Freel2.com - View topic - Freelander off-road considerations


Forum-Gallery-Shop-Sponsors « Advertise on Freel2.com

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Members Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > General > Freelander off-road considerations

Page 2 of 2

Print this entire topic ·

edamball

Member Since: 25 May 2013
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 89

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Santorini Black

npinks wrote:
Add a Low Range option like they do on the new sport

You want LR to follow in the RRS my14 footsteps charge lots more for a car that has a lower spec than the current outgoing model that you on get LOw Range if you can afford a top spec car

More likely to tow ones horse to the trials and need LR to get off the muddy field or more likely to off road a cheaper spec but sorry you cant have LR box

Surely this is all down to market forces? I wonder what proportion of Freelanders see regular action.

The RRS having the optional is nice though.

But as the biggest RRS market is New York which is why it was unveiled there. Probably not much requirement for a Low Range box when you need speed and better handling to escape from King Kong, the monster from Cloverfield and the Stay Puft marshmallow man, etc.

28th Jun 2013 5:30 am

Donnus

Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: Modena
Posts: 144

2010 Freelander 2 TD4_e S Manual Santorini Black

i agree, a low range would put the car in another market, and essentially cut the Freelander out.

however a low sub first 'dog gear' would allows the car to match the capabilities of the other components in the car....
allowing the car to traverse rough terrain without overheating or damaging the various components (presently we need to approach obstacles with a bit of speed ). Being only one gear which is lower than others, it wouldn't add weight and thus still keep the car as a SUV - soft offroader - but at the same time, it would give it an edge for the occasional off road needed (or towing ).

It would still get the MPG it gets now in a compact 4,50m car (reason why I bought the Freelander and not a D3 / 4).

The Evoque could carry on as is (it's even more compact at 4,30 m), offering style and acceptable off-road capabilities (a more urban market)
The Freelander would bridge the gap (in size and capabilities) between the Evoque and the D4.

28th Jun 2013 6:40 am

pab

Member Since: 28 Aug 2012
Location: Now in Mid-Wales
Posts: 2007

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Manual Lago Grey

Donnus wrote:
i agree, a low range would put the car in another market, and essentially cut the Freelander out.

Would it? Why?

Subaru still offer low range in their manuals, as do various others. Subarus (i.e. Forester and XV) aren't in another market or 'cut out'. Nor does the presence of the low box make them more expensive or less fuel efficient than their rivals. If they can do it, Land Rover can!

A lower first would, I'm afraid, be a poor substitute - too high for some situations and too low for others. We'd still be cursing it! And technically it's unlikely to be that easy, as that low a gear would probably put stresses on the standard box that it's not designed to take. So a proper low box might actually be cheaper!

And I think the market forces argument misses a point too. The reason LR/RR products sell so well in New York, London and elsewhere isn't because of the way they look, or for their famed reliability, it because of their reputation as 'the best 4x4 by far'. The city buyers may not even know what all the knobs and buttons do, let alone actually use them, but nonetheless they buy the car because of them. Dilute that reputation and you'll start to lose the city buyers, as well as the traditional LR customers.

Maybe it's time to start thinking of LR products as just another Tata tin box. But at the moment LRs are still special, with a heritage it would be sad to see disappear - which it seems to be doing at an alarming rate.

28th Jun 2013 9:08 am

G4LAND

Member Since: 04 Dec 2006
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 183

From my point of view as well as Freelander Dynamic there would also have to be a Freelander Xtreme:

Low Range, Air Suspension or little more clearance... Yuri
(ARS) XE1UN, EA1HCZ

13 LR2 (FL2) HSE Lux SI4
Havana/Black
(Mexico)

08 LR2 (FL2) SE
Tambora/Black
(Mexico GONE)

05 DISCOVERY 3 G4 V8
Tangiers Orange/Black
(Spain)

13 RANGE ROVER SPORT HSE SDV6
Orkney Grey / Ebony (Black)
(Spain)

07 RANGE ROVER SPORT HSE TDV8
Java Black/Black
(Spain GONE)

02 DEFENDER 90 BLACK LE TD5
(Spain GONE)

09 VOLVO XC70 OCEAN RACE EDITION D5
Ocean Race Blue
(Spain)

28th Jun 2013 7:47 pm

rchrdleigh

Member Since: 18 Aug 2007
Location: Somewhere in the East of England
Posts: 1601

2011 Freelander 2 TD4 XS Manual Baltic Blue

G4LAND wrote:
From my point of view as well as Freelander Dynamic there would also have to be a Freelander Xtreme:

Low Range, Air Suspension or little more clearance...

It's called a Discovery 4

28th Jun 2013 8:07 pm

Donnus

Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: Modena
Posts: 144

Though i must admit, if the discovery was a bit shorter and lighter, i probably would have bought one !
The almost 3000 kg and the 4,75 m length are a bit excessive !

28th Jun 2013 9:48 pm

mikehzz

Member Since: 04 Sep 2009
Location: Springwood
Posts: 749

I'd be very happy with bigger tyres and more clearance. A low range box adds a bit of weight. I can live without it even though it's better. And a factory snorkel of course.

29th Jun 2013 5:26 am

Uncleron

Member Since: 08 Mar 2013
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 98

2009 Freelander 2 TD4 GS Manual Bali Blue

mikehzz wrote:
I'd be very happy with bigger tyres and more clearance. A low range box adds a bit of weight. I can live without it even though it's better. And a factory snorkel of course.

I agree with this as lack of ground clearance and underbody protection is the largest shortcoming of FL2's off road I would say.

Having said that having a lower 1st or 'L' gear would be good at times in very steep off road sections - When on the road you almost seem through 1st before you know it so to have an 'L' for whenever required and 1st gear very slightly taller than the current one then an even spread of gearing through 1st to 5th similar to the spread of current 1st to 6th would work well for me.

I also think that the low ratio boxes on the Defenders etc are the cause of a high number of expensive repairs - Don't think they like long periods of not being used too much which could be the case on a lot of FL2's.......

29th Jun 2013 9:11 am

mikehzz

Member Since: 04 Sep 2009
Location: Springwood
Posts: 749

Yes a crawler gear. They have one on the Jeep Patriot Extreme which also comes with a factory lift. Still an unattractive car though and nowhere near as good off road as ours.

29th Jun 2013 9:30 am

lespes

Member Since: 10 Oct 2012
Location: Wilds of Wiltshire
Posts: 108

2011 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Indus Silver

Must admit both D4 and RRS were used very little in low range though quite a lot of off roading and most of the time was just to give it work out and keep it from not working if needed.

Got to remember todays auto boxes are so much better than those of yesteryear, more powerful engines, better tyres, electronic gizzmos all enable far better traction than before. Low range was just a mechanical means to overcome other shortcomings, and I am coming round to the idea that unless you want to go extreme off roading then low range is not a necessity anymore

29th Jun 2013 12:40 pm

G4LAND

Member Since: 04 Dec 2006
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 183

rchrdleigh wrote:
G4LAND wrote:
From my point of view as well as Freelander Dynamic there would also have to be a Freelander Xtreme:

Low Range, Air Suspension or little more clearance...

It's called a Discovery 4

Good point

Any way is not the right time to make off road in Mexico

unfortunately, just beautiful country to do it, but it is not safe. when I am in Spain....

Just turn on my G4.... Yuri
(ARS) XE1UN, EA1HCZ

13 LR2 (FL2) HSE Lux SI4
Havana/Black
(Mexico)

08 LR2 (FL2) SE
Tambora/Black
(Mexico GONE)

05 DISCOVERY 3 G4 V8
Tangiers Orange/Black
(Spain)

13 RANGE ROVER SPORT HSE SDV6
Orkney Grey / Ebony (Black)
(Spain)

07 RANGE ROVER SPORT HSE TDV8
Java Black/Black
(Spain GONE)

02 DEFENDER 90 BLACK LE TD5
(Spain GONE)

09 VOLVO XC70 OCEAN RACE EDITION D5
Ocean Race Blue
(Spain)

30th Jun 2013 12:24 am

pab

Member Since: 28 Aug 2012
Location: Now in Mid-Wales
Posts: 2007

mikehzz wrote:
Yes a crawler gear.

That's ok if you want to go for the auto, but for those of us who prefer manual the lack of low range is more of an issue. A low box needn't cost or weigh more than an auto - I don't see why it's such an issue!

30th Jun 2013 11:52 am

greenlaner

Member Since: 28 May 2013
Location: it depends
Posts: 50

2010 Freelander 2 TD4_e XS Manual Lago Grey

Having a sump guard is quite recommendable for going offroad with a Freelander 2.
Due to the lack of a low box it sometimes happens that I take a ground wave too fast and the nose touches the ground.
Because of the low ground clearance the under body gets scratched if one has to pass deep ruts .

It can be seen quite well here:

The plate was all black when new. Freelander 2 XE TD4_e, Lago Grey, manual, MY 2010

11th Jul 2013 8:53 am

milky400

Member Since: 27 Aug 2012
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 152

Did i not hear a rumour that they are looking at making the evoque a 7 speed? this would mean a lower ratio first gear. Although i have not had mine off road other than the odd muddy track and river bank, but they are terrible at starting of on a hill with out toasting the clutch.

A lower ration first gear would solve this problem and cannot see why it would be a greater expense
,,

11th Jul 2013 9:41 am

rchrdleigh

Member Since: 18 Aug 2007
Location: Somewhere in the East of England
Posts: 1601

Evoque is due to get a 9 speed ZF auto box. probably around October/November this year.
The 9 speed is more accurately an 8+1 with the +1 being the lower gear many are looking for.

Quite possible it will also be available on the Freelander 2 replacement due out late 2015 on current rumours.

11th Jul 2013 12:46 pm

Page 2 of 2

All times are GMT

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum