freelander vs discovery

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I think you are probably in the best position to make the decision :)

You already own a 'big' Landie and the Disco is basically the same - but just more comfortable and a couple more gadgets - but not many. We've just done a 3,000km road trip in the Freelander with 5 adults and no complaints from anyone, but my kids have told me that the back seats are not as comfortable as the D1.

If you are running your cars on a budget - that may be an issue though. My D1 300TDI would nudge 30mpg on the run - where as my '99 Freelander diesel will nudge 40mpg (7.5l/100kms) - so the D1 will cost you 33% more in fuel. Not sure on French taxation - but here, the D1 costs more to tax as well. Then there's insurance - not sure on that.

With the driving conditions, you're definitely in the best position to make a decision. The only thing I'd add is that in icy conditions, coming down hill, I'd rather be in my lighter Freelander. I had a terrifying experience trying to navigate down a frozen hill in my D1 V8 once - it made me realise just how heavy it was! Haven't had quite the same conditions in the Freelander, but I'm sure it would do better being lighter. Going up, they will both grip much better than coming down! I'm not sure which is the safer one to be in should you slip off the road into a gulley!

In my experience, the biggest difference between the D1 and Freelander - is how much easier the Freelander is to work on. I'm no Ninja Mechanic and the components on the Freelander I find much easier to work on - primarily because they are (once again) smaller and lighter. Having said that I haven't had to do much to the Freelander, its been very reliable - as was the D1 300TDI, but that was almost new when we got it.

Good luck with what ever decision you make.
 
gstuart said:
what do u think of ur disco 3 over the hippo please , now you've owned a little while

how's the reliability and running costs , ie mpg and service parts etc

imagine there around 10 grand for a decent one , plus
Click to expand...


Hi Garry
I went from a 40K miles V6 Freelander to a D3 with 165K miles on it. Even with this mileage, the D3 is in a different league altogether.
Reliability wise, I've had to undo main dealer bodges left and right. The electronic handbrake was incorrectly adjusted, there was a small hole in one of the new air compressors pipes due to incorrect routing. I've also found zip ties holding things instead of screws. All sorts really.
Reliability wise. I've done 5K miles in it so far and she's been faultless. I've had to change the battery, replace rear pads and repair a key, otherwise it's been good.
I've got the MOT in April, for which I've ordered a pile of new parts, consisting of LH and RH front lower wishbones, a pair of track rods and rod ends and a full set of anti roll bar bushes for front and rear. I'm also going to replace the solid brake pipes for rust free copper.

It's due a full service which will cost £90 for the parts and oils.

Fuel costs are much less than my V6 Freelander. I get 25.25 Mpg on my daily commute. I don't think that is bad considering it's 1000 Kg's heavier than the Freelander.

On the road or off it, the D3 is awesome. You can throw it round corners and she stays nice and level. The air suspension ride is magic carpet smooth and it's much quieter than the Freelander. Motorways are a breeze, it simply eats miles, set cruise and point. You can drive for 4 hours and not feel it!!
Cost wise, I was able to negotiate a price of just over £5k which I consider good. Even if I spent a grand replacing worn parts, I still got a good deal.
Would I go back to a Freelander? No chance.
 
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Nodge68 said:
Hi Garry
I went from a 40K miles V6 Freelander to a D3 with 165K miles on it. Even with this mileage, the D3 is in a different league altogether.
Reliability wise, I've had to undo main dealer bodges left and right. The electronic handbrake was incorrectly adjusted, there was a small hole in one of the new air compressors pipes due to incorrect routing. I've also found zip ties holding things instead of screws. All sorts really.
Reliability wise. I've done 5K miles in it so far and she's been faultless. I've had to change the battery, replace rear pads and repair a key, otherwise it's been good.
I've got the MOT in April, for which I've ordered a pile of new parts, consisting of LH and RH front lower wishbones, a pair of track rods and rod ends and a full set of anti roll bar bushes for front and rear. I'm also going to replace the solid brake pipes for rust free copper.

It's due a full service which will cost £90 for the parts and oils.

Fuel costs are much less than my V6 Freelander. I get 25.25 Mpg on my daily commute. I don't think that is bad considering it's 1000 Kg's heavier than the Freelander.

On the road or off it, the D3 is awesome. You can throw it round corners and she stays nice and level. The air suspension ride is magic carpet smooth and it's much quieter than the Freelander. Motorways are a breeze, it simply eats miles, set cruise and point. You can drive for 4 hours and not feel it!!
Cost wise, I was able to negotiate a price of just over £5k which I consider good. Even if I spent a grand replacing worn parts, I still got a good deal.
Would I go back to a Freelander? No chance.
Click to expand...

this mate, very kind of u for the write up

the more as time goes by I really fancy a change , but think the disco 3 is out of my price range as they seem to go for around £10 k

the rust issues on the disco 1 and 2 would worry me to much

like the fenders but after having the hippo enjoy the ease as which it drives down the motorway etc and of course have to drive an auto

how do find working on them , are they as easy to service as a fl

I can't be complacent about the fl as its been a great car ,

saw a d3 for sale a little while ago on eBay with a blown lump, whilst it wouldn't bother me taking it on , the cost of parts would be huge ,seeing its a v6

oh well nice to dream , another reason why I hate so much in not being able to work ,

have been thinking of getting a td4 engine and doing it up as a project but just got mixed views at the moment

but suppose all I can do is work with what I have ,
 
When times are uncertain, its better the devil you know Gary. Leave it a year or so, scrape up another 3 grand ish and check out a nice L322 oil burner.

Circa 7K seems to be the starter price for decent beemered ones, so that will drop. They are good on juice, fairly quick, tune nicely. And lots of X5 and E39 5 series stuff can be cross referenced.

Just my humble opinion. I had one, and it was nice. Sorry i swapped it actually.

It was a class act.
 
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Longbolt said:
When times are uncertain, its better the devil you know Gary. Leave it a year or so, scrape up another 3 grand ish and check out a nice L322 oil burner.

Circa 7K seems to be the starter price for decent beemered ones, so that will drop. They are good on juice, fairly quick, tune nicely. And lots of X5 and E39 5 series stuff can be cross referenced.

Just my humble opinion. I had one, and it was nice. Sorry i swapped it actually.

It was a class act.
Click to expand...

like my hippo and is a cracking car to drive,

as the milage is creeping towards 180,000 miles I don't want to get to the stage where im without a car, otherwise I would be stuffed

I have never looked at rangies because I always thought they were well out of my price range

do as an average 3,000 miles per year

just wish to do some forward thinking and not ignore the fact it's getting older and also mileage

could get a second hand engine and restore it ,but the auto and everything is of the same age , don't want to spend maybe 6 months and money,swap the engine then something major goes

it just frightens the life out of me if I'm keft with no car, no I shouldn't worry but got to think of the what ifs and how i can ensure I've always got a vehicle

been pondering for over a year or so

dismissed a rangie very quickly as I thought the were seriuos money

don't know what I would get for mine , with full Land Rover history a grand maybe
 
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gstuart said:
like my hippo and is a cracking car to drive,

as the milage is creeping towards 180,000 miles I don't want to get to the stage where im without a car, otherwise I would be stuffed

I have never looked at rangies because I always thought they were well out of my price range

do as an average 3,000 miles per year

just wish to do some forward thinking and not ignore the fact it's getting older and also mileage

could get a second hand engine and restore it ,but the auto and everything is of the same age , don't want to spend maybe 6 months and money,swap the engine then something major goes

it just frightens the life out of me if I'm keft with no car, no I shouldn't worry but got to think of the what ifs and how i can ensure I've always got a vehicle

been pondering for over a year or so

dismissed a rangie very quickly as I thought the were seriuos money
Click to expand...
Jeep Wrangler.. there ya go sorted. ;)
 
I would have thought the way you look after your hippo, it has a few miles left in it for sure.

It was just a thought, i guess Rangies can look like scary monsters to some. But i personally think, because of this, there are a few canny bargains out there.

Good luck in whatever you decide.
 
gstuart said:
like my hippo and is a cracking car to drive,

as the milage is creeping towards 180,000 miles I don't want to get to the stage where im without a car, otherwise I would be stuffed

I have never looked at rangies because I always thought they were well out of my price range

do as an average 3,000 miles per year

just wish to do some forward thinking and not ignore the fact it's getting older and also mileage

could get a second hand engine and restore it ,but the auto and everything is of the same age , don't want to spend maybe 6 months and money,swap the engine then something major goes

it just frightens the life out of me if I'm keft with no car, no I shouldn't worry but got to think of the what ifs and how i can ensure I've always got a vehicle

been pondering for over a year or so

dismissed a rangie very quickly as I thought the were seriuos money

don't know what I would get for mine , with full Land Rover history a grand maybe
Click to expand...

Rather than go the whole way to the FFRR why not look into the RRS? They use most of the D3 running gear, are a bit lighter and cheaper to buy than the D3 too. If I didn't need the 7 seater D3, I'd have bought a RRS. The later LRs are very different from the early stuff like D2's and Freelanders. It's worth a look if funds allow. If you can do the spanner work yourself, you will save a fortune on running costs too. ;)
 
cheers guys

the things I can't do my son will always help regarding servicing , parts etc

must admit , the slightest thing on the hippo i deal with it straight away

will check out though the rangies etc

it's just me and the dogs but wished I had got a 5 door for ease of getting to the back seats

the dogs get the entire back seat , I've also got full harness for them and use the seat belts

my grandson is due in June so that's another reason about access and room etc

with my back will be difficult in lifting him into back , will put him in the centre back and would have been nice having the back doors etc

this may sound daft but as I only do 3,000 miles a year would getting a v8 be madness

are the cheaper to buy etc or not worth considering

is it the 4.7 litre Range Rover that seems to go cheaper than the diesels

just a thought

budget wise I imagine about 5 k , as I would have to borrow and pay the money back , oh mummy daddy ,lol

wish for a 5 door, auto, petrol or diesel ? , air con , cruise, would like air suspension for ease of getting in and out the car and also for off road clearance ?
 
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Longbolt said:
When times are uncertain, its better the devil you know Gary. Leave it a year or so, scrape up another 3 grand ish and check out a nice L322 oil burner.

Circa 7K seems to be the starter price for decent beemered ones, so that will drop. They are good on juice, fairly quick, tune nicely. And lots of X5 and E39 5 series stuff can be cross referenced.

Just my humble opinion. I had one, and it was nice. Sorry i swapped it actually.

It was a class act.
Click to expand...

had a look so the L322 is 2002 onwards

do they still have low high range in an auto

see the 2002 is either

4.4 litre v8 bmw m62

3.0 litre td6 bmw m57

they do loookkkkk very nice
 
gstuart said:
had a look so the L322 is 2002 onwards

do they still have low high range in an auto

see the 2002 is either

4.4 litre v8 bmw m62

3.0 litre td6 bmw m57

they do loookkkkk very nice
Click to expand...

Hi Gary,

Yup, they have low and high range on a switch. When /if you decide to get one, make sure the box is working ok. They are a supposedly sealed for life unit, but you can drain them. Its a bit of a bugga to refill them tho, as the box has to be up to temperature to get the right level.

I still have an Service kit for my old one (TD6/M57) unused (filters/glows etc) . If you ever get one let me know, and you can have the lot for the price of the postage. Its just sitting around.
 
Longbolt said:
Hi Gary,

Yup, they have low and high range on a switch. When /if you decide to get one, make sure the box is working ok. They are a supposedly sealed for life unit, but you can drain them. Its a bit of a bugga to refill them tho, as the box has to be up to temperature to get the right level.

I still have an Service kit for my old one (TD6/M57) unused (filters/glows etc) . If you ever get one let me know, and you can have the lot for the price of the postage. Its just sitting around.
Click to expand...

thks buddy

think it would be a l322 , the freelander auto box also has to be up to temperature and done in a certain way

what do u think with regards to engine choices plse, are petrol out of the question , to unreliable etc, just thinking as there cheaper
 
V8 petrol. Yum slurp yum slurp. Love the sound. I'm sure they are more economical than my old 3.5 carb RR Classic. Just.

Need deep pockets to fill them up. £100+ for a tankful?
 
gstuart said:
thks buddy

think it would be a l322 , the freelander auto box also has to be up to temperature and done in a certain way

what do u think with regards to engine choices plse, are petrol out of the question , to unreliable etc, just thinking as there cheaper
Click to expand...

No worries,

Petrol one should be ok, maybe the BMW V8 would be a better choice, but cant speak from experience having never owned a L322 with that mill. Its a thought finding one with an LPG conversion?. Greedy monsters otherwise.

Trouble is with the LPG conversion, they seem to run better on petrol (IMO), so the selection tends to stay on that..defeating the object.

Its got you thinking all this hasn't it?..lol!
 
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