Annother virgin

Hi everyone,

I am so glad I found this forum and have been reading a view threads regarding the Freelander.

At the moment I have a Toyota MR2 and have had no problems since I bought it 4 years ago BUT the time has now come for me to buy a bigger car because husband now has a work's van and everytime we go out (i.e. supermarket shopping or to the golf club we have to take the work's van). He hates my little MR2, too noisy, too bumpy the list is endless. No where for him to put his cigarettes and my handbag (you get the message).

Anyway, I was walking passed a garage last week and saw this geogeous black Freelander TD4 Adventurer with a foot spoiler (I think that is what it is called) and could not believe it was a Land Rover. I have always put down the Land Rovers saying "too big, too boxy" but I really fell in love with this Freelander. Its a 56 plate and the right price and after a lot of re jiggling finances husband and I decided to swop the MR3 for the Freelander.

BUT after reading on several web sites that these cars have lots of problems I am beginning to be doubtful about buhying one. It is with a reputable dealer who will give 6 months warranty (my brother is also a car mechanic so will not rip me off for any repairs).

Am I doing the right thing in buying this type of motor? Its a Freelander 2.0 TD4 3 Door Adventurer. My brother is going to test drive it tomorrow and obviously knows what to look for having been in the trade for several years but I am starting to get cold feet after reading all these faults these cars have.

It is not going to be used for off road stuff, it will be my vehicle and I will be driving it to and from work (about 25 miles a day) and at the weekend to go shopping and to the golf club.

I am sure there may be other better cars for our life style out there but I have to say it was "love at first sight" -

Any encouragement or not anyone can give me will be so much appreciated.

Thank you

Hi josie,

never any guarantees with a used vehicle, but:

td4 is the best engine of the lot, with a 56 plate, all the issues with diff ratios affecting vcu's were sorted and so on.

I've a td4 auto, with 85k on the clock, love it to bits, still going strong, touch wood.

there will always be problems, and most of them are here on this forum. If you like it and it drives well, and you do all the checks before you buy, all well and good.

on the strength of mine (which is the van version) both my wife and I would buy one as a family car, but it's not big enough inside for the kids. And my wife takes some convincing about a car.

good luck

Go for it, we are on our 2nd Freelander, we really like them, just as much trouble as any other car in my opinion, nice to drive and comfortable too, you wont be setting any speed records but if you want a 4wd you wont care about that!

and you'll be chuffed to bits in the snow and ice

go for it im on my second and wouldnt have anything else,also if you go on to any forum for any make of car it would put you off geting that make lol

defo go for it ..i have had a few ...different models and engine combos but the td4 56 platers are the best of the lot in my opinion (including the f2,s)

just enjoy it.

Thank you all for your replies - I am so glad you all recommend the freelander.

Well the update is ........................ I bought it. My brother in law met me at the garage and looked at all that stuff under that big front bonnet thing! Then we took it for a test drive - he mentioned a couple of things (both front tyres need replacing since they are borderline, he wants confirmation when the cam belt was done? otherwise the garage will re-do it and a couple of other minor things that the garage agreed to do).

Then came the haggling bit - I am part exchanging my MR2 - well to cut a long story short he got what he wanted and beat the man down to a realistic price etc. Well my brother in law is a car dealer/mechanic/genius.

The bad thing is that I dont get it until a week on Saturday - this is because the garage's mechanic is on holiday not returning until next Tuesday (after the bank holiday) and will have a lot of catching up to do. Its weird cos I would have thought he would have had a couple of mechanics since the garage is enormous (well the space is) - but this guy has only been going for about a year (if that) but it gives us time to re-jig the finance a bit.

I am very excited about it - but also a bit nervous. I am a confident driver but have only really had little cars before - my problem will be gauging the distance and width and parking. My husband a few years ago had a Jaguar S type and it was the easiest car to park - my MR2 is harder and I think it may be because of the turn on the wheel? I think....

When we pick it up we are going to go somewhere very very quiet like an old air field which is near us (Ford on the SOuth Coast) and take some sort of plastic markers so that I can get the feel of the size.


I love the bit about the snow - um I haven't a clue how to drive it in snow. When we had all that snow at the beginning of this year (or was it last year?) I left the car at home and took the train to work. I did venture out to work one day in the car when the roads were compeltely clear and parked on the forecourt but when I came to go home, the wheels just spun and spun and about 2 men had to push hard to get it off the forecourt onto the main road.

Someone at work has a Defender (one of the very big ones) and he said he went on one of the LandRover days where they show you how to drive over ditches, bumps, hills etc. Has anyone been on one of these days - do you think it would benefit me?

As I said previously, all I shall be using the car for is to and from work and at the weekend to do the shopping and go to golf. Besides I dont want to get my new Freelander dirty now do I?

But she is really beautiful - I will miss my little MR2 but nows the time to grow up. I have had my fun with the top off etc but she was so impractical. If I can figure how to put a picture on here of the car I will do so.

josie,the back comes off the 2 door freelander so you have a sort of convertible as well,and you dont need to do anything in the mud or snow it will go to four wheel drive itself,as it mainly front drive in normal coditions

thrasher said:

josie,the back comes off the 2 door freelander so you have a sort of convertible as well,and you dont need to do anything in the mud or snow it will go to four wheel drive itself,as it mainly front drive in normal coditions

Click to expand...

Oh OK? I told you I was a complete virgin - I dont at my age even understand the off side rule.............

I am not sure about taking the back off the freelander - I have seen a couple of pictures with the back off and it looks weird. Problem with that though is that in this country if you take it off you could just get caught in a shower!!!!

Hope you enjoy it - we are on our second Freelander as well

Your TD4 has a chain so no cambelt to worry about being changed

Mantamad said:

Hope you enjoy it - we are on our second Freelander as well

Your TD4 has a chain so no cambelt to worry about being changed

Click to expand...

OMG - well that shows what both the garage man and my brother in law know then? Now that is a bit worrying when even my brother does'nt know it has a chain. No wonder the garage owner couldn't find the documentation when it was last changed (or if at all).

Well - at least I will have 6 months RAC warranty - that is if its covered.

Yep, that is a bit concerning about their "knowledge"

I suspect it is just a big general car sales garage

Make sure the new tyres are put on the back, and the current rear ones moved to the front

Mark2 said:

Yep, that is a bit concerning about their "knowledge"

I suspect it is just a big general car sales garage

Make sure the new tyres are put on the back, and the current rear ones moved to the front

Click to expand...

MAKE THEM DO THE ABOVE !!!!!!!! and always put your new tyres on the back and move the older back ones to the front ....in order to protect your diffs and vcu ............and as was said earlier ..no cam belt on td4 ...at least you NEVER have to change very expensive cambelts...lol GOOD LUCK AND :welcome2:to the wonderfull world of landys ....lol im sure you will get used to it in no time ...my wifes biggest car before the fl was a fiesta !!!!! i had to remove the centre rear headrest (theres 3)for her for a month or so ...but now she wont drive or buy anything else!!!!!!

Thanks ever so everyone

I am so grateful for your help and I shall be sure to keep coming back here to chat. Unfortuntely I cannot offer advice since all I know is the front and back and so long as I have somewhere to put my bag and shopping I shall be happy. (!!!) Yippee I will be able to buy bigger handbags now instead of having my little ones.....

No seriously, thank you everyone and I will ask the garage to make sure about the tyres. I feel so much more confident knowing I have your support and knowledge.

I will keep you all posted - dont pick it up until next Saturday 4th September - I wonder whether the garage will let me just go and look at it?