Towing with a Freelander
Discussion
We're going to replace our 'N' reg V8 disco in the next few months, hopefully with something with better fuel consumption - 13 mpg is beginning to depress me. We're looking at Td5 Discos, but what are the V6 Freelanders like? I'm 6'3", and I've heard that they don't suit tall drivers. Also, we tow a TVR, and although it's inside the (1.8 tonne) Freelander towing limit (the car weighs a tonne, the trailer 500kg) anyone know what it will actually be like to tow? I don't want to find myself crawling up hills at 3mph in low ratio ...
Are there likely to be problems getting engine parts, now that Rover are gone? Whose engine is it, anyway? And finally, what sort of mpg can I expect around town? (It'll be an auto).
Are there likely to be problems getting engine parts, now that Rover are gone? Whose engine is it, anyway? And finally, what sort of mpg can I expect around town? (It'll be an auto).
Hello,
FYI
Freelander
V6 Petrol
Power: 177bhp/ 240nm torque
MPG: Urban 16.5
extra urban 29.1
com 22.7
Performance
0-60,10.1 sec
top speed 113mph
max towing 1800kg
Getting Parts for the engine will be no problem,
There is more room in the front of a freelander than a disco but the boot is very small.
the engine is a Rover/bmw unit
>> Edited by farmeryellow on Thursday 28th July 13:17
FYI
Freelander
V6 Petrol
Power: 177bhp/ 240nm torque
MPG: Urban 16.5
extra urban 29.1
com 22.7
Performance
0-60,10.1 sec
top speed 113mph
max towing 1800kg
Getting Parts for the engine will be no problem,
There is more room in the front of a freelander than a disco but the boot is very small.
the engine is a Rover/bmw unit
>> Edited by farmeryellow on Thursday 28th July 13:17
I'm 6'1" and don't find headroom an issue. You might find it better with cloth seats not leather...
I get an average of 25mpg from my V6 although to be fair most of my journey is commuting on A/B roads.
I tow with mine but only a 8x4 trailer which is not anywhere near the weight you're talking about. I'd be interested to see how other people rank its towing capability. It isn't the torquiest engine in the world and you don't have a selectable low ratio although the steptronic box allows 'manual' gear selection if you require.
I have 3 kids (two teenagers) and have never found space a problem. We looked at Discos and didn't find much difference with internal space except for, as you say, the boot. You could always get a top box..
I get an average of 25mpg from my V6 although to be fair most of my journey is commuting on A/B roads.
I tow with mine but only a 8x4 trailer which is not anywhere near the weight you're talking about. I'd be interested to see how other people rank its towing capability. It isn't the torquiest engine in the world and you don't have a selectable low ratio although the steptronic box allows 'manual' gear selection if you require.
I have 3 kids (two teenagers) and have never found space a problem. We looked at Discos and didn't find much difference with internal space except for, as you say, the boot. You could always get a top box..
zumbruk said:
Looking at the recommended towing weights, our stuff is well over the "85% rule", so I think we'll get another Disco. Drove a nice Td5 last week - I was quite suprised how well it went compared to the V8...
If you get a TD5 run it round to JE Engineering and slap the stage 2 conversion on it.... much better. more power and better throttle response.
The mpg on a td5 isnt great 24-25. maybe a little less towing.
When you first start towing the td5 will catch you out pulling away, there is nothing below about 2.5k rpm.. the it all comes in at once.
was you v8 a manual, the wifes got a 3.9 manual and we average about 18mpg..
Graham said:
zumbruk said:
Looking at the recommended towing weights, our stuff is well over the "85% rule", so I think we'll get another Disco. Drove a nice Td5 last week - I was quite suprised how well it went compared to the V8...
If you get a TD5 run it round to JE Engineering and slap the stage 2 conversion on it.... much better. more power and better throttle response.
I've driven both chipped and unchipped ones in the last week or so, and other than a much reduced tendency for the chipped one to hunt in the gears, I couldn't tell that much difference.
Graham said:
The mpg on a td5 isnt great 24-25. maybe a little less towing.
Believe me, it beats the cr*p out of the 13mpg we're getting from the V8.
Graham said:
was you v8 a manual, the wifes got a 3.9 manual and we average about 18mpg..
No, an auto. I wouldn't buy anything else for everyday use.
Anyhow, we bought a 2002 Td5 ES on Saturday. Pick it up next Saturday.
>> Edited by zumbruk on Thursday 11th August 10:08
zumbruk said:
Anyhow, we bought a 2002 Td5 ES on Saturday. Pick it up next Saturday.
Cool.. there is quite a variance in the chips available. THE je one is the only one that ( unofficially) will not effect your warranty.. the stage 2 on mine is a full replacement ecu and a bigger intercooler. If you want to try mine you welcome to have a go...
Cheers
G
Graham said:
Anyhow, we bought a 2002 Td5 ES on Saturday. Pick it up next Saturday.
Cool.. there is quite a variance in the chips available. THE je one is the only one that ( unofficially) will not effect your warranty.. the stage 2 on mine is a full replacement ecu and a bigger intercooler. If you want to try mine you welcome to have a go...
Thanks, but the dealer's said he can fit a chip for me and if I don't like it, they'll take it off; no charge. It's out of factory warranty anyhow, and the chip won't affect the dealer warranty. I think the decider will be how it tows. I shall see after the Debden TVRCC sprint in October ...
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