Is anyone out there happy with their FL ??

Well the FL 1 certainly gets loads of bad press but I'm happy with mine most of the time. Can be a labour of love but then buy a Focus if you want a hback. They need to be maintained properly - I use RCV for anything I cant do and recommend them. As for transmission noises one piece of advice - have the wheelbearings checked out first. I had the whole ird, viscous, rear diff panick - rear wheel bearing is the problem and did not show up on MOT a few weeks prior. Needs to go on ramp with transmission engaged and knowledable people checking. Hope this helps somebody.

DD3 said:

Well the FL 1 certainly gets loads of bad press but I'm happy with mine most of the time. Can be a labour of love but then buy a Focus if you want a hback. They need to be maintained properly - I use RCV for anything I cant do and recommend them. As for transmission noises one piece of advice - have the wheelbearings checked out first. I had the whole ird, viscous, rear diff panick - rear wheel bearing is the problem and did not show up on MOT a few weeks prior. Needs to go on ramp with transmission engaged and knowledable people checking. Hope this helps somebody.

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With the problem I'm having with my FL1 this may well help. Thanks.

Me brothers happy, it drags a caravan round Europe one month then takes us greenlaning the next. Only thing was alternator after wading in muddy water and 66k on the clock. Loads sold over other makes gunna have some probs.

my brother has a s reg 5 door 1.8 petrol,he's had it since 1999 and all its needed is servicing, must be a f**king miracle

I think some of the probs come from how cheap the FL1 is to buy. Mine cost me 2450 about a year ago, its a 2001 1.8 GS. I have spent around 1500 getting it up to scratch - I like to know where the money has been spent so had budgeted for extra spent. So 4k spent. Its a bit of a hobby car for me but it is used as family transport. My point (theory) is that when new it was 20k odd and mine owes me 4k so far. So i paid 20% of new and I have at least 90% of the original vehicle in terms of function etc and probably more (this bloke is bonkers - I know). So dirt cheap to buy but still bloody expensive to keep at 90% like all expensive cars.

you either love em or hate them,mine after 2weeks of buying window wire snapped, master clutch thing went ,now got the three amigo,s if it was perfect wouldn,t be no fun, use mine for work,everything,by far best vehicle i,ve owned,and yes am mad.....

erm. . . . .hope this int er nuffer moanin shed. . . . . . .

I see no point it assessing the monitary value of the vehical. Its dead money. Its also gonna cost to keep it going. The value is its service to you and your enjoyment. Occationally we get out there and drive the thing and when i do I know its worth every penny. :tea: :crazy_driver:

i quite like mine to

:welcome2:
I love my freebie its a 2004 1.8 xei station wagon it has its quircks but i woke up this morning too some where in the region of 6" of snow she started first turn of the key and let me drive 50 mile each way to work and back without a twitch passing other none lr 4x4,s that had given up or pulled over (poofs he he) not bad on road tyres, i do 2000 mile a month no joke . some out there will call me mad or something i don't care only real prob i have is i'm 6'4 and theres no seat height adjustment petty eh. i think its a cracking car all hail the freebie ha ha ha :blabla:

mach01 said:

:welcome2:
I love my freebie its a 2004 1.8 xei station wagon it has its quircks but i woke up this morning too some where in the region of 6" of snow she started first turn of the key and let me drive 50 mile each way to work and back without a twitch passing other none lr 4x4,s that had given up or pulled over (poofs he he) not bad on road tyres, i do 2000 mile a month no joke . some out there will call me mad or something i don't care only real prob i have is i'm 6'4 and theres no seat height adjustment petty eh. i think its a cracking car all hail the freebie ha ha ha :blabla:

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Good on ya Macho . . . . . bout time we had good reviews good motor innit

ming said:

Good on ya Macho . . . . . bout time we had good reviews good motor innit

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Have to agree totally Ming, & it's good to hear so many recent members all saying the same. Also agree with Macho on the seat height issue, but I can live with that. Small price to pay for such a superb vehicle.

ha ha love the guy who has owned his six weeks!

My 2.5 v6 has only covered 35k - had a new engine 7k miles ago - has the contractual obligation gear change bang which needs fixing now and the aircon needs regassing. Apart from the alloys already looking like their from a 1980s Ford - Im ecstatic with it..... but on the positive side - the girl loves the snow!

Very happy with ours. No problems yet, knock on wood. Chose the best engine of the lot IMHO from a reliability point of view - the BMW enginered TD4.

My father had one (TD4 SE 5dr) and it did 150k miles without any major work, good enough recommendation for me. Our TD4 Sport Premium 3dr has done 65k so far

I love mine, not only has it run for the last 3 years without skipping a beat, its turned up trumps in the recent white stuff. Mines a 2003 TD4 and with most other things in life, if you treat them well, they will perform well in return.

Due to the recent weather I have taken out my job's Terrano, and that experience alone has made me appreciate what the freelander offers even more. In the furure I think I will chance it in one of the focus'!

Anyways, been playing and have uploaded a vid, enjoy:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0Myq4lg1qg&feature=channel_page"]YouTube - Freelander off road in the snow, hill decent control in action[/ame]