Freelander vote

Hi wanted to get members views please.
I have the option of buying either a Freelander facelift year 2006 Sport 2.0 Diesel with 89,000 miles with what looks like bad maintenance, car has spent most of its life in Spain so very dry and good condition or a Freelander 2 year 2008 2.2 Ds with 128,000 miles with what also looks like bad maintenance with a bunch of repeat offenders on previous mot advisories that have been ignored, including rear subframe corrosion. Both cars will remain in spain so corrosion is unlikely to worsen and both cars will immediately be loved and cared for services etc. Both cars costing the same money. What engine/car is most likely to be reliable? All pointers appreciated.

Personally I'd go with the FL1 Sport, but it really depends on your maintenance or repairs budget. The FL1 is generally cheaper and easier to repair. The faults on the FL2 can be very difficult to find (especially electrical issues), and everything for the FL2 costs considerably more than the equivalent FL1 parts.

Agree. I'm spending over the F 1 value on bringing it up to standard as it is a vehicle that I can work on and parts are low cost. The electrics have a few odd elements but mostly understandable.

I haven’t tried an FL2, but agree with the comments regarding FL1 simplicity and low cost. There are quite a few FL1s out in Spain too, so familiar with local mechanics etc.

now you need an FL2 owner to provide some balance lol

Something else springs to mind. I suspect that the FL2 is less tolerant of bad previous maintenance, causing expensive damage to complex items like the Haldex unit. However the FL1 isn't tolerant of incorrect tyre maintenance, causing VCU stiffness and IRD wear.

I'm seeing that the FL2 has more potential to rust, compared to the FL1.

So check both vehicles carefully, before making your choice.

Should have mentioned the FL2 spent vast majority of its life in Scotland, so I’m assuming the corrosion to rear subframe and other areas is salt on the road whereas the FL1 has spent most of its life in Spain. Doesn’t appear to have much off road use but it has got electrical issues (some put on previous thread regarding rear doors being locked and not opening, and dash lights which I seem to recall were abs and something else, which I will update later) so they need rectifying. I drove the FL2 for 4 hours and it behaved impeccably and was nice with the 6spd gearbox. Whereas the 45 minute drive in the FL1 was not so comfortable. I can see there appears to be a clear preference for the FL1 so far but I’m guessing the vote may alter in time....
Thanks for input so far

Basically buy on condition and buy the car you feel most comfortable spending time in, which sounds like it could be the FL2. You'd be keeping good company. The Duke of Edinburgh drove one in preference to much newer stuff after all...

{edited to sort out typos resulting from using phone instead of a keyboard!}

rob_bell said:

The Duke of Edinburgh drove one in preference to much newer stuff after all..

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He managed to park it on its side too.

I've got an FL1, my neighbour has an FL2, both have their pros and cons, the FL2 is the more refined vehicle, being more car like and less utilitarian than the FL1. The FL1 is more land rover, where the FL2 is more like a range rover. Neither will be a bad vehicle, just bare in mind that the FL2 will cost you more to put right if it does develop faults where as the FL1 can be maintained for a song. A few years ago, we needed to sell my wifes manual Discovery 300tdi XS as she couldn't drive it due to a shoulder injury, an FL2 was one of the alternatives we considered, they are really nice vehicles.

Whatever you buy, you need to post pics

Will you be maintaining it and repairing it yerself or using garages?

Hippo said:

Will you be maintaining it and repairing it yerself or using garages?

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Maintaining myself.

FL2 for comfort. FL1 Sport for ease of DIY maintenance.

I’ve had both.
Mechanically they’re both relatively easy to fault find and repair.
Electrically the FL2 is a bitch without proper diagnostic equipment. Even then it can be difficult.
The FL1 is more old school and a decent multimeter will help in most cases.

Forgot to mention. The FL1 handles like a wee go-kart and will bring a smile to your face. The FL2 wallows a bit . . . okay, a lot, if you thrash it.

Rank Amatuer said:

Forgot to mention. The FL1 handles like a wee go-kart and will bring a smile to your face. The FL2 wallows a bit . . . okay, a lot, if you thrash it.

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But the FL2 can take corners faster than a FL1. Not that one should try it.

Hippo said:

But the FL2 can take corners faster than a FL1. Not that one should try it.

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I think the FL1 is more "chuckable" around the twisty bits. It leans and rolls about, but it's actually really well balanced, and gives plenty of warning before it breaks traction. The FL2 has less body roll, and probably does corner faster, however I found the continual ESP intervention rather annoying, preventing the limits of grip being found.

Nodge68 said:

I think the FL1 is more "chuckable" around the twisty bits. It leans and rolls about, but it's actually really well balanced, and gives plenty of warning before it breaks traction. The FL2 has less body roll, and probably does corner faster, however I found the continual ESP intervention rather annoying, preventing the limits of grip being found.

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I do the same route every day for work so it's a good comparison. The FL2 is heavier at about 1850kg. The tires are 25% wider so theres more foot print grip. The FL2 does have roll but to be frank every non serious sports car does. I feel the FL2 pitch the front end the same as the FL1 does on reverse camber corners. FL2 brakes the inner rear wheel on cornering to help hug the corner if needed. I don't notice any of this happening on road but appreciate if it were driven to the limit with the electronics working hard to keep it on the road... then theres nothing left to help out when yer in the sh*t. I choose not to drive it hard as this one is going to last forever. Reduced stress helping towards its longertivity.

To be fair I was comparing the FL1 Sport with an FL2. Compared to the ‘standard’ FL1 the Sport is a different animal with its lower, stiffer suspension. I don’t think an FL2 could keep up with one on twisty roads.
As regards the FL2, when the DSC kicks in I consider the limits reached for the conditions currently prevailing and back off on the loud pedal. Turn the DSC off? Nah, I’m just a big fearty.

Rank Amatuer said:

To be fair I was comparing the FL1 Sport with an FL2. Compared to the ‘standard’ FL1 the Sport is a different animal with its lower, stiffer suspension. I don’t think an FL2 could keep up with one on twisty roads.
As regards the FL2, when the DSC kicks in I consider the limits reached for the conditions currently prevailing and back off on the loud pedal. Turn the DSC off? Nah, I’m just a big fearty.

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I think you'll find yer can't switch dsc oft on a vehicle as its against the regulations. The oft position just reduces or surpresses its influence on the vehicle as opposed to turning it oft. The manufacturer can't give you the option to completely switch it oft. When switched on it works long before you really need it on the FL2 but is unnoticeable to the driver. Not just coming on when the vehicle is near its limits. It assists with comfort of the ride when cornering anorl. I have driven many FL1's with and without sport option and don't agree the FL1 has the upper hand on cornering. We will have to agree to disagree on that.

Rank Amatuer said:

To be fair I was comparing the FL1 Sport with an FL2. Compared to the ‘standard’ FL1 the Sport is a different animal with its lower, stiffer suspension.

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The Sport doesn't lean in the corners as much as the normal FL1, so gives the driver more confidence. However if the normal FL1 is fitted with Sport 18" wheels (my preferred wheels), then grip levels between the Sport and normal FL1 are comparable. Grip levels are comparable to the FL2.
Cornering hard in the Sport just feels less dramatic compared to the normal FL1.

I did feel that the electronic intervention on the FL2 comes in a little early, maybe it's the extra weight or hight, or maybe the suspension is calibrated for a more compliant ride.

Although I love the simplicity and drive of the FL1, I will get a FL2 when funds allow.

If I was in a warmer climate like Spain, I'd opt for the FL1; the retractable tailgate window is indispensable when the sun decides to throw a party and is one of the most fun things you can have