GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #1

Considering buying a Freelander to replace the remodeled Toyota Starlet that is no more.

There's a 1998 1.8 that's for sale that's literally just had the HG done. The workshop that did the HG is selling on behalf of the owner (don't know why) and say it "Runs and drives mint".

What's people's thoughts on whether its a good thing the HG has just been done or a bad thing? It literally has only covered a few Ks on the new HG. I know nothing about the workshop's reputation.

The car's over a 2 hour drive away (and drive home!) so its not like I can just pop round and have a look - if I go there its on the basis I'm buying it.

 

freelance

Well-Known Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #2

Mainly depends on whether it’s the first time the hg has been replaced, or the umpteenth replacement ?

 

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #3

freelance said:

Mainly depends on whether it’s the first time the hg has been replaced, or the umpteenth replacement ?

Click to expand...

Yeh, dunno on that. Looking at the history of the car, it was taken off the road some time in 2013 and then made road legal again beginning of 2017. It hasn't been used much since then either and has missed dates that it is supposed to be WOFed (MOTed) - eg it was WOFed on 18/1/2017 so its next WOF was due 18/7/2017 but it wasn't WOFed until 8/1/2018. I don't know its history since then but its hardly traveled any Ks.

The guy selling it says the only thing wrong is that the ODO display is 'breaking up' and he's quoting a milage of 179k KMs - which I'm presuming is 189k KMs... the last WOF tests (that I can see) were...

2018-Jan-18 WOF 189,756 Km (failed once before pass)
2017-Jan-11 WOF 188,169 Km (failed twice before pass)
2013-Jan-18 WOF 184,568 Km
2012-Jul-16 WOF 180,932 Km

 

freelance

Well-Known Member

• Apr 8, 2019

• #4

100,000 miles, so possibly the second time it’s had a gasket

 

htr

Well-Known Member

• Apr 9, 2019

• #5

Where is it and what $$? bear in mind I paid $1k for mine so I hope its $1.5k ?? no more than $2k.

 

Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Apr 9, 2019

• #6

At 100K miles it's either the 2nd or 3rd HG but pure pot luck as to whether the HG was done correctly or the head was cooked.
I guess if you can get it cheap enough then it might be a good car.
You'd love how nippy the K series is compared to the L series.

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Apr 9, 2019

• #7

If I do a K series HG replacement, I do it properly. I'd fully expect that to be the last HG it will need.
Do it properly, and do it once.

 

D

digby

Active Member

• Apr 9, 2019

• #8

Hi Grumpy - hows things ?

get yourself a nice Td4

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Apr 9, 2019

• #9

digby said:

get yourself a nice Td4

Click to expand...

I believe they're rare in NZ, and expensive if one can be found.

 

teddywood1

Well-Known Member

• Apr 9, 2019

• #10

if it has had a skimmed head put on or at least the original head skimmed and the later gasket on all will be good. probably the owner of the car could not afford the bill like my friend did the garage sold it kept the money for the job and gave him the rest.