Freelander TD4 - Will short journeys wreck it.

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H

HORIZON

Member
Posts
13
Location
Staffordshire
I do a very short commute to work of less than two miles. Along a mix of country lanes and a very short blast of probably half a mile along a busy dual carriageway.

As I also use my car for towing a caravan, I am looking at the Freelander TD4 facelift model. Probably a 2004 or 2005 model with less than 60k on it. Whilst I know it won't have the dreaded DPF on that model, is there anything else about the Freelander engine that really won't take too kindly to such short journeys and be likely to give me grief. I would be fitting a Rover Ron tuning box to it as well to give it a bit more oomph for towing.

I have owned Landies in the past including series 2A, series 3, rangey and a disco 300tdi, so appreciate all Landies require a bit more input on the maintenance front.

I do like the Defenders, but the used prices make my eyes water.
 
If you're seriously thinking of commuting 2 miles then I assume you have some sort of disability that prevents you from walking or using a push bike? But for what it's worth, any vehicle used for such a short commute will suffer in the long term, fouled turbo, gunked up intake manifold for starters, worse still when the temperatures drop below zero. Ideally you need at least a 15 minute run just to get the engine up to operating temperature. My last commute was 80 miles each way so not a problem, but 2 miles...... :eek:

Oh yes, welcome to the forum. Best to introduce yourself first before asking for help.
 
Nigel-S said:
If you're seriously thinking of commuting 2 miles then I assume you have some sort of disability that prevents you from walking or using a push bike?

Oh yes, welcome to the forum. Best to introduce yourself first before asking for help.
Click to expand...

Living in a country lane with no footpath, having to cross a very busy 70mph dual carriageway in the rush hour, lorries thundering down another lane to an industrial area is probably a real good way to get yourself killed. :( Guy living just down from me got mown down by car driver about five years ago. Paralysed for life and wheelchair bound now. Another guy in my village killed about fifteen years ago riding a bike. Just not safe with the impatient numpty's on the road nowadays.
 
HORIZON said:
I do a very short commute to work of less than two miles. Along a mix of country lanes and a very short blast of probably half a mile along a busy dual carriageway.

As I also use my car for towing a caravan, I am looking at the Freelander TD4 facelift model. Probably a 2004 or 2005 model with less than 60k on it. Whilst I know it won't have the dreaded DPF on that model, is there anything else about the Freelander engine that really won't take too kindly to such short journeys and be likely to give me grief. I would be fitting a Rover Ron tuning box to it as well to give it a bit more oomph for towing.

I have owned Landies in the past including series 2A, series 3, rangey and a disco 300tdi, so appreciate all Landies require a bit more input on the maintenance front.

I do like the Defenders, but the used prices make my eyes water.
Click to expand...

You will kill it, like was mentioned above. Why waste good money for bad. Get a cheap car for 1000-1500 and when it breaks get another. It will be cheaper in the long haul. Things will never get to operating temps, and soon go to hell
 
One of the reasons I was looking at a 4x4 was for towing my caravan. My current diesel estate copes ok, but limits me to only using sites with hardstanding pitches. FWD cars and wet grass are not a good mix. :(

It may be I have to bite the bullet and get a petrol model instead, but sadly not a K series lump...

Thanks for your input guys.
 
I think 5 crap journeys a week is fine if it gets a proper blat at the weekend.

There's way more things more likely to go wrong than the above anyway!
 
Rattlegun said:
I think 5 crap journeys a week is fine if it gets a proper blat at the weekend.

There's way more things more likely to go wrong than the above anyway!
Click to expand...

When you consider how many diesel Freelanders there must be in city centres (and other landies), enduring bumper to bumper traffic and seldom getting the chance to get properly warm, I am sure there would be a lot more tales of woe about clogged up egr's and manifolds, which are also a symptom of very high mileage vehicles. That's not to deny the damage can occur of course.

Only practical alternative to a Freelander TD4 is a something like a petrol RAV4. As with all things, it is the road tax bands that put the mockers on anything bigger.
 
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