Am I making the right decision?

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heatseeker872591

New Member
Posts
54
Location
Isle of Sheppey in Kent
hello everyone, my names Aaron and I am the owner of a very reliable and well looked after 2006 freelander 1 td4 with 57,000 miles on the clock and I am the 2nd owner of it. the first being 1 lady owner. I absoloutley love this car, it has alot of optional extras including heated leather seats, air con , reverse parking sensors etc. Apart from it not starting the other week due to the fuel pump needing replacing it has been very reliable.

I actually have it up for sale at the moment on e bay (i am not advertising this dont worry administrators) as I have always deep in my heart wanted a Defender 90 (the best 4x4 on the planet so to speak) and I just love their rugged farm vehicle looks. but last year when I had the money for a nice defender i chose the freelander instead, it being a modern vehicle with less mileage on the clock. As my main conern about the Defender is reliability and maintenance.I dont want a vehicle where the bonnet is up all the time checking for oil leaks etc. At the end of the day i need a reliable 4x4 to get me too and throw work I am not an off roading enthusiast but a 4x4 comes in handy when the snow falls each winter.

So I just want some opinions on this. Do i chase my dream get a Defender after selling my freelander? Or so I scrap the total idea of it all and keep my freelander?:dance:
 
I too had the money for a defender, but bought my freelander, wish I had bought the other, cant fault this motor, it gets us through lots of mud in our woodland, but we all know defenders are better
 
essexpestcontrol said:
I too had the money for a defender, but bought my freelander, wish I had bought the other, cant fault this motor, it gets us through lots of mud in our woodland, but we all know defenders are better
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Thats whats bugging me at the moment, the defender is the well known true land rover. I really want one its just im trying to do a bit of research on their reliability first lol
 
heatseeker872591 said:
oh definatley, i have to get to work lol
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As a daily car, Freelander wins hand down, trust me, you'll miss your heated seats, heated windscreen, working heaters etc etc, the newer Defenders have these, but they aren't as good

Although don't get me wrong, if I could afford a new 2.2 XS 90SW or 110Utility then I'd get one tomorrow :D
 
I'd say the newer defender is is just as reliable as the freelander, the problem is really how long can you keep it for before someone nicks it. Free landers are not really targeted. I had an ex BT H reg 90, grey outside yellow inside. And it was a bit tatty but it was sound and reliable and I enjoyed it but even in its tatty state someone still tried to nick it. Another thing to keep in mind when deciding.
 
freelandie71 said:
I'd say the newer defender is is just as reliable as the freelander, the problem is really how long can you keep it for before someone nicks it. Free landers are not really targeted. I had an ex BT H reg 90, grey outside yellow inside. And it was a bit tatty but it was sound and reliable and I enjoyed it but even in its tatty state someone still tried to nick it. Another thing to keep in mind when deciding.
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oh yes of course i been told defenders are easy to break into and hot wire and drive off lol yeah if i got one i will be investing in a steering wheel lock, and even a sign saying "this vehicle has a tracker and is traceable" on the steering wheel when i leave it unattended lol even tho it wouldnt but could still act as a good detterent?
 
IMO I think you will regret it. The Freelander, especially the facelifts, generally don't rust and are comfortable, warm, and as reliable as you're likely to get with a Green Oval on the grille. The Defenders are great, and possibly the best 4x4 but by your own admission you don't need it. In the snow and ice and wet roads the Freelander will be better as it has traction control. I'm sure Hippo can show you an excellent video of the off road prowess of various models in the Landy range followed by his Freelander.

If you want a car full of character that likes a good drink of diesel, constant topping up of fluids, a bonnet that prefers to be up than down, a chassis that prefers to be connected to a welder, a heater that doesn't, a driving position that requires your elbow out the window to be able to turn the wheel, more bent panels than a ballroom dancing competition, more cabin noise than Heathrow's runway number 2, and a local garage on speedial that rubs their hands together whenever you call, then get the Defender. If you want to get to work in one piece in comfort, warmth and dry, with the odd trip to the garage then keep the Freelander. If you want reliability, sell the Freelander and get an X-Trail.

The Freelander is a street car that can do pretty well off road. The Defender is an off road vehicle that can go on the street. So which are you most likely to drive - on or off road? That will answer question. I'd like a Defender, but not for everyday use. Freelander is better for that. If you don't do many miles, then not a problem, but be honest with yourself.
 
heatseeker872591 said:
oh yes of course i been told defenders are easy to break into and hot wire and drive off lol yeah if i got one i will be investing in a steering wheel lock, and even a sign saying "this vehicle has a tracker and is traceable" on the steering wheel when i leave it unattended lol even tho it wouldnt but could still act as a good detterent?
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Friend of mine had a dream car- a Defender 90. He saved for ages and got a very good and expensive one. It had a wheel disc lock and tracker. He parked it on his drive with the wife's Corsa in front. He woke one morning and found the Corsa in the street and the Landy gone. Never found it despite the tracker which was undetectable. Believe me, if they want it, they will get it.

He was heartbroken, and in the end bought a new Isuzu pickup and reckons it's much better for what he wants- falconry, dogs and shooting.
 
Spacemonkey... said:
Friend of mine had a dream car- a Defender 90. He saved for ages and got a very good and expensive one. It had a wheel disc lock and tracker. He parked it on his drive with the wife's Corsa in front. He woke one morning and found the Corsa in the street and the Landy gone. Never found it despite the tracker which was undetectable. Believe me, if they want it, they will get it.

He was heartbroken, and in the end bought a new Isuzu pickup and reckons it's much better for what he wants- falconry, dogs and shooting.
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sounds quite bad,they must have been organized theifs and had their eye on that defender for a while. sounds scary tho, thats why if i ever got one i wudnt be bragging about it on facebook with pictures of it etc. u never know who ur friends are these days lol i will seriously have to think about it tho, im even thinking about saving up and buying a defender and keeping my freelander aswell, i know it sounds crazy!!!!
 
I used all of my Landys as everyday vehicles,Series/90/110 and Disco's in that order over 20 years.But I sold all of them within a year of owning them as there was always another that caught my eye. Only when I bought my first Freelander in 2006 did I realize that being cold/wet/deaf and broke meant they just weren't practical as everyday vehicles. No, not even the Disco's. 99% of my daily driving is done on my own.Occasionally I have my other half with me, but only really if we go on holiday.Therefore a heavy, thirsty 7 seater is doesn't make sense on any level.My 90's ,odd as it may seem, were too big and too small at the same time.
 
Spacemonkey... said:
If you want reliability, sell the Freelander and get an X-Trail.
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Xtrails are not reliable they blow turbo's the injectors wear out quickly and the clutch can destroy itself in under 30,000 miles search the web and you find loads of people have had these problems as did my mate he got rid and got a CRV
 
Bizzie said:
Xtrails are not reliable they blow turbo's the injectors wear out quickly and the clutch can destroy itself in under 30,000 miles search the web and you find loads of people have had these problems as did my mate he got rid and got a CRV
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only the early diesels. Later ones and the petrols are much better.
I have had mine 60K miles and, apart from servicing, I have had 2 sets of tyres (GG ATs), mid and rear exhaust sections (Salisbury Plain finished the rear box) and two sets of lower front wishbones.

After my KV6, it was a welcome change.
 
My mates was a 2009 30k and the dealer admitted that they have problems and he managed to get the clutch done under warrantee because it wasn't worn but had popped as they put it the injectors were rattling when he traded it in.
 
dont go doozil then.

problems with any car - I knows CRV that have caught fire - but not all do. :).
I can only repeat, from my experience, the XT is a better car than a freelander.
 
My mate has one and so do a couple of guys at work places I go to. None have had trouble apart from my mate's turbo going and that was the usual 1 lady owner who did short little trips in it. The oil feed pipes clog up if oil not changed regular enough. She didn't...
 
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