Freelander 1 To good to change????

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mudinuri

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We have just got back home from a 600+ mile run to see our relatives and our 2003 Serengeti TD4 Auto ran sweetly there and back. So why do I think we should change it for a newer one. Will a newer FL2 be any better, will another make/model 4x4 in our price range of £4k be worth it? or will it be more sensible to spend £2 up to £3 grand doing up our car.
Come on, give us a clue
 
If it helps, I spent a couple of weeks and about £1500 replacing anything worn and re rustproofing.



I like the fact that the FL1 is simple enough to work on and can be repaired without much specialist equipment.

I could have bought nothing better for the money and now have a vehicle that will last another 10 years.
If the shell is not rotten then everything can be replaced.
 
Andy is spot on. The FL1 is modern enough to use in modern traffic, but simple enough for the home mechanic to keep on top of.

I've got the FL2 bug, and it is miles better on the motorway, which we've done a lot of over the last few years. I can drive from Cornwall to Cardiff and back in under a day, and feel no worse for the journey. I just stick the CC on at a steady 70, and arrive where I'm going a few hours later.
Reliability wise, the FL1 and FL2 are much the same, although the FL2 has more electric stuff to go wrong, although reliability of the electrical system is better than the D3/4 and anything from the RR range.
The Freelander 2 is just a Ford/ Volvo in an LR body.
 
What is wrong with it ?
Probably needs suspension bushes, shocks, brake pipes, VCU, de rusting and all good to go.
 
Have to say, I still really enjoy driving my F1.

I drive various cars and vans at work, but I really enjoy getting back in the Freelander to drive home. That is after I've cleared the mist off the inside of the windows with the Karcher window vac.
 
FL1 is alright as long as you don't have an accident.
FL2 is better in most cases, as Nodge says it's among the most reliable land rover you can get but from the bottom of the list like on eye man king on Blind Island :)
FL2 gets more expensive to sort of 4x4 and stuff, but the difference in comfort is massive.
 
Same position myself
loved the FL2 we have tested but not as much as my own so my plan is looking for a low mileage 3 door to keep on top of
my own is basically rebuild top to bottom but the corrosion is now terminal so I expect more welding this mot 😩so eventually it’s going to be to much
 
PRO said:
FL1 is alright as long as you don't have an accident.
Click to expand...
This I recon is trumped up a fair bit.

Road deaths have plummeted as cars have got safer, and I'm sure the F2 design is "safer" than F1. However its diminishing returns. Seat belts probably cut deaths by (say) 1/3rd. Air bags probably cut deaths by (say) 15%. ABS probably cut deaths by (say) 10%. Monocock probably cut deaths by 10%. F1 & F2 both have all of those (and other safety improvements) and while the F2 has more bags and probably a better design monocock and probably other incremental things, in real life, its only a little safer. The chances of karking it or becoming a cabbage in an F1 is very small, in an F2 it a tiny bit smaller. If you crash bad enough, you're going to be pretty sad in an F1 or F2.

PRO said:
FL2 gets more expensive to sort of 4x4 and stuff, but the difference in comfort is massive.
Click to expand...
So, why not consider an Evoque? Or a more full fat Range Rover big Freelander?
 
GrumpyGel said:
This I recon is trumped up a fair bit.

Road deaths have plummeted as cars have got safer, and I'm sure the F2 design is "safer" than F1. However its diminishing returns. Seat belts probably cut deaths by (say) 1/3rd. Air bags probably cut deaths by (say) 15%. ABS probably cut deaths by (say) 10%. Monocock probably cut deaths by 10%. F1 & F2 both have all of those (and other safety improvements) and while the F2 has more bags and probably a better design monocock and probably other incremental things, in real life, its only a little safer. The chances of karking it or becoming a cabbage in an F1 is very small, in an F2 it a tiny bit smaller. If you crash bad enough, you're going to be pretty sad in an F1 or F2.


So, why not consider an Evoque? Or a more full fat Range Rover big Freelander?
Click to expand...
The Freelander 2 is much safer in an impact compared to the FL1. The FL1 just scraping 3 ☆ on the older, less stringent Euro Ncap test.
The Freelander 2 scored a high 5 ☆ rating on a later more stringent test, at higher speeds, which included side impact and pole side impacts, which the FL1 wasn't even tested for.
The FL2 had the second strongest body that LR made at the time, second only to the L322 FFRR, the L322 recording the highest Ncap score ever recorded when it was tested.

The FL1 vs FL2 are night and day where occupant safety is concerned.
 
Nodge68 said:
The Freelander 2 is much safer in an impact compared to the FL1. The FL1 just scraping 3 ☆ on the older, less stringent Euro Ncap test.
The Freelander 2 scored a high 5 ☆ rating on a later more stringent test, at higher speeds, which included side impact and pole side impacts, which the FL1 wasn't even tested for.
The FL2 had the second strongest body that LR made at the time, second only to the L322 FFRR, the L322 recording the highest Ncap score ever recorded when it was tested.

The FL1 vs FL2 are night and day where occupant safety is concerned.
Click to expand...
Occupant safety in a F2 is night and day safer than an Ford Escort Mk1, not an F1.

I'm sure the F2 is technically safer than an F1, but I'd say that the biggest contributor for you being less likely to die in an F2 over an F1, is because when it breaks down, the problems are so complex it can't be driven for longer.
 
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All I can say is after selling my Discovery 2, owned for 17 years I have regretted it ever since.
Make a careful choice ...
 
Shedload said:
All I can say is after selling my Discovery 2, owned for 17 years I have regretted it ever since.
Make a careful choice ...
Click to expand...
What did you replace it with?

I replaced my D1, having owned them for about 10 years (300TDI in UK and V8 here), with the Freelander. Regretted it at first, but actually quite quickly got to appreciate and like the Freelander even more than the Disco. I wouldn't mind another 'full fat' Landie in the stable though - but I've successfully managed to keep these mad thoughts under control.
 
Shedload said:
Ah well. A twenty three year old Mondeo, that I once owned new. This is my daily.
And my LandRover itch is a Series 2A
Click to expand...
Stick with the Mondeo, mate.

Mine is a 51 plate Estate, 1800 petrol. It was my Mother's car until she gave up driving.

155,000 miles and it drives like a new car.

My wife has a Series 2a, and it always needs things doing to it. And Freelanders are just crap.
 
GrumpyGel said:
Occupant safety in a F2 is night and day safer than an Ford Escort Mk1, not an F1.

I'm sure the F2 is technically safer than an F1, but I'd say that the biggest contributor for you being less likely to die in an F2 over an F1, is because when it breaks down, the problems are so complex it can't be driven for longer.
Click to expand...
Ok, so night and day might be an exaggeration, but the FL2 is considerably safer than the FL1. Not technically either, it's tested as such.
The FL2 has a much stronger body (especially as it's unlikely to have so much hidden rust in key strong points), and it has a plethora or active safety equipment as standard including 7 airbags, whereas the FL1 has just 2 airbags (if it's a 2001 on) and 2 belt tensioner.

I know where I'd rather my children are passengers in the FL2, especially at the speeds people seem to drive these days.
 
Ha ! I bought the Mondeo new in 2000, ran for few years, sold it to my Dad for a Grand. Then last year bought it back in exchange for a 2012 Fiesta !
The Series has generally been reliable but I enjoy tinkering . . .
 
4k will get you a nice Rav4 which is a good substitute to the FL1 and 2.

My FL1 was a 1800 K series bought in a moment of madness for £150, it was in surprisingly good nick but still shít. :banana:
 
Hi all. I sold my 3 door Rav to buy the Landy, the best buy ever.
Andyfreelandy. At the last MOT which she passed, there were 3 advisories which I will get changed soon. 1)Brake pipe front to rear corroded 2) Exhaust has minor leak under bonnet 3) Offside rear Coil spring corroded. The body up top and underneath is Rust Free and last week I started to paint the bloody awful Rubbery bumpers with special undercoat and top coat using rattle cans and it looks brilliant.
 
Shedload said:
Ha ! I bought the Mondeo new in 2000, ran for few years, sold it to my Dad for a Grand. Then last year bought it back in exchange for a 2012 Fiesta !
The Series has generally been reliable but I enjoy tinkering . . .
Click to expand...
I was only joking. Series 2a are my favourite Land Rover, I have had quite a few.

Freelanders aren't too bad if you can get them at the right price either.
 
I was intent on buying a Freelander when I sold the D2 . Looked at older F2's without electronic handbrake then saw late model F1's where tempting.
Then the planets aligned and I became the owner of a Mk 2 Mondeo and a series 2A ! :)
 
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