2WD or not to 2WD

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Gooner

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:doh: Looking at getting the best out of a very juicy 1.8 '04 3 door Landy, I am new to these beasts and have been told removing the prop to 2WD will help drastically with fuel consumption - is this true or an old wives tale
 
if you want good fuel economy why did you by a freelander why butcher a 4wd . what is the point .buy a street wise L series diesel engine 2wd big plastic bumpers or some of the new cross-overs 4wd look 2wd system
 
i have been running my 99 petrol soft back in 2wd for about 6 months and have not noticed any difference in fuel economy. interestingly it has been a bit heavy on the tyres but then i was running big off road things...just refitted standard tyres and new vc and it behaves far nicer on the road and pulls better through the rev range. before the front tyres would spin and squirm if you drove too hard.

if in doubt remember.... it was designed to be a 4wd
 
Yup , I'm the same . Been running without prop for some 5 months now but ordered a new VCU yesterday to return it back to all wheel drive.
It ran very well but would spin front tyres on anything except a dry level smooth surface. We live at the top of a gravel drive and it bogs down and spins into the gravel all the time .
Each to his own I suppose..........
 
This old debate again. Is it still factory spec?, Will the insurance still cover it, will it pass its MOT.

At the end of the day, its a 4x4 and it handles like crap in 2WD mode. My L-series gets me 450 miles to the tank full of diesel, well 53-55 litres anyway and it transmission is factory spec 4x4.

Keep your tyre pressures right and if it feels bogged down then find out why ASAP.

2WD Land Rovers.... are wrong!!
 
I get 20% saving in 2wd.

Was told this by an LR technician back in 2001


The FL1 should never have been permanent 4wd IMHO, the Japanese market wins hands down with selectable 2wd... X-trail, CRV etc
 
Am I right in saying the the series land rovers are selectable 4x4, where as the newer models are all full time?

Personally I think the Freelander handles so much better in 4x4. If every thing is set up correctly then the rear drive doesn't do a great deal as the front wheels pull the car along. Its when its bogging down because the rotational speed differences due to tyre pressure differences that the VCU starts to intervene and fuel starts to be wasted.

However, when you corner then the rear drive starts to come in and it corners like its welded to the road. :D
 
IMO removing the prop just buggers up the handling of your hippo.
I never noticed any saving when the props where removed but noticed how much better the drive was when I refitted them.
The confidence and safety in 4wd grip, good handling, off road capability; for me far outweighs the platry fuel penalty.
 
Tomo1971 said:
I know what your saying but so you know, the CRV aint selectable, its also perm 4wd.

Steve
Click to expand...

I stand corrected on the CRV, although I thought the late 90's 3 dr version had two levers in the cabin??

I used to drive Ford Rangers even they had selectable 2wd and diffock,

Vitara has low box selection.
 
I like the handling of my diesel lump with the prop removed ,it handles like a nicesmooth car.that reminds me next time i have the fundz i'm buying new monroes for the rear.

The reason the prop is off, is ,the vcu balancer rubber broke ,so im going to silicone it back in.
 
bigdenbailey said:
The confidence and safety in 4wd grip, good handling, off road capability; for me far outweighs the platry fuel penalty.
Click to expand...

When in 2wd, it handles like a 2wd car, only ropey pilots need 4wd on dry tarmac! :p

With a few suspension tweaks to prevent wallowing and body roll, a 2wd FL1 will handle better (on road) than a 4wd FL1 with standard suspension.

All down to driving style.
 
Last edited:
Had the rear subframe welded last week and a new front diff mount. It was advised how "bad" the VCU was so I asked that garage to pop the prop in the boot for me. Hated it in 2WD, sod the fuel economy - road handling is far more important.

Had a new (reconditioned) VCU fitted elsewhere yesterday and what a difference! My advice is 4WD any day, dreadful in 2WD.

The car hasn't felt as good as this in ages so the old VCU must have been totally shagged.
 
Northern Irelander said:
When in 2wd, it handles like a 2wd car, only ropey pilots need 4wd on dry tarmac! :p

With a few suspension tweaks to prevent wallowing and body roll, a 2wd FL1 will handle better (on road) than a 4wd FL1 with standard suspension.

All down to driving style.
Click to expand...

How about pouring rain and sleet on muddy tiny country lanes in oxfordshire at unsociable hours in the morning, especially when the wife (who thinks she's in rally GB all the time) drives!:eek:

When's the UK ever dry?:rolleyes:
I've been to belfast a few times, every time it honked it down!:D:p
 
bigdenbailey said:
How about pouring rain and sleet on muddy tiny country lanes in oxfordshire at unsociable hours in the morning, especially when the wife (who thinks she's in rally GB all the time) drives!:eek:

When's the UK ever dry?:rolleyes:
I've been to belfast a few times, every time it honked it down!:D:p
Click to expand...

We have 'four seasons in one day' here, can be horizontal sleet one minute, next minute the sun is splitting the trees.

I agree, in wet leafy lanes this time of year 4wd is best. In ice and snow I swear by the FL1 being able to hold the terrain. Better than the Td5's I have driven.

BUT! In normal road conditions you should drive to suit the conditions 2wd is fine, you just need to adopt the appropriate driving style.

In 2wd I feather the throttle.

In 4wd........it's not a throttle, it's a switch! Either fully on or fully off :D
 
Gooner said:
:doh: Looking at getting the best out of a very juicy 1.8 '04 3 door Landy, I am new to these beasts and have been told removing the prop to 2WD will help drastically with fuel consumption - is this true or an old wives tale
Click to expand...


Don't buy a petrol engine model, only look at the diesel. If 2wd is improtant to you then buy a Shogun Pinin or Grand Vitara as they have selectable 2 or 4 wheel drive.
 
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