Having been given a Freeloaner for two days while mine is in the shop, I have actually come to like this little cheeky car. It's fun to drive off road, I took it through the woods today and it bounced along quite happily.

It has afterall comparable suspension to the RR Classic, the same size wheels and tyres, is lighter, a very economical engine and a few toys on it too.

They don't feel so good on the road, slow, gutless, you feel like you are perched on top of it rather than in it (The wife felt very unsafe in it she said) and very cheap inside. But, it is what it is. Not too bad.

(Picture taken exiting the woods showing rubbish turning circle as I ended up in the wheat crop)

Click image to enlarge

There's not really much wrong with the FL... I think we're a bit spoilt with our RRSs and so nothing really comes up to spec when we get a loaner from our dealers (actually I got a Civic when mine went in for it's service, felt very odd to be driving a petrol engine car again and so close to the ground, felt like I was in a kart!)

The turning circle is a joke, though... you can quite often end up having to do a three-pointer to get round some of the narrow turns in the lanes around here.

What model was it? 

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It's a TD4 but I have no idea what spec, very low though, cloth and plastic, nothing fancy. Probably an S?

Just heard mine is on the way back from the dealer, can't wait to see the driver's face when he see's the amount of cow Sh!t on the FL....oh dear..

Probably the first and only time this car will venture off road! L319 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB

The interior of the MY 2004 and later FLs is the worst I have seen in any car and it doesn't vary much from S to HSE. There's just so much wrong with it I don't know where to start -- cheap and nasty is only the beginning

I think the interior of the pre MY 2003 models is much better -- it's fairly plain and austere but it feels a whole lot less tacky.

Judging by the info that's becoming available today this is something Land Rover seem to have been aware of cause the interior of Freelander 2 looks like a huge improvement. Bill

1997 300Tdi Defender 90 "Big Red" Off-Road Beast
1978 TR6-engined Triumph Spitfire "What the **** was that..."
ex V6 Freelander owner looking for another shiny LR

I don't think it's as bad as all that - have you seen inside a Hyundai Getz? That's what the word tacky is for! 

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shmoogle wrote:

have you seen inside a Hyundai Getz?

Admittedly, no! Sounds like I really don't want to if it's worse than the current Freelander  Bill

1997 300Tdi Defender 90 "Big Red" Off-Road Beast
1978 TR6-engined Triumph Spitfire "What the **** was that..."
ex V6 Freelander owner looking for another shiny LR

The new Freelander is to have an HST type body kit The existing Freelander off road is only really let down by ground clearance, I used to take mine everywhere RRs and discos went and in slippery conditions it was probably better. With the new one having TR it should be great fun, no other small 4x4 will get near it I'm sure.

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06 RRS TDV6 HSE, Java/Ebony, PTI, Running Boards, Privacy, S/C Grille/Vents, Stormers, Tasmods - GONE - (

Exactly ......... more pics please  
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