Freelander / Defender

[R1CBM]

Afternoon all,

Newbie here.

I currently have a Suzuki Grand Vitara. Just put it up for sales as I'm gitting into Off Roading solwly and realised I require higher ground clearence etc....


So. I'm not sure if I should buy a defender (old one) then I can jack up the suspension etc and not worry about the body work .

OR,

Do I buy a freelander (Are they any good off road) so if I go to France then it's a nice car to drive down there then I can off road in comfort

[darrenptalbot]

Why not go for a Discovery - good off road & plenty of comfort

:yay:

[R1CBM]

Do like them, but too big for me. I'm a 2 door kinda guy :band:

[darrenptalbot]

Then how about an older 3 door?

[R1CBM]

Just too BIG I think. The Grand Vitara does very well off road and on. But it's too new and if I slide I get into trouble with the wife :p

I want something of similar size ie the defender / freelander.

But I know the freelander doesn't have a low ratio box like the GV. So I'n not sure if they are any better than what I have.

[s.stirley]

Just got a Freelander, picked it up yesterday !

First impressions are very good, certainly sounds like it does what you need too. See www.freelanderclub.co.uk and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freelanderclub/ for plenty of comment and pictures on their off-road ability also.

:Mexicanwa

[darrenptalbot]

Si

I was just about to point R1CBM in your direction!

Well intercepted

:yay:

[Lighting90]

The defender is bigger than the Vitara, and squarer:p
Lifting it higher would be no problem for the defender, though, it is high already, and only the really serious off roaders tend to lift them.
the Freelander is good off road, but, it does not have the ground clearance, and lifting that is not so easy, but can be done, as Ford did it to a V6, and it is now used on the British Rally as the safety car. (First one though and all that)
The thing is, with a freelander, would you not have the same problem as the Vitara, and would be worried about scratching it????

Alternative, get the freelander, for gentle green laning, and spend a couple of hundred on a Series Landie for the more serious off roading. Plenty about have had all the mods done to them as well.... and depending on the age, might not even have to pay car tax on it....

[R1CBM]

Cool.

What is clearence like ? Or is it a case of getting a suspension lift kit fitted.

[Lighting90]

On which one, freelander or defender??
I can measure my defender, Steve woul dhave to tell you about the freelander.

Land Rover Enthusist Mag, latest issue has done an article on the rally prepared Freelander, and they have a pic showing how the suspention was altered.

[R1CBM]

Hmm... not sure, I'm new to this off roading thing. NEED MORE MUDDDD:cool8:

[Lighting90]

I mean, which one do you need to know about the height....

Other thing, where are you in the UK, maybe one someone might be happy to take you out for a ride in there defender/freelander so you can see what they are like. Another way is to join your local Land Rover club, and attend one of there local off road events, I have seen people turn up with other manufacturers machines before, to see how they compare. Normally they will leave wanting a Landie of course... :p

[R1CBM]

Leighton Buzzard,


Quite near Devils pit / luton area.

Is there a freelander pre-prepared for off road you can get, like a special edition etc...

[s.stirley]

LR quote 200mm minimum clearance for the Freeloader, so it's more a car for _careful_ laning I think. I'm a newbie too so it will suit me for a bit, few scratches won't hurt it either. The electric gadgets actually make it better than some of the other Land Rovers in the right situation too, but don't tell anyone I said that ! LOL

If I seriously get into off-roading I think a V8 will be on the cards, I've seen early ones for very little money 'in need of work' :)

The Freelander is great for now though, quite big, easy to drive, nice position, economical, well equipped and with a decent amount of off-road ability.

Cheers, Si

[stevec]

I've got a Freelander and my wife has a Grand Vitara. Ground clearance seems similar - I'd not pick either if I needed good clearance, though both great for softroad, snow, mud, farm lanes, etc.

[Lighting90]

Welcome SteveC, good to see someone new posting on the Freelander threads, hope to see you on here more in the future.
and maybe even in some of the other threads too....
:p