Freelander 2 MPG?? (Thinking of switching from Disco2)

Freddie17 said:

HSE

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john snoo said:

Thanks, but when you say stop/start, you don't mean that button on the dash that says that do you? Do you mean this weird thing where some cars turn their engine off whenever you stop at lights?! That whole concept makes me shudder! See, I'm pretty old and even more old-fashioned!

What age is yours? I am guessing I probably can't afford something that new.
Also, have you done brim to brim? Good point above, that's the only MPG I ever mean when I ask, I have never used computers even though some are fairly accurate (wife's transit seems bang on)

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kermit_rr said:

I adjusted the computer on mine, it's now 2-3% under instead of 15% over. Always fill the tank so not a big deal to check the mileage

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john snoo said:

I do! It's a phrase I have heard before, often used as a way to say 'don't buy one if you want high MPG', but I already know that.
I want a 4x4, but I still want to get the best MPG i can, even though none of them are 'good'. So the options I was considering until my mate mentioned the FL2 were:

Mitsubishi Highlander (mainly due to 2WD selectable which gives better fuel, 4WD choice when needed)
Audi A6 All Road (had one a few years back, liked it but at 27mph MAX it was thirsty so no point switching from Disco to that really.
Several other jap vehicles but not really keen on them

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john snoo said:

I do! It's a phrase I have heard before, often used as a way to say 'don't buy one if you want high MPG', but I already know that.
I want a 4x4, but I still want to get the best MPG i can, even though none of them are 'good'. So the options I was considering until my mate mentioned the FL2 were:

Mitsubishi Highlander (mainly due to 2WD selectable which gives better fuel, 4WD choice when needed)
Audi A6 All Road (had one a few years back, liked it but at 27mph MAX it was thirsty so no point switching from Disco to that really.
Several other jap vehicles but not really keen on them

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kermit_rr said:

I like to know my car is getting the best mpg it can. I keep an eye on it so i know if it suddenly drops there's something that needs fixing, hopefully before it costs too much or breaks down

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Freddie17 said:

In normal driving mode they are pretty much 2WD. The Haldex pushes more when they start to lose traction, or when the terrain response is in a special mode

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john snoo said:

Thanks, but when you say stop/start, you don't mean that button on the dash that says that do you? Do you mean this weird thing where some cars turn their engine off whenever you stop at lights?! That whole concept makes me shudder! See, I'm pretty old and even more old-fashioned!

What age is yours? I am guessing I probably can't afford something that new.
Also, have you done brim to brim? Good point above, that's the only MPG I ever mean when I ask, I have never used computers even though some are fairly accurate (wife's transit seems bang on)

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john snoo said:

Bloody hell, that's MUCH better than I was expecting. My Disco is just painful now. Spent so much on it, it's a real beauty, but I just don't need its real world capabilities and would much rather something a bit lighter and easier to drive on roads, sacrificing a bit of off road ability (mainly just the low ratio which i have used a handful of times over many years!)

Off road wise, all i need is to be able to drive a small sheep trailer across pretty easy fields, or tow a boat to the slipway. The boat and trailer can't be much more than 1.5 ton, maybe less. But I do need 4 wheel drive to help me get up the slip sometimes near end of summer when there's algae on the slipway. I am sure 2 wheel drives could do it if careful, but I just want the comfort of knowing I won't have a problem.

I really think this might be a good decision, most of my use is road based and whilst I love my Disco, I Just don't 'need' it as much as I 'like' to have the capabilities it has.

I wonder what other considerations to think about, if any? I doubt road tax can be any worse than Disco, though these days who knows what tyrannical thievery they will come up with next, but again Freelander can't be treated any worse than Disco2.

Anyone here driving a FL2 but with experience of D2 in the past to compare?

I am not too fussy about gizmos and gimmicks (obviously, I drive a Disco!) - in fact I tend to dislike most modern BS like cars talking to us, tracking our movements to tell Big Brother, deciding when we need wipers on or off.... . Elec windows are something I finally learned to enjoy, but wouldnt be bothered by manual ones! A couple of things I do like are heated seats (blame that on wife and the kids who seem to carry more of her genes than mine ), also Cruise Control is a BIG one for me,mainly to try my best to avoid all the mercenary little speed traps, especially average speed sections.

I don't need parking sensors but don't mind em, don't need sunroofs. A half decent cup holder is always nice though

Generally, I am getting the feeling a FL2 may be a more sensible thing to be driving around to pick up kebabs and kids!

Holy 5hit - that's amazing! Obviously I wouldn't expect that, but I am more than willing to spend money on changes to maximise fuel economy (DPF,EGR, remap... whatever helps). if I could see any number starting with a 3 I would be happy, if it started with a 4 I think I'd have a cardiac arrest!!

Thanks guys, anyone selling one?

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Hippo said:

FL2 auto will be better for towing than a manual.

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Hippo said:

Delete the swearing. Its not allowd outside of AG.

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GrumpyGel said:

My experience is that the MPG figures you've been quoted at a bit above what you will get. But I may be wrong.

I got my first Landie in about 2000, a D1 300TDI Auto. Was a good car, very sluggish - both trying to get it to go quicker... and slow it down. Exchanged that for a D1 V8 Auto when we moved over here. That accelerated a bit quicker but had the added advantage of sounding awesome with it. However, it was an absolute basket case for reliability and fuel. Really eye wateringly terrible at both. Somehow, and I really do not know how, we ran it for about 7 years, and it cost us an absolute fortune.

In 2010 I'd finally had enough. Sought out my brother's advice who is (was, he's just retired) an engineer at LR as to whether to get a D2 or Freelander. His response was adamant - get a D2, don't touch Freelander with a barge pole. So listened to him.... and bought a L Series manual diesel Freelander (they only came in manual).

TBH, at first I didn't really care for the car, was rather bored and unimpressed with it. Then after 3 years, it did what my brother warned me it would do, and shat its transmission. The parts to repair it were going to cost more than we paid for it, and over here they aren't cheap. So, like the old saying about Land Rovers making engineers out of their owners for 50 (now 75 or what ever) years... I signed up to LZ, rolled up my sleeves and set to fixing it.

It was a revelation! I suddenly realised that in 3 years D1 ownership I'd have had a lot go wrong, and this hadn't, it was the first thing. Once I started pulling it to pieces, I suddenly realised it was so frikin easy to work on. It was always a struggle with the D1, nothing wanted to come apart and everything was so heavy. The Freelander was the opposite, it was real fun to work on. I had an IRD rebuild kit shipped over from the UK and with a shop pulling and pushing the bearings, I got it all back working again.

I've still got it, and over 14-15 years we've had it, apart from that, its been boringly reliable. It really has been an unbelievable car to own. Its taken us and visiting family/friends on countless trips around the South Island, lugged the boat laden with all our camping gear for our summer hols over NZ mountains, done countless fishing trips and never batted an eyelid. Its been super.

I never really calculated the around town MPG, but it was in the ball park of 30mpg. On a run, it would always come out just under 40mpg. The best I got was on a LR club run, following an S2 (so slow!) and I did get over 40mpg on that run. Speed limits over here are 60mph, and copper dish out speeding fines like confetti - so speeds were in that region.

I should add that when I rebuilt the transmission, I modified it to 2WD, but that would not have affected MPG hardly at all. It's still carrying all its props etc.

As I say, we've still got it and I still really enjoy driving it. About a year ago though we added a F2 TD4 Auto to the stable. They are very different vehicles - very different. I'm sure if you step out of your D2 into an F2 you will get a very similar feeling of jumping a generation of cars. It is very much more refined and even in TD4 (160hp) rather than SD4 (190hp) it feels like a rocket ship. The one I got was a basic model, no LCD display or sunroof etc, so less to go wrong - but the original owner did specify gorgeous leather seats to make it feel posh like

I haven't calculated what economy I get out of it, but if the computer display is anything to go by, its lower than the figures quoted above. It's average is currently sitting on 9.9l/100km which equates to 28.5mpg. I don't think I've ever seen it below 8 which would be 35mpg.

I do worry with the F2 that when it does go wrong, the bills could be expensive - especially if they are electrical. There have been some nightmare stories, although TBH it sounds like mainly when they were newer. It looks like if the electrics were to fail, they fail when they are reasonably new. Now days, it's run of the mill mechanical issues we see.

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Grahame of the shires said:

I recently did a trip of 200 miles and according to the onboard computer I managed this mpg. The weather was rubbish so the heating was on as was lights, radio and wipers.

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john snoo said:

Excellent write up, thanks very much for that. I am definitely getting close to hunting for a FL2. I think I will go for manual. Pulling my boat out of water is child's play, even a 2WD car could do it, the extra traction just helps with any slippery growth on the slip concrete after the summer months, I don't think I'd go for auto just for that. I do think I'd enjoy the auto, but I am a firm believer in manuals for better economy if driving frugally (which I do all the time). But if a gooden comes up and it's auto, I may well go for it.

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