Newbie question: Defender or freelander?

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mundungus

mundungus

Active Member
Posts
754
Location
Essex
Hi all,
I’m a newbie to the site and to Land Rovers in general, currently considering buying my first and could do with a little advice/opinions.
I’ve been eyeing up 4x4s for a couple of months now since my girlfriend and I moved to new house in the countryside.
I particularly like the idea of a defender 90 station wagon, as I figure I could fit a middle seat and put a baby seat in it (we’re expecting our first baby early next year) and it will easily cope with the terrain around here when the bad weather sets in this winter. Also more immediately, it will cope with the ford down the road which conked out my little rover 200 this weekend just gone (incidentally I was rescued by a really nice bloke in a defender who stopped and jump started me afterwards).
I figure it would make a versatile work horse, that could get me to work if need be, and relieve my daily driver from me treating it more like a van sometimes, when I load it up with tools and diy materials.
Having read a load of reviews and forum posts, many people seem to think they are great as a second vehicle, but are awful for motorway driving or long journeys.
So this gets me thinking, my little rover 200 isn’t gonna last forever. So the defender could end up being my daily driver. So maybe something like a freelander would be better, as there seems to be a consensus that they are better for normal road and motorway use.
So the questions are:
How much better is a freelander for normal road use than a defender?
What are the drawbacks of each?
Any other advice for a complete newbie who doesn’t know anything?
 
the defender will hold its value the freelander won't
the defender will be targeted by theives
the defender is better offroad
the freelander is more comfy, easier to drive and more economical
if you geta freelander it must be a diesel, the petrol ones are flawed
i'd buy a defender and if you change your mind you can always sell it and get your money back then buy a freelander.
 
I do belive all budget Land Rovers fall to bits, be warned! Ive never owned a Freelander, but i know defenders, discoverys and I have a P38 Range Rover. The reason i say "have" instead of "know" for the Range Rover, is because its the only one that doesent require constant rebuilding!
 
Simple answer: drive both before you make a decision. A Freelander will drive much the same as your Rover, if you're looking at an early Freelander even the clutch and gearchange will feel similar and you'll recognise all the switches and buttons in the cab from your 200 ;)

On the other hand, when you drive a Defender you'll do one of two things. You'll either fall in love with it instantly and nothing else will ever be as good, or you (more importantly the missus) might hate it the minute you push the HGV heavy clutch down and turn the key.

Don't buy one or the other without driving them first.
 
disco gets my vote too. comfortable and still good for work when needed.

freelander is most car like and if your not planning any serious off roading then as long as you dont get petrol they are ok.

defender will be noisy, leak and cold in winter but like has been said you will probably love it (not sure about the missus tho ;) )
 
goonarmy said:
i concur wiv the disco theory
Click to expand...

So do I.

I have a Disco 300 tdi, and love it, search around you can find a good one , I got one in top notch condition 97 (R) 80k on the lock for just over 2.5k.

I had a Freelander manual deisel, bourght, new for four years before that, and I liked it, done over 140K in it, no problems with it, just servicing by main dealers, and it retured about 35 to 38 mpg, it was a good motor, the down falls for me were.

1 Boot was small
2 I got 4 kids so we had to take two cars every were.
3 Not much ground clearance, but hey I did not go off road that much just done dirt tracks and towed a caravan.
4 No low box... or diff lock.....:D:D
5 it was black:doh:

Apart from that I realy could not fault it it done almost every thing I needed.

I have had Series 3's before, I was thinking about a defender but you got to conside the price of a good one - yes they do hold ther value. But I want a bit of comfort and as I say kids etc... thought Disco is better for me

I have got a new volvo V50 as well as a second daily driver but to be honest I use my Disco for running about the V50 gets used for work only.

As has already been said drive them all and drive a few of each, its supprising how differnt they drive, even if they are the same model...I drove about 15 Disco's before buying, some where a lose bag, and some where great, but I got the best one I could and was happy with.

Remember its your money, dont listern to some Defender owner saying things are gay......or Defenders are best, look and listern to why people think they are the best for them, what is best for them is not best for you, use the info and pick out the good bits for you.

What ever you buy in the end have fun and enjoy.
 
Id obviously choose a Defender, but Im biased and love driving them. Try one out and see how you and your girlfriend feel about driving it. You might both love it. Yes they are basic and truck like but thats the charm of them. They are like nothing else.

Freelander and Disco will both loose money, Defenders always hold value.

Never Had a freelander but been told by a Land Rover specialist that your better off buying another one than fixing them.
 
it really is a no brainer.... freelander is a car... its low enough for your ford to be a problem.
defender is an uncivilised van and they tend to be more expensive than a disco. i initially considered defenders but went for a disco... no regrets... mine spends most of the time as a work vehicle , but with the small bit of the back seat up i can collect the two kids from school.... ive the option of seven seats if needed, mines got the roof rails... it takes seconds to fit the bars in the diy store carpark when the bargain is too long to go inside. and it will tow a sensible trailer for the mucky stuff. and you can do a 300 mile round trip to the airport and still feel capable of a days work when you get home...... get a disco
 
i would try the disco option as well, it is not as one way biased as the freelander/deepender

oh and i wouldnt have anything but a deepender, so you might want to try all 3
 
Scrap the Rover and get a Discovery - will save you cash on car tax/insurance by not running two cars, more comfortable than the Rover and better off road than a Freelander. :)
 
Disco every time, my brother bought a new fender (cos he wanted to go offroading) yes very good at that but foooking orrible at everything else, noisey, cramped and you'll keep hitting your elbow on the door when turning the steering wheel and it hurts, alot. His wife uses it every day but only around there village, anything more than that his x3 gets used. Freelanders are just orid have a list of faults as long as a giraffs neck and the doors fall of if they get wet :D
 
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