I've had and Freelander 2 GSe 4X4 TD4.. used at vets practice for 12 years.. now 241000 miles without problems. across all terrains though mud and snow and beast from the east in Cumbria on normal road tyres .. They are and EXCELENT CAR...
I've got a Freelander 2, in the winter here in Sweden, I always use the hill descent. As soon as the first snow fall most people " play " with their cars, great fun.
Great video boys. I have a mate who is an instructor a Land Rover Experience Eastnor Castle. He said the the Freelander is their favourite vehicle to demo as the public have low expectations and are impressed with what it can do. Another mate was a development engineer at Solihull and was on the team that developed Terrain Response. He is of the same opinion. All the best , Non Stick Nick
Whats the name of your mate? Im an instructor for LRE. Must have been a long time ago you last spoke as LRE hasnt had a FL2 for oooh about 7 years now!
Love my Freelander 2. It’s a 2012 SD4 HSE. Did very well in the snow earlier this year and get it off road as much as possible. Last big off road trip was to Drumclog off road centre just outside Glasgow. Great fun! The FL2 is far more capable then people give it credit for and with a decent set of tyres, it’ll go (almost) anywhere!
Love my Freelander 2. Drive it daily. It does everywhere I need to go offroad here in rural Australia, but supremely comfortable and good handling on road too. Great car for the money.
@@codenamenel it's ok, maybe is a little bit weaker than my previous car but i like to think that this is because of the bigger volume in the interior. I mean it could be better but works for me.
@@odiSVM mines just sort of cool instead of cold if you know what i mean, just trying to see if theyre all like that or theres maybe an issue with mine, like i say My old Volvo v50 was like the inside of a refrigerator after 5 minutes
Hi Simon, glad you had a great day out. Sorry about your slight damage but that really was self-inflicted. Remember the LR mantra, as slow as possible, as fast as necessary.... You could well have idled around some of those obstacles without quite so much gung ho.... Having said that, what a lot of fun the Freelander ll is. A couple of years ago I took a bunch of family to a local LR driving in a very muddy Suffolk forest. We all drove their suitably prepped - mud tyres, small lift D1s and D2. Then I asked if I could go round in my (now my daughter's) FLll. I had pre-arranged this, and so, in the company of one of the instructors, for insurance reasons, we set off in a bog standard 2007 FLll with road tyres. It handled everything the Discos did, except for a deep pit, which had quite savage approach and departure angles. But as for traction in the mud, inclines and similar, it shone. At the end of the course, the instructor shook his head, said he had been dreading this part of the afternoon, because he was sure he was going to be lying on his back somewhere unpleasant, attaching a tow strap. Freelander ll, one of LandRovers best kept secrets...
Yes as ever we went a little bit extreme and paid the price - high speed into water really is not a good idea as it does result in some impact damage....
I have a Freelander 2 with 308.000km without problems. I often go to do off road in mountain, desert, river, lakes… and it surprise all the people. I never change his battery, and his timing belt, because i thought that it has chain. But right now I changed. Is fantastic.
Loved my Freelander 2, 100% stock and it did Eastnor, mid Wales self drive plus Ridgeway. When I did my LR experience day at Perth, the team there said if it had a lift kit it would get places the old defender struggled with.
As someone who had a Freelander (aka The Hippo, as the RR and Defender guys liked to call it)… I still contend the Freelander 2 with its Volvo engine is a beast and actually a really good car. And its a great car to own (fairly cheaply) and thrash about in with little worry! I stand by my love of the ol’ Hippo/Freelander 2. And it actually got out of some boggy, muddy situations that I still have no idea how it did it with its standard kit and off-road tires. (And yes, I am currently in a Defender… and while I think the Defender is truly more capable… I too worry about beating up the Defender too much at least until after my first year anniversary with it, whereas the Freelander you just don't have to worry about that as much!)
So I plan to take George out on some Green Lane trips over the next couple of weeks with his mates so we will see what we can do.... when we got home we were happy to be jumping in the Defender for the drive to Wales for the INEO launch - such a nice car to drive.
@@L663 Sounds like absolute fun. And yes, that drive up to Wales in the Defender... you'll quickly realize, "ooooh, this is way better/nice/more comfortable". Also really curious to see your video on the INEOS launch! I have mixed feeling about it - but ultimately glad they did it. I hope they let you ride or better yet drive in an actually running/working prototype!
@@freelander_adventures Ahhh! YES! I remember that ad. Well the name stuck... although I am not sure it was so loving from other LR drivers who looked down on me. I didn't care! My Freelander was GREAT.
@@stevenburnsvideo Hippo is definitely the nice nickname and is what most owners refer to the Freelander 1 as themselves. If other LR drivers call it a Hippo that would be a mark of respect for what the Freelander 1 is actually capable of. Those that refer to it by another name rarely have any experience of them.
My Flounder 2 was always brilliant off-road, and I regularly took it over Salisbury Plain. It lacked the ground clearance of my Disco 3, but was far more nimble. They are so underrated off-road.
It was a great experience. Thank you for looking after me. It was great to see the differences with the ground clearance and tyres, and was impressed how well both cars done. However, think my car would of struggled more if it had been wetter and more muddy? Think maybe a lift kit and change of tyres for next time. Thank you again. Mark.
I was at the the freelander 2 offroad group meet, even with mud tyres on i still struggled! it is a brilliant course though and my lifted fl2 with mud tyres did ok!
Hi Simon, I have got a Frelander 2 Td4 since 2008, she has the auto transmission and got to make all trails Defender and other "seriuos" off roaders did. I have over 300000 k's on the clock and she runs still ok. I would suggest to replace the 235/55 R17 tires with the 245/70R17 ones (M+S of course, JLR Italy approved the replacement). Got 40mm front suspension lift and 25mm rear by fitting special shock and struts made by O.R.A.P., an Italian manufacturer. I got sump guard and fuel tank guard plate from Mantec UK. The plus is the A/T, the torque converter supports the first gear and she goes everywhere! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the information and yes i would image the Torque converter gives you some "slip" that really helps with the gearing issues i was having. Mantec stuff is now really hard to find !
Loved my Freelander2, it was very capable (stock) on the green lanes. Only drawback was the lack of ground clearance - learnt to straddle deep ruts. Mine was a manual, auto would be better for off-roading.
Hi Simon I’m on my 2nd Freelander 2 , Iv been proper off road twice in one . Mine stayed in the car park and Landrover gave me the use of theirs . So great time had by all. Iv got a 64 plate Metropolis spec last of the line run out . It’s like a Range Rover inside . The first one was a brand new car . Iv loved them both oh and I buying bits a pieces off you for my latest
Good to hear - I am aware that I have been distracted by the new Defender but we know that most of our customers have Freelanders and Disco 3's and 4's so we are going to keep making new products for these models..
Loved my Freelander 2 and thinking about buying another as a second vehicle. If George doesn't like the "fugly" front, you can do the facelift to the newer style. If I remember correctly you don't need to do anything other than snap off one of the locator pegs in the centre of the new grille. Did it myself in a couple of hours. You can also update the rear boot handle to the longer chrome bar facelift style - just needs 2 extra holes drilling in the back.
Another great video. Look forward to your views on Grenadier. We went to the tour in Wales and were really impressed with off road performance. Quality of suspension is first class and BMW engine and ZF auto great. Just what JLR should have done. Going to be a success for sure if they price it right.
Yes this video is coming... i have a range of views on the car...some good points and some bad points... it will take me a couple of evenings to edit the footage..
auto box makes life simpler in the FL2. I had 2 of them, one manual the other auto. Much preferred the latter. far fewer things to go wrong than the new defender which for the moment is staying mostly on the road. With good tyres + lift kit the FL2 will go to most places that other bigger JLR vehicles can get to.
Glad you enjoyed it.. shame it was so hot and we did not get more outside shots.. we were also pushed for time as we had to get the INEOS Grenadier launch !... there are some good videos coming !
when I think that this land rover was bought for 1400 euro and after some small mechanical improvements it is top for an off road trip.Sorry for my bad english , hello from Belgium and viva freelander 2.
You are correct Alain this car is so good - we are driving this more than our new Defender right now ! Love Belgium ! I worked there many times when I was supplying electronics to Philips in Hasselt !
I say a Freelander is possibly gonna be the new Green Laning tool, cheap to buy (then again so is a old Disco or RR) but they weigh half the weight of said cheap Disco/ RR and with a few mods which you've done to yours shows what a potentially capable SUV they can be/ are.
The thing that amazed me was how good the non modified Freelander 2 did... other than going up the steps he completed all sections of the course with standard suspension and road tyres.... totally remarkable !
The Freelander2 did a fantastic job off roading! JLR need to bring back a bread and butter entry level 4x4 like the old Freelander. As regards not having a low box they could do the same as Dacia has done with the 4x4 Duster, they made the 1st gear incredibly low for off roading JLR has a factory in Slovakia so maybe they could make it there to keep the cost down?
Hi Simon and George! It was my group, the Freelander 2 OffRoad Group (FL2ORG) that had a meet here! If you want to get stuck in with us some time we meet up to go greenlaning on Salisbury Plain, in Wales, and also do offroad days like this one too! Here is the video of our VERY wet event on the site at 4X4Days! th-cam.com/video/ek9CHXRyZp8/w-d-xo.html Love your enthusiasm for the FL2 and the offroad / greenlaning stuff, if you ever fancy doing some collaboration videos let me know... my heavily modified FL2 might be a good side by side comparison to your low budget build! 😉👍🚜 All the best Joel Self Outdoor Instructor
I have to say that I am impressed with your cars performance. I always thought the Freelander (1) was a piece of crap, but I have never had any dealings with the mark 2 model, and i does the business very well. And considering it went through where your 50 grand new Defender did not. Then I'm impressed no end! But I certainly agree with you it still could do with a low range in the transfer box.
Freelanders are the best, I've never ever got stuck. 2006 TD4 Auto. 225 65 17 tyres. 22cm ground clearance, under the front bash plate, lowest point on the vehicle.
The auto is so much better, best car LR made for years then they stopped it. If they made a new one I would buy one straight away. My TD4 is 2007 with 160k on the clock and still awesome 👌
Daughter rang me late last night to say they were stuck on the mountain top off road in their seat in applying conditions I tried to pull them out with my freelander 2 sd4 automatic but got stuck too due to road tyres seriously need to get chunky mud tyres retreads I’ve heard are good and ideas which are best for road and mud /snow I’ve got 19 inch wheels on but do have a spare set of 17 alloys for the job. Thanks
Hi - sorry to hear you got into a pickle and the Freelander was not able to save the day - the tyres seem to be the key to grip. Did you try deflating the tyres on either car ? this was a game changer for the Defender when we took it off road. Tyres are a compromise - Handling / grip / price / off road / noise / comfort and alas you cannot have it all ! Ask on the forums as i am not an expert - although i have to say i am happy with our retreads but we do not do high mileage / motorway driving where safety would be a bigger concern.
Simon, can't wait for your thoughts on Grenadier. I had a drive in prototype 2b last week. I was impressed with many things. I am sure you will be too. It is one solid machine, even though it is not fully complete with plenty to do.
Yes I am compiling that video now... I am still a little confused about the Grenadier... it does not seem clear where they are positioning the vehicle.... but it is a capable machine.
Maybe design some in house under body protection, Simon. Similar to the Disco 3/4 stuff. Or get some off the shelf from Muddy Mods. Sadly my Mantec stuff was stolen after I removed it when I fitted the HST body kit. Looks good with the lift, larger tyres , raised air intake and bonnet vents - nbut I've lost valuable approach angle and vital sump and fuel tank protection which negates the whole point of fitting the off road goodies. Great video. Glad you've discovered how great the F2 is off road. Look forward to the next instalment of Freelander stuff.
Hi Ian - I was waiting for your comment ! I have talked to Mantec and offered to manufacture their old products but they dont seem keep to sell me the designs...
@@L663 To be honest, their engine/ sump guard isn't such a great design as it fails to offer any protection for the whole engine. If it were me, I'd be looking more at the Disco 3/4 design and roll with something similar, that gives full protection to the underneath of the engine. Mantec's fuel tank guard is great , though. I believe it's been copied by otheres due to it's design.
I have 2 discovery 2's one auto and one manual both TD5 and a freelander 1 TD4 manual, maybe it is time to add another to my collection and get me a FL2 Auto too
Am I correct in thinking the Freelander 2 is better than the original in terms of reliability? Personally I prefer the original one but the issues it has just ruined it
George helped me use photoshop instead of paint - he does not like my blue border but I think I might keep it as a sort of signature.... I am glad you made the comment !
Hello, I saw an accessory on the Freelander 2 directly under the navigation display, apparently USB. Can you tell me if this is an official accessory and where can I get it? I only have a rubber tray there. Many thanks from Germany
@@codenamenel funnily enough I’m having the air con serviced early next month - it’s fairly efficient as it is but will let you know of any improvement 👍
@@codenamenel I live in Australia where it hits the mid 40's in summer and my FL2 is black and UK spec. The air con in my FL2 is excellent, so possibly something is wrong with yours.
What a ball you guys had playing in the fields. Sometimes these vehicles can surprise you. The difference between the more modern models is that they do the driving, whereas with the Freelander 2, you had to take control. Great vid. Thanks S and G. 👍🏻🙏🏽😷🦘
The Defender will go back to "normal" terrain mode settings because emissions regulations have come in specifying that the Vehicle needs to start up in the same condition it was certified in. Its not something LR can control - any other OEM is constrained by the same rules on new vehicles.
I feel this is a bit of a cop out... for example surely the suspension should also change but it i set it in high it will stay in high for an ignition cycle. Also what if you set it to ECO mode does it stay in ECO mode or does it need to revert to comfort.
Sir, I like your video. I just bought my Land Rover Freelander 2 this year. However, I noticed that everytime I remotely locked, it suddenly causes an alarm. Alarm which is so loud that disturbs my neighbor. What do you think is the problem? Hoping for your kind help. Thank you.
Love taking my FL2 off road! Does everything the big boys do! Looks better with my PowerfulUK smoked LED side repeaters as well 😝 I definitely want to lift it though! And a remap for more torque
Greetings from Oz. Thanks for a very impressive video. The Freelander 2 on road tyres was great too. I’ve had my 2020 model 2 for a couple of years now. What size wheels and brand/size tyres have you fitted? Getting off road rubber is not so easy down under. Thanks for your great channel.
The tyres were some cheap retread tyres - size 235 /65 / 17 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373537535748 There was some road noise with these but not that bad - only just noticeable. The tyres did not a lot of balancing to get them running without vibration. They were fine on the motorway at 70 MPH The one thing i really noticed was the off road steering response was much improved as well as the grip.
A very capable car, you just need to carry a 12 volt tyre pump so you can play with tyre pressures and fill the washer bottle. I can see a series of these videos with other members of the fleet.
Yes the washer bottle was a poor show on my part... i did apply "RainX" in the morning before going but forgot to top up the fluid ! What car are you thinking next ? Evoque ? Ouch !
Superb car - lighter than the New Defender, so more nimble across the terrain. And don’t forget, the Freelander was a Camel Trophy car, so I think it’s far more capable than people give it credit for
Hmmm…the Freelander II is a highly capable car and maybe one of the best JLR products ever made. I kept mine showroom new but is it now having a different life?? Now I wonder if I need another one…..🧐🤓🤓 I think I might have seen you on Winterstoke Road Bristol near the football stadium on Saturday around 1pm…I didn’t see a number plate…which might be a clue!! Who needs a Defender then??…..Farmer Giles just might be saving money these days!! Stay safe, Richard😀😀😀😀😀
Hi Richard - that could well have been us as we did skirt back through Bristol around midday ! Freelander 2 never ceases to amaze me ! Ineos video coming soon.... i sent to Ineos for review before publishing...there are as you would expect some controversial parts in there...
@@L663 I shall look forward to that video! You will cast a very accurate eye over it and tell us what you really think of it…I like the idea and intention but can’t see them being able to cope with orders and sales backup. We shall see..but keep enjoying the Freelander!! 😀😀😀😀
Hi Davide - Good question - its all about damage to the underside I guess and the fact that we could go a bit faster and not worry so much about ripping off the exhaust etc. Clearly the lift improves the approach and departure angles too so I could not have done the steps without the lift kit ( we saw and LR2 try these before and fail due to the front tow hook hitting the first step.
As with the Defender, maybe you could drive this up the ramp to see what damage, if any, it has sustained underneath. There was definitely some bottoming out going on but the Freelander 2 proved it was a capable vehicle
We discussed that this weekend while we were away camping.. i think fixing and building a car make you drive it much better with an appreciation of the workings and also looking after all your hard work !
You were lucky to not have flooded the engine in the sheep dip. You really don't want the 'water' over your bonnet, even with a Land Rover. You were lucky to only suffer minor trim damage. Love your enthusiasm though.
As with the Defender we like to push the cars to the limit... one day our luck will run out... on the Ineos test drive today the instructor did not accept that we drove THE STIG through a 1M deep ford !
Great video guys your having fun did you know the free lander 2 shares the floor pan with volvo’s xc90 also many parts suspension is shared with the Volvo too. It’s worlds better than freelander one, well screwed together, reliable! Sadly the freelander 2 was tainted by the bad reliability of the previous model that’s why JLR dropped the freelander name and went for discovery sport instead.
Yes the Freelander was a good name and we all knew where it fitted in the range.... capable family friendly 4x4.. it was a shame they dropped the name for new more confusing "Discovery Sport"
Great video, Simon. I’m guessing the damage to the car was caused when you went through the Sheep Dip. You’ll notice that the other vehicles entered that obstacle at a slightly lower speed, and then accelerated, rather than hitting the water hard. I’m also very keen to hear your thoughts on the Grenadier. 🙂
Hi Michael - yes i think we were ok in the sheep dip - it was the bit just before i noticed the noise where young George encouraged me to go fast through the water - as you point out going fast into water is a bad idea ! it has quite a big impact !
Hi guys great videos, just watch your f l 2 video , you said that was Bristol of rd stuff ,I live in Hereford near ish , what the full address for that place like to take my l2oo there cheers
Just google 4x4days facebook and you will find the details - not far from Bristol airport. Highly recommended you can do what you want at your own pace to get to know your vehicle and there is help on hand if you get stuck !
If you drove the Defender like a £1500 accident damaged car then I’m sure it would go round just as easily. I should add that I’ve owned 3 Fl2s and it’s the best car LRs built and nothing LR has built to date has come close. That includes my D3, D4, D5, DS, Evoque, Velar and my new Defender 90.
I'm guessing it would have a weight advantage,less weight to get up the hills Make it even better and rip as much weight off the freelander as you can and make it a competition rig
Weight is always the number one enemy and this was actually my conclusion.. less weight = less force needed at wheels / better acceleration / better braking / better cornering / better fuel economy....
I've had and Freelander 2 GSe 4X4 TD4.. used at vets practice for 12 years.. now 241000 miles without problems. across all terrains though mud and snow and beast from the east in Cumbria on normal road tyres .. They are and EXCELENT CAR...
I've got a Freelander 2, in the winter here in Sweden, I always use the hill descent. As soon as the first snow fall most people " play " with their cars, great fun.
When a guy from Sweden says the car is good in winter .. you know its a good car !
I must say the Freelander did an excellent job. I've also started to see more Freelander s around on farms as like a little run about truck.
Great video boys. I have a mate who is an instructor a Land Rover Experience Eastnor Castle. He said the the Freelander is their favourite vehicle to demo as the public have low expectations and are impressed with what it can do.
Another mate was a development engineer at Solihull and was on the team that developed Terrain Response. He is of the same opinion.
All the best , Non Stick Nick
Hi Nick.... totally capable car.. even with a shoddy driver like me !
Whats the name of your mate? Im an instructor for LRE. Must have been a long time ago you last spoke as LRE hasnt had a FL2 for oooh about 7 years now!
Love my Freelander 2. It’s a 2012 SD4 HSE. Did very well in the snow earlier this year and get it off road as much as possible. Last big off road trip was to Drumclog off road centre just outside Glasgow. Great fun! The FL2 is far more capable then people give it credit for and with a decent set of tyres, it’ll go (almost) anywhere!
What tyres would you recommend?
Love my Freelander 2. Drive it daily. It does everywhere I need to go offroad here in rural Australia, but supremely comfortable and good handling on road too. Great car for the money.
I also owned this same Freelander 2 here in India and indeed this vehicle is outstanding on every terrain. It's really powerful....
I’ve had my Freelander 2 for 3 years, great car.
As a Freelander 2 owner I loved this video and would be all for you making some nice aggressive mods for the Freelander 2.
I have a FL2 for 6 months now and i think it's the best car i've ever had.
how cold is your aircon ? ive had mine regassed etc, its colder but still not that cold. My old volvo was freezing
@@codenamenel it's ok, maybe is a little bit weaker than my previous car but i like to think that this is because of the bigger volume in the interior. I mean it could be better but works for me.
@@odiSVM mines just sort of cool instead of cold if you know what i mean, just trying to see if theyre all like that or theres maybe an issue with mine, like i say My old Volvo v50 was like the inside of a refrigerator after 5 minutes
@@codenamenel probably they're all like that, mine's far from being a fridge inside, like you said it's kinda cold but could be better.
Hi Simon, glad you had a great day out. Sorry about your slight damage but that really was self-inflicted. Remember the LR mantra, as slow as possible, as fast as necessary.... You could well have idled around some of those obstacles without quite so much gung ho....
Having said that, what a lot of fun the Freelander ll is. A couple of years ago I took a bunch of family to a local LR driving in a very muddy Suffolk forest. We all drove their suitably prepped - mud tyres, small lift D1s and D2. Then I asked if I could go round in my (now my daughter's) FLll. I had pre-arranged this, and so, in the company of one of the instructors, for insurance reasons, we set off in a bog standard 2007 FLll with road tyres. It handled everything the Discos did, except for a deep pit, which had quite savage approach and departure angles. But as for traction in the mud, inclines and similar, it shone. At the end of the course, the instructor shook his head, said he had been dreading this part of the afternoon, because he was sure he was going to be lying on his back somewhere unpleasant, attaching a tow strap. Freelander ll, one of LandRovers best kept secrets...
Yes as ever we went a little bit extreme and paid the price - high speed into water really is not a good idea as it does result in some impact damage....
I have a Freelander 2 with 308.000km without problems. I often go to do off road in mountain, desert, river, lakes… and it surprise all the people. I never change his battery, and his timing belt, because i thought that it has chain. But right now I changed. Is fantastic.
We need to do more Freelander 2 stuff...
Loved my Freelander 2, 100% stock and it did Eastnor, mid Wales self drive plus Ridgeway.
When I did my LR experience day at Perth, the team there said if it had a lift kit it would get places the old defender struggled with.
As someone who had a Freelander (aka The Hippo, as the RR and Defender guys liked to call it)… I still contend the Freelander 2 with its Volvo engine is a beast and actually a really good car. And its a great car to own (fairly cheaply) and thrash about in with little worry! I stand by my love of the ol’ Hippo/Freelander 2. And it actually got out of some boggy, muddy situations that I still have no idea how it did it with its standard kit and off-road tires. (And yes, I am currently in a Defender… and while I think the Defender is truly more capable… I too worry about beating up the Defender too much at least until after my first year anniversary with it, whereas the Freelander you just don't have to worry about that as much!)
So I plan to take George out on some Green Lane trips over the next couple of weeks with his mates so we will see what we can do.... when we got home we were happy to be jumping in the Defender for the drive to Wales for the INEO launch - such a nice car to drive.
@@L663 Sounds like absolute fun. And yes, that drive up to Wales in the Defender... you'll quickly realize, "ooooh, this is way better/nice/more comfortable". Also really curious to see your video on the INEOS launch! I have mixed feeling about it - but ultimately glad they did it. I hope they let you ride or better yet drive in an actually running/working prototype!
The Freelander 1 was nicknamed Hippo due to a Land Rover advertising campaign. images.app.goo.gl/byLPKqnMzyqL8eze8
@@freelander_adventures Ahhh! YES! I remember that ad. Well the name stuck... although I am not sure it was so loving from other LR drivers who looked down on me. I didn't care! My Freelander was GREAT.
@@stevenburnsvideo Hippo is definitely the nice nickname and is what most owners refer to the Freelander 1 as themselves. If other LR drivers call it a Hippo that would be a mark of respect for what the Freelander 1 is actually capable of. Those that refer to it by another name rarely have any experience of them.
My Flounder 2 was always brilliant off-road, and I regularly took it over Salisbury Plain. It lacked the ground clearance of my Disco 3, but was far more nimble. They are so underrated off-road.
The lift blocks have given me the clearance i needed - especially useful going up the steps.
It was a great experience. Thank you for looking after me. It was great to see the differences with the ground clearance and tyres, and was impressed how well both cars done. However, think my car would of struggled more if it had been wetter and more muddy? Think maybe a lift kit and change of tyres for next time. Thank you again. Mark.
Hi Mark -Thanks for being on hand to let everyone see what a standard car can do !
I was at the the freelander 2 offroad group meet, even with mud tyres on i still struggled! it is a brilliant course though and my lifted fl2 with mud tyres did ok!
Hi Simon if you could do video on fixing the handbrake that would be great as mine is in a similar state.
Love my Freelander2 on AT tires. Good off-road capabilities and still travels at +110km/h on road fully loaded.
your twos faces! brill!!!
you looked really surprised when fl2 performed tasks, great vid!! cheers
Hi Simon, I have got a Frelander 2 Td4 since 2008, she has the auto transmission and got to make all trails Defender and other "seriuos" off roaders did. I have over 300000 k's on the clock and she runs still ok.
I would suggest to replace the 235/55 R17 tires with the 245/70R17 ones (M+S of course, JLR Italy approved the replacement). Got 40mm front suspension lift and 25mm rear by fitting special shock and struts made by O.R.A.P., an Italian manufacturer.
I got sump guard and fuel tank guard plate from Mantec UK.
The plus is the A/T, the torque converter supports the first gear and she goes everywhere!
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the information and yes i would image the Torque converter gives you some "slip" that really helps with the gearing issues i was having. Mantec stuff is now really hard to find !
Loved my Freelander2, it was very capable (stock) on the green lanes. Only drawback was the lack of ground clearance - learnt to straddle deep ruts. Mine was a manual, auto would be better for off-roading.
Hugely underrated vehicle, the FL2
Hi Simon
I’m on my 2nd Freelander 2 , Iv been proper off road twice in one . Mine stayed in the car park and Landrover gave me the use of theirs . So great time had by all.
Iv got a 64 plate Metropolis spec last of the line run out . It’s like a Range Rover inside . The first one was a brand new car . Iv loved them both oh and I buying bits a pieces off you for my latest
Good to hear - I am aware that I have been distracted by the new Defender but we know that most of our customers have Freelanders and Disco 3's and 4's so we are going to keep making new products for these models..
Loved my Freelander 2 and thinking about buying another as a second vehicle. If George doesn't like the "fugly" front, you can do the facelift to the newer style. If I remember correctly you don't need to do anything other than snap off one of the locator pegs in the centre of the new grille. Did it myself in a couple of hours. You can also update the rear boot handle to the longer chrome bar facelift style - just needs 2 extra holes drilling in the back.
Another great video. Look forward to your views on Grenadier. We went to the tour in Wales and were really impressed with off road performance. Quality of suspension is first class and BMW engine and ZF auto great. Just what JLR should have done. Going to be a success for sure if they price it right.
Yes this video is coming... i have a range of views on the car...some good points and some bad points... it will take me a couple of evenings to edit the footage..
@@L663 Thanks for reply. Really looking forward to your views and summary.
Them down under have done some great videos with these to really amazing what they can do
Fun day out in a fab little car. Great video. 👍
I love my FL2, great off road cars that stand up against the big boys
auto box makes life simpler in the FL2. I had 2 of them, one manual the other auto. Much preferred the latter. far fewer things to go wrong than the new defender which for the moment is staying mostly on the road. With good tyres + lift kit the FL2 will go to most places that other bigger JLR vehicles can get to.
Yes I really missed the Auto box - i guess the torque converter will give you the effect of lower gearing when pulling away etc.
That was great watching you both go through that course 💪 looked like great fun😃
Glad you enjoyed it.. shame it was so hot and we did not get more outside shots.. we were also pushed for time as we had to get the INEOS Grenadier launch !... there are some good videos coming !
@@L663 I'm really looking forward to the Ineos Grenadier video 😃 keep them coming 👍👍👍
when I think that this land rover was bought for 1400 euro and after some small mechanical improvements it is top for an off road trip.Sorry for my bad english , hello from Belgium and viva freelander 2.
You are correct Alain this car is so good - we are driving this more than our new Defender right now !
Love Belgium ! I worked there many times when I was supplying electronics to Philips in Hasselt !
Simon you are becoming an off-road master👍💪👍💪👍
Thanks but not really.... but we get better each time !
I think conditions were good to be honest 😂
Enjoyed the video, thank you.
Is the lift 20 front 30 rear on this one?
loved the video Simon and George fantastic
I say a Freelander is possibly gonna be the new Green Laning tool, cheap to buy (then again so is a old Disco or RR) but they weigh half the weight of said cheap Disco/ RR and with a few mods which you've done to yours shows what a potentially capable SUV they can be/ are.
The thing that amazed me was how good the non modified Freelander 2 did... other than going up the steps he completed all sections of the course with standard suspension and road tyres.... totally remarkable !
The Freelander2 did a fantastic job off roading! JLR need to bring back a bread and butter entry level 4x4 like the old Freelander. As regards not having a low box they could do the same as Dacia has done with the 4x4 Duster, they made the 1st gear incredibly low for off roading JLR has a factory in Slovakia so maybe they could make it there to keep the cost down?
Hi Simon and George!
It was my group, the Freelander 2 OffRoad Group (FL2ORG) that had a meet here! If you want to get stuck in with us some time we meet up to go greenlaning on Salisbury Plain, in Wales, and also do offroad days like this one too!
Here is the video of our VERY wet event on the site at 4X4Days!
th-cam.com/video/ek9CHXRyZp8/w-d-xo.html
Love your enthusiasm for the FL2 and the offroad / greenlaning stuff, if you ever fancy doing some collaboration videos let me know... my heavily modified FL2 might be a good side by side comparison to your low budget build! 😉👍🚜
All the best
Joel Self
Outdoor Instructor
I have to say that I am impressed with your cars performance. I always thought the Freelander (1) was a piece of crap, but I have never had any dealings with the mark 2 model, and i does the business very well. And considering it went through where your 50 grand new Defender did not. Then I'm impressed no end! But I certainly agree with you it still could do with a low range in the transfer box.
I've got a freelander 1 2ltr deisel bullet engine and I love it
Thank you for this great and funny video. FL2 is an amazing greenlanding car I love it !
Freelanders are the best, I've never ever got stuck. 2006 TD4 Auto. 225 65 17 tyres. 22cm ground clearance, under the front bash plate, lowest point on the vehicle.
Did you add any underbody protection ? Great car !
Hello, where did you buy the kit to raise the free2?
I am interested in buying one.
Thank you very much for the video.
The auto is so much better, best car LR made for years then they stopped it. If they made a new one I would buy one straight away. My TD4 is 2007 with 160k on the clock and still awesome 👌
Yes our car has 139K on the clock and it drives really nice... just missing the auto box.
@@L663 get the new grille sorted 👍
Daughter rang me late last night to say they were stuck on the mountain top off road in their seat in applying conditions I tried to pull them out with my freelander 2 sd4 automatic but got stuck too due to road tyres seriously need to get chunky mud tyres retreads I’ve heard are good and ideas which are best for road and mud /snow I’ve got 19 inch wheels on but do have a spare set of 17 alloys for the job. Thanks
Hi - sorry to hear you got into a pickle and the Freelander was not able to save the day - the tyres seem to be the key to grip.
Did you try deflating the tyres on either car ? this was a game changer for the Defender when we took it off road.
Tyres are a compromise - Handling / grip / price / off road / noise / comfort and alas you cannot have it all ! Ask on the forums as i am not an expert - although i have to say i am happy with our retreads but we do not do high mileage / motorway driving where safety would be a bigger concern.
glad to see i managed to get in the video as well in my vitara, great video
Hi - nice to see you again ! your vitara made most things look pretty easy !
@@L663 thanks, to be honest it is a bit tame compared to what it has done but i enjoyed the day and look forward to doing it again soon
Simon, can't wait for your thoughts on Grenadier. I had a drive in prototype 2b last week. I was impressed with many things.
I am sure you will be too. It is one solid machine, even though it is not fully complete with plenty to do.
Yes I am compiling that video now... I am still a little confused about the Grenadier... it does not seem clear where they are positioning the vehicle.... but it is a capable machine.
Love this freelander! What wheels and tyres sizes have you fitted after the lift?
Maybe design some in house under body protection, Simon. Similar to the Disco 3/4 stuff. Or get some off the shelf from Muddy Mods. Sadly my Mantec stuff was stolen after I removed it when I fitted the HST body kit. Looks good with the lift, larger tyres , raised air intake and bonnet vents - nbut I've lost valuable approach angle and vital sump and fuel tank protection which negates the whole point of fitting the off road goodies.
Great video. Glad you've discovered how great the F2 is off road. Look forward to the next instalment of Freelander stuff.
Hi Ian - I was waiting for your comment ! I have talked to Mantec and offered to manufacture their old products but they dont seem keep to sell me the designs...
@@L663 To be honest, their engine/ sump guard isn't such a great design as it fails to offer any protection for the whole engine. If it were me, I'd be looking more at the Disco 3/4 design and roll with something similar, that gives full protection to the underneath of the engine. Mantec's fuel tank guard is great , though. I believe it's been copied by otheres due to it's design.
I absolutely loved every minute of that, makes me regret getting rid of mine now😂
We had a scream that day - still talk about it a few weeks later !
I have 2 discovery 2's one auto and one manual both TD5 and a freelander 1 TD4 manual, maybe it is time to add another to my collection and get me a FL2 Auto too
Am I correct in thinking the Freelander 2 is better than the original in terms of reliability? Personally I prefer the original one but the issues it has just ruined it
You should try Jim at lanes tracks and trails in Devon he will take you on some of the best looking lanes in Devon and Cornwall
Have you ever done a review on the freelander 1? Great video thanks for sharing new subscriber 👍
You forgot the blue border for this video - I almost missed the fact that it was one of yours - excellent video.
George helped me use photoshop instead of paint - he does not like my blue border but I think I might keep it as a sort of signature.... I am glad you made the comment !
@@L663 Yes - as soon as I see a blue border I know it's one of yours and watch it immediately. Without a border it can get lost with all the others.
Hello, I saw an accessory on the Freelander 2 directly under the navigation display, apparently USB. Can you tell me if this is an official accessory and where can I get it? I only have a rubber tray there. Many thanks from Germany
I love my FL2 even more now 😁
Nice to hear we are spreading some love...
how cold is your aircon ? ive had mine regassed etc, its colder but still not that cold. My old volvo was freezing
@@codenamenel funnily enough I’m having the air con serviced early next month - it’s fairly efficient as it is but will let you know of any improvement 👍
@@lascm5237 Nice one cheers
@@codenamenel I live in Australia where it hits the mid 40's in summer and my FL2 is black and UK spec. The air con in my FL2 is excellent, so possibly something is wrong with yours.
What a ball you guys had playing in the fields. Sometimes these vehicles can surprise you. The difference between the more modern models is that they do the driving, whereas with the Freelander 2, you had to take control. Great vid. Thanks S and G. 👍🏻🙏🏽😷🦘
Glad you enjoyed it and yes the car did surprise us.
Do you think l you could get your hands on a disco sport to compare to the freelancer on the lanes? Love the content by the way 👍🏼
Fantastic video what engine is in it . thanks
ITs the 2.2 Diesel Engine
What’s the biggest tyre I can put on a stock freelander 2 I want all terrain tyres I was told 215/70 R16 would this be correct
How is the car working with the lift kit after some time?
The Defender will go back to "normal" terrain mode settings because emissions regulations have come in specifying that the Vehicle needs to start up in the same condition it was certified in. Its not something LR can control - any other OEM is constrained by the same rules on new vehicles.
I feel this is a bit of a cop out... for example surely the suspension should also change but it i set it in high it will stay in high for an ignition cycle. Also what if you set it to ECO mode does it stay in ECO mode or does it need to revert to comfort.
Thanks for a great informative video. Best wishes from Chester 👍👍👌👌
Sir, I like your video. I just bought my Land Rover Freelander 2 this year. However, I noticed that everytime I remotely locked, it suddenly causes an alarm. Alarm which is so loud that disturbs my neighbor. What do you think is the problem? Hoping for your kind help. Thank you.
Did you see this video i did ?
th-cam.com/video/qOdDdbNojLw/w-d-xo.html
Love taking my FL2 off road! Does everything the big boys do! Looks better with my PowerfulUK smoked LED side repeaters as well 😝
I definitely want to lift it though! And a remap for more torque
where did you manage to buy one for 1500 pounds?
@theshadypilot has a few videos testing and comparing the various LR's implementation of TRS, good to check out.
Greetings from Oz. Thanks for a very impressive video. The Freelander 2 on road tyres was great too. I’ve had my 2020 model 2 for a couple of years now. What size wheels and brand/size tyres have you fitted? Getting off road rubber is not so easy down under. Thanks for your great channel.
Oops 2010 model.
The tyres were some cheap retread tyres - size 235 /65 / 17
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373537535748
There was some road noise with these but not that bad - only just noticeable.
The tyres did not a lot of balancing to get them running without vibration.
They were fine on the motorway at 70 MPH
The one thing i really noticed was the off road steering response was much improved as well as the grip.
I live in Australia too. I use Falken Wildpeak AT3W on my FL2 - 245/65/17. Great tyres on and offroad and not hideously expensive.
Can you compare Freelander 2 to 2020 duster 4x4
A very capable car, you just need to carry a 12 volt tyre pump so you can play with tyre pressures and fill the washer bottle.
I can see a series of these videos with other members of the fleet.
Yes the washer bottle was a poor show on my part... i did apply "RainX" in the morning before going but forgot to top up the fluid !
What car are you thinking next ? Evoque ? Ouch !
Another great video lads 👍👍👍
how cold is your aircon ? ive had mine regassed etc, its colder but still not that cold. My old volvo was freezing
Superb car - lighter than the New Defender, so more nimble across the terrain. And don’t forget, the Freelander was a Camel Trophy car, so I think it’s far more capable than people give it credit for
Damn ... now I need a G4 Freelander 2
Hmmm…the Freelander II is a highly capable car and maybe one of the best JLR products ever made. I kept mine showroom new but is it now having a different life?? Now I wonder if I need another one…..🧐🤓🤓 I think I might have seen you on Winterstoke Road Bristol near the football stadium on Saturday around 1pm…I didn’t see a number plate…which might be a clue!! Who needs a Defender then??…..Farmer Giles just might be saving money these days!! Stay safe, Richard😀😀😀😀😀
Hi Richard - that could well have been us as we did skirt back through Bristol around midday !
Freelander 2 never ceases to amaze me !
Ineos video coming soon.... i sent to Ineos for review before publishing...there are as you would expect some controversial parts in there...
@@L663 I shall look forward to that video! You will cast a very accurate eye over it and tell us what you really think of it…I like the idea and intention but can’t see them being able to cope with orders and sales backup. We shall see..but keep enjoying the Freelander!! 😀😀😀😀
Loved this video thanks.
How important do you feel the suspension lift was in retrospect?
Hi Davide - Good question - its all about damage to the underside I guess and the fact that we could go a bit faster and not worry so much about ripping off the exhaust etc.
Clearly the lift improves the approach and departure angles too so I could not have done the steps without the lift kit ( we saw and LR2 try these before and fail due to the front tow hook hitting the first step.
Where did you get that touchscreen? Could I please get a link? Thank you!
I got this unit from China - it works OK and we did an install video
I think the Xtrons unit is the same ?
th-cam.com/video/vPkoiF-aUbU/w-d-xo.html
What tyres did you use...?
As with the Defender, maybe you could drive this up the ramp to see what damage, if any, it has sustained underneath. There was definitely some bottoming out going on but the Freelander 2 proved it was a capable vehicle
Yes we will do the pressure wash and check the underside video this week
I'm in the southern US and have an LR2. Did great a few years ago in fresh snow and ice on the roads. My question, how much did you lift yours?
Hi - we used these spacers
www.fl2lift.com/all-products
More details available on our install video here
th-cam.com/video/YIdQwJGuWLU/w-d-xo.html
who fitted the bumper lol quality parts
Yes we left out the corner screw as we need to swap back to the old style bumper for testing the new grille !
Is there anywhere that would allow George to drive? How about letting him design and built his first off road vehicle, let him loose in the warehouse.
We discussed that this weekend while we were away camping.. i think fixing and building a car make you drive it much better with an appreciation of the workings and also looking after all your hard work !
You were lucky to not have flooded the engine in the sheep dip. You really don't want the 'water' over your bonnet, even with a Land Rover. You were lucky to only suffer minor trim damage. Love your enthusiasm though.
As with the Defender we like to push the cars to the limit... one day our luck will run out... on the Ineos test drive today the instructor did not accept that we drove THE STIG through a 1M deep ford !
I Love this channel, got a freelander 2 from auction as well: am glad to see what he can do, is there any suspension upgrade for it?
Yes there are suspension lift kits that we have fitted
th-cam.com/video/YIdQwJGuWLU/w-d-xo.html
that was a great day, only thing wrong is it was too hot!
used to have one.. miss it
Great video guys your having fun did you know the free lander 2 shares the floor pan with volvo’s xc90 also many parts suspension is shared with the Volvo too. It’s worlds better than freelander one, well screwed together, reliable! Sadly the freelander 2 was tainted by the bad reliability of the previous model that’s why JLR dropped the freelander name and went for discovery sport instead.
Yes the Freelander was a good name and we all knew where it fitted in the range.... capable family friendly 4x4.. it was a shame they dropped the name for new more confusing "Discovery Sport"
I think it’s actually the XC60 that’s built on the same floorpan as the FL2. Both marques were owned by Ford hence the common parts.
What entertainment center is in this freelander 2? I would like to upgrade my system(2008 gps system with independent radio)
We have fitted a chinese android head unit and it works OK.. we did an install video
th-cam.com/video/vPkoiF-aUbU/w-d-xo.html
Great video, Simon. I’m guessing the damage to the car was caused when you went through the Sheep Dip. You’ll notice that the other vehicles entered that obstacle at a slightly lower speed, and then accelerated, rather than hitting the water hard.
I’m also very keen to hear your thoughts on the Grenadier. 🙂
Hi Michael - yes i think we were ok in the sheep dip - it was the bit just before i noticed the noise where young George encouraged me to go fast through the water - as you point out going fast into water is a bad idea ! it has quite a big impact !
Ineos video coming soon... my thoughts are still a little mixed.... after my video I will be interested to hear your views and that of others too.
great video guys!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Wolves afraid of pooping in that place where he driving.👌
Odd comment but probably true !
How did you find one so cheap ?! I used to have one but got rid. But yous are making me want another 🤣
12:40 "Wooooooooooooooooooo" Just a moment that made me actually lol
Hi guys great videos, just watch your f l 2 video , you said that was Bristol of rd stuff ,I live in Hereford near ish , what the full address for that place like to take my l2oo there cheers
Just google 4x4days facebook and you will find the details - not far from Bristol airport. Highly recommended you can do what you want at your own pace to get to know your vehicle and there is help on hand if you get stuck !
Nice video! I enjoyed it
You are super quick Daddy Denzil !
i'm your second biggest fan
Only after Daddy Denzil !
If you drove the Defender like a £1500 accident damaged car then I’m sure it would go round just as easily. I should add that I’ve owned 3 Fl2s and it’s the best car LRs built and nothing LR has built to date has come close. That includes my D3, D4, D5, DS, Evoque, Velar and my new Defender 90.
I'm guessing it would have a weight advantage,less weight to get up the hills
Make it even better and rip as much weight off the freelander as you can and make it a competition rig
I agree - do NOT hang a winch off the front George!!!
Weight is always the number one enemy and this was actually my conclusion.. less weight = less force needed at wheels / better acceleration / better braking / better cornering / better fuel economy....
My Freelander 2 was way too pretty to do all that .. I had the best looking FL2 in the country.
Leave it in first gear it will crawl anywhere it won't stall, it has an anti stall device.
We have stalled it...
You had a lot more fun in that.
Yes more fun to come as we do some more challenging green lane routes.