I have done a 176 mile run this morning in the eD4. Drives very well, even cornering round a roundabout hard the rear end is solid and doesnt jump around at all, you wouldn't know its two wheel drive
I set the cruise to 62mph and over the 176 miles it has returned 50.8mpg which I take my hat off to L/Rover the stop start technology and improved dynamics with just 2WD I have to say 50+mpg is something else for a car that size and its comfort is great.
The compromise is the loss of 4WD but the economy is great so if cheaper road tax and economy then this has to be a great choice.
Impressed enough to think do i really need 4WD.

Right up until it snows bad and you end up a laughing stock cos you can't get any further than 'normal' cars. I would never buy one no matter how much it saves on fuel and tax.

Anyone who says 'it doesn't snow that often so I am not bothered' should be a family estate car perhaps. Don't buy a car that can talk the talk but can't walk the walk. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Bit harsh that, slap some winter tyres on a 2wd, the clearance will help in deep snow and it will be pretty good on ice probably better than a 4x4 on normal tyres, the weight reduction will help braking in ice and snow too.

If someone wants a high car but isnt fussed about 4x4 nowt wrong with an ed4 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

The Doctor wrote:

Right up until it snows bad and you end up a laughing stock cos you can't get any further than 'normal' cars. I would never buy one no matter how much it saves on fuel and tax.

Anyone who says 'it doesn't snow that often so I am not bothered' should be a family estate car perhaps. Don't buy a car that can talk the talk but can't walk the walk.

I know I wouldnt dare go out in a 2 wheel drive one in the snow and ice, unless it had all black windows, it would be so embarrassing not being able to get going, cant do Land Rover any good either, you can just hear folk saying, "oh I was stuck behind a Freelander 2 today couldnt get past the damn thing it was stuck and holding everything up, always thought they were 4 wheel drive, good job I never bought one, theyre hopeless"
They should put a big badge on the back, saying FREELANDER 2 WHEEL DRIVE to avoid confusion

Auto Express (i think) road test on FL 2WD, the Freelander performed better off road than 4WD Toyota Rav 4
and Honda Crv.
I am off road regularly so 2WD would not be an option. 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.

I don't see that Land Rover has any choice but to manufacture 2WD versions of its vehicles in future; CO2 emission and MPG requirements will make it impossible to do anything else.

I wonder how many others walked into their local dealer, attracted by the CO2 and MPG figures of the eD4, and then wound up ordering the TD4? I know that I did.

chicken george wrote:

Bit harsh that, slap some winter tyres on a 2wd, the clearance will help in deep snow and it will be pretty good on ice probably better than a 4x4 on normal tyres, the weight reduction will help braking in ice and snow too.

If someone wants a high car but isnt fussed about 4x4 nowt wrong with an ed4

The Doctor wrote:

With regard to driving through deep snow like we experienced last winter, an eD4 fitted with wintracs would indeed perform better but it would not have a hope in hell of keeping up with mine fitted with wranglers.

.

never underestimate how crap normal tyres are and how much better winter tyres are 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

Not so sure I agree with that The Doctor, you would get a lot better traction on fresh snow than compacted snow, I wouldn't be so quick to judge on what the 2 wheel drive on can do untill you have tried it. I to saw the article mentioned by Druand, it out performed all the other pretenders that were 4x4.

chicken george wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

With regard to driving through deep snow like we experienced last winter, an eD4 fitted with wintracs would indeed perform better but it would not have a hope in hell of keeping up with mine fitted with wranglers.

.

never underestimate how crap normal tyres are and how much better winter tyres are

Yes it does outperform other 4x4's but then they aren't a patch on the proper FL2 anyway. I don't care how much winter tyres improve traction etc, the eD4 could not compete with my FL2 in snow. I drove on compacted snow and braked on it and never had any problems. If I find an eD4 owner with winter tyres I will challenge them to a nice test (where safety permits). I will of course win and eD4 owners or supporters will eat humble pie. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

There will be little differance in braking between the four wheel drive and the 2 wheel drive, it won't be so good at getting the power down to the wheels though.

Quote:

The Doctor wrote
Right up until it snows bad and you end up a laughing stock cos you can't get any further than 'normal' cars. I would never buy one no matter how much it saves on fuel and tax.

Anyone who says 'it doesn't snow that often so I am not bothered' should be a family estate car perhaps. Don't buy a car that can talk the talk but can't walk the walk.

Quote:

Yes it does outperform other 4x4's but then they aren't a patch on the proper FL2 anyway. I don't care how much winter tyres improve traction etc, the eD4 could not compete with my FL2 in snow. I drove on compacted snow and braked on it and never had any problems. If I find an eD4 owner with winter tyres I will challenge them to a nice test (where safety permits). I will of course win and eD4 owners or supporters will eat humble pie.

I expect one of the main reasons LR released a two wheel drive version was to open up the Fleet Car market, many companies have an emissions group (around the 150 mark not to bothered as it does not apply to me) and employees can only have a vehicle that is below a certain point, the Freely in four wheel drive format was a smidging over the threshold for many company car drivers but making a two wheel drive version brought it below the point, opening up the Freelander to a larger market

Yes toeknee I do like to get stuck in but interesting point about the Yaris. 3 years ago I had a Ford Fiesta ST running on Pirelli P-Zero's. To say it was made to be sporty it coped well in the snow. Although the snow in 2008 wasn't a patch on last winter. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey