Last Sunday, I bought my first Freelander 2 — and, in fact, my first Land Rover. After decades of G-Wagon ownership, this feels a bit like changing schools mid-term: familiar turf, but different uniform. Since 1996, I've owned a 1982 280 GE LWB — built like a Panzer and about as subtle. It has hauled 2.7 tonnes of rocks from the quarry, towed 5 tonnes of marble from town, and gone up a 45 degree slope (1 in 1) towing a 6 metre trailer loaded with firewood... although to do that I had to wrap the tyres with actual chains run through the wheel slots. I still have it, but it drains a tank full of petrol in about 110 miles, and costs $150 (instead of mpg, I calculate $pg)
But the Freelander is a new adventure. Technically, it’s not the first Land Rover in the family. My daughter owns a 2016 Discovery Sport, which bravely endures light horse paddock duty, transports a pair of hairy dogs, and regularly serves as a mobile toy box for my grandson. The first Land Rover I ever drove, though, was a 1970s 5-door Defender. I ferried it from the Rogue River in southern Oregon all the way to the Canadian border. Took two days, consumed fuel like a rugby team after a cup final, and I’m fairly certain it permanently damaged my hearing. It sounded like a cement mixer full of spanners being driven by a bad-tempered blacksmith. But it got there — eventually.
Now here I am with a Freelander 2. It’s not a G-Wagon, and it’s certainly not a Defender, but I have to say — it’s got charm. Feels like a spaniel in hiking boots: cheerful, competent, and always game for a muddy walk. I tend to buy "pre-collectibles" meaning distinctive cars when they have hit the bottom of their depreciation schedule before the survivors begin to rise in value. The Freelander fits in that category when the forums tend to shift from "take it to the dealer and demand warranty" to DIY workarounds.
But I digress, something I do when I am supposed to be doing my taxes, but rather write about cars.
Regarding dropping headliners, I am very familiar with the problem having just sold my 2004 Jaguar XJ6 (Ford era). The conventional solution is as found in this thread. Take out the old, remove the deteriorated inner bits, glue and replace.
However, my FL2 has a more innovative approach. Looks like they Googled "upholstery buttons", bought a batch and did a tufted pattern. Not sure if this was in addition to glue, but probably. It would ensure the tension on the glue is gravity-dispersed if I can coin a phrase.
Being a bit OCD, I would have done more precise measurements of the placement, and maybe done a more military or industrial look with contrasting buttons, but it is an interesting prototype.
Not a great photograph, I took it after dark, and it looks like there is a pizza stain I need to clean.
