how does the freelander drive in snow?

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It had better be good in the snow otherwise my lad may find his Defender missing....

I don't think much can be as bad as a 'mildly' tuned Hayabusa in the snow though!
 
landyzoner said:
hey peeps im thinking of buying a land rover freelander,
with winter coming up i was wondering how does the freelander drive in snow?

p.s sorry if the question sounds silly, im a noob
Click to expand...

I spent so much time trying to find out what is the best thing for driving in the snow. Based on what I read from various sources, reports, advice, most from experienced drivers, and so on. I would say that it is due to the following order...
1. Driver's skills. A more experienced driver can manage to move the car than a rookie do.
2. Four wheel drive cars. It do help a bit, but it is really like a driver's aid in support of the driver's skills.
3. Tyres. I'm still having a hard time studying this one, trying to chose the right kind of tyres, but it is thanks to many other Land Rover drivers here giving me suggestions, that I have made a choice of what tyres to buy and will order them when I can.

Anyway, When I had the Ford Focus, I had a hell of a time trying to move the car on snow, often had to get help pushing the car. Someone did suggest I drive backwards uphill because the Focus is a front wheel drive and the weight of the engine helps push the wheels down to get grip. I had a lot of wheel spin, too often almost a wheel spin every time I want to move the car.

I got sick of it, so I decided to try to study how people cope with driving in the snow. Was it because they have 4x4? Because of tyres? I found out that it seems to be down to mainly driver skills.

It seems drivers who gives the engine a little more power, to help get the wheel turning, often end up with a wheel spin polishing the snow, turning it into ice. Now they have a hard time trying to move their cars on ice. But it seems more experienced drivers somehow use 2nd gear, biting point, very light gas to keep engine running but not for the wheels, could move their cars better.

I will admit that last year, the poor Ford Focus had to be scrapped, and I got myself a 2005 Freelander 4dT. But after getting the Freelander and during my first winter in the Freelander, I was using the driving techniques I picked up from all over the Internet, and it was skills that was doing the right thing. I found the techniques helped, although I've been driving for over 10 years, it was a change of techniques that had helped. I will admit that I did still have few tiny problems, just a couple of wheel spins here and there, but not a lot of wheel spins almost every time I want to drive, like I did in the Focus. I may have 10 years of driving skills, but likely to have like a week's worth of experience driving on the snow.

The Freelander however did sort of played a role, it did helped in addition to the techniques I started using. I'm hoping the new tyres I plan to buy may help a lot more.

I've only had one winter with the Freelander, and I would say that in additional to the techniques I had to learn, the Freelander do seems to be good on snow. This coming winter, if there is snow, I'm going to find out some more.

But remember that, when it comes to photography, it is the photographer himself/herself who makes good use of the camera's controls that is what makes them a good photographer. It is not the camera's automatic controls that makes a good photographer. So don't expect the Freelander (or any other Land Rovers) to do the work for you, like inexperienced first time photographers expect the camera to do the work for them. Whether the Freelander is good on snow or bad on snow is down to your skills, and you need to work with the Freelander.

Hope it helps? I would guess that you may have already bought yourself a Freelander, but hope it helps you understand what makes a Freelander good on the snow?
 
Major Eazy said:
I spent so much time trying to find out what is the best thing for driving in the snow. Based on what I read from various sources, reports, advice, most from experienced drivers, and so on. I would say that it is due to the following order...
1. Driver's skills. A more experienced driver can manage to move the car than a rookie do.
2. Four wheel drive cars. It do help a bit, but it is really like a driver's aid in support of the driver's skills.
3. Tyres. I'm still having a hard time studying this one, trying to chose the right kind of tyres, but it is thanks to many other Land Rover drivers here giving me suggestions, that I have made a choice of what tyres to buy and will order them when I can.

Anyway, When I had the Ford Focus, I had a hell of a time trying to move the car on snow, often had to get help pushing the car. Someone did suggest I drive backwards uphill because the Focus is a front wheel drive and the weight of the engine helps push the wheels down to get grip. I had a lot of wheel spin, too often almost a wheel spin every time I want to move the car.

I got sick of it, so I decided to try to study how people cope with driving in the snow. Was it because they have 4x4? Because of tyres? I found out that it seems to be down to mainly driver skills.

It seems drivers who gives the engine a little more power, to help get the wheel turning, often end up with a wheel spin polishing the snow, turning it into ice. Now they have a hard time trying to move their cars on ice. But it seems more experienced drivers somehow use 2nd gear, biting point, very light gas to keep engine running but not for the wheels, could move their cars better.

I will admit that last year, the poor Ford Focus had to be scrapped, and I got myself a 2005 Freelander 4dT. But after getting the Freelander and during my first winter in the Freelander, I was using the driving techniques I picked up from all over the Internet, and it was skills that was doing the right thing. I found the techniques helped, although I've been driving for over 10 years, it was a change of techniques that had helped. I will admit that I did still have few tiny problems, just a couple of wheel spins here and there, but not a lot of wheel spins almost every time I want to drive, like I did in the Focus. I may have 10 years of driving skills, but likely to have like a week's worth of experience driving on the snow.

The Freelander however did sort of played a role, it did helped in addition to the techniques I started using. I'm hoping the new tyres I plan to buy may help a lot more.

I've only had one winter with the Freelander, and I would say that in additional to the techniques I had to learn, the Freelander do seems to be good on snow. This coming winter, if there is snow, I'm going to find out some more.

But remember that, when it comes to photography, it is the photographer himself/herself who makes good use of the camera's controls that is what makes them a good photographer. It is not the camera's automatic controls that makes a good photographer. So don't expect the Freelander (or any other Land Rovers) to do the work for you, like inexperienced first time photographers expect the camera to do the work for them. Whether the Freelander is good on snow or bad on snow is down to your skills, and you need to work with the Freelander.

Hope it helps? I would guess that you may have already bought yourself a Freelander, but hope it helps you understand what makes a Freelander good on the snow?
Click to expand...
Agree totally. The drivers ability is all important. Unfortunately, we don't get enough snow in England to allow drivers to practice and get better.

Col
 
I learnt to drive in Northern Germany in the late 70's. There was always plenty of snow during winter for long periods.
These days, they just get a sprinkling like us. :(
 
Rank Amatuer said:
I've driven both the FL1 and FL2 in very snowy road conditions (not off road) and they coped admirably. My preference is for an auto FL2, simply select snow and ice mode and the only things that will stop you are large drifts and 2WD clowns blocking the road. Be very aware that although your traction will be superb, you can still lose it on braking!

PS. Fitted with Goodyear Wranglers.
Click to expand...

yea the ice snow mode is good
 
rob_bell said:
I agree with the braking warning: because everything else feels so “normal”, you can be lulled into a false sense of security and underestimate braking distances.

Just bear this in mind and you’ll be fine :)
Click to expand...

yea i totally agree about the braking
 
Colthebrummie said:
I agree with everyone else, mine was great in the snow on standard tyres. Better than a couple of local discos but that might be down to their drivers. Get a freelander and you will be looking forward to driving it in the snow. Winter tyres are for poofs and Germans.

Col
Click to expand...

probably down to the drivers
 
Major Eazy said:
I spent so much time trying to find out what is the best thing for driving in the snow. Based on what I read from various sources, reports, advice, most from experienced drivers, and so on. I would say that it is due to the following order...
1. Driver's skills. A more experienced driver can manage to move the car than a rookie do.
2. Four wheel drive cars. It do help a bit, but it is really like a driver's aid in support of the driver's skills.
3. Tyres. I'm still having a hard time studying this one, trying to chose the right kind of tyres, but it is thanks to many other Land Rover drivers here giving me suggestions, that I have made a choice of what tyres to buy and will order them when I can.

Anyway, When I had the Ford Focus, I had a hell of a time trying to move the car on snow, often had to get help pushing the car. Someone did suggest I drive backwards uphill because the Focus is a front wheel drive and the weight of the engine helps push the wheels down to get grip. I had a lot of wheel spin, too often almost a wheel spin every time I want to move the car.

I got sick of it, so I decided to try to study how people cope with driving in the snow. Was it because they have 4x4? Because of tyres? I found out that it seems to be down to mainly driver skills.

It seems drivers who gives the engine a little more power, to help get the wheel turning, often end up with a wheel spin polishing the snow, turning it into ice. Now they have a hard time trying to move their cars on ice. But it seems more experienced drivers somehow use 2nd gear, biting point, very light gas to keep engine running but not for the wheels, could move their cars better.

I will admit that last year, the poor Ford Focus had to be scrapped, and I got myself a 2005 Freelander 4dT. But after getting the Freelander and during my first winter in the Freelander, I was using the driving techniques I picked up from all over the Internet, and it was skills that was doing the right thing. I found the techniques helped, although I've been driving for over 10 years, it was a change of techniques that had helped. I will admit that I did still have few tiny problems, just a couple of wheel spins here and there, but not a lot of wheel spins almost every time I want to drive, like I did in the Focus. I may have 10 years of driving skills, but likely to have like a week's worth of experience driving on the snow.

The Freelander however did sort of played a role, it did helped in addition to the techniques I started using. I'm hoping the new tyres I plan to buy may help a lot more.

I've only had one winter with the Freelander, and I would say that in additional to the techniques I had to learn, the Freelander do seems to be good on snow. This coming winter, if there is snow, I'm going to find out some more.

But remember that, when it comes to photography, it is the photographer himself/herself who makes good use of the camera's controls that is what makes them a good photographer. It is not the camera's automatic controls that makes a good photographer. So don't expect the Freelander (or any other Land Rovers) to do the work for you, like inexperienced first time photographers expect the camera to do the work for them. Whether the Freelander is good on snow or bad on snow is down to your skills, and you need to work with the Freelander.

Hope it helps? I would guess that you may have already bought yourself a Freelander, but hope it helps you understand what makes a Freelander good on the snow?
Click to expand...

yea i agree that it depends on a few factors like drivers skill and experience but having a 4x4 does defo help
 
landyzoner said:
what does DSC stand for?
Click to expand...

Dynamic Stability Control
Basically it means the car will look after you after you have lost control of it. But, and it's a big BUT, there are rare occasions where driver skill exceeds the capability of the software programmers. 9/10 times selecting the correct parameter is the right thing to do. BUT, for that 1/10 situation, turning DSC off makes a difference. I make no claim to be the world's best ice/snow driver, but on a couple of occasions turning the DSC off has allowed me, and the car, get home in one piece.
 
Rank Amatuer said:
Dynamic Stability Control
Basically it means the car will look after you after you have lost control of it. But, and it's a big BUT, there are rare occasions where driver skill exceeds the capability of the software programmers. 9/10 times selecting the correct parameter is the right thing to do. BUT, for that 1/10 situation, turning DSC off makes a difference. I make no claim to be the world's best ice/snow driver, but on a couple of occasions turning the DSC off has allowed me, and the car, get home in one piece.
Click to expand...

thanks for the explanation mate
 
In my D3, I found the DSC intervened far to early. It kept dabbing the brakes and killing the power, long before the tyres were giving up grip. Our current Kuga is much better as DSC only intervenes when pressing on in the wet.
 
In snow my hippo's all over the place. Directional control is out the window with no chance of being able to predict steering. The back end tries to overtake the front when cornering anorl. Dash flashing like a christmas tree and wheels spinning everywhere...

After leaving sainsburys car park it's quite refined int snow. Grip is ok and 4x4 is there to help. As long as yer dun't over rev it in a low gear it's ok. Sudden braking or accelleration is always a risk on snow. Freelanders are relativly light compared to heavier land rovers that rust so that helps anorl.
 
I've got to agree the driver's ability does have a lot to do with it, every time it snows I have to drive somebody's car up the hill outside my house, be it 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive. Last year on the first night I unstuck 19 cars.... even Range Rovers get stuck with the idiots but I smile to myself when the BMW drivers get stuck .... I say you got the wrong BMW .... you should have got the one with the green oval or viking ship badges not the M ones....
 
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