Freelander, petrol or diesel?

Gareth Watkins · Jan 21, 2004

Hi folks
I currently run a 1997 Teranno 2.7tdi which is mostly being used for the
school run by the wife so it's costing a fortune to run! Hence, I'm going to
downsize it for something alot better for the economy but I still need
something capable of towing my 1400kg caravan, so the Freelander seems a
good option. Trouble is, I'm on a budget of only 8500 quid.
Looking through autotrader online there are very few diesel Freelanders at
this price and the ones that are have over 100K on the clock. I drove one
today and it had a VERY noisy back end, sounded like a shagged diff. Theres
another one up the road from me but it has 110K on the clock and had a new
gearbox 10K ago.
So the 1.8 petrol version seems like a good idea as there are loads of them
around within my budget but I'm being told by some people they it will be a
crap towcar and they are dreadfully unreliable. Is this true?
If so then what do you all think is my best option, high mileage diesel or
low mileage 1.8 petrol?
Thanks for all opinions.
Gareth

Lobby · Jan 21, 2004

Go for a TD4 (BMW) Diesel. they are good!!. the old 2.0d L series from LR is
ok, but not as good. I would advise not to go for the petrol!!

You can chip the TD4 up to 140 BHP easily and cheap. I would also advise
automatic, great with steptronic and better off road. The services are also
cheaper for thr TD4.

The earlier freebie had the "wrong" ratio transfer box causing excessive
tyre wear, but i think fom 2001 this problem was solved. so go for a later
TD4 auto (my recommendation) With air con. If you deceide for a 2.0d "L"
series make sure the 50,000 miles inspection has been don cos it is
expensive with cambelt change, also if it doesn´t start too good when cold
check the glow plugs.(3 are easy to change the 4 th is a SOD!!!) or the glow
plug relay (70 amp)

As you have a budget of 8500 quids you will probably not get a TD4. The
noise from the rear end is not the diff, it is just a rubber/aluminium bush
and they cost 20 quid and 20 mins work and last about 2 years. Anymore
questions ??

Lobby

"Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
> Hi folks
> I currently run a 1997 Teranno 2.7tdi which is mostly being used for the
> school run by the wife so it's costing a fortune to run! Hence, I'm going
to
> downsize it for something alot better for the economy but I still need
> something capable of towing my 1400kg caravan, so the Freelander seems a
> good option. Trouble is, I'm on a budget of only 8500 quid.
> Looking through autotrader online there are very few diesel Freelanders at
> this price and the ones that are have over 100K on the clock. I drove one
> today and it had a VERY noisy back end, sounded like a shagged diff.
Theres
> another one up the road from me but it has 110K on the clock and had a new
> gearbox 10K ago.
> So the 1.8 petrol version seems like a good idea as there are loads of
them
> around within my budget but I'm being told by some people they it will be
a
> crap towcar and they are dreadfully unreliable. Is this true?
> If so then what do you all think is my best option, high mileage diesel or
> low mileage 1.8 petrol?
> Thanks for all opinions.
> Gareth
>
>
>

james holloway · Jan 21, 2004

what bout instead for the L£$D RO%ER Freelander go for something like a
Suzuki Grand Vitara?

"Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi folks
> I currently run a 1997 Teranno 2.7tdi which is mostly being used for the
> school run by the wife so it's costing a fortune to run! Hence, I'm going
to
> downsize it for something alot better for the economy but I still need
> something capable of towing my 1400kg caravan, so the Freelander seems a
> good option. Trouble is, I'm on a budget of only 8500 quid.
> Looking through autotrader online there are very few diesel Freelanders at
> this price and the ones that are have over 100K on the clock. I drove one
> today and it had a VERY noisy back end, sounded like a shagged diff.
Theres
> another one up the road from me but it has 110K on the clock and had a new
> gearbox 10K ago.
> So the 1.8 petrol version seems like a good idea as there are loads of
them
> around within my budget but I'm being told by some people they it will be
a
> crap towcar and they are dreadfully unreliable. Is this true?
> If so then what do you all think is my best option, high mileage diesel or
> low mileage 1.8 petrol?
> Thanks for all opinions.
> Gareth
>
>
>

PR · Jan 21, 2004

"james holloway" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> what bout instead for the L£$D RO%ER Freelander go for something like a
> Suzuki Grand Vitara?
>

That is actually a good idea - the GV was a lot cheaper than the Freelander
new but in some ways better (real 4x4, low ratio). It is pretty modern in
most respects.

8.5k should get you a x or y 2000 or 2001 2.5V6 with not too many miles on
it. Auto trader currently has a 2001 Y woth 60k miles for that price but
you will find something with 35 to 40k miles at that price if you look
around.

Nice smooth petrol v6 which should return near 30mpg (after harping on
about the Sorento earlier, my wife has a Grand Vitara XL-7 auto 2.7v6 which
returns 27mpg - the shorter and lighter 5 seater standard GV2500 should do a
but better) How that compares with your current 2.7diesel i dont know.

Far better have a good GV2500 than a shagged freelander with a smaller
engine, and Suzukis are MUCH more relaible than any land rover.

Go and look at one and see what you think.

Huw · Jan 21, 2004

"Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi folks
> I currently run a 1997 Teranno 2.7tdi which is mostly being used for
the
> school run by the wife so it's costing a fortune to run! Hence, I'm
going to
> downsize it for something alot better for the economy but I still
need
> something capable of towing my 1400kg caravan, so the Freelander
seems a
> good option. Trouble is, I'm on a budget of only 8500 quid.

I cannot quite fathom how a Terrano used as you describe above could
cost a fortune to run. Would not spending more money on changing it,
make its replacement more expensive to run, not less? Anything you buy
of this type is not likely to yield more than a three to eight mpg
advantage. Unless you have a fault somewhere which causes reduced
consumption on the Terrano. In any case, the yearly mileage is
probably low, therefore fuel takes a backstage to depreciation
concerns, doesn't it?

Huw

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Gareth Watkins · Jan 22, 2004

"PR" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "james holloway" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > what bout instead for the L£$D RO%ER Freelander go for something like a
> > Suzuki Grand Vitara?
> >
>
> That is actually a good idea - the GV was a lot cheaper than the
Freelander
> new but in some ways better (real 4x4, low ratio). It is pretty modern in
> most respects.
>
> 8.5k should get you a x or y 2000 or 2001 2.5V6 with not too many miles on
> it. Auto trader currently has a 2001 Y woth 60k miles for that price but
> you will find something with 35 to 40k miles at that price if you look
> around.
>
> Nice smooth petrol v6 which should return near 30mpg (after harping on
> about the Sorento earlier, my wife has a Grand Vitara XL-7 auto 2.7v6
which
> returns 27mpg - the shorter and lighter 5 seater standard GV2500 should do
a
> but better) How that compares with your current 2.7diesel i dont know.
>
>
> Far better have a good GV2500 than a shagged freelander with a smaller
> engine, and Suzukis are MUCH more relaible than any land rover.
>
> Go and look at one and see what you think.
>
>
>
Ok, thanks, I will do. We are getting around 24 mpg on the Terry which is
mostly around town so it's the main reason for us changing. My brother has a
V plate Freelander with the older diesel unit in it and says that he gets
good round town economy but it could be a better towcar. However, I only tow
a few hundred miles a year so the economy is more important to us right now.
Thanks though, I hadn't thought about the Suzukis before so I will have a
hunt around tomorrow.
Gareth

Gareth Watkins · Jan 22, 2004

Huw
Sorry mate but u aint the one paying 200 quid a month in diesel!
Yes, we will lose money on the depreciation but you do on any car. There is
nothing wrong with the Terry, only we bought it when our circumstances were
very different and the Terry was being used for a different purpose. Now it
is being used for the daily school run twice a day and constant around town
use taking my disabled son to all variety of appointments and treatments so
it is woefully uneconomical.
Today we have decided to chop it in for a Freelender diesel on a T plate
which will cost us no more per month on the loan but for another nine
months, but the figures promise to save us nearly 70 quid a month on fuel so
we shall see.
Looking at the figures long term it will be a bit more as we will be paying
another 9 months of repayments on the loan, but hey, I live from month to
month and when I see a month's worth of diesel costing 200 sheets then I
know something needs to be done!
Gareth

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi folks
> > I currently run a 1997 Teranno 2.7tdi which is mostly being used for
> the
> > school run by the wife so it's costing a fortune to run! Hence, I'm
> going to
> > downsize it for something alot better for the economy but I still
> need
> > something capable of towing my 1400kg caravan, so the Freelander
> seems a
> > good option. Trouble is, I'm on a budget of only 8500 quid.
>
>
> I cannot quite fathom how a Terrano used as you describe above could
> cost a fortune to run. Would not spending more money on changing it,
> make its replacement more expensive to run, not less? Anything you buy
> of this type is not likely to yield more than a three to eight mpg
> advantage. Unless you have a fault somewhere which causes reduced
> consumption on the Terrano. In any case, the yearly mileage is
> probably low, therefore fuel takes a backstage to depreciation
> concerns, doesn't it?
>
> Huw
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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>
>

QrizB · Jan 22, 2004

On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:52:25 -0000, "Gareth Watkins"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Huw
>Sorry mate but u aint the one paying 200 quid a month in diesel!
....
>I live from month to month and when I see a month's worth of
>diesel costing 200 sheets then I know something needs to be done!

Are you sure one of the local scrotes isn't syphoning it out of your
tank? Even at a woeful 20mpg (V8 Range Rover territory!), 200 quid
should take you somewhere over 1000 miles.

--
QrizB

I sound like I know what I'm talking about, but don't
be fooled.

Huw · Jan 22, 2004

"Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Huw
> Sorry mate but u aint the one paying 200 quid a month in diesel!

That must be around 55 gallons a month. At your stated mileage of
24mpg that makes 1320 miles a month. That is about 15500 miles year!
Divide this by 22 school days per month and that is 60 per school day.
Divide by four and I estimate a 15 mile distance from school or a 30
mile round trip twice a day. In Town????!!
Get your kids to catch a bus

Huw

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Exit · Jan 23, 2004

Huw wrote:
> "Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Huw
>> Sorry mate but u aint the one paying 200 quid a month in diesel!
>
> That must be around 55 gallons a month. At your stated mileage of
> 24mpg that makes 1320 miles a month. That is about 15500 miles year!
> Divide this by 22 school days per month and that is 60 per school day.
> Divide by four and I estimate a 15 mile distance from school or a 30
> mile round trip twice a day. In Town????!!
> Get your kids to catch a bus

>
A little insensitive there Huw - he has already said his son is disabled
which probably rules out the bus and may well explain the longer daily trip
to a suitable school.

--
Julian
---------
= Pretentious Sig required =

Huw · Jan 23, 2004

"Exit" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Huw wrote:
> > "Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> Huw
> >> Sorry mate but u aint the one paying 200 quid a month in diesel!
> >
> > That must be around 55 gallons a month. At your stated mileage of
> > 24mpg that makes 1320 miles a month. That is about 15500 miles
year!
> > Divide this by 22 school days per month and that is 60 per school
day.
> > Divide by four and I estimate a 15 mile distance from school or a
30
> > mile round trip twice a day. In Town????!!
> > Get your kids to catch a bus

> >
> A little insensitive there Huw - he has already said his son is
disabled
> which probably rules out the bus and may well explain the longer
daily trip
> to a suitable school.
>

Then I partially withdraw the last sentence because I had not noticed
what you point out. He will possibly qualify for some disability
payment to carry the child to school then? Maybe not. Still, the
distance travelled in total must be approximately correct.

Huw

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Gareth Watkins · Jan 25, 2004

"Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Exit" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Huw wrote:
> > > "Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > >> Huw
> > >> Sorry mate but u aint the one paying 200 quid a month in diesel!
> > >
> > > That must be around 55 gallons a month. At your stated mileage of
> > > 24mpg that makes 1320 miles a month. That is about 15500 miles
> year!
> > > Divide this by 22 school days per month and that is 60 per school
> day.
> > > Divide by four and I estimate a 15 mile distance from school or a
> 30
> > > mile round trip twice a day. In Town????!!
> > > Get your kids to catch a bus

> > >
> > A little insensitive there Huw - he has already said his son is
> disabled
> > which probably rules out the bus and may well explain the longer
> daily trip
> > to a suitable school.
> >
>
> Then I partially withdraw the last sentence because I had not noticed
> what you point out. He will possibly qualify for some disability
> payment to carry the child to school then? Maybe not. Still, the
> distance travelled in total must be approximately correct.
>
> Huw
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.556 / Virus Database: 348 - Release Date: 26/12/03
>
>
Huw
Fabulous maths there mate. Personally, I really couldn't give a stuff what
the distances are that we are doing, only that we have to do it. I am paying
about 200 quid a month in diesel, that's it, and I want to be paying less.
And no, we don't qualify fot the mobility part of the Disability Living
Allowance yet becasue my son is not yet three. And if you think I'm leaving
my six year old daughter to travel to school on a bus on her own then you've
got another thing coming. Besides, most days my wife has to go on from
dropping her off at school to take my son for one of his multitude of
appointments for treatment or therapy.
So Huw, please don't try telling me how to restructure my life. I simply
asked for advice on the Freelander and explained why. I didn't ask you how I
could change my life.
To all the others who have answered with useful advice, many thanks. I
bought a Freelander diesel yesterday on a W plate. According to the book it
returns about 35mpg around town which, according to my brother who runs the
same Freelander, is about right.
Many thanks again.
Gareth

PoP · Jan 25, 2004

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 09:27:47 -0000, "Gareth Watkins"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>To all the others who have answered with useful advice, many thanks. I
>bought a Freelander diesel yesterday on a W plate. According to the book it
>returns about 35mpg around town which, according to my brother who runs the
>same Freelander, is about right.

I've got a W reg Freelander diesel (pre-TD4) and I'd say 35mpg isn't
far off the mark. I probably achieve about 30mpg, but my right foot
tends to behave like an on/off switch

PoP

Sending email to my published email address isn't
guaranteed to reach me.

Huw · Jan 25, 2004

"Gareth Watkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Huw" <hedydd[nospam]@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> Huw
> Fabulous maths there mate.

Thank you.

Personally, I really couldn't give a stuff what
> the distances are that we are doing, only that we have to do it. I
am paying
> about 200 quid a month in diesel, that's it, and I want to be paying
less.

Don't we all.

> And no, we don't qualify fot the mobility part of the Disability
Living
> Allowance yet becasue my son is not yet three. And if you think I'm
leaving
> my six year old daughter to travel to school on a bus on her own
then you've
> got another thing coming. Besides, most days my wife has to go on
from
> dropping her off at school to take my son for one of his multitude
of
> appointments for treatment or therapy.
> So Huw, please don't try telling me how to restructure my life.

Your life is your own mate and I do not care one way or another. I
just did the maths, which, unless someone corrects it, I will assume
is correct.

I simply
> asked for advice on the Freelander and explained why. I didn't ask
you how I
> could change my life.

The Freelander will probably do 6mpg more than the Nissan. Over 15000
miles per year, this will save about 125 gallons of fuel per annum, or
about £450.

> To all the others who have answered with useful advice, many thanks.
I
> bought a Freelander diesel yesterday on a W plate. According to the
book it
> returns about 35mpg around town which, according to my brother who
runs the
> same Freelander, is about right.

Then you will save more. Great.

Huw

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Blippie · Jan 28, 2004

>I bought a Freelander diesel yesterday on a W plate.

Blimey, you don't hang around!

Good choice.

Cheers

Blippie
--
Visit the alt.aviation.safety FAQ online at www.blippie.org.uk

Freelander, petrol or diesel?

Gareth Watkins

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Lobby

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james holloway

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PR

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Huw

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Gareth Watkins

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Gareth Watkins

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QrizB

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Huw

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Exit

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