I knew when I bought mine that it would need money spending on it as it was high mileage. I wanted a late 2006 Freelander 1 HSE TD4 auto, and the only one I found that I could afford was this. All the local ones I found were lower mileage, but several thousand more and not in as good condition! Overall it is in great condition, but being high mileage, it has had all the usual high mileage diesel problems- thermostat, heater matrix, injectors, track rod ends, battery, exhaust, servicing, fuel pump, gearbox oil changes, which I was expecting. I also do a reasonable mileage as well- last year was my lowest for a long time at only 15,000 miles. I normally do 18-20,000.

My problem is between my ears :D

I just have to modify my cars.
 
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All cars are money pits but if you can spanner yourself..... Costs plummet and car ownership is cheap as chips, I have not bought a car for more than £600 for the last 16 years and each one has lasted for more than a year, except the ford probe I bought for 120 off eBay unseen but the year I got out of it cost just the first mot and swapping a few bits from the one I was scrapping.

I was lucky when I bought my hippo as an mot failure ( only emissions) for £175. But I factored in engine work and clutch cylinders. Since getting it on the road I have replaced the gearbox with a good second hand unit (gentlemen of salvage in eBay), ird (my old friend at Norfolk salvage), 2nd hand prop and VCU from a friend who didn't want to pay for new prop bearings! Plus all of my mods.. I think I am still around the grand on spending. I am happy to use britpart items and to date the driveshaft, Prop bearings and track rod end are holding up just fine. The cheap engine gasket set off eBay including head bolts is equally doing ok.

I have no fear of jumping in the old girl and driving to Scotland (like I did week before last). To my mind it is a cheap vehicle - the wife moans about the amount of time I have spent in the garage and that I am constantly spending money on it but you can't please them all the time!
 
To my mind it is a cheap vehicle - the wife moans about the amount of time I have spent in the garage and that I am constantly spending money on it but you can't please them all the time!

That's a common problem. I've spent nothing on mine in 3 years except service items and garage time is minimal, yet I hear the same thing!!
 
I think I;m going to be keeping the Hippo, I've spent a fair chunk on it already, it seems stupid to trade it in for a D1 or D2!

I only need to replace the VCU and everything is pretty much done (might do the IRD and rear diff at the same time).
 
I think I;m going to be keeping the Hippo, I've spent a fair chunk on it already, it seems stupid to trade it in for a D1 or D2!

I only need to replace the VCU and everything is pretty much done (might do the IRD and rear diff at the same time).
I'm going to continue with mine too, I did give selling it a serious thought. I have wanted a pick up for a long time... But for now I will continue to mod the freelander and see what I can do. If after that I'm still not happy with it I will sell it and get my pick up lol.
 
I'm going to continue with mine too, I did give selling it a serious thought. I have wanted a pick up for a long time... But for now I will continue to mod the freelander and see what I can do. If after that I'm still not happy with it I will sell it and get my pick up lol.

Me too, if it can't do what I need after I've finished working on it then I'll trade it in, but for now I will enjoy modding it :)
 
Mine is a 2006 TD4 Manual.

I bought it for £8,500 in June 2012 with 40K miles on the clock. Apart from consumables and mods (limited though they are) I've replaced the tyres, LP fuel pump, the MAF sensor (at the same time as the fuel pump) possibly unnecessarily, the thermostat, track rod ends and the drop links. It's currently on 75K miles and running well.

The information I've gained from this site has given me the insight to anticipate what might go wrong, what will go wrong and what has gone wrong. I don't get so much of the last category since paying attention to the first two means I carry out preventative maintenance and have, so far at least, avoided any major issues.
 
Mine is a 2006 TD4 Manual.

I bought it for £8,500 in June 2012 with 40K miles on the clock. Apart from consumables and mods (limited though they are) I've replaced the tyres, LP fuel pump, the MAF sensor (at the same time as the fuel pump) possibly unnecessarily, the thermostat, track rod ends and the drop links. It's currently on 75K miles and running well.

The information I've gained from this site has given me the insight to anticipate what might go wrong, what will go wrong and what has gone wrong. I don't get so much of the last category since paying attention to the first two means I carry out preventative maintenance and have, so far at least, avoided any major issues.

This site has been a god send for me too !!
 
The site has been very useful to me, but also the modifying side of it has caused me a pretty penny too :D

And I wouldn't have it any other way ....

I really enjoy my little Land Rover. I accept its limitations sometimes, and just drive it on and off road.
 

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