Freedlander buying advice

[Storm 911]

Evenin' all,

I'm in the market for a new car, budget is really about £2k tops. I live at the top of a hill, and the only way up is via an old farm track, so I've been considering 4x4s. The Freelander keeps cropping up as the one of the better deals out there. However, I've never owned a 4x4 before so I'd really value your input. I'd only be doing about 4-5000 miles per year. Whilst I'd be driving up and down a dirt track daily, I'd only really need the 4x4 when it snows. My extensive searches around my local area shows this as one of the better deals:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-LAND-ROVER-FREELAND...

Could someone with more experience than I (that'll be any of you in this forum!) offer me a few pointers? I've read that the TD4 is the one to go for, but I can't find any in my price bracket/area. Are the 1.8 petrols really that problematic? What will I likely have to worry about? If I go and see the car is there anything I should check for in particular?

Any advice would be appreciated...

Thanks.

[Steffan]

BEWARE.

That is my advice.

Owned several: I could travel round the world on the cost of maintenance.

Quality control is very very poor. Monexistant really.

Suggest a trailer to put the bits in as they drop off.

If you are very wealthy OK Otherwise

BEWARE.

[Storm 911]

Damnitt. That wasn't the answer I was hoping for, but it was the one I was expecting!

Is there any 4x4 you'd recommend in that budget?

[Steffan]

Any of the Japs Suzuki, Toyota, etc.

All reliable from start to finish. Different ballgame to Landrover.

[bakerstreet]

Suzuki Vitara woulod be a good bet. front difs can be weak, but all round they are generally ok

Proper low range gearbox on the suzuki too, which is better than the hill decent control fitted to the Freelanders.

[Steffan]

I would avoid the Freelander at all costs or face all costs to run one!

Had two Suziki Grand Vitara's did 65,000 miles in one, 52,000 in the other.

One had no faults whatsoever just servicing.

The other needed two interior light bulbs. Second one was free from Suzuki.

That was it. Nothing ever went wrong just servicing and that was cheap.

My BEST Freelander required THREE head gaskets, together with new thermostat, thermostat housing, all new hoses, a new main diff, a new gearbox, new Inner AND Outer Drive shafts all round, new central Hardy Spicer device, new Discs and Pads, THREE new Electric Windows on Drivers, Passengers and Nearside passengers door, four new switches in the centre console. a new ignition switch TWICE and a new central locking controller.

The Head gasket blew each time after 10,000 miles and we DID use the latest multiple layer Landrover gasket and we did replace the seals on the liners.

And the head was skimmed.

When the Head blew again I sold the car.

The worst Freelander I had developed too many faults to list.

It really needed completely rebuilding.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

[Andychim400]

It's horses for courses....my wife has had one seven years from new and 83k miles later apart from consumables it's only additional cost has been a fuel pump. Which on my book ain't bad...try running a TVR!

I guess I can't comment on 2k worth of car which will be the early ones and mostly the problematic petrols, but on the interests of balance I thought it worth pointing out.

In my opinion

[Andychim400]

Darned iPhone....what I meant to say is that in my opinion they generally dont deserve the bad rep that the previous posts reflect although in fairness our experiences are based on owning the car from new, that said it's now seven years old.

[ClaphamGT3]

Just to buck the "Freelanders self-combust on purchase" orthodoxy that pervades on PH, we have a 2001 2.5 V6. Apart from two issues with electric windows (£200 to fix both) it has been faultlessly reliable and is a very accomplished, practical, well equipped car. The only gripes I've got is that the fuel consumption is quite high and that, especially as ours is black, the aircon isn't really man enough for the job on a really hot day.

Edited by ClaphamGT3 on Wednesday 7th December 08:29

[vrtrooper]

Nissan Terrano 2.7d?

[Pugley]

More perspective please:-

There are two distinct types of freelander;

1. Petrol K series 1.8 caused Landrover to go bankrupt and is the worst designed engine in automotive history. (20 -25 mpg) Never ever even think of buying one! I doubt that there any that have not blown their head gasket AT LEAST once.

2. Diesel TD4 uses BMW 2.00 TDI engine. (33 -38 mpg) BMW fitted this engine after they bought Landrover in a fire sale caused by the K series engine.
If properly serviced there is every likelihood that these engines will last way past 150K miles

Both versions have an extremely well rustproofed and rugged chassis but suffer from minor fixable problems with anything that is electrically operated (probably due to Landrover buying the cheapest parts available?)
Diffs and viscous couplings need to be in good order and give good service if not neglected.