I just thought I would test the water with this one as we build up to winter.

It is said that despite the supreme abilities of a Defender, the sheer weight counts against them in snow and as such an FL2 is better. There are also claims that a 2WD car with winter tyres is better than an FL2 without winter tyres in snow.

I have got some winter tyres for my car and it is obvious that winter tyres will make any 4x4 better still but for the sake of this poll, assume all the 4x4's have good quality M+S tyres such as Goodyear Wranglers.

Considering all aspects such as braking and turning and also all conditions such as ice, thick heavy snow and compacted snow and ice, how do you rate the examples listed? (apologies for the size of the list but I wanted to see how this turns out with various considerations) 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

We bought our F2 last December from Carrs in Truro. There wasn't any snow last winter down here so I've no personal experience of it. However, there WAS snow in the two previous years and the Carrs staff said that the Freelanders were vehicles of choice for them, outperforming the Discos or Range Rovers. Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

FL2 gets my vote but a subaru would be very good too. I have winter tyres but in the bad winter of 2010 it was on Goodyear Wranglers and was fantastic. The LR day guy mentioned that weight did hinder the big LR's.

My dad used to own a legacy and it was great in snow.

I see someone voted for BMW X5 type car. In snow on M+S tyres a BMW X5 will be crap compared to an FL2, I have seen them floundering in previous winters and the one I saw was definitely not on summer/sports tyres. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

My last car before the Freely was a RR Classic. Both autos, both on M+S Wranglers. The Freely is much better in snow than the RR, which I thought was good at the time. Freely snow mode really works!

Someone voted RWD with winter tyres

Yes winter tyres are excellent but a Beemer with winter tyres would have failed to compete with my FL2 in 2010 on wranglers. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Best 4x4 by far

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This one clearly demonstrates how well they cope in deep snow ! mine was the best ever and an FR2 wouldnt cope at that speed !

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Last edited by oldgeezer on 4th Nov 2012 5:11 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Hard to say having not driven many listed.
The FL2 is good but so was my Forester.
Obviously the rear wheel drive will not get such good traction, but could be great fun!

Can't beat the defender in the snow, locking diffs!

Well it looks like I will have to find my pictures of my Panda 4x4 outstripping my landrovrer with diff locks on and font hubs locked. The panda was always better purely on its light weight , it just went everywhere. And my old landy was freezing cold , slow and still slid a lot. I'm sure I have pics of both in deep snow some 10 or so years agom

All my previous Freelander 1s have been excellent in the snow and ice. I think it's the combination of lighter weight and TC/HDC.

Once came all the way down Honister Pass on HDC when up there over Christmas. It was like an ice rink and there were 4 of us in the vehicle. Not much conversation going on during the trip down just squeaking from the clenched buttocks!

Also in winter 2010 it had no trouble dealing with the ice and slush in and around the local hills.

Well impressed with Freelander 1. Hope Freelander 2 lives up the its predecessor! Discovery 4 HSE - Aintree Green
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Automatic - Tonga Green
Defender XS - Tonga Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 Td4 ES Manual - Epsom Green - Gone Now *
Freelander 1 Td4 Kalahari SE - Epsom Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 XEi - Epsom Green - Gone Now

www.greenlandrover.uk

Valid indeed Prisoner359.
You won't be disappointed with the FL2. It was awesome in 2010 on M+S tyres but due to my 4x4 response duties and needing supreme performance, I ended up buying winter tyres and whilst on a call out in Ashbourne I encountered a snow covered hill that looked intimidating but the FL2 went up like the snow wasn't even there.

The benefits of the winter tyres have come in more for when bringing the 2 tonne FL2 to a halt or when cornering as the FL2 slid a bit on M+S tyres when turning into a side street on a hill but no such sliding on the Avons  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

What winter tyres have you got? I've been looking at the Grabber ATs. Discovery 4 HSE - Aintree Green
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Automatic - Tonga Green
Defender XS - Tonga Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 Td4 ES Manual - Epsom Green - Gone Now *
Freelander 1 Td4 Kalahari SE - Epsom Green - Gone Now
Freelander 1 XEi - Epsom Green - Gone Now

www.greenlandrover.uk

Prisoner359 wrote:

What winter tyres have you got? I've been looking at the Grabber ATs.

http://www.avontyres.com/node/3224

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic10276.html

Brilliant performance and fellow forum member Kal-El wisely bought some  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

richardk wrote:

Pretty obvious what the answer is going to be on a Freelander 2 forum isn't it?

I cannot really vote as I have no experience of some of the models mentioned. Certainly not rwd/fwd cars; soft roaders and flashy 4x4 do not have a great reputation off the tarmac - so I would have to opt for a "proper" 4x4. As I have a Freelander - that will do nicely! BTW, I have Avon Ice winter wheels, bought from the same place as "The Doctor" (somewhere near Gallifrey) 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Last edited by dunkley201 on 5th Nov 2012 2:26 pm. Edited 1 time in total