Hi from East Kent

Hello all,
I recently purchased an R-reg (1998) Freelander, my first ever 4x4, for the princely sum of £1250 - alot of car for the money.

Despite initial trepidation concerning the car's reliability record (mine had a LR replacement K-series 4 years ago), so far, so good, touch wood, and today I took her for a bit of an off-road session, traversing a steep muddy field with snow and ice, and it conquered it with ease - putting both Traction Control and Hill Descent Control to the test

So, I look forward to hearing more from this forum, and learning more about the vehicle

Cheers,
Maurice.

:welcome2: Hope you've got thick skin and a sense of humour, you'll need it on this forum ... but thinking on you must have for buying a K-Series engined Hippo:doh: should have got a diesel!

Hi Dewin,
Thanks for that welcome - I think...

I'm not the biggest fan of diesels - all that nasty soot and clattering, though of course the torque and economy are good.

I don't mind a bit of spannering now and then, having mostly previously owned classic cars such as Morris Minors, MGB, etc. so if things go wrong, I'll be having a go at repairing it myself; in fact, I've already changed the engine oil & filter, and both fan belts, which was something of a mission owing to seized bolts on both the sump guard and alternator, but nothing a bit of handiwork with the MIG welder couldn't sort out in the end.

Anyway, for the price, it seems a decent enough chunk of wagon, so I can't really grumble.

welcome to the forum, congrats on buying your freelander.

whereabouts in east kent are you (just roughly) there's quite a few cracking greenlanes over your way, went out with JPS last year in my freelander just picking up a few lanes he knew, freelander coped really well following his disco.

wasn't extreme, just nice to get off the normal tarmac.

the forum can be a little "lively" at times, particularly with regards to freelander owners, thick skin will see you through.

Hi, & welcome. For that money if you can get a year or two out of it then you've done well & it'll still be worth something as spares, though handy as you are with the old mechanics I think you'll get longer.
Agree totally that they are good motors, though mines the Td4 auto. Would've loved a petrol if they had fitted a BMW petrol to them but I'm still delighted with mine.

Thanks for the encouraging words guys Optimus Prime, I'm in Herne Bay, near Canterbury, and yes, I've heard all the 'Gaylander' and Flid wagon gags

A little unjustified really - they seem to be a good overall combination of 4x4 with normal car driving feel, and not too bad looking overall. Certainly seems pretty capable at handling East Kent lanes in the snow;

It successfully climbed this steep muddy/snow covered valley last week (having turned off the country lane at the foot of it):

To boldly reach the summit:

:mil79:

burn it before it freezes up