something in this price bracket these days. If you want 'plush' you should probably be looking further up the range. And although I only drove it locally, longest journey 15 miles, I can well imagine the Freelander being very comfortable on a long motorway slog. And while it's not over burdened with toys, what it has seem to be of the useful variety such as auto lights, auto wipers, parking sensors etc. I suspect some might want more toys but for me less is more. One thing I noticed is that the stereo didn't sound that good, although I didn't have a fiddle with the settings and I wouldn't mind betting that I could have gotten a better sound out of it by fettling the settings.
And finally, just for completeness, as reported some months back its 4x4ness is really rather impressive. I drove the car during that brief dump of snow we had earlier in the year and had to take it up a very steep incline into a car park. The incline had six inches of snow on it and had to be entered at right angles so there was no opportunity to carry momentum up the slope. Two cars ahead of us failed miserably despite several attempts. The Freelander glided up the incline as if it was dry tarmac. And I doubt my old man is running anything particularly special in the tyre department.
So, over all, while I still wouldn't buy one myself, I'd certainly recommend one to others.
p.s. I dug up the old thread on this subject but it seems that half the posts are missing and the ones that are there are all over the place, so I thought it would be better to start afresh.
17 July 2009
Great review. Sounds like he made the right choice after all. I quite like them especially the poverty spec eD4 version they do, which is 2wd only. No options, in plain white would be my choice.
I seem to remember when you were first asking people about them there was a few people warning you off, about poor reliability so glad to hear it's been good for him. Since driving my mums Rav4 a few times I can see why people like the raised driving position that this type of car gives you.
I've never had the pleasure of ordering a spanking new car and hearing the saleman go through the options list. I'm sure it'd be tough to not add any options at all. Just messing about on the configurator for the Porsche 911 having a 'what if' play I find I'm struggling to resist adding certain options I'm sure I'd never use. Do I really need the Porsche crest embossed on the head restraints for £138?!
28 July 2008
Great review. Sounds like he made the right choice after all. I quite like them especially the poverty spec eD4 version they do, which is 2wd only. No options, plain white.
I seem to remember when you were first asking people about them there was a few people warning you off, about poor reliability so glad to hear it's been good for him.
Probably a bit soon to make too much of a judgement on the reliability. So far so good, but let's see.
Do I really need the Porsche crest embossed on the head restraints for £138?!
Yes, you definitely do. When you're pelting along in something like a Porsche or a Ferrari you can become very focussed on the road. Then you stop at a junction and look across to check for traffic and when you see the emblem on the passenger headrest you're suddenly reminded of where you're sitting.
You know, I do believe that is a 'pec'...
17 July 2009
I'd appreciate a review of reliability and driveability from anyone running an Evoque.
28 July 2008
I'd appreciate a review of reliability and driveability from anyone running an Evoque.
Probably way too soon to make any great judgements on reliability - can there be any that have yet gotten even close to 10,000 miles? As for drivability - every test is describing it as hugely capable and driving like a hot hatch. What more could you ask for?
You know, I do believe that is a 'pec'...
17 July 2009
As you might recall from a discourse I posted months ago, my Disco was a lemon, but I have to hold back these days because it is two iterations ago.
The Freelander is a handsome vehicle, as are all RR/LR's, but the first version was a reliability and public relations disaster - hence my experience of LR makes me very nervous about moving back again, even to the small model - the Evoque. The dealer I used, (how close used is to sued) was in San Francisco, superb in after-sales service and care, but how embarrassing it was for them to keep apologising for shoddy build quality.
I'd like to find out what TATA has instituted behind the scenes to improve things, for, by your account, Lesia, they've moved the game on a great deal - an enquiry by Autocar on behalf of its motoring readers would be helpful! Hint, hint.
To my mind, there's something cosy and loyal about owning a Jaguar and a Rangey now they are one and the same company ... and made in these isles. Still, 10,000 miles is enough for bits to come loose, batteries fail, and gremlins to appear,
28 January 2009
I ran a 2011 (facelift model) Freelander 2 TD4 GS manual for a few months as a company car last year. Like Lesia, it was really not my cup of tea, but as a small-ish 4x4 it was comfortable enough if you drove it sensibly. It didn't enjoy being driven hard and the diesel engine was one of the slowest, noisiest and least refined I have experienced in recent memory, but if you just cruised along in a relaxed manner it was quite comfortable. It was also disctinclty uneconomical and the start-stop system is far from the best in the business.
I travelled 4-up with two solid 6' rear passengers for a journey couple of hundred miles and they reported being very comfortable back there. I never got it properly off-road so have no experiences to report. The standard 16" wheels with higher-profile tyres gave a very decent ride, although the 'Sport' model with 18" wheels was noticeably bouncier. Sitting on a motorway at 70mph, it was very well-planted and well-damped - albeit noisy. The relatively low window-line and high seating position make visibility good all round, and pillars seemed thinner and/or better placed than many other cars. Turning circle was pretty woeful, but it did cope with potholes and speed humps better than I had been used to!
Dash layout was very 1990s and the stereo was frankly rubbish. The top-end models had a nav system which was very poor compared to more modern competition. Many LR models have a heated windscreen as standard or an option, but I found this irritating - especially in bright sunlight when the filaments would often catch and reflect the light. Mine also had beige carpets, which is stupid on any car but especially a Land Rover...
Overall it was a generally inoffensive and average thing, with nothing especially outstanding to distinguish it from the rest of the marketplace. I found it very hard to love, and was not sad to see the back of it. A better engine and updated interior would make a world of difference, however.
www.TheCarExpert.co.uk/forums
10 March 2011
I'd appreciate a review of reliability and driveability from anyone running an Evoque.
When I win one on Best of the Best later this week I'll let you know LA
My other half, a couple of slightly bonkers army bods and a load of nutters adventures can be found at
http://www.missionmotorsport.org
RACE RETRAIN RECOVER
28 July 2008
Thanks, Stu, for adding your own review. It's interesting to see that we're more or less in accordance, though I think I'm a little kinder in the final analysis. While I agree that it doesn't blow your socks off in any department (the closest it gets is in its 4x4ness) I do think it does most things at least well enough to make a very pleasing package for the less experienced driver who has less to compare it against. Someone like my father, in fact, who has driven only a fraction of the cars I have (and I suspect you) is not going to be disappointed with a Freelander2. And remember, not everyone has to have the best of everything - good enough is good enough for most people.
Personally, it's not going to change my view of 4x4s, all of which I've driven have left me wondering why, even including Ranger Rover SE Vouges and the like.
The only point I'd argue over is the engine. It's certainly not the worst I've heard. In fact a friend recently bought a new Audi diesel (can't remember which one) and that sounds worse. He paid me a visit a while back and I didn't know he'd bought a diesel. But I certainly knew it before he was even halfway up my street. As I mentioned, I don't like diesels, but in this context a diesel, even a slightly rough diesel, kind of feels at home.
And as for speed, as I touched upon in my review it's certainly not the fastest car I've driven but I'm simply not looking for speed in a 4x4. For instance, I don't get the Range Rover Sport. Seems a totally confused concept to me and I have no idea why anyone would want to go fast in such a tank. If I'm in a Lamborghini, sure, I want it to rip my face off. But in a 4x4 I want it to feel as if it could push a wall over rather than break a land speed record.
Good to compare notes.
You know, I do believe that is a 'pec'...
21 June 2012
They also called him the following day to make sure he was satisfied with the service and that everything in general was O.K. with the car. So, as far as he's concerned, that's 10 out of 10 for customer service. Other than that it's been faultless. And his general opinion of the car is that he likes it better than anything else he's had (last car was a Mondeo
28 July 2008
They also called him the following day to make sure he was satisfied with the service and that everything in general was O.K. with the car. So, as far as he's concerned, that's 10 out of 10 for customer service. Other than that it's been faultless. And his general opinion of the car is that he likes it better than anything else he's had (last car was a Mondeo
Did you hit the post button too soon?
You know, I do believe that is a 'pec'...