Landrover Freelander

dedon

Does anyone here have experience with the Land Rover Freelander. I am looking at the 03 Model Diesel. Does it have a turbo? Anyone knon the bhp and the 0-60??

Also I am somewhat aware that they are not the most reliable 4X4. Is their an option in the car to change to 2WD?

They seem to be available for around the 8k range for an 03 with ok milage 50/60 miles. Am I mad to buy one? IT would be handy as I surf a lot and cycle and to ability to put down the back seats and drive off is handy but yet have a decent car to drive during the week and so on.

Slig

I was looking at one for my first 4x4 a couple of years ago but the bad press put me off. its a pity really because they are a fantastic looking machine.
Bad points:
Very uneconomical, less than 20MPG for the 2L diesel
Constant 4x4 so it eats tyres
BMW engine tuned to the max but just isnt capable of powering the machine so parts go, frequently and cost a lot.
Very bad customer service from dedicated garages and services cost a lot.
They do not hold their value.
Dont touch the petrol

Maybe Look at the suzuki vitara, early 90s had a convertible, rwd with low range gearbox. came in a 1.6 petrol.
Hyundai Santa fe, Long wheel base, 2L diesel, constant 4x4 but not too dear to run. cheap as chips now that the new modle has come out and if you can get over the looks they are a nice machine to drive

dedon

I suppose the Santa Fe might not be a bad option at all. Anyone know much about them?

mosesgun

I drive a 07 Santa Fe (new Shape) commercial for work. Got it new last June. Lovely machine. 2.2 Diesel. Very reliable and not thirsty at all. Friend bought a 04 (Old shape) passenger recently and he's thrilled with it. All in all I think you get a lot for your money with the Hyundai.

xt40

Slig wrote: »

I was looking at one for my first 4x4 a couple of years ago but the bad press put me off. its a pity really because they are a fantastic looking machine.
Bad points:
Very uneconomical, less than 20MPG for the 2L diesel
Constant 4x4 so it eats tyres
BMW engine tuned to the max but just isnt capable of powering the machine so parts go, frequently and cost a lot.
Very bad customer service from dedicated garages and services cost a lot.
They do not hold their value.
Dont touch the petrol

the 1.8 petrol engine is prone to head gasket failure every 30k or so, so should be avoided. everything else in the above post is completely wrong .
the td4 engine is a 110 bhp DETUNED version of the bmw m47 engine so if anything should last longer than the ones thet everyone raves about in the bmw 520/320. its more than adequate to power the lightweight freelander.
combined mpg figure is 35mpg ie very good for a 4x4. if the values of the td4 ones are depressed you might get a good one for a bargain price.

Slig

xt40 wrote: »

the 1.8 petrol engine is prone to head gasket failure every 30k or so, so should be avoided. everything else in the above post is completely wrong .
the td4 engine is a 110 bhp DETUNED version of the bmw m47 engine so if anything should last longer than the ones thet everyone raves about in the bmw 520/320. its more than adequate to power the lightweight freelander.
combined mpg figure is 35mpg ie very good for a 4x4. if the values of the td4 ones are depressed you might get a good one for a bargain price.

Compare the failure rates on a freelander engine compared to a bmw and see. There are some people that are so blinded by the LR pedigree that they fail to see what a BOS the freelander was.

xt40

Slig wrote: »

Compare the failure rates on a freelander engine compared to a bmw and see. There are some people that are so blinded by the LR pedigree that they fail to see what a BOS the freelander was.

i can assure you, im not blinded by anything. i do however have a thing about people who criticize cars they have never owned and back up their criticisms with made up facts spouted as gospel. it misleads posters who are seeking genuine opinions from people who have real first hand experience.

Slig

xt40 wrote: »

i can assure you, im not blinded by anything. i do however have a thing about people who criticize cars they have never owned and back up their criticisms with made up facts spouted as gospel. it misleads posters who are seeking genuine opinions from people who have real first hand experience.

Would you reccomend somebody buy a pre '04 landrover Freelander?
I wouldnt and I dont know many that would!
All I have heard is bad press about them and the aftersales service, the only compliment i have heard is that the engine is lovely while it works.

The reason I didnt own one of the depreciating, diesel drinking pieces of crap (as owning one seemingly means I could legitimately warn people of them), is that I did my homework on them before I bought one.

princesso

Does anybody have some actual first hand experience with Freelanders? Rather than "I heard, or my friend said"
Thinking of buying one, and also wondering if anybody has anything good to say about them?

astrofool

The new one is a huge improvement on the old one.

L-M

Right firstly as said before don't touch the petrol.

After that the diesels are great. IN 2004 they face lifted the Freelander which made it look alot more modern that the pre 04 plastic bumper (also the interior in the pre 04's was very dated). The engine does give around 35 odd miles to the gallon. Comfortable jeeps to drive, all of the Freelander 1's being five speed. The back window comes down, which is handy if u have dogs etc. Alot of them came with sunroofs. If the model u are looking at doesn't have a cd player, check under the passenger seat as it's some times there. The four wheel drive kicks in when it feels it needs it, other than that it's two wheels.

Problems. Electrics mainly. Check all the windows, make sure they are work especially the back one. The back window can be known sometimes to just drop and not come back up.

Advice, if possilbe buy 04 + diesel. Don't buy petrol. Try get a service history as well as one of the main thing's that gives trouble is people buyin them and not looking after them. If i've missed anything just ask.

princesso

Thanks for the advice. I have seen some nice 04 and 05 Freelanders around, and they are not a bad price. I wouldnt go hear the petrol anyway, as I drive a diesel at the moment, so no turning back there.
Think tomorrow will be spent test driving!
Thanks again.

dathi1

Driving a 04 version TD4 commercial since 04. No problems at all. Great machine for work and play. I love it. I was going to upgrade to the new one this year but I'm put of by the samey extended car look with other 4x4s. The wheel attached to the back door is an aesthetic I require!! I think I'll keep it.

L-M

dathi1 wrote: »

The wheel attached to the back door is an aesthetic I require!! I think I'll keep it.

Hah, u wouldn't even get a wheel with the E model, U'll get a putty that u squirt into the wheel to keep u going.

copacetic

seem to be a lot of 07 models cluttering up carzone, are they not moving because of the price drop on the new one? They all seem overpriced also, at 10% less than they are new now.

What is the sweetspot in spec? Everything seems to be the S model, but it doesn't have parking sensors, which seem a bit of a miss with the lip on the back bumper? Is there any particular options that are vital to have?

L-M

copacetic wrote: »

seem to be a lot of 07 models cluttering up carzone, are they not moving because of the price drop on the new one? They all seem overpriced also, at 10% less than they are new now.

What is the sweetspot in spec? Everything seems to be the S model, but it doesn't have parking sensors, which seem a bit of a miss with the lip on the back bumper? Is there any particular options that are vital to have?

On the S model, The terrain response is handy for an offroad or non normal driving conditions (sand, grass, gravel etc.). Bigger alloy wheel (17"), On steering controls for the radio and cruise control. Rain sensors, auto lights on, Front fogs and a trip computer. Better air con as well. I don't think any are vital for everyday driving but it's nice to have a bit of spec.

copacetic

so sounds like the S is the one? Presume you could retrofit parking if felt it was really needed? Saw one the other day in a bright orange, that I thought looked really well. Might it be risky for resale?

Have heard no bad reports on the 2 as far as reliability goes, is it generally agreed that issues from earlier version were sorted with this one?

return guide

Hi,

I had a 2005 2 litre tdi through work fo 2 years.

Be prepared for 350-400 kms per 65 euro fill (thats before the price increase)

Be prepared for some time in the garage, mine was in for fuel system problems 3 times.

Be prepared to stay behind trucks on single lane carrigeways as the acceleration is quite bad.

hope this helps.

L-M

copacetic wrote: »

so sounds like the S is the one? Presume you could retrofit parking if felt it was really needed? Saw one the other day in a bright orange, that I thought looked really well. Might it be risky for resale?

Have heard no bad reports on the 2 as far as reliability goes, is it generally agreed that issues from earlier version were sorted with this one?

Tambora Flame is the orange colour and i really wouldn't reccomend it because it looks horrid when it's dirty. As for the sensors they can be retro fit on the Disco so surely can be done on the Freelander.

As for reliability everything seems grand. I honeslty haven't seen many come back, or any1 with any major complaints.

Peig Sayers

Friend is selling the Dec 04 Freelander TD4 2 litre diesel model as she needs to change to an automatic because of a bad back (nothing to do with the landrover!). Dealer offered her £5,500 for it (she lives in the north) and she said I could have it for the same price (she's not part-exchanging). With the exchange rate and the VRT it would come to about 12k. There's 68k on the clock but only 1 one owner with FSH and in mint condition.

I am tempted but am a bit worried about all the work it may need in the future. At present my 12 year old mini jeep gets serviced once every 2 years whether it needs it or not and only because of the NCT! If I buy it and hate it do you think I could get my money back if I sell it within the next year?

anoble66

I have no experience of the freelander but have an 06 Discovery TDV6. Have to say its the best car i have ever had and so far the most reliable. Just over 12 months of ownership and no real issues. I did have a minor issue with the radio unit, the clock kept freezing so Landrover replaced the whole unit including radio on warranty....they are excellent and have given me brilliant customer service.

MPG wise, i get 850-900km/s from a tank, it equates to around 30-32mpg. If 0-60 is a problem there is a specialist in Cork which re-maps the engine safely bringing the BHP up to 240 and 0-60 in 9 seconds and also improves MPG at the same time. I know people that have run this re-map for over 100,000 miles without any issues. In the UK a lot of the land rover dealerships actually sell you this remap...

good luck with whatever you buy, but if you can stretch to a discovery i think you will be surprised at how good it is.