My first Freelander?

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my advice dnt get a gaylander its jus a suv wiv a landrover badge on it, buy a disco cost less and much more usefull still comfortable, better offroad and good fuel econmy we get 500miles out of a tank in are 300tdi
 
speaking as someone whos bought/sold many a freelander.....DONT! diesels arent too bad at younger age than your seeking,,,,,,but a petrol at that age?.......i can think of MPs that are more reliable than a 10 year old freelander!
 
Its complete luck, shiny or rough, a 2K Freelander will go on for ages or break down the week after you bought it. A lot is fixable with a good toolbox; plenty isn't. Loads of scrap spare parts but anything important breaking will cost big time.
Range Rovers, Land Rovers are expensive cars to start and only sold cheap because of the running costs are so high. However, you are driving a vehicle that can go cross country.

My Freelander cost me £3200 with road tax and insurance for a year and its got all the toys I want. Its only got to better £1 a mile to be cheaper than my Range Rovers; which it will have done the second month. Break something big on a Disco or Range Rover and its going to cost 2K. So, my thinking is I can buy another Freelander for that. I run two cars now: one for the road milage and one to get muddy.

I'm on a different budget than you but by my reasoning the real cost of a 2K Freelander is 4K and if it keeps going you are quids in, if not its the full higher price. If you cannot afford a 4K car then buy something else. I got away with a Panda 4x4 Sisley for years (when it broke down we used to lift it up a put it in the back of a 4 tonner). The Freelander is the only modern drive in this price bracket as the rest of the Land Rover fleet give a too vintage experience.

Expensive hobby going off road.
 
Muskett said:
I got away with a Panda 4x4 Sisley for years (when it broke down we used to lift it up a put it in the back of a 4 tonner).

Expensive hobby going off road.
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No way!! I always wanted one of the Sisley when they first came out. Apparently you could drop a Fiat Uno turbo engine straight in :D

An old friend had the 2wd version, it was great craic, 18st rugby player, we called him BIG MAN in a wee car, lol

Not too many Pandas around these days, all rusted into oblivion,
 
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Panda Sisley's definitely went faster down hill than up! In fact it never went wrong just got flat tires all too often off road; but then two big guys could lift it while another changed the wheel. Breaking hard on the M25 was a bit iffy. It floated over mud but never had much grunt for steep hills and hated having any weight in it. It could follow any 4X4 so long as it didn't have to follow any stupid deep ruts made my the heavies.

Its the reason I'm giving a Gaylander a go as I'm sick of the heavy Disco's and Range Rovers sinking in and then having to rip themselves out. Hopefully the Hippo will carry over the top. Next winter I'll know if Mud Terrains and Hippos can do the biz. Otherwise its a tracked Hagland.
 
As someone who has just bought a freelander (opportunistic buy - cheap and good service history) I would suggest, like any car, a thorough check - cambelt maintenance, VCU, electrics - the lot.

If you're into hardcore offroading, buy something else. Yes it will do some of that, based on the pictures elsewhere on this forum, but nothing quite as extreme. If, like me, you are not really interested in finding the deepest, muddiest hole and driving into it (then being surprised when you get stuck) - then why not? It's comfortable, a capable road car, and will deal with offroading to a point, but like ANY landrover it is a money pit if there are problems.

And yes, expect plenty of digs from the locals hereabouts :)
 
Hi You go for it I love my td4 it is economical nice to drive and if it does go wrong you just dig out the rave cd or post on here and and with a bit of learning and determination you will soon be back on the road wish you well with your freelander hunt :)
 
Muskett said:
Its complete luck, shiny or rough, a 2K Freelander will go on for ages or break down the week after you bought it.
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That's true but it's also true of any car. I have owned 30 different cars over the years and none has been faultless. Everything from brand new VWs to 10 year old Jags and they have all had something need doing at some point.

Check out any potential purchase carefully, check the history, do your research into running and repair costs and then buy whatever you want ( as long as it's not a petrol FL! :p)

Don't let stories of reliability hell put you off doing what you want to do! LRs and FLs probably are a bit worse than average but there are much worse out there too. Plus there are 000's of happy people out there too - Never forget that forums attract those who want to moan. Happy people stay quiet!

FYI - I have a 2003 FL TD4 with 75K miles and has cost me nothing but servicing and consumables over the last two years I have owned it.

Cheers

Rog
 
I bought a freelander on the cheap, Y reg (2001)

since having it, have had go wrong the following

Head Gasket Failure - £600ish
window regulator busted - £75
battery change - £60
leaky boot - not found the root of this problem... YET
clutch cylinders (master and slave) - £70

that was all within about 2 months

while sorting out the head gasket took the opportunity to change the timing belt, and water pump whilst in there

that's another £100 easy


but it's just flown it's MOT without any issues. as soon as i bought it I registered on here, got slated (rightly so) which encouraged me to invest in a HAYNES manual

best investment i ever made, have had some interesting nights under the bonnet
 
Freelander owners get alot of stick on here. Mainly from those that bought a lemon and are trying to convince themselves that it wasn't their fault.
They belittle the freelander by saying it is only an SUV with a landrover badge on. Well that is because it is an SUV. Landrover developed it as an SUV to sell into a new market for them. It became the best selling 4x4 in europe and saved the landrover brand from financial collaspe. The freelander deserves respect for saving landrover.
 
The landrover brand was saved. It was then worth something and able to be sold on. The brand survives it just changes ownership.
 
howardo said:
Thats true, i don't keep banging my elbow on the drivers door like in the series 3.
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HaHaHaHaHa well said Howardo & you're dead right about the Freelander saving LR's ass, something the Defender might have struggled to do by itself. In fact you could say that without being carried by the the Rangie in the 70's, the Disco in the late 80's & the the Freelander in the late 90's the old dog of a Series 3 / Defender would have died out years ago. It'll be the LRX that next tries to save LR, though I do think they will need to take the old dog (Defender) out back & put it to sleep for once & for all.
 
tdougan said:
Hey LandyZone..

I'm on the hunt for some advice about buying a freelander. It'll be my first 4x4 so be too harsh on my beginers experience! Due to my age, I'm starting basic! I've been looking around for a Freelander on eBay / auto trader and there seems to be a lot around for about £2k (this is kinda my limit too).

as far as usage goes, it's not far to work so mileage will be low. I would like to take it off road but it wouldn't be anything demanding!

I've been looking at a Freelander 2.0 XEDI at a garage not too far away and it seems pretty decent.

Does anyone have any advice on what to look out for/avoid or even if a Freelander around 8-9 year old is worth touching.

Thanks in advance.
Tony.
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Did we scare Tony off buying one? He prob gone and bought one of them suburu's or some such nasty thing:).
 
tdougan said:
Hey all, I ended up using more savings!

I got a 55 plate Td4, I've had it a week... and I LOVE IT ! :D

T
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Well done, you've bought a cracking Landrover with the bonus of being the later facelifted model. I've had my 03 TD4 auto for a year now & it's brilliant.

Happy Freelandering.
 
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