Freelander

[deanbert]

I want to make sure I check out every option before purchasing.
So far it is Pilot first, Morano second...

But has anyone checked out the Land Rover Freelander?

for $32k you get a nicely loaded model with leather and sunroof.

The NAV is cheesy though, it is part of the single DIN stereo.

Gas mileage is the same.

Surprisingly, the website doesn't mention power seats.

Land Rover has a good reputation for off road use.

[RipRocK]

Have you test driven it yet? I never did and didn't want to, remembering a review of the Discovery in either Car&Driver or Road&Track a couple of years ago which said that it felt like a an army surplus car with a designer label on it. The fit and finish, the ride, the handling and etc were all panned by the writers. The car was being tested among other SUV's at the time in a comparison test. I know you're talking about the Freelander and not the Discovery, but the review of the car in that comparison test made me not bother with Rover cars.

It went on to say that Land Rover, while its off road reputations are legendary, it still had a few years to go before it understood the changing SUV market and that they can't just expect to sell cars with its name alone.

I saw a Freelander upclose one time and it looked to be on the rather small to me. But like I said, the magazine review I read was like a couple of years ago, so perhaps you should go and test drive a Freelander to make sure.

[davemac]

Saw one gassing up beside me the other day. Much smaller, I think its considered to be in the "mini-ute" class. I think it was a base model. The interior looked rather cheap. I do like the exterior lines. Don't believe Rovers are historically high on the reliability list.

[PrG]

Was the first SUV that I test drove ...

First gave me the feel of the HONDA CRV ... which I did not mind. It had a nicely crafted interior, but the dash and surroundings were very plain and overwhelmingly plasticky. After a test drive, i was unimpressed by the engine ... very slow ... and no power ... I went to the HONDA dealer across the street.

PrG

[Rainbowslim]

The Freelander looks to much like a Ford Escape to me. RipRock, has very good point. Land Rover's haven't done well in those auto mag comparisons. Other SUV's are doing better, even in the off road category.

[Bill Balmer]

I drove a Freelander last spring. I actually liked it quite a lot. In size, it is in a completely different class from the Pilot though - MUCH smaller. Think Jeep Liberty size. If that's not an isuue for you, read on.

I found the Freelander very comfortable, and it handled well with good power. Its four wheel drive system is very nice as well. What impressed me most was the design of the interior. Lots of nice storage options (never seen a glove compartment under the steering wheel before), and the pop-up cup holder is pretty cool (though some would say gimmicky).

Now the down-side. When I took a second look while at the auto show, most of the interior compartment doors had broken. They just couldn't hold up to repeated use by all those peole trying them out. So despite being innovative and intereting, they weren't built to last.

I also spoke to the european car mechanic I use for my Mercedes. He VERY strongly recommended against buying a Land Rover product. His exact words were "Land Rovers are the only cars I have seen break down while they were parked in the lot, and more than once. If you get one, you'll be sorry".

Well, I definitely didn't need another headache in my life. A couple months later the fates were kind and I discovered the Pilot. So far no regrets.

[Commuter]

I believe Landrover is owned by Ford, thus the Freelander's resemblance to the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute. As mentioned it is a different class of vehicle (smaller). If you like it's size, you should wait for the two door model which is supposed to have a full roof sun roof which is removeable.

The Murano is a wannabe Lexus RX300 and is about the same size. If I didn't need the 8 seats, I'd get the Murano. The Pilot is in a class of its own, IMHO.

BTW, I drive a Pilot EX and my wife has a Ford Escape XLT. And believe it or not, I get just as good or better gas mileage than the Escape.

[gabb]

I have a co-worker who has a 2003 Freelander and so far it has been back to the dealer twice in six months. I think the first problem was a non-starting issue and they towed it in. The last time she was driving back from Pittsburgh after Thanksgiving on the PA turnpike and the engine began smoking. Another tow truck ride. I think she has less than 15,000 miles on it. I have driven it twice and was not impressed, I'd rather keep my 1998 Jeep Cherokee Classic. She is seriously doubting the vehicles reliability and was considering trading it but almost fell over when she learned about a little thing we like to call "steep depreciation."

03 EXL-RES Evergreen
98 Jeep Cherokee Classic
77 Yamaha 750 Triple

[GreenMachine]

Originally posted by Commuter
I believe Landrover is owned by Ford, thus the Freelander's resemblance to the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute.

I believe the engines is a version of Ford's Duratec V6.... That would explain the reliability issues.

[Commuter]

Actually, the Freelander has an anemic 2.5 l V-6 with 174 hp compared to the 3.0 l V6 200 hp Duratec. The two engines are different. I've had no issues with the Duratec which is fast but at the expense of so-so gas mileage. It's the same engine in the Tribute (zoom, zoom, zoom).

Compared to the Pilot's 3.5l V6 240 hp and 4400 lb. weight, that's why I'm impressed with the Pilot's gas mileage.

[philmarie]

My absolute worst car dealer experience was at the local Land Rover dealer. We were looking for a small SUV for the wifey, and had considered a Freelander. We found out that for a little over 30k, we could buy a vehicle with drum brakes, manual seats, and no side airbags, which the salesman stated weren't needed because the F-lander had "strong side door beams". It did have nice wheels though.
The Pilot is in a totally different class -- if you want a small SUV, get a CR-V. It is a lot more vehicle for much less cost, and will be much more reliable too. Heck, even a RAV-4 would be a better choice than a Freelander. I laugh every time I see a F-lander on the road.....

regards,
Phil Reedy