I am thinking of buying a Freelander 2, with the diesel engine, unsure if manual or automatic.
I would be grateful of any comments, good or bad, about towing and which spec is recommended.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

I have a manual FL2 which is great for towing

But, I would have gone Auto if they was out when i bought mine, the auto box is sweet as  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

well a HSE is recommended but at a price.. what extras do you value? 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

I have just bought a TD4 SE Auto specifically for holidays towing our 'van and also long trips to snowy (?) Scotland in winter. The auto box gives you the choice of auto or using the Commandshift which is basically a manual selection of gears without a clutch pedal. Haven't hooked up yet - slight problem with electrics on the tow bar which needs sorting - but solo the F2 is absolutely superb. Just turned 4,000 miles on the clock and getting between 27-29.8 mpg around town and on my trip up from London 36.4mpg (includes heavy traffic conditions on M40) at a steady 70-75mph. I hope to better that as the engine 'loosens'.

Went for the ex-managers SE because I get nearly all the 'toys' I want (the only thing I miss is an armrest strangely enough!) at a reasonable price.

I have the HSE diesel auto and have just returned from Cornwall towing 734 miles in all with an average of 20 mpg whilst towing a 23ft 7ins caravan.
Encountered lots of very steep hills which were no problem at all for the Freelander, glad I had the auto though.

Still only done less than 2000 miles in tolal.

I have the SE diesel manual. Overall it tows very well and the outfit is very stable. I have towed about 1000 miles with it. The problem is that I have to reverse the caravan into a barn, as this is where I keep it. This is a very tricky maneuver, as I have to reverse in an "s" shape and there is very little room to do it. I was surprised on my first attempt with this car to park the caravan in the barn that I could smell the clutch getting hot.
To overcome this problem I had a motor mover fitted to the van at a cost of £900. I would recommend you buy an automatic FL2, as you will not have any overheating clutch problems.

By the way have a look at http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic975.html?highlight=poll as we need your vote.

Happy Caravanning

waaxh03

voted  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

Just voted as well and so far the result is 50%/50% which is quite unlike the voting on the most popular FL2 colour
Maybe we should also vote on what colour FL2's tow or do not tow caravans
Starting with one Stornoway and one S-black that does'nt  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Yep mines unsullied and always will be, imagine if some vaner buys her after me and rapes her with a towbar then forces her to tow a plastic shed... oh the horror. Ah who cares aslong as I get a good price for her  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:

voted

Again????

waaxh03 wrote:

chicken george wrote:

voted

Again????

I wish .... somehow someone of my calibre only gets one vote , the whole thing is rigged 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

oklahoma wrote:

I am thinking of buying a Freelander 2, with the diesel engine, unsure if manual or automatic.
I would be grateful of any comments, good or bad, about towing and which spec is recommended.

Thanks in advance.

Chris

waaxh03 wrote:

I have the SE diesel manual. Overall it tows very well and the outfit is very stable. I have towed about 1000 miles with it. The problem is that I have to reverse the caravan into a barn, as this is where I keep it. This is a very tricky maneuver, as I have to reverse in an "s" shape and there is very little room to do it. I was surprised on my first attempt with this car to park the caravan in the barn that I could smell the clutch getting hot.
To overcome this problem I had a motor mover fitted to the van at a cost of £900. I would recommend you buy an automatic FL2, as you will not have any overheating clutch problems.

By the way have a look at http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic975.html?highlight=poll as we need your vote.

Happy Caravanning

waaxh03

Or ( just a friendly suggestion ) have a manual box save £1400 , don't buy a motor mover £900 and hey presto A £2300 holiday is affordable  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:

Or ( just a friendly suggestion ) have a manual box save £1400 , don't buy a motor mover £900 and hey presto A £2300 holiday is affordable

Or spend £2300 on the auto and motor mover and have loads of great holidays not just the one  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

 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