Hi all... first landrover

Hi everyone,

So glad I have found this site It has been an eye opener!

I pick my freelander up tomorrow afternoon, having viewed it today, and I can't wait...

It will basically be a car for the dogs.. it will be going 'off road' but nothing serious, just fields, man made tracks, off road tracks etc.

Its a 2.0 xedi S reg 1998 3dr, so a pretty old one, but as its just for the dogs really, and a small amount of off road, I didn't think I could justify getting a serious 4x4!

The guy I am buying it off is a friend of my dads, who is a rover specialist, and has looked after my parents cars for years, so can be trusted.

Things I know about are it has just had a new clutch fitted, it has had a recent cambelt change, oil change, new typres, new pads, and prob a few other things I can't think of.

Good points: Its my favourate colour! Great bodywork! Looked after/had things fixed by a rover specialist, new bits as above.

Bad points: Clock/radio display doesn't work, rip in gear gaiter, drivers door lock only locks on key and not fob, sunroof handles rattle, side badge missing.. These little probs are easy enough for me to sort out, so no worries there, just niggly things I will want to get sorted.

'Possible' big bad point: There are no rear prop shafts... he asked if this was going to go 'off road' and said yes (as it will, but explained nothing serious). When he got it, there wasn't any on it, but as he was trying to sell it, he has sourced some with the intention to fit them prior to sale. We were told that the car would/does drive better without them, and fuel consumption would be slightly better aswell.. also, for the level of off roading it would do, they would not 'really' be needed, so staying as a 2wd would be fine. I was perfectly happy with this, but have since read a thread on here about a possible huge (expensive) problem if we were ever to put them on.. i.e a freelander without them may mean its masking a problem, which would only become apparent once they are put back on..

Should I be worried at all do you think? Will I really not need rear prop shafts for the minimal off roading it will do? As the guy said he can fit them for us if we want.. but suggested not needed, but can have them for when we go to sell it later on..

Sorry for the questions so soon! Once I have collected him/her (not decided yet!) I will post some pics if anyone wants to see it Really looking forward to it, the only other 4x4 I have had was a swb shogun, but that was used off road alot. Hopefully this one will stay a bit cleaner!

Regards
Suz

The rear prop is usually removed to hide a damaged drive train.
A new VCU is £370, a new IRD is £750, a new FD is £500ish.
Then you can add labour to any of the above, oh and the cost of the prop if needed.
Leave it well alone. All freelanders have near immacculate body work, they generally don't rust, they have plastic front wings also.

There are loads of freelanders on the market. Freelanders are quite a heavy vehicle for
2wd offroading.

Typically the vcu siezes and you end up driving in permanent 4wd everywhere, on the motorway at 70mph this destroys the drivetrain. You get clanging, banging and grinding noises which can be hidden by removing the prop. shafts. This is why the props are usually removed.
It will be touch and go if you can MOT it aswell, some will give an advisory some will fail it.

For off road it is best to have the option of 4wd which on the freelander is actually an anti-slip get out of trouble mechanism, so in 2wd if you got into any trouble you would not beable to get out of it.

If the guy could put props on before any cash changes hands then it would be safer for you.

A 2wd freelander is nearly worthless on the second hand market.

Welcome to the forum........

Well, how'd you get on?

Like the other guys say, the golden rule is to avoid any Freelander with a missing rear prop. In this condition the car is only worth around £500 & only worth buying if it doesn't make any nasty noises & you intend leaving it as 2wd.

hi suz, just joined myself, the bit i loved about your post was that the freelander's your favourite colour, sooooo important! sara