After browsing the web day after day I have come to the conclusion rightly or wrongly that another Landy would suit me best.
I am presently on my 7th Freelander but I"ve also owned a very nice Defender that leaked like a sieve. So with a few BOB to spend I am looking for another Freelander. Must be Automatic and Diesel and preferably HSE or similar. It must have enough space in the back to carry my wifes wheelchair but other than that everything would be considered . Whilst Iooking at Autotrader, Gumtree, Ebay etc I saw quite a few Mark 2s with problems advertised , so do they have a known problem or problems I should be aware of?
Any help or advice welcomed.

mudinuri said:

After browsing the web day after day I have come to the conclusion rightly or wrongly that another Landy would suit me best.
I am presently on my 7th Freelander but I"ve also owned a very nice Defender that leaked like a sieve. So with a few BOB to spend I am looking for another Freelander. Must be Automatic and Diesel and preferably HSE or similar. It must have enough space in the back to carry my wifes wheelchair but other than that everything would be considered . Whilst Iooking at Autotrader, Gumtree, Ebay etc I saw quite a few Mark 2s with problems advertised , so do they have a known problem or problems I should be aware of?
Any help or advice welcomed.

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Depends what you want really…

Very generally;
An F1 is easier to work on as much less electronics. Decent ones harder to come by.

An F2 is more modern and a nicer drive, filled with electronics compared to an F1, easier to come by but obviously more expensive.

An F2 well looked after is good for 200k miles and more. A neglected F2 can be a money pit - but that’s the same for any car really. Go for an SE over an HSE and you’ll save some money, but only lose some arm rests and full-leather (SE has half-leather) Think there is one other thing an SE loses, can’t think what it is now.
Easy to service yourself, like the F1.
Their 4WD is Haldex, not the VCU system in an F1.

I’ve had and loved both, but the F2 is much nicer for general driving.

All defenders leak like sieves. And rust as a hobby. That’s why we all get Hippo’s, and must remind every tratter at every opportunity !

Thanks Freddy 17, I"ll start seriously looking for a F2 unless a decent F1 comes along.

I've had a f2 for the past 7 yrs, changed the diff and the rear shocks, apart from that it has been brilliant, got 200k km on it. Haven't had to touch the brake pads and can't believe they still have plenty of meat on them. Rear diffs are definitely some thing to be aware of if it whines walk away unless you can knock down the price. Mine's 2011 SE and if I had the cash I'd definitely go for a 2014 HSE, just for the snob value

Yes - I guess ‘known’ issues are rear diffs (some sort of design fault), and rear sub frames rot on older examples.
Haldex units not looked after can create issues.

THANKS ALL FOR THE ADVICE. WHAT I NEED NOW IS TO FIND A NICE F2 WHICH I CAN AFFORD

You mentioned your wife wheelchair. Is she long-term disabled as you are her carer my guess. The main thing is comfortable access to the passenger side. A three door could be better than the five door.
Do you have to physically get her into the vehicle?
Is she able from wheelchair to get in easy?
Sometimes its head than heart for what would be a better option than buying a Freelander 1 or 2.
I used have my eventually disabled mother, who I cared okay with Freelander 1. But in reality I should have gone for a vehicle dedicated for disability access. The less able she came I had to physically lift her in and out. You can imagine how much you realise the importance of the back and movements.
*******Please feel free to reject the comments above, if it close to a nerve.*******

mudinuri said:

THANKS ALL FOR THE ADVICE. WHAT I NEED NOW IS TO FIND A NICE F2 WHICH I CAN AFFORD

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I know you need to load a wheelchair - Remember, the F2 has a lifting rear door (top hinged), not side-hinged like the F1. If anything, this will give you more room to load.

The trick is to get one that you can be fairly certain of the history of, if possible.
I bought my F2 off a well-known forum member, so was very confident of the work carried out. I was prepared to wait and travel for the right one. Obviously it still needs preventative work as and when, and things will break, but that’s now down to me. It has >140k miles on it, and runs as sweet as. It will happily sit on a motorway all day long at 70.

Buy with your head, not the shiny-looking one that claims to have had 1 careful lady owner and only done 30k miles, but is being sold on a small second-hand car forecourt. Be prepared to travel for the right one. And do not over-pay… there are lots of over-priced F2’s kicking about on forecourts.

Avoid the HSE and you’ll save more money.