Vehicle & Technical > Freelander

OK so sell me a freelander!

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cooper956:
dont buy petrol thay are still suffering problems and always will we got a low milage  2.0 di cheaper than the td4 and a sound engine ours is a 3 door. look out for diff probs ect and wet boot floors back round in a car park in a circal and then dip the cluch while movening if the car stop sudden and dosent roll walk away it will be the center diff or viscus unti is gone think £400 ish to sort also ird untis fail as do rear diffs dont confuse a clonk on the rear as diff though ours just had the diff mounting bushs gone  easy fix myself for under £50

richoutthere:
I've got a 1998 1.8 petrol and it does 30mpg on my 20 mile daily commute. I've had it 4yrs and hardly cost me a thing. Reasonably easy to and cheap to fix. Mine does slow on full lock, it's a common characteristic not a failed vsu or ird. If the K series has been sorted by LR it'll be ok as long as you dont thrash it. The early ones do tend to wear the rear tyres strangly and can cause a hummmmmm commonly diagnosed as a diff or bearings. Just swap the tyres around and wear them evenly again. I've had to do it twice on mine in 20k mile (I think it depends how much slow speed cornering you do). The only things with mine are, the heaters are rubbish, leather seats are cold as they not heated and there's not enough low down torque to help when offroad. Brilliant car for the money and just try and buy anything for the same money. age, equipment, capability on and off road. Ticks all my boxes

CNorman:

--- Quote from: V8MoneyPit on January 20, 2008, 18:22:29 ---There is a Land Rover fix for the K series engine head gasket problems. But most trouble is caused by poor servicing. If you can get to see the history for the car, check if there's a bill for the upgrade.

The 1.8 petrol engine is actually an excellent unit. It is just a bit on the limit for coolant capacity so gives trouble when it leaks or if the coolant system isn't properly purged of air when serviced.

5 door versions fetch more than the 3 door ones, but sounds like you would need a 5dr.

As previously said, see if you can stretch to a TD4. It is by far the best engine. The V6 is excellent, but thirsty. The old diesel is OK, but a bit agricultural.

--- End quote ---

I have to say that i very much disagree with the servicing issue causing head gasket faults. I would personally go for the older and  less refined diesel than the 1.8i. The head gaskets are very very expensive when they go. Also lots of people you speak to who have suffered HGF seem to have them repeat.

There is 1 alternative though........... I had a discovery 300tdi and come from a family of Landy owners HOWEVER rather than get the 1.8 freebie as i could not afford the diesel i did buy myself a grand vitara.... Low ratio box, lockable 4WD and it too seems capable off road, i would rate mine as competant as a freelander.

I think everything is personal but i really would not buy a K series engine irrespective of how nice the vehicle is.

CNorman:
Also i would be very very wary of the land rover "Fix". People assume that when the head gasket on a landy goes it is through the head gasket failing this is not the whole truth. Unlike a normal simple engine where you pull off the head and then fit a new gasket the 1.8i has wet liners, and if they slip when you remove the gasket, which they can and often do, then you are supposed to re align the liners which is complex and TBH is think is beyond the average back street garrage and home mechanic. You can replace the gasket and chucl it back together. You may get 3000 miles or 25000 miles but they will go again!

Fitting the fix is not the end of the problem. My partner had the K seris engine and when it failed several garages said they were not willing to work on it.

PS, i have changed head gaskets before but not on a free lander so i am waiting to be corrected on my rantings  :D

richoutthere:
Each to their own I say. But have you actually owned a 1.8 and had a bad experience? and how many have and haven't had problems? Vitara is a definate contender, (and relativley easy to work on, but they feel a little thin and I felt like I was driving faster than I actually was it mine. They also have a nasty habit of accumulating condensation in the head giving the impression of a failed head gasket (funily enough).
From my experiense, i'd have a freelander over a vitara for under £5000 More than £5k and the freelander tends to be less of an actractive buy in my book as theres lots of other options. Good allrounder without haveing to compromise too much to get you off the hard stuff.

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