J

JohninScotland

New Member
Never had a landy before, only cars.
Have lost faith in our old car(skoda fabia)

Looking for something a little higher off the ground as I drive down rough tracks sometimes in my work(gardener/landscaper/logging with chainsaw.

looking for something that will pull a light trailer with logs(currently only have a small trailer 4ft6x3ft6 but would upgrade in future to carry more).
I'm not looking to pull heavy loads and don't intend going down any deeply rutted farm tracks in the wet. However lightly rutted tracks in the dry would be on the cards.

Also need a car to keep the wife happy, driving to dorset and back.
I currently do about 16k miles a year, mostly A roads and country lanes. Lots of potholes around.

So I was thinking about a td4 4door costing in the region of 2-3K.

What should I be aware of? rear propshafts missing and vci problems mentioned on here...anything else?

Thanks in advance..John
 
bushwwacker said:
Don't buy a gaylander.

Look at the 10000 billion% hetrosexual forestry landys on arbtalk.co.uk

:D
Click to expand...

Yep I'm on arbtalk too but mrs fancies a shelander. also a defender 90(perhaps my choice, probably wouldn't agree with the mrs going to dorset and back(guess I could hire a car.)
 
It's probably easier to tell you what not to look for! My wife bought a freelander 1 on an 03. It's a td4 aswell, put it this way... I'm currently rebuilding it!
 
All 4 tyres to be same size/make/model , important on the freelander 1 , plenty of info on here !
 
JohninScotland said:
Yep I'm on arbtalk too but mrs fancies a shelander. also a defender 90(perhaps my choice, probably wouldn't agree with the mrs going to dorset and back(guess I could hire a car.)
Click to expand...

I use my K Series three door with a plyed back and no rear seats (plus trailer as req.) as a handyman/gardener with no probs as long as you keep up with preventative maint.

Forestry tracks and ploughed fields are ok as long as you don't try to follow a for'arder or do it every day.;-)
 
As Fento says, you can end up with a right dog - just like all types of car. Our 90's L Series Freelander has had VCU issues (my fault) but other than that not much else - great economical motor.

As you'll be towing and doing reasonable millage definitely go for a diesel. You'll get Traction Control and combined with its 4WD it can go to some pretty harsh places and still get out.

Definitely make sure its got its props & VCU installed. Lift a back wheel and see if it turns by hand - if it does the VCU or IRD have been castrated to make it 2WD. Ideally you'd do the 1 wheel up test from this forum to make sure the VCU is alright and hasn't been stressing the IRD. I recon its not a bad idea to budget for a recon VCU anyway when buying. Make sure the transmission sounds and feel 'perfect'! Make sure you test drive it at all speeds - and in reverse both straight and turning both ways - as I say make sure everything sounds/feels right.

Others may shoot me down here - but there are quite a few threads on here about faulty auto boxes, but very few about manuals. Read into that what you will! There are though a reasonable number of threads about clutch hydraulics needing replacement and biting point issues.
 
I'm thinking that on this occasion it might be best to look around dealers that offer some sort of warranty, rather than private, although I have an experienced mechanic friend. However he's never worked on 4x4s.

On another note how easy are they to be stolen? should I look for immobilisers etc
whats insurance and tax like? I have about 8 years no claims and am 49
 
If you are worried about tax buy one registered before April 2006, as the law changed and my td4 auto is £475 per year, but an auto before that date is about £200 cheaper.

Insurance depends where you live! :lol: I pay loads as I live in a high risk area.

Freelanders don't appear to be stolen like Defenders are and they have many more mod cons, comfort being one of them :D
 
JohninScotland said:
I'm thinking that on this occasion it might be best to look around dealers that offer some sort of warranty, rather than private, although I have an experienced mechanic friend. However he's never worked on 4x4s.

On another note how easy are they to be stolen? should I look for immobilisers etc
whats insurance and tax like? I have about 8 years no claims and am 49
Click to expand...

You have done the right by doing a bit of homework , I dont trust dealers , read a bit more on here and know in your own mind what to look for , you would need the key to take one or a 2 ton hi ab :D
 
Sounds about the right car for what you want it for - I'd add that electrics aren't Landrover's strong point so check everything works as some seemingly minor issues can work out expensive to get fixed.
 
Thanks everyone. still looking. still looking at td4 2001 onwards. does the vci problem get sorted in later editions like 2003 onwards or is it always a weakness?most freelanders I'm looking at are between 90,000 miles and 160,000 2001 to 2005 all td4 manuals and autos. Am I better going cheep and then using the spare cash to fix things or spend more for a newer/lower mileage vehicle? how useful are service histories?

John
 
VCU is only a weakness when it starts to go wrong - not until. The problem is knowing when it starts to go wrong, thats why we do a regular one wheel up test....why they go wrong prematurely is all in Hippos thread that he sent you.
VCU's are the same for all Freelander 1's they changed to a different system in the Freelander 2.
 
To get an idea of the VCU's condition ...I would tell the seller that you want to do a test before you buy ... hand brake off, out of gear, chock another wheel using the chock that is supplied with the jack, jack it up.
Turn the rear wheel clockwise with the wheel brace on one of the wheel nuts - it should slowly turn with constant steady pressure from you - if the wheel just turns easily or the wheel is very hard to turn then forget it and walk away - tell the seller what you have found wrong before he sells it to somebody else ;)
 
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