Unfortunately there are no hard or fast rules for which model is the best, which year, the mileage etc.
Sometimes you can pick up a 1999 1.8 k series XEi and get an absolute gem; likewise you can buy a 55 plate Td4 HSE and get an absolute shed.
Take it from one whom has learned the expensive way and digest as much information from these pages about what to look for, what the pitfalls are, signs of abuse and pending drive-train failure etc and make your own mind up...being sure to keep a few scheckles to one side to cater for 'design features' that come with Freelander ownership.
A Freelander is like the fabled girl with the curl..."when she was good, she was very, very good and when she was bad; she was horrid.."