Commonsense & Wonder
The 鈥渞adicalized鈥?globally active extremists that are residents or formally citizens of advanced countries illustrate the point. When we look beyond the headlines the hard facts of limitations leave us with a 鈥渨hat can be done? 鈥?and some limited alternatives. Humanism and the need to defuse a trend that is becoming a second 鈥渕igration of peoples鈥?demand action in ways that implement its good intentions. This means that action must be taken locally, that is 鈥渙ver there鈥? Genuine refugees, such as those from Syria, must be given temporary shelter in their region, among their brothers in language and religion. Upon the conclusion of the conflict, the displaced will be able to return and to rebuild their homeland. More complex is the problem of the accelerating migration that leaves Africa. Ill prepared and misled regarding what to expect, the mass in motion cannot be accommodated outside of its own continent. The remedy is to create conditions in Africa that gives people hope and that puts that region on the path of development.
Naturally, you look to a luxury automaker. What do you choose? Models like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class may be tailor-made to introduce buyers to the premium segment, but a new study finds that they don't garner the highest rates of non-luxury customer conquests. It turns out that a Volvo leads among folks moving up to a premium brand, and it isn't even one that's made anymore, at that. A recent study by Polk and IHS Automotive looked at what models had the highest rates of buyers upgrading from a non-luxury segment. The information comes from its new vehicle registration data through April 2014. All ten top models boasted conquest rates of over 50 percent, but the Volvo C70 led the field with 68.01 percent of its customers coming from non-premium brands. Tata to get Jaguar and Land Rover tech, platforms too? Since buying Jaguar Land Rover, Indian automaker Tata has generally left its luxury arm's platforms and technology alone.
There were two generations of the Freelander before production stopped in 2014, with 310,619 units having sold between 2009 and 2015. Let鈥檚 look at each phase in detail. Now standing on its own two feet, the Freelander was popular right out of the gate. Sadly, early models ended up plagued with mechanical issues. Giving them a name for being unreliable. With the help of its parent company's financial backing (BMW), reliability improved, and sales increased. The gen 1 Freelander came in several variations, including a 5-door estate (similar to a station wagon). And a 3-door softback (semi-convertible). There were four engine options, two gas-powered, and two diesel engines (though only three of them were available in the US). While most of the early models featured a manual transmission, a Tiptronic automatic came standard on the V6 (eventually becoming a favorite). At the time, Land Rover built a name for catering to off-road enthusiasts, making the Freelander a bit of a deviation due to the lack of a low-range gear selector or a locking differential.
Note, also, that off-road use, and particularly use that involves water crossing or frequent travel on dusty roads, will reduce the life-span of fluids and filters. Some owners have reported issues relating to engine overheating and poor air conditioner performance, which may be linked. Though the causes are numerous, it seems likely that engine overheating and poor AC performance most likely stem from a bad radiator fan control module, bad water pump, or a bad thermostat. If the model you鈥檙e considering has the 3.2L engine, ask a Land Rover service manager about the coolant hose recall, which may also help remedy overheating and other issues. Confirm that the air conditioner works properly too, activating and deactivating it several times over the course of your test drive, and keeping an eye on the coolant temperature gauge, which should stay about halfway between cold and hot. As an added precaution, have a mechanic inspect the alternator, as some models suffered issues related to a leak which allowed engine coolant to drip onto, and in to, the alternator. Note that revised software can help prevent battery drain, possibly caused by a Bluetooth system that stays active even when the LR2 isn鈥檛 running. Here鈥檚 some more info about battery drain caused by improper shut-down of the infotainment system, and how to fix the issue. With most owner-reported issues pointing to easily detected faults with the cooling system, charging system, and battery, a used LR2 should be easily checked for common problems by a qualified mechanic. Where possible, seek a 2013 or newer model to take advantage of the higher-efficiency engine. A used model from a Certified Pre Owned program at a Land Rover dealer will be your safest bet.
