Which is Better All Around

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    14
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CuRbY

CuRbY

Member
Right Folks

I am sorry if this Pole has already been done before..
But which do people preferr or think is better all around..
thinking of the Pro's and Con's about both Hippo's

I wish to know this for furure refferance If i were to buy another Hippo when mine either dies..or gets sold adventurly
 
K-series only failing is the head gasket, which is easily, and relatively cheaply solved

TD4 is more expensive to fix when it breaks, but otherwise, cheaper to keep in fuel
 
My Mum had a very nice 1.8 Freelander that sadly got written off. We replaced it with a Td4. But to be honest it wasn't an upgrade. The Td4 is nice enough, certainly nothing wrong with it. But it isn't significantly better on mpg. It's only marginal at best.

The 1.8 was faster too and smoother.

K-series engines are gems and really nice. Head gasket can be an issue, but if done properly shouldn't be a continuing problem.
 
1.8 is quicker than a L series but has very little torque so no good for towing.
TD4 is the better car for most situations but around a grand more expensive.
 
Last edited:
If someone wanted to buy a Freelander 1 I would advise a Td4, on running cost. they have their problems too with turbo's, pipes and the odd hgf. but not as much as the 1.8's. this is reflected in price which makes 1.8's a bit cheaper to buy.

If you by either and look after them then they int that much different. Td4 would come out on top over the 1.8 but if yer wants power then the v6 is the way to go on the FL1's. Handy for collecting necter points anorl.
 
Td4 will have more grunt due to the turbo, so towing yes maybe better. Although the tow rating isn't that high on these anyhow.

The 1.8 is actually far more grunty than you'd rightly think it should be. It'll have no trouble driving steep roads, I've toured in North Wales and Lakes doing roads such as the Hardknott Pass and similar in the 1.8 and the Td4. And the 1.8 goes just as well and doesn't "fall off the turbo", so is sometimes better.

Don't get me wrong, the Td4 is perfectly fine, but don't write off the 1.8 just because of some of the stuff you read online.
 
I must admit I've owned the 1.8 for just over a month now.. Yes it's had a few issues since I brought it. It's had a head gasket replaced amoungest other things.. So that's out the way..still a question mark againest the heater matrix. But above these little issues I've had I'm pretty happy with it. It seems under powered to me but I'm putting that down to being 4x4.. Weight of it I've owned a 4x4 a few year back, but that was a rav4.. Which was written off in a accident.. Not my fault. Even though it's a baby landy.. I can now say I officially own a Land Rover. Dispite all the negativity people may give it.. Due the known faults with them.. But I can say until you've owned one.. Drove it.. Regardless of any teething issues these have and known for don't knock it. Simples..
 
Interesting discussion thread.

I'd categorise the FL1 engines into two main categories: Simple and Complicated - The 1.8 and the L come in the former and the 2.5 and the TD4 in the latter.

It's all swings and roundabouts I guess? The L series will run till the end of time and practically never break if you keep up the servicing, but is kinda boring unless you start tinkering with it's power level. The 1.8 pops head gaskets but once sorted with the SAIC kit and looked after it's usually pretty reliable because of it's simplicity.
The V6 is relatively simple, but is complicated by nature of it's scaling up.
The TD4 is a bmw engine - enough said. Here there be dragons.
(If you want to understand the negative feeling, google for "bmw diesel" "swirl flaps" and "exploded"...)

The K series gets a seriously bad rap because of the head gasket, but that's mainly because people don't understand it and budget for the head gasket when buying it. There's a reason they're cheap.

Never buy a K series and expect the previous owner to have not abused it, consider the head gasket as the first thing that needs to be done and they'll not disappoint you. The cost of the HG is easily covered by the cost reduction when buying.
 
I read the TD4 doesn't have swirl flaps, just the variable vane turbo.

I have a TD4, so yeah I'd say it's a nice engine and general service parts are still reasonable considering its BMW derivation. But I must say if I didn't have this one I'd look at the L series.

I've run diesels so long I don't think I could be bothered with owning a petrol, unless it's red and Italian...
 
Having owned both, I would certainly say the TD4 is better, Mine has just hit 200,000 and still going strong, has the benefit of a timing chain so one less worry, the only major issue I've had with it was the IRD & Viscous Coupling and the slave cylinder but Viscous Coupling is common across both. Apart from that it's just had brakes, links and a few bushes.. I love it..

It also does the job in bad weather while I rebuild my 90 :(+

YAY 200 Posts :D
 
B34R said:
The K series gets a seriously bad rap because of the head gasket, but that's mainly because people don't understand it and budget for the head gasket when buying it. There's a reason they're cheap.

Never buy a K series and expect the previous owner to have not abused it, consider the head gasket as the first thing that needs to be done and they'll not disappoint you. The cost of the HG is easily covered by the cost reduction when buying.
Click to expand...
100% correct.
I bought mine with no service history and 105,000 miles. I assumed the HG had probably been done once at around 60-70,000 so was due to go again. I vainly hoped it might already have had the second but it hadn't and 2 months later I was ordering a HG kit. Ended up spending hours cleaning the oil ways due to the previous owners neglect.
 
Saying the 1.8 has almost the same economy must be comparing to an auto TD4. Just shows how much money is thrown at being lazy!
 
Nope. Both manuals. The Td4 is better on fuel. But it isn't a massive difference. And if you aren't doing big annual mileage a you'll see little saving.

Running about the 1.8 did 25-27'ish the Td4 for the same use 28-30mpg. On a run the 1.8 would be in the low 30's the Td4 in the middish 30's.
 
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