Doubters over the wonderful LR vehicles are too quick to say they are only any good when it snows or in floods, or off roading.

A few weeks back I saw the perfect example of 4WD benefits. A guy in a Mondeo tdci accelerated ahead of me around the roundabout to join the A38. The problem was it was hammering it down and there was a lot of standing water. I had the inside line around the bend and put my foot down as normal. I was expecting this 'rep guy' to go for it and he did but failed to make progress.

That's the trouble with 2WD turbo diesel he was obviously getting torque steer and couldn't put the power down in the rain.

I can't be doing with these people who say 'it only snows a few days a year, why do you want a land rover'. It's a great car anyway and as above 4WD comes in handy at other points.

I seem to recall someone on this forum being parked at a supermarket when someone looked at the car and basically said they were killing the environment. Idiots.

Rant over  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Hey Doc - I think your right - 4WD has its uses, but not sure its the best example...

The problem with the mondeo will be to do with undrsteer and not torque steer and more often than not, the drivers inability to make progress in this situation will more than likely be down to poor tyre tread and / or bad driving (ie - just hoof it and hope). The fact is our lovely cars will typically understeer in exactly the same way in the same situation, the difference being that you are carrying more weight and so the effects are less and the throttle response is more progressive so you are not dumping stacks of torque on the road causing the wheels to spin.

I'm not saying 4WD cars are not generally safer in the wet / slippery conditions as they will often have better traction - but generally I think a 2WD car in most conditions, driven well and with proper tyres etc would be able to handle the road just as well. Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

tyres are the key, a 4x4 with poor tyres can be dreadful At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

chicken george wrote:

tyres are the key, a 4x4 with poor tyres can be dreadful

but they are low slung sports cars not top heavy LR's At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

chicken george wrote:

but they are low slung sports cars not top heavy LR's

I doubt you'll see that much difference, especially as our 4WD ones will only be pushing power to the back if and when the fronts slip, which aint gonna happen that much for a 2 ton landrover in the wet...

That aside, you might find that the ed4 actually handles better on road than the 4wd version due to the reduced weight... Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

Captain Worm wrote:

I doubt you'll see that much difference, especially as our 4WD ones will only be pushing power to the back if and when the fronts slip, which aint gonna happen that much for a 2 ton landrover in the wet...

That aside, you might find that the ed4 actually handles better on road than the 4wd version due to the reduced weight...

In my previous defenders that are permanent 4x4, I use to get plough on over steer in the wet so bad, followed by a nice bit of lift of over steer!

Captain worm has said what I was gonna say too! Also the 2wd freelander would prob be not much different in you were to put them side by side! The 2wd would prob be a bit quicker as it's lighter!

Irespective of all the for/against arguments of 4wd the FL2 is a fantastic vehicle to drive, great comfort, superb driveability, adequate power, NOT fitted with silly low profile tyres which are useless in heavy rain and certainly NOT suitable for the potholed roads.
All in all a very good car with the advantage of 4wd if needed.

Useless piece of info, 2011MY SD Auto has better fuel consumption than BMW Mini Clubman 4x4 auto, and a lot better than many petrol family cars. Try cruising a 1.4 Fiesta or Corsa at 75mph for 2-300 miles and FL would win oin MPG. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

druand wrote:

Try cruising a 1.4 Fiesta or Corsa at 75mph for 2-300 miles and FL with a caravan would win on MPG.

 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

Don't you mean cruising at 70mph

landy19840 wrote:

Don't you mean cruising at 70mph

Is that because neither a 1.4 Fiesta or Corsa can get above 70?

I would imagine 75mph was on a private road/track  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

landy19840 wrote:

In my previous defenders that are permanent 4x4, I use to get plough on over steer in the wet so bad, followed by a nice bit of lift of over steer!

Captain worm has said what I was gonna say too! Also the 2wd freelander would prob be not much different in you were to put them side by side! The 2wd would prob be a bit quicker as it's lighter!

Any vehicle in the wrong hands and doing the wrong thing is an accident waiting to happen regardless of 2wd/4wd/rear wd/front wd or what ever........