SHOULD I BUY A FREELANDER

[Moosh]

Should I buy a Freelander.

I am looking for a form of transport to replace my Nissan Patrol.
I am looking for good fuel MPG
Have two dogs two children
Every day drive would use for work so comfort important

What's your vote and views

Cheers

[300bhp/ton]

Moosh said:

Should I buy a Freelander.

I am looking for a form of transport to replace my Nissan Patrol.
I am looking for good fuel MPG
Have two dogs two children
Every day drive would use for work so comfort important

What's your vote and views

Cheers

What sort of money? Are you talking new FL2 or an older original Freelander?

Personally I'm quite a big fan of the Freelander, but I think it has to depend what you want to do with it and why.

[Moosh]

I need it to transport 2 children, 2 dogs my wife and me. Needs to be 4 wheel drive as I live out in the country up a steep hill and when it snows the road becomes impassable if you do not have 4 wheel drive. Like I said I also would need to use it as a daily drive. Would be interested in new or old depending on which is best for me.

[Stu R]

Freelander 2s are brilliant, Massively underrated IMO.

Original Freelanders I'm less struck on. The last 2 occasions I've been in one it lunched the turbo and had injector failure

[Ranger 6]

Need to understand the budget.

Mk2 yes, I'd have one - Mk1 no, there isn't a bargepole long enough. It's funny really that they were built by the same company as to me, they are very different.

[300bhp/ton]

Moosh said:

I need it to transport 2 children, 2 dogs my wife and me. Needs to be 4 wheel drive as I live out in the country up a steep hill and when it snows the road becomes impassable if you do not have 4 wheel drive. Like I said I also would need to use it as a daily drive. Would be interested in new or old depending on which is best for me.

Budget would still help, as a new Freelander 2 with alll the goodies is I daresay well over £30k, where as you can pick up a half descent Series 1 Freelander for £2500-5000.

[Moosh]

£30K would be okay, but may look for a nearly new to take out some of the depreciation

[300bhp/ton]

Moosh said:

£30K would be okay, but may look for a nearly new to take out some of the depreciation

The Freelander 2 has a great reputation. For me it's probably lacking the low range box of a proper off roader though, so I'd personally rather have something like a Wrangler Unlimited or Defender 110 or Discovery 3 TDV6 over a Freelander 2.

And sort of by the same measure, if I wasn't needing an off roader (although I do like the high up driving position). I think I'd rather look at something like a Subaru Forrester or Legacy.

The Freelander is then, either the best of both or the worst of both worlds.

That all said, my Mum has had an original Freelander for a number of years and it really has been fantastic in its abilities. I keep wondering how a 2.5 KV6 one would stack up being converted to a Comp Safari motor

[was8v]

300bhp/ton said:

For me it's probably lacking the low range box of a proper off roader though, so I'd personally rather have something like a Wrangler Unlimited or Defender 110 or Discovery 3 TDV6 over a Freelander 2.

Make sure you get a diesel auto FL2 if you are going off road or towing.

The auto box (almost) makes up for the lack of low range in most "normal" situations (i.e. you aren't messing about playing offroad).

Towing or lots of off road steep hills you will end up riding the clutch in a manual.

MPG not much different in real world driving.

Edited by was8v on Wednesday 5th May 16:24

[Ranger 6]

Moosh said:

£30K would be okay, but may look for a nearly new to take out some of the depreciation

Good way to get one, HSE is fully loaded and takes a big hit driving out of the showroom - I vote yes

edit for speeling

Edited by Ranger 6 on Wednesday 5th May 19:43

[C Lee Farquar]

Moosh said:

£30K would be okay, but may look for a nearly new to take out some of the depreciation

Personally I'd be more inclined towards a Range Rover or Disco at that budget. People are less likely to ask you if the Salon is doing well.

[C8PPO]

Stu R said:

Freelander 2s are brilliant, Massively underrated IMO.

I'd have to agree with that, on the basis of having driven one to the Alps and run around down there in it for a week earlier this year.

[Thorny]

We have a 57 plate SE with leather which has all the kit of the HSE bar bigger wheels and slightly better audio system. Would highly recommend seeking out an SE as they are better value than HSE.

Ours is worth about 18k as a trade in. You should find an HSE for low to mid twenties.

ETA - they are fantastic cars but not a huge boot. At 30k I would buy a disco 3 but at 20k a FL 2.

Edited by Thorny on Thursday 6th May 14:54

[Bill]

The FL2 looks pretty good and would be my choice of soft-roader*, but given your criteria I'd prefer a more road-bias for the 51 weeks it's not snowy and would look at a fast Legacy, Forester (or even Impreza), Audi or XC70.


*Although the 5-door Wrangler is pretty cool.

[Stu R]

Bill said:

The FL2 looks pretty good and would be my choice of soft-roader*, but given your criteria I'd prefer a more road-bias

I'd suggest the exact opposite

[Bill]

Sorry, I missed the bit where he mentions dune bashing of a weekend

[Moosh]

Bill said:

The FL2 looks pretty good and would be my choice of soft-roader*, but given your criteria I'd prefer a more road-bias for the 51 weeks it's not snowy and would look at a fast Legacy, Forester (or even Impreza), Audi or XC70.


*Although the 5-door Wrangler is pretty cool.

Tried the XC70, nice but to big
Audi over priced
Impreza is this any good for two dogs?

Fast Legacy, Forester and Wrangler not tested yet.

[Bill]

Moosh said:

Impreza is this any good for two dogs?

No idea, don't have dogs The rear tailgate slopes a fair bit so I'm not sure it is though.

[300bhp/ton]

Moosh said:

Bill said:

The FL2 looks pretty good and would be my choice of soft-roader*, but given your criteria I'd prefer a more road-bias for the 51 weeks it's not snowy and would look at a fast Legacy, Forester (or even Impreza), Audi or XC70.


*Although the 5-door Wrangler is pretty cool.

Tried the XC70, nice but to big
Audi over priced
Impreza is this any good for two dogs?

Fast Legacy, Forester and Wrangler not tested yet.

Forrester probably isn't any bigger or maybe a bit smaller than Freelander.

Legacy should be very spacious. The Wrangler Unlimited (5 door variant) is also spacious and more fun than a Freelander, lots of great features like removable roof, doors and fold down windscreen. But they are more 4x4 off roader and not a hint of soft roader. So all depends what you fancy really.

[Bill]

^^ See - How cool is that??

Or a (admittedly imported and LHD) Toyota FJ:



Otherwise a Legacy Spec B.