Freelander 1 Considering downsizing from my D2 Td5....

Hi all,

Looking for a little info/help/advice.

I currently have a D2 Td5 and a VW Passat B6 estate. The other half and I have decided it's not cost effective having three cars between us, and sadly, my D2 is costing my £55-60 a week in diesel to commute to work (about 20-21 miles each way), so not really cost effective to use that as my daily.

I had thought along the lines of replacing both with something like a Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi as their cheap to run, tax etc. However, My only concern there is I'll miss green laning too much.

Sooooo, thinking of looking at a Freelander 1 Td4 (facelift). I know they're capable enough off the tarmac, and may consider a suspension and/or body lift if a got one, and would definitely fit A/T tyres and snorkel.
I'm needing to find out what you're finding the every day running costs like, ie fuel consumption, oil, brake pads etc.

Also, I've not really looked into other bits yet, but what upgrades are out there for Freelanders? So far with my D2, I've got a winch and winch bumper, dif guards, tank guard, transmission guard, and not yet fitted, heavy duty rear bumper and rock sliders.

Thanks in advance

but what upgrades are out there for Freelanders?

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https://www.muddymods.com/collections/freelander-1

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running costs like, ie fuel consumption, .. .

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about 40mpg for the manual gear box .. slightly less for auto ..

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couple of links as to info for newbie hippo owners ..

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/what-to-lock-for-on-freelanders.163164/#post-1620217

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

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hd3 said:

https://www.muddymods.com/collections/freelander-1

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about 40mpg for the manual gear box .. slightly less for auto ..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

couple of links as to info for newbie hippo owners ..

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/what-to-lock-for-on-freelanders.163164/#post-1620217

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

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Many thanks for that!! I'd not heard of MuddyMods before, but looks like they have some good bits there!! I'm already spending one looking at the site!!! lmao! To be fair, I'd probably look at the 50mm lift, sill guards/rock slider, rear exhaust guard and a snorkel. That said, they doo look good with some chequer plate on the bonnet!!

40mpg is pretty good really. I had a feeling it would be around the 40mpg mark. Thats probably around 10mpg improvement on my D2 straight away!!

I'll check out the other links you added as well, they'll come in very handy when looking.

The next decision will be 3 or 5 door!!! it may be 5 door though, as it'll need to house the toddlers child seat.

You need to way up carefully how much you are going to lose on selling the D2 and how much buying a FL is going to cost you verses how many years running cost of the D2 this will get you. I would suspect running the D2 as a daily will work out much more cost effective in the long run especially as the D2 may well appreciate in value.

Interceptorxj said:

You need to way up carefully how much you are going to lose on selling the D2 and how much buying a FL is going to cost you verses how many years running cost of the D2 this will get you. I would suspect running the D2 as a daily will work out much more cost effective in the long run especially as the D2 may well appreciate in value.

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As a daily commuter, it's expensive. I haven't been out laning much over the last couple of years, but situation with the Mrs changed, we got back together, moved in etc, so I will have more opportunity to get out, but needing to have just the one vehicle, and one that will be less expensive to run on a daily basis.
We had agreed that I could get another Disco in couple of years, but if i did that, I'd like to get a D3 (long term would've been to upgrade at some stage anyway).
I get what you're saying about the D2 appreciating in value. If I sold it now, I'd probably only get between £1k-£1.5k, despite having a few mods, plus in the time I've had it, new clutch kit, brand new Garrett turbo (previous owners weren't changing the second oil filter when they serviced it), new master and slave cylinders plus a few other bits. I know in terms of what i've put into it, I should probably keep it, but with the pressure from the other half to sell both vehicles and get one (don't want to be paying insurance on the D2 if it's parked up SORN long term until we can afford for me to run it properly (since my original post, there has been a rather major development for the mrs in her job, so things could be really looking up).

I must admit, I do like the Freelander. My dad has just bought a FL 2 which he's really impressed and happy with, made me consider one (well, I'll be happy with FL1 as I can't afford a good FL2 yet) as a replacement to two vehicles and compromise between both.

There's a nice looking FL1 facelift TD4 SE in the For Sale section right now, which has a hidden winch fitted and AT tyres all found.

Nodge68 said:

There's a nice looking FL1 facelift TD4 SE in the For Sale section right now, which has a hidden winch fitted and AT tyres all found.

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Yeah, seen that, and very interested in it. I've posted asking if he'll let me knows if it sells anytime soon.

Grim said:

Yeah, seen that, and very interested in it. I've posted asking if he'll let me knows if it sells anytime soon.

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I'd have it if it were closer and automatic.

Nodge68 said:

I'd have it if it were closer and automatic.

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I was tempted to look for an automatic, but I prefer manual gears when off the tarmac. It is a nice looking Landy!!

Grim said:

I was tempted to look for an automatic, but I prefer manual gears when off the tarmac. It is a nice looking Landy!

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Remember. There's no low range on the FL1, so an automatic is better off road, as there's no clutch to wear out.

Nodge68 said:

Remember. There's no low range on the FL1, so an automatic is better off road, as there's no clutch to wear out.

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that was my only issue with a FL1, no low range. Have you taken your green laning or off road? how do you find it?

I think I'm gonna have to sit the other half down and have a proper chat about things. With the development at work today, there may not be a need for me to get rid of the D2. Although i've really found myself warming to the idea of owning a Freelander.

Grim said:

Have you taken your green laning or off road? how do you find it?

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They're awesome off road. I've used my previous V6 to pull an off roading buddy in his D2 out of a mud hole, twice. His D2 just sat in the mud, spinning one wheel (no central diff lock) while burning the brakes out from excessive TC use. The Freelander just pulled him out, just like it was towing a heavy trailer. So in my experience, the FL1 has better traction, then the later D2, which doesn't have a locking centre diff. Check out YouTube for FL1 off roading videos, as there's plenty. This makes me smile.

Freelander's are lighter which makes life easier fer reduced traction situations. Makes them lighter fer going up slopes anorl. Makes traction control more effective with it being lighter.