Freelander your views

[morson4x4]

Ok always been the but of Land Rover jokes we all heard them soft lander etc I used to be one of these people, but on an honest opinion I do like them (never be a 90) I personal want a 90 or a series but my wife dont want an old one like I do and has suggested a freelander, I've had discoverys for most of my lands playing but what are the freelander like off road (got to compromise somewhere any Land Rover better than none) we looking at a diesel station wagon 1998. I'll open a poll for you to help and comments on their off road abilities thanks for your help

[Range Rover Blues]

That's a toghy to answer because I don't really know what you want.

Are we talking series 1 freebie?  I've been laning with a couple in the past and they can have a good go.  Ground clearance is a factor as is the lack of low box.  See a big hill and you have to take a run up at it.

Also limited as a towcar, both weight and power.

Small, comfy and cheaper to run.

But I have to say, if you can't have a Defender then why not a Disco?  good SII TD5 for 10k these days, that's where I'd be looking if I had an empty space on the drive and some cash in my pocket.

Anything older and you need to budget for a good welder

[morson4x4]

I've had plenty of discos in the past and offroaded them, wife has said if another disco appears on the drive it would have to be a 3 so money can't stretch that far as I do t want hp, if I had my way it would be a 90 all the way but she like the freelander as it's comfy and girly looking

[morson4x4]

Does the feelander 1 have diff lock still if no low box

[Range Rover Blues]

AFAIK the freebie 1 does not have a transfer box as such.  It uses a stock Rover FWD gearbox and adds the IRD, this couples to the normal final drive and reduces the speed, turning the motion to drive a propshaft which includes a viscous coupling, outside the gearbox.

The rear wheels try to drive slower (I think) than the front, allowing you to corner as a FWD and the back only pick up the drive if you start to loose traction.  The same system was employed on the Cavalier.

Later F1s had a closer match between front and rear axles to combat early failures of the viscous unit which, like a late RRC, could fail if excessively employed because it causes them to overheat.

The system has no driver input whatsoever.