Replacement for Freelander-Suggestions Please.

At the moment I am running a Freelander TD4 Commercial and a Skoda Octavia vRS PD.

Both are brill motors, the freelander been awsome at what it does, will regret losing it, has been fantastic for me.

Problem is, my wife doesnt drive so the Octavia sits at home for 5 days a week while im off to work in the freelander. Plus of course double finance, double road tax, servicing et all.

So,am looking to get a replacement that I can use for home and work (work as a telecoms engineer for the mobile networks so a 4wd is handy)

Have been looking at in no particular order:
*Kia Sorento - Seems nice, cheap to buy second hand but would imagine quite thirsty as a 2.5 engine?
*Nissan X-trail - Have had one of these before but hear now that 06 plates and later have some issues and MPG aint that great on these either (30mpg...wtf?)
*Hyundai Santa Fe - new shape.... not heard much about these? comments?
*Mitsubishi Outlander - bro in law has one and says good mpg
*Volvo XC70 - Heard that there a lots of problems with these (all v70's) although I do like them

I need something with a decent size boot, reliable and safe.

I would get another Freelander 1 (new as I can low miles etc) but the boot aint big enough really without putting the seats down every time I go work.

Always liked the Disco, but again, cant imagine that fuel economy is that great.

Any comments on the above or any more suggestions? Oh, looking to spend about 12k, to max 14k ish, lol

Cheers, Steve

Kia uses the KV6
x-Trail - stay away from doozils

Whats the KV6 and is it that scary...and why? lol

To be honest, what you are looking for is the holy grail. you want a 4x4 with a big boot that is going to give good mpg? You can have the 4x4 with the big boot, and you can have a vehicle that gives good mpg, not sure of any vehicle that does both. About the best you can expect from a vehicle that does everything you want from it is about 30mpg.

The KV6 is the same engine as in the 2.5 Petrol freelander - do a search on HGF and see what it bring up

I have a petrol X-T - the boot is bigger than the freelander, but realistic MPG figures are 24-29, in normal daily use. It is far and away more reliable than a freelander. Spares are not excessive (when you occasionally need em) and it is more "carlike" in its drive. - oh and its as good as a freelander off road, arguably better as it doesnt have a VCU.

The KV6 was also used in the Rover 75 & MG-ZT, earlier versions in the Rover 800 (It was a Rover/Powertrain engine) & to be honest it is very rare you get HGF with the KV6 unless you are very unlucky. HGF is far more common in the K4 as in the 1.8.

Executive Valeter. said:

The KV6 was also used in the Rover 75 & MG-ZT, earlier versions in the Rover 800 (It was a Rover/Powertrain engine) & to be honest it is very rare you get HGF with the KV6 unless you are very unlucky. HGF is far more common in the K4 as in the 1.8.

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Bollix - the KV6 is (almost) as prone to HGF as the 1.8. It uses the same cooling system and similar monitoring system as the 1.8 and is just as prone to cavitation and hot spots as the 1.8. It also suffers from valley pipes work and thermostat housing failures which cannot be easily seen.

I love the new shape sante fe, and they get awsome right up and comments on caravan club and caravan and camping club. when i looked at one the boot is bigger than the FL and with the 2.0td you supposedly get 37-40mpg. that would be where my money was at. but thats me

Yeah, santa fe looks decent enough, also like the Citreon c-crosser/pug 4007/outlander which are one and the same.

Steve

If I had the money I'd burn out my freaklander and buy a shogun/pajero sport.My dad has had a '96 2.8 pajero for 6+ years,tows heavy loads regularly and the only thing thats ever needed attention was a crank shaft pulley a few months ago.My heap o' has made me think twice about ever owning a land rover ever again.

The Mad Hat Man said:

Bollix - the KV6 is (almost) as prone to HGF as the 1.8. It uses the same cooling system and similar monitoring system as the 1.8 and is just as prone to cavitation and hot spots as the 1.8. It also suffers from valley pipes work and thermostat housing failures which cannot be easily seen.

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Perhaps it may then in a Freelander 1 but it rarely goes in a ZT or 75 - my garage works on these cars every day & we hardly ever get KV6 HGF cars. Apart from the VIS valves the KV6 engine is near bomb proof.

Executive Valeter. said:

Perhaps it may then in a Freelander 1 but it rarely goes in a ZT or 75 - my garage works on these cars every day & we hardly ever get KV6 HGF cars. Apart from the VIS valves the KV6 engine is near bomb proof.

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bollix. it's a piece o ****e. well documented and proven. hardly ever getting hgf means ya do get em, times that by the number of garages or even the number of folks on forums who have had hgf then you have a lot of people out there that will tell ya your talking out of your arse

yawns, kv6 is a piece of ****, head bolts too small and liner slip
pile of ****e

There's also the Jeep Cherokee which you could consider. You can pick them up for reasonable prices. That said, I know the diesels for the XJ (2.5TD VM made) were prone to HGF. I'm not sure about the newer ones. However, there's many LPG ones on the market. The 4.0 petrol engine is said to be bullet proof.

They have big boots and the interiors in the later Cherokee XJ's are far more modern than that of the Freelander 1. I was going to get one instead of a Freelander. I changed my mind at the last minute. Bad choice imo.



Main downside is that parts are not that cheap. On the other hand, neither are Landy parts.

The Jeep Cherokee can also fly without breaking. You don't see many Freelander's doing that.
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU44Gez_YZs"]YouTube- only in a Jeep!!![/nomedia]


Man, I wish I got one of those. They have so much character. *Prepares to be shot*

Rich

parts are expensive, fall to bits and are **** vm diesels ****e and petrols crack manifolds

fanatic said:

parts are expensive, fall to bits and are **** vm diesels ****e and petrols crack manifolds

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Are you sure that includes all petrols? When I was looking for one, people (on some Jeep forum) warned me off the VM diesels and suggested a petrol one, which they claimed to be fairly solid?

One thing I've learned is that there doesn't seem to be a perfect 4x4. At least not from the 90's to the early 2000's. They all have their faults, many of which are significant. I think it should be a case of weighing up the pros and cons else nobody would go out and buy a 4x4.

Kia Sorentos aren't that bad. They don't use the KV6, only early Sedonas used the KV6. Sorentos are very good at towing. My sisters in laws have been all over europe towing a very heavy twin wheel caravan.

My dad swears by Kia, He had a new Kia Carens in 2006 which they used to do a lot of towing with. Then when it got wrote off (someone smashed into the side of it), he upgraded to a Sedona which my dad has been more than happy with. My mum and dad go touring so do a lot of towing a twin wheeler with that now and find it perfect for the grandkids, my dad just wishes it had all wheel drive at times.

Sorentos and sedonas are however quite heavy on fuel. What about the Sportage?

If you get one with a Kia warranty you should be looked after pretty well.

There is only one thing to replace your Freelander, a Landrover Discovery, go on you know you want one!

freebiker said:

Kia Sorentos aren't that bad. They don't use the KV6, only early Sedonas used the KV6. Sorentos are very good at towing. My sisters in laws have been all over europe towing a very heavy twin wheel caravan.

My dad swears by Kia, He had a new Kia Carens in 2006 which they used to do a lot of towing with. Then when it got wrote off (someone smashed into the side of it), he upgraded to a Sedona which my dad has been more than happy with. My mum and dad go touring so do a lot of towing a twin wheeler with that now and find it perfect for the grandkids, my dad just wishes it had all wheel drive at times.

Sorentos and sedonas are however quite heavy on fuel. What about the Sportage?

If you get one with a Kia warranty you should be looked after pretty well.

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Mate of mine has a 2005 Kia Sportage, drives well and is a nice wagon apart from it now needs a new centre support bearing for the propshaft. Guess what? You can't buy the bearing separate! Kia don't do it on it's own! Only a complete prop assembly at over £900!! Other parts don't seem that cheap either!

I've not done much home work on these Used MITSUBISHI SHOGUN SPORT Car for Sale - Auto Trader UK but if I could afford the road tax (over €1000)I think I'd get one.