Newbie! Buying my first land rover opinions help etc :)

Davies5390 · Feb 5, 2015

Hi guys brand new to the forum and brand new to off-roading. Previously been into enduro riding, however a friend came off and will not be riding again so we are going to buy some land rovers and do some off roading. It will be used as my daily....

I have two options a freelander td4 or a discovery 300tdi, I have two young kids and a caravan so both will be suitable there

1. Are lift kits bash/sump guards easily available for a freelander?
2. What are the common problems with both of them I'm looking at 04/05 freelander or a 003/04 discovery?
4. How reliable are the td4 engines ? I will be doing light off-roading mainly Greenlane with some more harder stuff now and again.
5. What's the fuel consumption difference between the two?
6. What should I look out for when going to buy one? It will preferably be a standard example for me to kit out like I wish.
7. How would you rate a freelander for off-roading?
8. What height would you recommend I lift it buy and with what tyres?

Will be purchased shortly so I will appreciate and take on board all of your opinions views personal experiences with the vehicles in question

Based in South Wales

Aaron

Turboman · Feb 5, 2015

Davies5390 said:
Hi guys brand new to the forum and brand new to off-roading. Previously been into enduro riding, however a friend came off and will not be riding again so we are going to buy some land rovers and do some off roading. It will be used as my daily....

I have two options a freelander td4 or a discovery 300tdi, I have two young kids and a caravan so both will be suitable there

1. Are lift kits bash/sump guards easily available for a freelander?
2. What are the common problems with both of them I'm looking at 04/05 freelander or a 003/04 discovery?
4. How reliable are the td4 engines ? I will be doing light off-roading mainly Greenlane with some more harder stuff now and again.
5. What's the fuel consumption difference between the two?
6. What should I look out for when going to buy one? It will preferably be a standard example for me to kit out like I wish.
7. How would you rate a freelander for off-roading?
8. What height would you recommend I lift it buy and with what tyres?

Will be purchased shortly so I will appreciate and take on board all of your opinions views personal experiences with the vehicles in question

Based in South Wales

Aaron

Welcome to the loonyzone, mate!

Freelander and a Disco are quite different animals. No low box on a freelander, and it is a bit lighter and more road friendly.

Laning and off roading are different things, really, laning a standard vehicle shoud be adequate, off roading, ie pay and play or trials, you might need some mods.

If you only want to do light off roading and laning, why do you need bash guards etc?

A lift kit will not help the handling for towing at all, and might invalidate your insurance if there is an accident.

Davies5390 · Feb 5, 2015

Well if I am to be honest I do t quite know what to expect green laneing it will be mostly which would involve streams rocks deep ruts hills etc I will be using it pull the caravan also so in terms of hight clearance if lifting it would cause issues towing then is a disco a more suitable option being sat a little taller. Or would a set of chunky tyres on the freelander be ok?

This is new to me so maybe I'm looking at this in the wrong angle. Basically want a 4x4 that I can go out and have some fun in offroad conditions but be a reliable runner to and from work etc.

How is the fuel consumption and General running costs of a discovery 300tdi ?

Sammyt · Feb 6, 2015

I'd got for the 300tdi mate much better for towing and for any type of off roading, I had a 2007 freelander once and it just wasn't up to the job.
Good luck

Turboman · Feb 6, 2015

Davies5390 said:
Well if I am to be honest I do t quite know what to expect green laneing it will be mostly which would involve streams rocks deep ruts hills etc I will be using it pull the caravan also so in terms of hight clearance if lifting it would cause issues towing then is a disco a more suitable option being sat a little taller. Or would a set of chunky tyres on the freelander be ok?

This is new to me so maybe I'm looking at this in the wrong angle. Basically want a 4x4 that I can go out and have some fun in offroad conditions but be a reliable runner to and from work etc.

How is the fuel consumption and General running costs of a discovery 300tdi ?

Greenlaning should be completely non damaging, to the vehicle or the lanes. Green lanes are public roads, and you may meet walkers, horse riders and cyclists. Glass code of conduct suggests no more than 10-12 mph on unsurfaced lanes. And it is important not to mess up the surface, other people will want to use the lane later.

Off roading is mainly play and pay, or trials, unless you have access to your own or other private land. That can be, but isn't always, much more heavy on a vehicle, and you might want modifications and bigger tyres and wheels to cope with it.

A standard Disco has excellent off road abilty, quite enough for what the average daily driver may need.

There is a bit of a trade off between off road ability and towing capability. For the more extreme forms of off roading some like lifts, and large wheels and tyres. Unfortunately these are the last things you want if you are towing, for that standard everything is much better, that is what the designer intended for the vehicle, and it was designed to tow with that.

300Tdi Disco would be an excellent all round first landy, if you can find one that isn't too rotten!

Danhdefender · Feb 6, 2015

My brothers got a Discovery 300tdi and I've got a Defender 200tdi and mines a lot better on fuel even though I'm running Alisport intercooler and the fuel and turbo is turned up to the max

davcud · Feb 7, 2015

Hello and Welcome

d8moa · Feb 7, 2015

hi and welcome

m1dge · Feb 7, 2015

Davies5390 said:
This is new to me so maybe I'm looking at this in the wrong angle. Basically want a 4x4 that I can go out and have some fun in offroad conditions but be a reliable runner to and from work

That's exactly same as what I'm looking for, a family car that is able to handle off road conditions. So been looking at freelanders and from the replies I've had on here, videos on you tube and articles in magazines I reckon a freelander would be fine. My plan is to get an automatic 2.0 diesel freelander, 2003 model or up and add some Goodrich all terrain tyres. That should be enough for what I'll be driving.

Newbie! Buying my first land rover opinions help etc :)

Davies5390

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Turboman

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Davies5390

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Sammyt

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Turboman

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d8moa

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m1dge

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