Not "Out Of Africa'' But "Into Africa!''
I chose we spend a night away, self catering..Kenyan style which means you are provided with a cook and cleaner and you only have to actually provide the food and booze. We had been recommended a nice affordable cottage on a dam, about a hour north from us and we planned to take Martin and Tid with us, however Tiddy鈥檚 broken rib put paid to that. We set off on the Sat 6th March only to find the road between home and our destination was not much of a road anymore; much to Derek鈥檚 delight this was going to be a fun 24 hours after all! I had ideas of spending the night stuck, rather than in a comfortable cottage, but luckily I was wrong and two hours later we arrived safely on a 14, 000 acre farm, run by white Kenyans- the Dodd鈥檚 family. We will be back! During the month, from Monday to Friday I barely saw Derek as he spent most of his time in Nanyuki on the building project.
Power comes from a version of the new 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder that will be under the hood of the '07 Volvo S80. In the LR2, the engine is upgraded for off-road use to resist dust, mud, and water. Other improvements allow it to operate on a greater incline without losing oil pressure. The transversely mounted six-cylinder makes 230 horsepower (five less than in Volvo form) and 234 pound-feet of torque (two less than the Volvo version). That's a strong improvement over the Freelander's 174-horse total. The twin-cam 24-valve engine has variable valve timing as well as a multistage intake system. Hooked to a six-speed automatic, it will take the LR2 from standstill to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, claims Land Rover, and on to a 124-mph top speed. The last Freelander we tested, in January 2002, turned 0-to-60 in 10.2 seconds. Underneath the unibody LR2 is a fully independent strut-type suspension with larger disc brakes at each corner. The LR2 we drove rode well, feeling more nimble and better controlled through turns than a Range Rover or LR3. Compared with a BMW X3's, the LR2's ride is softer and more comfortable. 39,000 for a loaded model. That should include a good deal more standard equipment than the old vehicle, in addition to all the 4-wheel drive goodies. Look for the LR2 in U.S.
You might also consider a certified pre-owned LR2. Land Rover extends its original new-car warranty to seven years or 100,000 miles for certified pre-owned vehicles. Every CPO Land Rover must pass a 165-point inspection. Which Is Better: 2014 Land Rover LR2 or 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque? The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, another 2014 off-road SUV, has quicker acceleration, nimbler on-road handling, superior fuel economy, and a fresher interior design. Also, the Evoque comes standard with a rearview camera, a feature you鈥檒l have to pay extra for in the LR2. On the other hand, the LR2 has better visibility and about 8 more cubic feet of cargo space. Both SUVs have poor reliability ratings, but if you have to pick one of the two, the Evoque is the better choice. Which Is Better: 2014 Land Rover LR2 or 2014 Acura RDX? As long as you don鈥檛 need an off-road-ready SUV, the Acura RDX (available with either front- or all-wheel drive) is far better than the LR2.
Land Rover products can function off road as well as anything on the planet. But off-road capability only goes so far if a vehicle (even those with the vaunted Land Rover name) doesn鈥檛 cut it on hard pavement. That鈥檚 where a majority of driving is done even for the avid off-road enthusiast. Handling, performance and gas mileage are key ingredients. And that鈥檚 where the entry-level Land Rover Discovery suffered for more than a decade through its last year of production in 2004. It was slow and it guzzled gas, not a good combination. The Freelander, another attempt to put the common man behind the wheel of a Land Rover beginning in 2002, wasn鈥檛 much of an improvement with an anemic 2.5-liter V-6 engine that carried poor EPA ratings. A year after the Discovery was discontinued in the U.S the short-lived Freelander met its demise. To fill some of the void, Land Rover introduced the more upscale, more expensive and more rewarding LR3 in 2004 as a 2005 model with a full complement of off-road equipment.
