I think the Freelander 2 is such a huge improvement in all respects on its predecessor that they did it a dis-service to even call it a Freelander - the previous model had so many defects. The Freelander 2 has a much stronger body shell for starters so crash safety is significantly better and I don't think there was a single component carried over from the previous model. The Freelander 2 is extremely well built at Halewood - a great credit to the workforce there and some effort was put in to fitting quality components. The Freelander 2 is by all accounts the most reliable car in the Landrover range - in part because it has less of the complicated bits to go wrong. If the Freelander 2 had been fitted with air suspension for example then it would no doubt have been languishing at the bottom of the reliability charts with the Disco. In my opinion things may deteriorate with the latest Freelander 2 as they have now burdened it with the disatrously troublesome electric handbrake which has so plagued the Disco and it also has Stop Start which adds weight, complexity and cost for little benefit. Landrover have been tucked up developing other cars in recent years so the Freelander 2 has not had any significant investment for 5 years - apart from the above mentioned dubious improvements it is much as it was when first released. That is not such a bad thing as it works. A major revamp is now overdue but it is still a great compact 4 x 4 with unmatched all weather on and off road capability and as far as reliability goes I think it is more than a match for most new cars.

Robin

Mona Geeza wrote:

Perhaps the Freelander forum should take the pi## out of the Range Rover then?

Open Season on CG

The Electronic Parking Brake in Freelander 2 is a different design to the one in Discovery 4 and similar to the one in the Evoque. Over the last 14 months my local LRE site has had no problems with the Evoque EPB and over the last 6 weeks none in a Freelander either.

Stop/start currently only available on manual models.

Think you'll probably see an all new Freelander replacement in 2014/15 if current rumours are to be believed.

Cheers for that rchrdleigh - sounds encouraging about the new EPB.

Robin

McG wrote:

I assume 'MYXXXX' means 'Model Year XXXX' ??

Excellent, I'll have to properly read this brochure tonight.

Slightly off-topic but I definitely underestimated the Freelander. Beforehand I was convinced that if I visited Land Rover, then I'd come out with a Discovery4 and a severely cut house deposit! Likewise with my other half and her initially liking the Evoque. We both instantly fell in love with the comfort and the look of the Freelander.

Only worry is the reliability. I've been around the Discovery forums for a while and I seem to recall many people joking about the Freelander. Never really understood why but it seems there were problems with the initial release?

Tradewind 35 wrote:

I think the Freelander 2 is such a huge improvement in all respects on its predecessor that they did it a dis-service to even call it a Freelander - the previous model had so many defects................
Robin

Sorry Robin but I have to disagree, the first generation of FL1 (up to 2000) was due to transmission ratio mismatch - diesel engine was actually strong and reliable. Ok petrol engine was a disaster.
Later models had sorted transmission, and brakes, and were as reliable as the new FL2, certainly in my experience our 2006 FL1 was as reliable as the 2008 FL2 over the first 70k.

Still the most reliable LR product. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Aero_383 wrote:

Dial changed for this MY2013...

The rotary terrain response is dead. Long live the rotary terrain response.  CAR HISTORY
1997 Saab 900 SE 2.0 Turbo
2003 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T
2008 Land Rover LR2 SE 2.3 I6

D99 wrote:

my local LR dealer has said a couple times that the FL2 is the most reliable in their fleet. and that was after i had bought mine so it probably an honest statement coz you would expect them to try and talk me up to a disco or RR.

With regards to other LR forums, most non freelander owners seem to take the p**s out of freelanders,

A disgruntled, yet amazingly skilled, former LR dealership mechanic told me the same thing. You KNOW he must be honest.  CAR HISTORY
1997 Saab 900 SE 2.0 Turbo
2003 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T
2008 Land Rover LR2 SE 2.3 I6

Tradewind 35 wrote:

I think the Freelander 2 is such a huge improvement in all respects on its predecessor that they did it a dis-service to even call it a Freelander

On this side of the pond, they didn't, for that exact reason. The Freelander name was damaged goods (as was the Disco name, frankly).

The proof is in the pudding, however. I'm not a "reliability Nazi," as most Americans unfortunately are. I can't drive a soul-less Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. For me, the choice was between a car (E90 3er) or truck (LR2, Jeep Liberty, Nissan Xterra). I chose the LR2 because it was the perfect mix of toughness and elegance in one. I can drive on the beach, in the woods, through a disaster area (as I found out recently!) and practically anywhere a Defender can go! And I get satnav, satellite radio, beautiful leather, auto seats, climate control, premium stereo to boot. Can't beat it. The Jeep guys are jealous.

At least here in the U.S. (haven't been in the UK in about three years) LR's overall reputation is improving. They went from being considered the toughest vehicles known to man, to the most unreliable known to man, and now they're regaining ground. I think with the upcoming DC100 and variants of the LR2, plus the Evoque (which is HUGE here!) LR has a solid future. Reliability, in 2012, is no better or worse than anyone else. I always tell friends that in 2012/13, there IS NO BAD NEW CAR. Period.

That said, my LR2 has been bulletproof and has taken everything I've thrown at it, including some very rough terrain! I'm an LR believer for life!  CAR HISTORY
1997 Saab 900 SE 2.0 Turbo
2003 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T
2008 Land Rover LR2 SE 2.3 I6

[quote="TurboDan"]

Tradewind 35 wrote:

plus the Evoque (which is HUGE here!)