Freelander - Should I, Shouldn't I

[lainey-bop]

Freelander – Should I, Shouldn’t I?  A woman in torment!!

I am having a dilemma at the moment and could really do with some advice from those that know.

I have had a 2000 Ford Focus 2.0 Ghia for 6 years and love it, but it is time to move on as the old girl is getting on a bit and is going to start needing more TLC than in the past.

So what should my next vehicle be?  Reaper, my husband, is staying very objective as he does not want to influence me too heavily with his love of all things LandRover!  He owns a Series III and a Discovery, and I have owned a Range Rover in the past.  I guess some things just rub off, no matter how much you try not to influence someone!

I am thinking it is time for something a bit bigger and a bit different, but nothing too big, as this needs to be a vehicle that I can drive locally to and from work.  I have discounted the Range Rover and the Discovery as being too big, which leaves the Freelander.  

I have enjoyed doing a bit of off roading with Reaper in his vehicles, (I don’t like the thick mud though!), and it is something that I might like to try myself, but is not my primary reason for considering a Freelander.  It will primarily be a road vehicle.

I love the look of them and the idea of them, but haven’t actually sat in one yet.  I have read such poor reviews on them and their reliability that I am frightened to in case I really like it and my heart wins over my head!

So…….. I guess I am looking for some input from those that actually drive the Freelander, as opposed to those that write about it.  I am thinking a Diesel and 5 doors and have about £5,500 plus my car which is worth around £2,500 trade in.  I have seen them for this price, although I could do with some recommendations of where to buy from.  Main Dealers are too new and too expensive, but I really would like to part x mine so still needs to be a used car dealer.  We don’t seem to have a high concentration down this way of 4x4 dealers.

I wait with baited breath for the flood of non objective reviews from Freelander owners, and thank you in advance for helping me with my dilemma!

Elaine

[ben_haynes]

they are alright but dont get a 1.8 K Series petrol (Head Gaskets Gallore) the TD4 is a good Engine and they are very comfortable (even the 1.8) I dont use one as a daily drive but i have worked on Dozens of them

there are a few Transmission problems mainly Diff Mounts that go weak and the Viscous Coupling on the propshaft

but these are easy to fix

[lambert]

Biggest problem seems to be lack of clearance on the old ground undercarridge interface, beyond that they are alright cars. My best man loves his and uses it in much the way you mention so he fitted some oversized mud terrains and has few probs keeping up with my mav and a 110 on lanes.
 
Oh do get a tin top as the others leak wet water on the seats.

[ben_haynes]

Oh do get a tin top as the others leak wet water on the seats.

That is a Standard Land rover Fitment :shock:

Did you not Know that :lol:  :lol:

[carbore]

I have a quite new TD4 Auto (BMW engine one)

Its very comfy on the road, quiet and good visability
Acceleration is not good even in "sport mode gears" but its by no means plodding,  im used to sports cars.
Handling IS very good, iv driven estate cars that feel a lot less stable (and im used to sports cars.....)
Economy on the TD4 is not great (compared to a focus) but better than any other landrover
Its easy to manage, but I have parking sensors which nice for day-to-day zipping about.

Space (Difficult one)
Its not big in terms of boot space, even with the seats down I have had better luck getting some things in the back of our Golf than the back of the freelander. However other things (like a huge generator) were fine because of the float loading area with no shelf and I got all our wedding booze in it fine as the axle loading it will take is also good.

I have a full length Brownchirch roof rack on mine which has been very usefull (not sure if £300+ usefull!) and dont forget the window drops which makes fur some envious gazes when picking up wood form B&Q

Its a good tow car, but not up to towing a Series (which i was surprised at)

I love my auto as it just "feels right" and I don't miss changing gear (also makes things like HDC seem much more integrated into the driving)

[Ja1983]

have you considered maybe a vitara ort something jap?

freelanders in my opinion are fit for school run mums, and hairdressers.... just the first thing that comes into my head...

but if your hardly ever going to to do anything more than the odd light lane, or byway... its probably not too bad... have a good look round a few with the landy expert!

or personally i`d go for a 90 if the disco is too big...!

...or bobtail disco! :D

[Jake]

From what i've seen at work definetly avoid the K series engined cars.
Engine out for a fan belt  :shock:
Overall the Freelander seems to be a good little car, just let down by its mechanics.
Have you considered a Mitsibushi Pinin or one of the Short wheel base Land Cruiser types of motors?
The not too big Jap stuff is very good and reliable too
Good luck and let us know what you go for  
 8)

[V8MoneyPit]

freelanders in my opinion are fit for school run mums, and hairdressers.... just the first thing that comes into my head...

Have you driven one? I suspect not from that comment   They are surprisingly capable off road. We now have a 50mm lift and BFG AT's. The lift addresses the ground clearance issue and the tyres do more than we need them to. It's used everyday on the road and the mods are not noticeable. It gets used around our fields and has never got stuck..... unlike my 110  :oops:

We have had 2 3dr hard tops. Neither suffered from leaks, but I wouldn't say they never leak.

If you want a family carrier, buy a 5 door. The 3 drs are dreadful for getting in and out of the back.

The TD4 is probably the pick of the crop. The V6 can be thirsty and the 1.8 petrol has that ever present head gasket issue hanging over it. Never had this problem with our one, but we now have a TD4.

We are very happy with ours. Does everthing we want of it.

You should be able to get a nice facelift model for £8k.

[ben_haynes]

Engine out for a fan belt  :shock:

what on a K series Freebie

NO there is Bags of room you can get 2 K series engines in the engine bay

[carbore]

The chap who runs an off road center near me said he was surprised how good they were off road when driven by someone who knows what they are doing.

[Jake]

Engine out for a fan belt  :shock:

what on a K series Freebie

NO there is Bags of room you can get 2 K series engines in the engine bay

Thats what all the main dealers do and professional garages do.
Its the easiest way to change the belt regardless of the amount of space in the engine bay.
IIRC the belts are to the left of the enigine and are obstructed by the engine mounts.
I personally haven't worked on any Freelanders but i have seen and heard the moaning from our mechanics every time a Freebie comes in for a service.
Another thing that seems to be replaced on lots of Frebies is the IRD unit (the Freelander's version of a transfer box).
I dont doubt the off raod abilty of the baby of the fleet but i do doubt the ownership of them.
Ask Thrasher why he got shot of his (well, swmbo's car) and brought a Mitsibushi for her when, if you cut Thrasher in half, he's got Land Rover printed on his insides.
 

[ben_haynes]

Engine out for a fan belt  :shock:

what on a K series Freebie

NO there is Bags of room you can get 2 K series engines in the engine bay

Thats what all the main dealers do and professional garages do.
Its the easiest way to change the belt regardless of the amount of space in the engine bay.
IIRC the belts are to the left of the enigine and are obstructed by the engine mounts.
I personally haven't worked on any Freelanders but i have seen and heard the moaning from our mechanics every time a Freebie comes in for a service.
Another thing that seems to be replaced on lots of Frebies is the IRD unit (the Freelander's version of a transfer box).
I dont doubt the off raod abilty of the baby of the fleet but i do doubt the ownership of them.
Ask Thrasher why he got shot of his (well, swmbo's car) and brought a Mitsibushi for her when, if you cut Thrasher in half, he's got Land Rover printed on his insides.
 

i worked on tons of freebies and never had a problem on K series lump (done loads off Cambelts and fanbelts) understandable on TD4 and V6 but i just put block of wood on jack and take engine mount off jobs a gudun

and i do work for a proffesional company

[Ja1983]

freelanders in my opinion are fit for school run mums, and hairdressers.... just the first thing that comes into my head...

Have you driven one? I suspect not from that comment   ...

surprisingly no havent... but to be honest i`d never driven a disco til i bought one! ..again the opinion i had was school run mum/cant afford a range rover, but i`m pleasantly surrised with mine, i`m sure a freelander would be equally as much of a surprise, but they are the smallest, and most "feminine" of the group... so unless a td4 came up excessively cheap, and had recipts to show the viscous coupling had been done recently, i`d be sniffing around the jap stuff..

then again i`m a man addicted to brown stuff (mud) and due to low self esteem and feelings of inadequacy down stairs, i have to have something big and manly....  :lol:  :lol:

but from this post, i would certainley consider a td4 for SWMBO, good for the long runs, comfy, compact, sure theres bits i could pinch for my disco on it! but not my thing..  

[Guardian.]

my mate loves them, but he does have a repair garage, has 1 bay just for them.
i used to quite like them even nearly considered one for the missus until i see just how bad the build quality is in them.
unfortunately its a landrover i would definately not buy, but im sure there will be tons of peeps out there with them that think there ace, just make sure its a good one, as best you can.

[schuee]

On the whole I am really pleased with my TD4, never had any leaks , and have been really surprised of the off-road ability and that is with factory fitted tyres.Will fit some AT's next time around, a pleasure to drive on the road, and for green laning never had any trouble as yet.
The Freelander was I suppose never meant to be a serious off-road vehicle, however is suits my purpose, gets me from A to B and I can enjoy some green laning every once in a while :D
If you find a good un, go for it.

Cheers

[Bishops Finger]

Dependant on fund availability have a look at a Jeep Patriot.....@7k less than the latest Freelander and with  lots of toys as well

[Range Rover Blues]

Only thing I can say is that we looked at a couple of freebies in car land and I'm glad we didn't buy either.

The nice one was £16k and the not so nice was £10k.  Everything I've been warned about them came true, but then I guess the good ones are what people hang on to, the bad ones get sold on.

Annoying to think that by the time it was payed for it would be a noisy, unreliable old thing.

I know plenty of folks have them and love them, but my (limited) experience is that they can't tow as well as my RRC, they are expensive when they break and TBH not that much more economical.

We were looking at a Freebie because my wife hated driving Blue and didn't want another RRC.

In  the end I stuck her in a softdash that my mate was selling and made her drive it home, after some arguament I might add.

She didn't speak to me for 20 minutes, but the first words out of her mouth were "so how much does he want for it"

Now I have to prise the keys from her hand :lol:

[V8MoneyPit]

As you say, it's very much down to individual experiences and I remember you saying about yours before. At the end of the day, you have to drive some and see what you think. By getting one at the £8k as suggested, hopefully anything that was going to fall off has already done so and been repaired!

On the towing subject, we tow a 2 tonne dropside without too much trouble. They have a 2 tonne capacity BTW  :lol: Although the TD4 auto is a bit on the limit for hill starts with a full trailer!

[Steve ray]

For the sort of money your quoting, you should be able to get a decent Td4.

Go for the best spec you can afford - just sold our 52 plate, top-of-the-range ES spec (ES Premium wasn't out then) with full leather, CD changer, sunroof, etc and only 36,000 on the clock and one owner and full service history for that sort of money

Happy hunting :D

[lainey-bop]

Thanks everyone for the input - it's been really helpful.  

I'm going to take all your comment on board, spend some time looking around and think about what has been written.  I'll let you know what I decide, and please continue to post if you have any other opinions on the subject.

Thanks again to one and all
Lainey-bop