If HG is replaced would Timing Belt be changed also?

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The Mad Hat Man said:
So the chassis cracking, rear subframe attachment failing, VCU causing IRD failure, rather than fail-safe design, ana uto gearbox where the drain plug is so close to a critical bolt that several peeps have ruined a gearbox, a gearbox top-up system that needs to be connected to the stealers testbox, to ensure correct temoerature - thats all good design is it?

Mind you - a Vauxhall transverse V6 that needs an engine out to replace the rear bank spark plugs, a Renault that needs a wing removal to change a side light bulb are equally dire, but that dont make the Hippoo a good motor.

It is current practice by manufacturers to ensure that you have to return to them for the simplest of jobs. Not good :mad:
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The vcu is a good simple lightweight system that makes the freelander easy to drive, just keep an eye on it and replace it after 70,000 miles if you feel the need to. Theres far less to go wrong with the vcu, it'll either seize or slip constantly. I have no experience of the drain plug on the auto box but I'd check and then double check again before I undid any bolt or screw.
 
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Yu cant off a 5 door hippoo either - and yu dont need to on an XT coz the sunroof is mahoosive.

Dont get me wrong, the XT aint purfect, i just had a balljoint go and its a lower wishbone change!
 
howardo said:
The freelander is the best selling 4x4 in the WORLD, fact.
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Not sure what that proves? - lots of gullible people? Landrover marketing peeps were better than the Production and Design peeps?

howardo said:
You can't get an X-trail for under £2000 though.
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Not sure what that proves? - X-Ts hold their value better? a Disco for £500 is better value?
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
Not sure what that proves? - lots of gullible people? Landrover marketing peeps were better than the Production and Design peeps?

It proves that the slittys don't have the market sewn up.

Not sure what that proves? - X-Ts hold their value better? a Disco for £500 is better value?
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It proves what good value for money the diesel freelanders are.
 
I refer you to....

"The newer Range Rover and Freelander models are less corrosion prone (than earlier Landrovers) because they are more effectively rust proofed at the factory, but even these newer models are prone to rust and corrode when driven in high-salt areas , or when off-roaded and submerged in water. "

and "Honest John" - an independant arbiter or vehicular transport
 
Yes but the discos rust regardless of whether they have been driven in high salt areas or not. It must have something to do with the way they are constructed.
I think the car-like body of the freelander and lack of a chassis helps it remain relatively rust free.
 
it is definately better than earlier types of Landrover, but you have to compare like with like - you cant say that a hippoo is better than a slitty, coz it is cheaper, then better than a Disco coz it doesnt corrode as quick. Yu have to either compare the Hippoo with slitties such as the Rav4, XT etc on all parameters - or a Disco/Defender on all parameters, not pick and choose - other wise you can say .......

A hippoo is crap in Afghanistan compared with (say) a Chieftan tank.
A hippoo is crap in water compared with a submarine.
A hippoo is crap for spares compared with a Series3.
etc etc.
 
If you want a cheap landrover, the diesel L-series freelander will give you the least problems. It not an off-roader though.

What would be better though, a brand new X-trail or a brand new Freelander2?
I'd go for the Freelander 2 on looks alone.
 
No-one said the Sliitys had the market sewn up - we were discussing how good or bad the Hippoos are.

I accept that the Hippoos are better from an aesthetic appeal, however looks arent everything. The are running costs. My Hippoo (petrol) cost 6500 in 12 months - my slitty has cost less than £1275. Those figures are for everithing except fuel. My KV6 was doing 18 to the gallon, my slitty (petrol) does about 26, not good, but better.
 
ive had the pleasure to drive a 4.6 r/r 2 x dse and 2 3.9 discos and id still rate me pajero better than all ov em for reliabillity and towing capabilities, but for comfort on a run has got to be the r/r
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
No-one said the Sliitys had the market sewn up - we were discussing how good or bad the Hippoos are.

I accept that the Hippoos are better from an aesthetic appeal, however looks arent everything. The are running costs. My Hippoo (petrol) cost 6500 in 12 months - my slitty has cost less than £1275. Those figures are for everithing except fuel. My KV6 was doing 18 to the gallon, my slitty (petrol) does about 26, not good, but better.
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As previously pointed out by all, there are good and bad examples of all models out there. Your Hippo was a bad one. The V6 petrol freelander was not the most economical model either.
 
howardo said:
As previously pointed out by all, there are good and bad examples of all models out there. Your Hippo was a bad one. The V6 petrol freelander was not the most economical model either.
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I am not saying that mine was typical, but it WAS well maintained. Just that there are too many design flaws that pre-dispose hippoos to failure. I accept that not every 1.8 will suffer HGF, just that the dice are heavily loaded against ya. Any hippoo can and is likely to suffer VCU failure, cracked chassis etc etc etc - the petrol ones have a raft of extra possibilities on top.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
I am not saying that mine was typical, but it WAS well maintained. Just that there are too many design flaws that pre-dispose hippoos to failure. I accept that not every 1.8 will suffer HGF, just that the dice are heavily loaded against ya. Any hippoo can and is likely to suffer VCU failure, cracked chassis etc etc etc - the petrol ones have a raft of extra possibilities on top.
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You may of kept it well maintained but the previous owner may not have, and the damage would have been done.

Keeping a check on the VCU is easy, if it needs replacing its an easy job to do, or run it in 2wd.
 
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