Freelander as a first car

Hi just a question which I hope you will be able to help me with.

I am in my 20s and just passed my test and I am thinking of getting a second hand Freelander as a first car. I am not worried about Insurance as its not much more than a normal car and the MPG for the Diesels I am told is 38 which isn't an issue either. The only thing that concerns me is maintenance costs as I am told they are much higher for Freelanders and I was wondering how much typically maintenance costs are per year compared to a standard car such as a Ford or a Vauxhall. Also as a first car I was wondering if you would recommend a Freelander.

Also my price range is around £3,500 which I reckon I could get ~12 year old Freelander with ~80,000 miles on the clock, am I being a bit too optimistic there or is this reasonable?

Cheers to anyone who can help.

you can pick up a 12 year old freelander for alot less than that!

Typically half! I take it this £3500 is from a dealer? Personally I would buy privately, pocket the £2000 saved and then "IF" something goes wrong with it, you have some cash ready to sort it.

Freelander 1's are pretty easy to look after to be fair and their maintenance is no harder than that of any other manufacturer.

If you do want to buy from a dealer, if they give you some crap like "of its been made 2wd to improve its mpg" walk away. It means the VCU (viscous coupling unit) which makes it 4wd was knackered (they all go) and the previous owner was too much of a tight wad to sort it.

TD4 (at the age you mention) is a very reliable engine, and shouldnt give you too much jip. Theres loads of handy info on here if you have a looksee about

There's no such thing as "typical" on a 12 year old vehicle and a FL1 isn't cheap when things go wrong. If you don't do diy then you may need a LR specialist for some repairs.
Insurance will be as high as the cost of the car. 38mpg is on a steady run, round town will be more like 22mpg.
My advice, don't get a FL, get a cheap run about, you're bound to bump it a few times in your 1st year .

clarkkent said:

There's no such thing as "typical" on a 12 year old vehicle and a FL1 isn't cheap when things go wrong. If you don't do diy then you may need a LR specialist for some repairs.
Insurance will be as high as the cost of the car. 38mpg is on a steady run, round town will be more like 22mpg.
My advice, don't get a FL, get a cheap run about, you're bound to bump it a few times in your 1st year .

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I would suggest that by "typical" the OP meant normal servicing costs - timing belts (obviously not an issue on the td4!) cost of service etc. There is no real difference to that of a more normal runabout.

If things go wrong with it, its probably just the same cost as any other vehicle, except theres maybe a bit more with it being awd. Parts are cheap, servicing is easy and most jobs can be handled by a relative new person to spannerings. Insurance - completely irrelevant really as it varies so much by the person that it cannot be used as an argument for an alternative.

If its a freelander that the OP wants then I say have what you want

Insurance isn't much more.

I am told also that petrol defenders are something to avoid as well as ones built before the 2003 facelift. Is there anything else you would suggest avoiding?

Freelander110 said:

Insurance isn't much more.

I am told also that petrol defenders are something to avoid as well as ones built before the 2003 facelift. Is there anything else you would suggest avoiding?

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woah there... defenders are different from freelanders

If you want a freelander theres no problem with the 1.8 k series one, yes the earlier ones had issues (just as many as the latter to be fair!) but by now most have had the heads sorted(either properly or bodged)

They are considerably cheaper than the diesel ones to purchase so if you dont do many miles then a petrol might work out a better investment.

I have a petrol one, ive had 3 over the years.

Oh theres nothing wrong with early ones by the way, and there are some real bargains to be had - i bought my wife a 99 reg 5 door with the 1.8 in really nice condition the other week with almost full mot for £600! it works a treat

vilguy said:

woah there... defenders are different from freelanders

If you want a freelander theres no problem with the 1.8 k series one, yes the earlier ones had issues (just as many as the latter to be fair!) but by now most have had the heads sorted(either properly or bodged)

They are considerably cheaper than the diesel ones to purchase so if you dont do many miles then a petrol might work out a better investment.

I have a petrol one, ive had 3 over the years.

Oh theres nothing wrong with early ones by the way, and there are some real bargains to be had - i bought my wife a 99 reg 5 door with the 1.8 in really nice condition the other week with almost full mot for £600! it works a treat

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Sorry I was thinking of something else yes I do mean the Freelander not the Defender.

The key point is being able to fix it yourself - if youre no good with a spanner than a freelander (and other "old" cars) will ruin you..............

With that budget you should get something good, either a straight buy or getting one with a few faults that can be fixed within budget. I have a fondness for diesels at higher mileage as when I was younger people would say a Diesel engine at 100,000 miles is just run in. Truth or not, I don't know.

I bought my 02 TD4 knowing it needed a new clutch master cylinder. Of course after buying it I discovered VCU testing and it needed a new one of those too but I think I got a good price and all done it came to much less than your budget.

I think the freelanders weakness is it was marketed as a compact SUV that would be just the thing for the school run (ok, there I said it!). Unfortunately the typical buyer isn't interested in the finer points of how to keep it running sweet "it's just a car".

So you may find one with silly faults, might need to sort out a set of matching tyres or replace the VCU. Good news is you're on here asking questions first (I wasn't...) and most of the items that need replacing are simple unbolt / bolt on affairs that once done will last a decent length of time.

Personally when looking at cars I look for a good engine, gearbox and body. Those are the biggest things to get fixed and are potential show stoppers. Almost everything else can be replaced relatively easily.

Have a good read of the various buyers guides, there's nothing new under the sun and everything has (probably) already been discovered and a remedy found.

I got my 03 plate freebie from a dealer for 4k (such is the nature of fking Cumbria) because I couldn't fit a modified defender or disco into my multistory carpark. It had 73k on it and a fairly good service history. My insurance was 1750 for my first year, at 21, and first motor, and is now at £700.

Currently on month 10 of driving with the freebie as my first car. Insurance was around 1150 for the year, by comparison a ford fiesta was 1000 so not much differece really. If i do bump it at any point, its a sturdier car to take a bump with. Plus its nice to drive.

Got a 1.8 myself and do enjoy the thing. I try to do all repairs and mods to it myself though so my running costs arent very high despite it having a fair amount wrong with it when i first got it.

Had my 53 Mk1 facelift TD4 for 5 years, has cost me no more than any other vehicle. Have thought about selling it but it's so reliable that I'd be a fool to do so. Currently on 90K, serviced & MOT'd once a year. Drove to Italy last year plus various trips to France, I don't think twice about taking it. I am careful with the tyres & the VCU was changed 2 years ago. Started motor failed but that can happen to any vehicle at any time. I did my research before I bought it hence I went for the TD4 auto (gear box oil changed at 70k as a precaution).
Best car I've ever had as far as reliability is concerned & I'm the wrong side of 50+. Perhaps I've been lucky I don't know.
Only niggling thing at the moment is that 3 of my central locking doors have packed up but there again it is a 13 year old car. Can't wait for the snow again!!

Cheers guys for your advice, looks like I am getting a freelander now.

Phil E said:

Had my 53 Mk1 facelift TD4 for 5 years, has cost me no more than any other vehicle. Have thought about selling it but it's so reliable that I'd be a fool to do so. Currently on 90K, serviced & MOT'd once a year. Drove to Italy last year plus various trips to France, I don't think twice about taking it. I am careful with the tyres & the VCU was changed 2 years ago. Started motor failed but that can happen to any vehicle at any time. I did my research before I bought it hence I went for the TD4 auto (gear box oil changed at 70k as a precaution).
Best car I've ever had as far as reliability is concerned & I'm the wrong side of 50+. Perhaps I've been lucky I don't know.
Only niggling thing at the moment is that 3 of my central locking doors have packed up but there again it is a 13 year old car. Can't wait for the snow again!!

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Pick yourself up some rover 75 door locks half the price of Freelander locks same part number

Yeh, I'd say go for it. As said - check the tyres & VCU regularly and I recon they're pretty good. Other than what I should have checked! I've only had to replace the ABS unit in 5 years of Freelander ownership. There will be people who have had pigs though - just like with any car. Don't entertain petrol - you've got a bit of cash - spend it on a diesel not fuel and repairs. If you're doing lots of miles - not necessarily on the motorway - get a manual - you'll get about 20% better economy.

As for insurance, my 17 year old son with 0 months on his licence got a year's 3pft cover on a 200HP 150MPH Rover 220 Turbo Tomcat for £50 - all about the post code.

GrumpyGel said:

As for insurance, my 17 year old son with 0 months on his licence got a year's 3pft cover on a 200HP 150MPH Rover 220 Turbo Tomcat for £50 - all about the post code.

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Awesome - does he live on Sark?

kourgath said:

Awesome - does he live on Sark?

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lol. I think he should have got a truck though.



( Big bag of fish in the shade )

Im a bit late here but thought i'd chime in. I bought my freelander in February this year. Its a 52 reg 3 door td4 manual. It spent a week in the workshop getting some stuff done. New diff and rear end parts. It was then in an fuel injection place for a few days. It had a misfire and all 4 injectors had to be rebuilt. (Went to panda diesel in Fareham, really good if any of you guys are in south central and need your injectors to be done)

Anyway, the question was is it a good first car. Short answer, yes. I love it but my insurance doesnt like me driving it, i got it when i was 18 and im 19 now. Student, living at home. All the stuff insurance doesnt like but i managed to get it for a little over £1000.

You really do need to be handy with a spanner to have an older one of these. Mine is on 145,000 miles ish and it runs really well and with a ron box its amazing. I will be doing some intercooler upgrades too but i digress again.

Engine wise its bulletproof, i haven't had a problem (unless you count the injectors). Servicing is relatively easy apart from having to take off the under tray thing to change the oil. Its generally the bolt on bits that give you the problems, for example the clutch, VCU, IRD etc. but if you have the skills to rebuild them yourself it saves a lot of moolah.

Parts are easy to come by because its a BMW engine but this does mean it can be expensive. You can fit second hand parts for a fraction of the price but obviously, be wary. If you are prepared to pay out in the region of £500 now and then you are fine but my guess is stuff will need doing. My VCU fell apart while i was driving the other day, i lost £270 just like that. Although my dealership quoted me £750 because the propshafts had to be sold with the VCU, i asked if that included the gearbox and IRD, the salesman didn't find that funny.

All in all, yes, go for it. You will enjoy it and it will comfortable and if you get bored then you will probably get to do some work on it. Just be prepared that once you but it you will probably have to do some work on it.