Calling all Freelander owners...

[ChevronB19]

In my continuing search for a new car, my micro-span of attention has turned to Freelanders (don't worry, it's not directly due to the snow, although it's worth mentioning I live in rural Cumbria, often have to go on construction sites and need something capable of towing a single seater - also for small people reasons it needs to have 4 seats and preferably five doors).

If you look at previous threads, I started off thinking of selling my 06 MX-5. I could afford the personal loan I have on it, but fancied the idea of saving a bit of cash. However, a small person is now on the way. I would have paid off the outstanding personal loan, leaving about 1K for a replacement (and no monthly payments). Now that was a possibility, however my budget could, in theory, go up to 12K (yes, I know that's a leap, but payments would be the same as what I pay now, thereabouts), however I'd like to be closer to 1K than 12K.

I know Freelander 1's have a poor reliability reputation (K series headgaskets), but I want/need a diesel (not a K series?). I heard a friend of a friend sold his 4 year old one due to a catastrophic MOT failure, but that may well be apocryphal. Any owner experience?

I guess my options are:

1) A 1-2K Freelander 1 'heap'

2) A c. 5-6K Freelander 1 facelift

3) A c. 12K Freelander 2

A Range Rover is too big, as is a Discovery (and I hate the look of the latter!)

All opinion, criticism, you're doing the right/wrong thing for this/that reason welcomed!

(FWIW, I have 'narrowed' (hah) the shortlist down to Freelander, 3 series touring, octavia estate, passat estate etc. While I generally like fords, I just don't like the Mondeo for some reason, and as for Vectra's I've had loads through work as hire cars, and just hate them (no disrespect to any Vectra fans intended!).

[fflyingdog]

I have Freelander on a 05 plate ,TD4 great machine does everything it says on the tin,and the snow was a doddle quite smugly passing lesser vehicles on snowy icey and generally crappy roads. Not great on fuel economy but i didnt buy it for its blisteringly quick performance or economy but as i live in the middle of now where i needed to be able to get out and about in bad weather ,it has the feel of a Tonka toy .

[A.J.M]

Ive an 04 facelift td4. Was £6500 nearly 2 years ago with only 37k on the clock, i was offered £6k from landrover dealer back in the summer with 54k on the clock.

The td4 is really good, mine does roughly 35-37mpg in mostly town and single carrageway driving. Motorway takes it upto low 40s. I sit at 56-60 though as im now a poor student. Blank the EGR valve with a kit from ebay, mine is the recommended allisport one and at £56 its worth every penny for the extra punch, lower smoke and general happier sounding engine.

The transmissions can fail, mine did but it wasnt helped by a landrover "specialist" screwing me out and not doing the work right to try and get me to sell it cheap to him.

Spec for the 04-06 goes from E,S,SE,HSE. Get a SE or hse as they are the best equiped. You can get a sport/sport premium but the specs for reasons beyond me are all over the place!
Check autotrader for the specs and then deside but i would go for the SE as a minimum. Mine is an SE and its packed with stuff.
Manual or auto is down to you. Both are good.

Get decent tyres on it. Make sure they are M+S rated as i had kumho's on the back thanks to the previous owner and they were terrible!

Ive done 2 hard scottish winters, some serious off roading in places that a AT tyred td5 defender and RRC couldnt get too. Various PH runs chasing porsches through the highlands and general day to day uses. 20k in 22 months but it has had 5 months in the garage due to repairs that took the pish (lr dealer) and the remedial work carried out by warrenty direct. 1 month due to a corsa rear ending me as well. Nothing inside has broke and im really happy with it.
Heres a few pictures of mine.

I made that photo


And well since i have a sense of humour.

[ChevronB19]

Sounding good!I've had a look on autotrader, eBay etc, and prices seem a bit steep compared to the recommended prices on parkers (if they mean anything), but I'm not looking to buy until May, by which time the 'snow effect' should have gone, and the 'sun effect' should help selling my MX-5 easily (despite it being hysterical fun in the snow). I'm with you on getting the highest model possible - I'd really miss the heated seats I have now, and leather would be nice - manual is an essential for me as well, which I guess might be a bit rarer on the top spec models?

[GKP]

I short while ago my OH bought herself a winter shed to keep her mobile when her Elise would be stuck in the snow. She purchased a 2000my Freelander XEi 1.8 k series with 150k on the clock. The previous two owners have spent money on it maintaining the important bits including an IRD and VCU and she went through with the purchase knowing a clutch would be required very soon due to the pedal being quite high, however none of the service records indicate that the engine has ever been apart so we're assuming hgf hasn't been a factor in this car's life.
But at £1200 neither of us were particularly bothered either way.

It's been a fine shed to hack around in these past couple of months. A/c, leather, t/c + abs along with hdc all make it a good place to be considering the modest outlay.