Just got my new freelander

HI guys

Second posting here - during the week I kept popping back to browse but it all gets a bit technical for me.

Anyway - just picked up our 2006 plate TD4 freelander adventurer all black with side step thingeys - husband saw a 53 plate s type jag and wanted that instead. He used to have one of the first ones when they came out a few years ago and loved it.

I have had a little drive forwards and am just waiting for him to come back from the dentist when we can go out now and i can practice my parking and reversing. Going from my little MR2 to the 4 x 4 was daunting but I quite enjoyed the little drive I had.

Its so much different to my MR2 (obviously) - not a lot of difference in the response to the accelerator though but so far so good. We have put the back seats down so we have one big boot (handy for the golf trolleys and clubs).

But thanks to those of you who responded to my first message about whether to buy one or not.

Good luck with it! You certainly picked the best engine for the Freelander.

If you plan to go off road though, I suggest taking off the side steps. They give you less ground clearance and if you hit it, it can cause damage to the body of the car. I wish I took mine off earlier! Don't worry about it if you don't plan to venture off road though.

Bit of a step up (literally) from the MR2 to a Freeby. Watch out for the speed as well, the lower the car the faster you think you are going so the converse is true.

Practice makes perfect of course so you are going to have to crowbar him out of the driving seat as much as possible.

One quite useful thing on the Td4 is the anti-stall, I did quite often have to work on show grounds over grass and organisers are very safety concious. Once it is rolling I took the foot off the throttle and it maintained a steady 5MPH even over slopes and rises.

Missing Link said:

One quite useful thing on the Td4 is the anti-stall, I did quite often have to work on show grounds over grass and organisers are very safety concious. Once it is rolling I took the foot off the throttle and it maintained a steady 5MPH even over slopes and rises.

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Anti stall? Isn't this just a characteristic of a diesel engine? Or were you being sarcastic? lol

And now like the rest of us, you won`t be having any problems in the snow come winter.

para1966 said:

And now like the rest of us, you won`t be having any problems in the snow come winter.

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I bet we won't have snow this winter lol

Is the TD4 really not much different in relation to performance from the MR2? What MR2 was it?

The Freelander is like a rocket. Sometimes when I put my foot down while joining the motorway, I get the sense that I'm in an F-15 fighter jet.

I loved my MkII MR2 converted a UK spec car
to a turbo, brought a written off jap import and
spent a little over two weeks on the conversion.
286 Bhp and was hoping to get it into the 300's.
Performance wise....a little different to the
freelander.

Little pic of the MR2 turbo conversion engine.

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n398/boystoys_2008/mr2.jpg

freebiker said:

Is the TD4 really not much different in relation to performance from the MR2? What MR2 was it?

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Well - the pulling away with the TD4 is much slower than the MR2 but once the freelander has gathered its speed it does go like a rocket. I didn't notice the speed this evening coming home from work along the seafront and I got flashed by speed cameras. i couldn't believe it - for the past 4 years I have done the same journey every day, know every bump in the road etc and never got flashed and then today for the first time coming home in the freelander get flashed. I just dont believe it.

Cheap Used Cars | Worthing Car Sales | Cars Worthing*West Sussex - this is the web site where my MR2 is advertised - sorry i dont know what Mark it is? Its a roadster.

I have noticed a lot of different things between the two - with the freelander it seems to be really really springy/bouncy over the bumps in the road but in the MR2 you can feel every bump, there is no give in the car.

The clutch on the freelander is so much stiffer as are the brakes.

I can see so much more in the freelander and I have surprised myself with the parking. I have to remeber that I do not need to allow for any boot on the freelander because when I first parked and looked out the back window I thought I was virtually touching the car behind but then when getting out and looking I am about one metre and a half away.

The freelander is not as zippy as the MR2 (obviously its so much more bigger).

Now for the disappointing things - for some reason i was expecting a much bigger turning wheel circle (if that makes sense). Both the mR2 and the freelander dont seem to have a big turning circle, but maybe thats just me.

I find that my arms ache a bit whislt driving - with the MR2 I could rest my right arm on the door "arm rest" and my left virtually on the middle section in the car whereas in the freelander I have to hold my arm ups. Also with the freelander I have to reach down for the gear stick whereas in the MR2 it was pretty much adjacent to where i was resting my left arm.

But having said that I do like driving it. I feel so much safer for starters.

How any cameras?

Each one is an individual offence, 4 of those and it's bye bye licence

Josie M said:

Well - the pulling away with the TD4 is much slower than the MR2 but once the freelander has gathered its speed it does go like a rocket. I didn't notice the speed this evening coming home from work along the seafront and I got flashed by speed cameras. i couldn't believe it - for the past 4 years I have done the same journey every day, know every bump in the road etc and never got flashed and then today for the first time coming home in the freelander get flashed. I just dont believe it.

Cheap Used Cars | Worthing Car Sales | Cars Worthing*West Sussex - this is the web site where my MR2 is advertised - sorry i dont know what Mark it is? Its a roadster.

I have noticed a lot of different things between the two - with the freelander it seems to be really really springy/bouncy over the bumps in the road but in the MR2 you can feel every bump, there is no give in the car.

The clutch on the freelander is so much stiffer as are the brakes.

I can see so much more in the freelander and I have surprised myself with the parking. I have to remeber that I do not need to allow for any boot on the freelander because when I first parked and looked out the back window I thought I was virtually touching the car behind but then when getting out and looking I am about one metre and a half away.

The freelander is not as zippy as the MR2 (obviously its so much more bigger).

Now for the disappointing things - for some reason i was expecting a much bigger turning wheel circle (if that makes sense). Both the mR2 and the freelander dont seem to have a big turning circle, but maybe thats just me.

I find that my arms ache a bit whislt driving - with the MR2 I could rest my right arm on the door "arm rest" and my left virtually on the middle section in the car whereas in the freelander I have to hold my arm ups. Also with the freelander I have to reach down for the gear stick whereas in the MR2 it was pretty much adjacent to where i was resting my left arm.

But having said that I do like driving it. I feel so much safer for starters.

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The reason why you felt more bumps in the MR2 was probably because the suspension was much stiffer. Stiff suspension is typically found in sports/sporty cars because it gives them better handling around corners. As I'm sure you've noticed, the Freelander probably sucks at speed around corners. (Compared to your MR2) You will probably notice a lot more body roll. That said, it copes a lot better in this respect than most Land Rovers, along with many of its competitors.

As for your arm hurting, this could be caused by driving in the incorrect position. Your arms should not be bent when holding the steering wheel.

Because of the increased ride height in the Freelander, you will think you're going slower than you really are. As a result, you will probably compensate for this subconsciously. Be careful though, because this may take you over the speed limit. Imo you should keep an eye on your speedo for awhile until you're used to it.

Mark2 said:

How any cameras?

Each one is an individual offence, 4 of those and it's bye bye licence

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One camera, two flashes - the question is whether or not there was film in it????

Watch this space - i just didn't release I was over the speed limit -:doh:

Body roll - now you are frightening me. It won't roll over will it?

I think it handles corners pretty well.

I certainly value your opinion - the flashes have made me realise that I am indeed going over the limit and I have since then kept an eye on the speedo. Whew -

Josie M said:

One camera, two flashes - the question is whether or not there was film in it????

Watch this space - i just didn't release I was over the speed limit -:doh:

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Most cameras are digital these days and don't have film.

Josie M said:

Body roll - now you are frightening me. It won't roll over will it?

I think it handles corners pretty well.-

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It is more susceptible to rolling over than your MR2, yes. This is because of the higher centre of gravity. Do not worry about this though. If your driving style is within the limits of a 4x4, it's fine. If it isn't, you will notice that some corners will take you by surprise. If this happens, take it as a hint and adapt your driving style accordingly. On the plus side, the Freelander has integral rollbars. I've seen some Freelanders upside down on their roof (For display purposes) with no damage done to the car what so ever. (Though this was not done at speed) It just goes to show how strong the Freelander is in this respect. A typical road car would not be able to sustain such load without any damage.




I am surprised you haven't noticed much difference in terms of handling. My previous car was a BMW 3 series and the difference is immense. That said, I expected it to be. Anyone who expects a 4x4 to handle like a BMW saloon is a bit loopy lol.

OMG - wow!!!

Can I ask another stupid dumb question?

I am thinking about having parking sensors fitted to the rear and maybe the front. Do you think this is stupid? The dealer said to use the back wheel as a guide and when you feel a bump you know you cant go back any more?

Josie M said:

OMG - wow!!!

Can I ask another stupid dumb question?

I am thinking about having parking sensors fitted to the rear and maybe the front. Do you think this is stupid? The dealer said to use the back wheel as a guide and when you feel a bump you know you cant go back any more?

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Fitting parking sensors at the rear is very easy and cheap - fitting them at the front is much more complicated to do it correctly.

Josie M said:

OMG - wow!!!

Can I ask another stupid dumb question?

I am thinking about having parking sensors fitted to the rear and maybe the front. Do you think this is stupid? The dealer said to use the back wheel as a guide and when you feel a bump you know you cant go back any more?

Click to expand...

Imo front sensors are not really necessary.

As for rear ones, why not? If you think it will benefit you, go for it. As with most 4x4's, the Freelander does have a bigger blind spot at the back. (compared to other types of cars)

Another advantage of rear parking sensors is that they will help alert you if a person or child crosses your reversing path.

That said, I don't have much trouble parallel parking. The Freelander has big wing mirrors (which help a lot) and you only have to accommodate the extra length taken up by the spare wheel. Imo it is much easier than parking a saloon car.