OK so sell me a freelander!

[discowoman]

Hi guys n gals... never had a freebie - but been looking at them more and more lately (must be an age thing - lol )
Must admit the prices are VERY tempting, BUT its the head gasket / IRD horror stories that are putting me off.. has anyone actually got a breakdown of costs involved in repairing the usual suspects ?
also has anyone got any pictures of the boot space on the 5 door and what will fit in there (we have a rather large Rotty   )
Thanks people

[freelanderpx54]

Boot space is ok to get a Rotty in. Not much difference in boot space size between 3 and 5 door. Go for a Td4 if you can as it is a better engine. Don't get a 3 door if you carry passengers. It is a pain getting in the back, especially if you are trying to put children into child seats. That's my view from ownership of a 3 door Td4. Due to the extra grandchildren I ended up getting a D2 which has a bit more room.

Make sure your decision to buy is future proofed, you don't want to buy something which 12-18 months down the road isn't big enough to cope with family and pet demands.


Despite comment to the contrary, the freeby is pretty good off road if you take into account the lack of ground clearance

[discowoman]

well theres 2 adults and 3 kids (4,11 and 12) so a 3 door is out because its only a 4 seater.. did look at diesels..but cash is probably a bit tight for one of those :(:(
Is it possible that most early freebies have had the problems sorted by now, or are there still horrors waiting to happen?

[V8MoneyPit]

There is a Land Rover fix for the K series engine head gasket problems. But most trouble is caused by poor servicing. If you can get to see the history for the car, check if there's a bill for the upgrade.

The 1.8 petrol engine is actually an excellent unit. It is just a bit on the limit for coolant capacity so gives trouble when it leaks or if the coolant system isn't properly purged of air when serviced.

5 door versions fetch more than the 3 door ones, but sounds like you would need a 5dr.

As previously said, see if you can stretch to a TD4. It is by far the best engine. The V6 is excellent, but thirsty. The old diesel is OK, but a bit agricultural.

[carbore]

Hello,

I slightly disagree re the HGF issue being due to poor servicing, I worth a thread about the K series http://www.mud-club.com/forum/index.php/topic,29315.0.html and its down to a weakness in thermostat positioning, although being nasty to your car will exasperate it!

However its right that the upgrade fixes it (as it move the thermostat position), so if the car has not had this then its possible/likley even that it will happen but not inevitable, esp if you look after it etc.  After all the old lady who works at my old glof club had an HFG in her Rover400 and she took it to rover on the service dot etc etc. You can also do your own upgrade and provided its never blown up before and been bodged (warped head and a thick gasket to hope to make it go away) then it should be fine.

Deffo go for a 5 door. Space in the back is "variable", some things work well (I had a huge generator in there) but other things dont (some windows that went fine in our Golf hatch, but wouldnt fit in the freelander) Itrs got a lot of height, but width is ok, but length is quite frankly appalling due to the seats not disapearing when you fold them forwards. Mind you iv got a Brownchurch roof rack on mine that would carry a wilderbeast back to the campfire no problem.

I do a lot of miles in my TD4 and its very comfy and ok for economy.

[cooper956]

dont buy petrol thay are still suffering problems and always will we got a low milage  2.0 di cheaper than the td4 and a sound engine ours is a 3 door. look out for diff probs ect and wet boot floors back round in a car park in a circal and then dip the cluch while movening if the car stop sudden and dosent roll walk away it will be the center diff or viscus unti is gone think £400 ish to sort also ird untis fail as do rear diffs dont confuse a clonk on the rear as diff though ours just had the diff mounting bushs gone  easy fix myself for under £50

[richoutthere]

I've got a 1998 1.8 petrol and it does 30mpg on my 20 mile daily commute. I've had it 4yrs and hardly cost me a thing. Reasonably easy to and cheap to fix. Mine does slow on full lock, it's a common characteristic not a failed vsu or ird. If the K series has been sorted by LR it'll be ok as long as you dont thrash it. The early ones do tend to wear the rear tyres strangly and can cause a hummmmmm commonly diagnosed as a diff or bearings. Just swap the tyres around and wear them evenly again. I've had to do it twice on mine in 20k mile (I think it depends how much slow speed cornering you do). The only things with mine are, the heaters are rubbish, leather seats are cold as they not heated and there's not enough low down torque to help when offroad. Brilliant car for the money and just try and buy anything for the same money. age, equipment, capability on and off road. Ticks all my boxes

[CNorman]

There is a Land Rover fix for the K series engine head gasket problems. But most trouble is caused by poor servicing. If you can get to see the history for the car, check if there's a bill for the upgrade.

The 1.8 petrol engine is actually an excellent unit. It is just a bit on the limit for coolant capacity so gives trouble when it leaks or if the coolant system isn't properly purged of air when serviced.

5 door versions fetch more than the 3 door ones, but sounds like you would need a 5dr.

As previously said, see if you can stretch to a TD4. It is by far the best engine. The V6 is excellent, but thirsty. The old diesel is OK, but a bit agricultural.

I have to say that i very much disagree with the servicing issue causing head gasket faults. I would personally go for the older and  less refined diesel than the 1.8i. The head gaskets are very very expensive when they go. Also lots of people you speak to who have suffered HGF seem to have them repeat.

There is 1 alternative though........... I had a discovery 300tdi and come from a family of Landy owners HOWEVER rather than get the 1.8 freebie as i could not afford the diesel i did buy myself a grand vitara.... Low ratio box, lockable 4WD and it too seems capable off road, i would rate mine as competant as a freelander.

I think everything is personal but i really would not buy a K series engine irrespective of how nice the vehicle is.

[CNorman]

Also i would be very very wary of the land rover "Fix". People assume that when the head gasket on a landy goes it is through the head gasket failing this is not the whole truth. Unlike a normal simple engine where you pull off the head and then fit a new gasket the 1.8i has wet liners, and if they slip when you remove the gasket, which they can and often do, then you are supposed to re align the liners which is complex and TBH is think is beyond the average back street garrage and home mechanic. You can replace the gasket and chucl it back together. You may get 3000 miles or 25000 miles but they will go again!

Fitting the fix is not the end of the problem. My partner had the K seris engine and when it failed several garages said they were not willing to work on it.

PS, i have changed head gaskets before but not on a free lander so i am waiting to be corrected on my rantings  :D

[richoutthere]

Each to their own I say. But have you actually owned a 1.8 and had a bad experience? and how many have and haven't had problems? Vitara is a definate contender, (and relativley easy to work on, but they feel a little thin and I felt like I was driving faster than I actually was it mine. They also have a nasty habit of accumulating condensation in the head giving the impression of a failed head gasket (funily enough).
From my experiense, i'd have a freelander over a vitara for under £5000 More than £5k and the freelander tends to be less of an actractive buy in my book as theres lots of other options. Good allrounder without haveing to compromise too much to get you off the hard stuff.

[V8MoneyPit]

I have to say that i very much disagree with the servicing issue causing head gasket faults. I would personally go for the older and  less refined diesel than the 1.8i. The head gaskets are very very expensive when they go. Also lots of people you speak to who have suffered HGF seem to have them repeat.

My experience is from 2 different independant specialists who have seen numerous failures after the cars have been serviced by 'back street' garages. There is a fundamental design fault in the engine, but a poorly purged coolant system will highlight it. Because the coolant volume is tiny compared to most other units, it is highly critical to get all the air out. Hot spots cause the dowels to melt/distort. The gasket can slip and the liners can move. All things that lead to a big bill! Engines can fail with a full LR service history, or never fail. There is no sure fire way of knowing if any specific one will. However, I have not heard of a failure after the LR upgraded dowels and gasket have been correctly fitted.

Each to their own I say. But have you actually owned a 1.8 and had a bad experience? and how many have and haven't had problems?

Quite right! Ours never gave us trouble. There are hundreds of thousands of K series engines out there that have never had a problem. However, the percentage of failure is far too high IMHO. There is a known issue with them, but this is reflected in the price of the vehicles. You pays your money and takes your choice, as they say  :D

[richoutthere]

ditto

[alankennedy10]

sell you a freelander ok

its petrol gasket has blown seems good so far with new thicker gasket and douls now vcu is goosed and ird has just whent BANG this is getting expensive fast that siad i still love mine

if you loads money sitting spare to throw at it when you need to get one as they are real lovely motors on or off road and iv chuck mine into some real dirt

do go for the deisel as these engines are indeed far more relaible when well servived do inspect the drive train real good if in dowt walk plenty out there.

if no spare cash id go for a vitara as my father in law has one ill vouch is real good and costing nothing to keep going

my advice is depenedent on your budget and spare funds loads money freelander no money vitara