Freelander 2

Hi

I am considering ordering a new Freelander 2 TD4, spec undecided.

I know the model is quite new - are there any problems with this model I should know about?

Just worried because the perception is that LR have problems with early builds of particular models and they only get sorted later in that models life.

Considering auto, whats your thoughts or should I steer clear and go for manual?

Thanks in anticipation

Harry

So far on here we know of a recall for wiring fault.

Plus one other member claimed that the whole transmission had to be replaced with less than 10k on the clock.

I wouldnt trust LR designers or engineers, the two departments dont talk to each other and the problems are discovered in the public domain.

try freel2.co.uk , forum just for freelander 2 .

sorry thats freel2.com not co.uk.

If you envisage doing any off roading or towing go for an auto if you can afford it. If you can't, drop down a spec level and go for an auto.

I have owned my new HSE for 6 weeks, no problems, its the best car i have ever owned by far, i love it

Crossair said:

I have owned my new HSE for 6 weeks, no problems, its the best car i have ever owned by far, i love it

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Please come back in 12 months and report back after the honeymoon period is over

No worries 3 years manufactures warranty, i will change it before then ,ps they are a lot cheeper to by in Germany or France

I would chew my own arm off to have a Freelander 2.

Cheers

Blippie

Freelander 2 is a great machine and Td4 auto is best combo to go for, works like a dream. Excellent on and off road and gives decent mpg compared to the old td4 auto.

Whats this recall about the wiring?

I've had a td4 GS since January 2nd. From a letter to the dealer, the story so far:

Both rear tyres broke up, delaminated and blew.
The nearside front door lost all exterior trim and mirror
The gearbox refused to engage 2nd gear, and 3rd became intermittent
The automatic lights came on at random intervals
The automatic wipers didn’t
The heated seats would function when first switched on but failed thereafter
The rear wiper parked at random
The air-con filter didn’t function
The stereo jammed
The key would be rejected repeatedly by the lock
The exhaust came loose
The battery drained overnight, immobilising the car. Running the car failed to re-charge the battery sufficiently.

The car is currently in a dealership for repair again – they attempted to return it yesterday, saying they were unable to find any electrical fault, but were also unable to start the car to get it out of the workshop, so there it remains.

I work in the motor trade, and I've been testing cars for some twelve years. I also own a Defender, so I'm not unrealistic about what one can expect in a new car for the price, and what one can expect from Land Rover. But this is hopeless. I feel like I'm trapped in an episode of Life on Mars, and I've just bought a new car. It's so ... so ... Rover, so muddled and feeble and riddled with incompetence and poor service. I call the saleseman to tell him about problem a; I call the service department the next day - they know nothing about it. I call a dealer when I'm stranded by the roadside, leave my number ... do they call back? Nope. My advice, sadly, would be not to touch one until it's at least a couple of years old and it's been reassembled by someone with some interest in the car.

good huh?

Blippie said:

I would chew my own arm off to have a Freelander 2.

Cheers

Blippie

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this has got to be worth seeing. i'll sell tickets fer the show and when we've sold enough to cover the cost of a gaylander 2 . i'll let yer all know when the show will be and when blippie can take delivery.
will yer be wanting an automatic as changing gear with one hand might be awkward?

48Crash said:

I've had a td4 GS since January 2nd. From a letter to the dealer, the story so far:

Both rear tyres broke up, delaminated and blew.
The nearside front door lost all exterior trim and mirror
The gearbox refused to engage 2nd gear, and 3rd became intermittent
The automatic lights came on at random intervals
The automatic wipers didn’t
The heated seats would function when first switched on but failed thereafter
The rear wiper parked at random
The air-con filter didn’t function
The stereo jammed
The key would be rejected repeatedly by the lock
The exhaust came loose
The battery drained overnight, immobilising the car. Running the car failed to re-charge the battery sufficiently.

The car is currently in a dealership for repair again – they attempted to return it yesterday, saying they were unable to find any electrical fault, but were also unable to start the car to get it out of the workshop, so there it remains.

I work in the motor trade, and I've been testing cars for some twelve years. I also own a Defender, so I'm not unrealistic about what one can expect in a new car for the price, and what one can expect from Land Rover. But this is hopeless. I feel like I'm trapped in an episode of Life on Mars, and I've just bought a new car. It's so ... so ... Rover, so muddled and feeble and riddled with incompetence and poor service. I call the saleseman to tell him about problem a; I call the service department the next day - they know nothing about it. I call a dealer when I'm stranded by the roadside, leave my number ... do they call back? Nope. My advice, sadly, would be not to touch one until it's at least a couple of years old and it's been reassembled by someone with some interest in the car.

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Firstly you are really, really unlucky because to date I have heard no reports of as many problems as you have had on any Freelander 2. I am aware of a few early electrical faults that by now have been fixed.

Surely if you have worked testing cars within the motor industry for 12 years you would realise nearly all main dealers are total SH*T at sorting out problems. By law you are entitled to have these problems fixed within what is considered to be a reasonable time and also the vehicle must be fit for its purpose. I strongly suggest writing to or phoning LR customer care at head office who I have found always tend to get the dealers ball rolling. If you have no luck take the matter further and then they will act.

A few dealers have told me privately that they've had issues with their own cars, but no-one seems to have joined the dots yet. Most issues, like a number of mine, seem to be electrical -

I know dealers are ... dealers, but still: I'd hoped for at least the same level of service that other franchises offer. This is definitely worse. This is a company car, so I have to do my moaning through the fleet management company which isn't helping but the general level of response is pretty dumb.
But thank you for the suggestion. I'm rattling LR's cage in a professional capacity at the minute, but might well move on. They respond well enough each time, it's just there have been so many times ... sigh.

Meanwhile, my shabby, filthy, ancient Defender chugs along happily. When I got home last week, and the Freeloader was still sitting there waiting for the latest recovery truck to take it away, I briefly considered ramming it. But I might have knocked something off the Defender, so I braked instead.

I've had a Freelander 2 SE Manual now for 8 months and have done 10,000 miles. it's a great car on the road, fast and comfortable and so far reliable with no problems other than once having to disconnect the battery for a minute to reset the radio which wouldn't switch on. I've been off road in very thick deep mud and experienced no probs at all. I did find that trying to get up a steep incline I had to slip the clutch a lot (no transfer box so no very low gear) I think automatic transmission would have coped with that situation BUT look at the difference in MPG. I can get 34/35mpg if I'm light on the right foot. Very satisfied with the car.

If you're self employed look at lease hire. Ask your accountant, it makes total business sense.

Cheers Stickybadger

I'd agree that if it all works, it'd be a very easy car to live with - so good for you.

As for the stereo, there is apparently updated software that fixes the problem. The garage who dealt with that batch of problems denied that there was any problem with the original, but were willing to agree that if there was a software update - that fixed the bug - available from LR, perhaps there might have been some 'unwanted features' in the original.

Off-road - it's not a Defender, but at least it's high enough off the ground to be some use! An auto box would help things for the clutch, but a crawler first gear would be cheaper ...

I'm employed, so leasing isn't an option for me. I understand that my employer leases these vehicles through a fleet management company. Strictly speaking I drive an awful lot of manufacturer demos, so my Freelander's lack of interest in doing anything car-like isn't the end of the world. But it is disappointing.

48Crash said:

my Freelander's lack of interest in doing anything car-like isn't the end of the world. But it is disappointing.

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So, it's as bland to drive as it looks!

The Nissan X-trail at 175bhp would be a better option dont you think?

The whole FL2 project is far from improvement on the FL1

Plus LR have the cheek to propose the LRX concept car which will start at around mid £20's k, if it makes it to production. They try to market the concept LRX with permanent 4wd, as LR have done for all their range, WHO CARES! We only need perm 4wd on defenders, not on a soft roader.

If I could retrofit a low box on the FL1...........I would jump to it.

5th gear did review on the FL2, it was so capable on the mud section that Tom (the beardy bloke) couldnt navigate the mud course they had to get one of LR test engineers to do it for him.

As much as I am a fan of the FL1, the FL2 does nothing for me.

After reading these teething problems (which should never exist in the first place) I can see now why Tratter boys hate Freelanders so much

geoff239 said:

try freel2.co.uk , forum just for freelander 2 .

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Thats not a bad idea, being a fan of the FL1 I dont really want to associate myself in the same forum as FL2.

Sub section please mods!

Afterall we have sub sections for the series, 200/300 Tdi and Defenders, they are just newer versions of the same vehicle.

oooooo - Minge wont luv yu fur that