2007 Freelander Starting at $50,000. Would you pay that for one?

Guys, from the article quoted before:

...from its styling to a focus on on-road performance and even a cockpit that is far more like a luxury car than a workhorse Land Rover

says it all. Just for that 'focus' they bummped up the price. Baby Rangie. And no, it's NOT for people who want low-range. It's for people who have no clue what low-range is. It is not for people who want to go bush (and scratch that paint). It's for posing and driving up to the Kos for a ski weekend in an expensive chalet. It is for people who believe they will have the lifestyle of 'freedom' that a 4WD gives. It's all marketing. LR is trying to move up to the luxury market and is targetting those who have high disposable income but think are too young or too 'wild' to drive a pompous, grand, luxurious and very British Range Rover or conservative BMW...

... as for the old Flandie. I like mine. It's comfy and gets me places with the family. No, it will not go to the Cape. It wasn't meant for that. Fraser Island - brilliant. Around town - brilliant. Long highway drive - brilliant. Bought it second-hand so all little things got ironed out (I know the previous owner). Would I buy a new one if I had the cash? No. I don't think so. It is almost as big as old Disco. I'd rather spend the cash on a Disco II or keeping the old Flandie and the SII on and off the road. I am sure FII is a great piece of engineering but I think it is more of a status symbol than a true 4WD. Price shows it too....

This whole thread has a rather familiar look. Ignoring the Series/Defender for a moment -

The Rangerover was introduced in 1970 as a more comfortable offroad vehicle, aimed at Rover's traditional upper middle class market but with a rural bias.

Through the 1970s and 1980s it moved steadily up market until by the late eighties it was clearly not only a luxury marque, but well up in the luxury range, and although they made a lot of money on each car sold, so few were being sold that (with the poor 90/110 sales due to Jap competition) that the company was in real trouble. Enter the Discovery to come in under the RR, as a cheap but comfortable modern four wheel drive, aimed at Rover's traditional upper middle class market. It was the best selling four wheel drive ever in Europe, and saved the company's bacon.

Through the 1990s and into the 21st century the Disco moved steadily up market until with the introduction of the D3 it became a clear luxury car. Enter the Freelander to come in under the Disco as an affordable Landrover aimed at Rover's traditional upper middle class market. It was the best selling four wheel drive ever in Europe, and saved the company's bacon.

With the new model Freelander is clearly well into the move up market! Looking at past history, a new model to fit under that is clearly indicated.

As a couple of asides - remember that the main game is in Europe - as far as Landrover is concerned Australia is a footnote. Although it is worth noting that from the 1950s to the 1970s Australia was Landrover's biggest export market (but still small compared to the home market) - but Australia has been the largest market anywhere for the Landcruiser utility models since the 1970s.

John

I must admit $50k is a bit steep.

$50k drive-away ....... maybe. But before ORC ... I dunno.

We have been looking on and off at something to replace our current Freebie. Coming up to 5yrs old and it's time to upgrade. I have had a look at an X3 - my god it was awful.

My only concern is interior room - I'm a tall bugger and our current Freebie is excellent for me (as an aside, I dunno what the writer of that carsguide article was going on about with a cramped footwell - our Freebie takes my size 15 boots easily) ... so that will be another determining factor.

It is interesting to see how LR prices have gone up ... I remember the days of $29,990 Freelanders and $39,990 Discos ...

I also think LR should offer 4yr warranties on everything - that'd be a big step towards improving perceptions of reliability.

I think like most people here I would not buy another new Land Rover.

I bought my D2 TD5 new it's five years old and hate to think how much I have lost on it. I just want to get another 5 years out of it with out too many repair bills.

If the rumours are correct and the new 5 door landcruiser troopie coming in May with TDV8 is around $50K to $60K they will sell like hot cakes which will really **** me.

However as JDNSW said Australia is just a footnote for Land Rover.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JDNSW

This whole thread has a rather familiar look. Ignoring the Series/Defender for a moment -

The Rangerover was introduced in 1970 as a more comfortable offroad vehicle, aimed at Rover's traditional upper middle class market but with a rural bias.

Through the 1970s and 1980s it moved steadily up market until by the late eighties it was clearly not only a luxury marque, but well up in the luxury range, and although they made a lot of money on each car sold, so few were being sold that (with the poor 90/110 sales due to Jap competition) that the company was in real trouble. Enter the Discovery to come in under the RR, as a cheap but comfortable modern four wheel drive, aimed at Rover's traditional upper middle class market. It was the best selling four wheel drive ever in Europe, and saved the company's bacon.







Through the 1990s and into the 21st century the Disco moved steadily up market until with the introduction of the D3 it became a clear luxury car. Enter the Freelander to come in under the Disco as an affordable Landrover aimed at Rover's traditional upper middle class market. It was the best selling four wheel drive ever in Europe, and saved the company's bacon.

With the new model Freelander is clearly well into the move up market! Looking at past history, a new model to fit under that is clearly indicated.

As a couple of asides - remember that the main game is in Europe - as far as Landrover is concerned Australia is a footnote. Although it is worth noting that from the 1950s to the 1970s Australia was Landrover's biggest export market (but still small compared to the home market) - but Australia has been the largest market anywhere for the Landcruiser utility models since the 1970s.

John

---

Exactly. It's not aimed at you or I, but at the perceived market.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ak

I think like most people here I would not buy another new Land Rover.

I bought my D2 TD5 new it's five years old and hate to think how much I have lost on it. I just want to get another 5 years out of it with out too many repair bills.

---

In all fairness, you loose lots of money on whatever you buy new. I'm not convinced that the disco is much worse than many other vehicles that you could have bought.

At any rate there is no real reason these days why anyone should be surprised at what they get for their vehicles when they go to sell them. Did you do some research before you bought?

The only time in the last 10 years that I was surprised with the value I got on sale of a car was around 99. The car I was selling I bought in 94 and I'd worked out what I would have got for it. Unfortunately the Koreans flooded the marked and they increased the depreciation across the market. This was something I wasn't expecting and it hurt :(

I see that currently the freelander is rated at 50% residual after 3 years. So, if you pay 55k for a new one now, you can probably expect around high teens for it privately in 5 years, or low teens for a trade. If you're lucky it will be popular and you might do a little bit better but I'm pretty sure that's how things will go. Who needs a crystal ball :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ak

If the rumours are correct and the new 5 door landcruiser troopie coming in May with TDV8 is around $50K to $60K they will sell like hot cakes which will really **** me.

---

You can't buy a current troopy for less than 60k otr? If you want more than 3 seats in your troopie they are 55k + onroads.

If the Freelander was the only Landrover I could afford then I would buy one for $50k, I just couldn't get myself to buy any other 4wd or AWD in this case.

I for one love LRs :D