Which would you buy?

I am having a head and heart tussle.

Two vehicles and in my sights but should I go for the newer or older one. Same spec and condition

One is an 09 plate GS with 60K miles and would cost me £3k to change:
Used Land Rover Freelander Suv 2.2td4 Gs 5dr 4wd in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear | County Direct Cars

The other is an 08 plate GS with 73K miles and would cost me £1.5K to change:
LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2.2 Td4 GS 5dr For Sale in Preston - Hallmark Cars

So which would you buy and why?

The second one is an 08, so only a year older, 1500 quid cheaper and it doesn't have a tow bar meaning it potentially hasn't worked as hard for it's mileage.

You then have £1500 to pay for any milage related repairs like injectors or preventative like VCU etc

Dev said:

The second one is an 08, so only a year older, 1500 quid cheaper and it doesn't have a tow bar meaning it potentially hasn't worked as hard for it's mileage.

You then have £1500 to pay for any milage related repairs like injectors or preventative like VCU etc

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Says it all really

Dev said:

You then have £1500 to pay for any milage related repairs like injectors or preventative like VCU etc

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Interesting point and one I had not concidered

Both cars are right on the mileage for a VCU change. I'd have the 4WD checked by a specialist to prevent future bills and throw it back to the garage under warrenty for them to sort if they find any.

Maybe change all the fluids/greases too, You don't have to worry about it then.

VCU, what is that?

petrolhead said:

VCU, what is that?

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Don't think the Freelander 2 has one only the Mk1

Chust checks and FL2 does not have one

I have seen more cars for sale. Should I post links here for your views

Bizzie said:

Don't think the Freelander 2 has one only the Mk1

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No you're right, it's a haldex coupling unit

The VCU is much, much cheaper to fix on the Freelander 1 than the Shaldex on the Freelander 2. Check it has had its rear diff sorted out as they had problems. Overall they are much more reliable than the Freelander 1.

+1 for any rear diff history, I believe up to 2009 they were very poor, from 2010 just poor. They should have been recalled for it, but LR hung it out and just paid for fixes to those customers that complained the loudest.

TBH How many used car dealers will have any idea about the history of the rear diff?

Update; the 09 car does not have any service history si should I walk away

Also seen and driven this car: Land Rover Freelander 2.2 Td4 SE 5dr

I can not believe how many people say on or around 70,000 it time for a new vcu on my old car it had done around 170,000 before it played up I believe it is how you treat a car is to how long everything lasts ,ok when buying and you do not know the history then get it checked out.

I believe it is how you treat a car is to how long everything lasts

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last time mine was in for some work ..
given the mileage ( now 95k miles ) ..
i asked .. on average how long does the vcu last ..
the techie ( LR dealership ) rekoned it's the vehicles that sit and don't get driven often .. especially on twisty roads .. are the ones with early vcu failure ..

same as some folks have written on these pages

which got me thinking ..
how long is the fluid good for if the new vcu sits on a shelf in storage ..
or do they inject the fluid just before it goes out to a customer ?

i often check the running temp of the vcu ( and rear diff .. and ird output )
and it .. so far .. always runs at 10c to 15c above the ambient temp.

full lock don't feel any tighter than when i bought the car with 37k on the clock ..
forward or reverse ..

teddywood1 said:

I can not believe how many people say on or around 70,000 it time for a new vcu on my old car it had done around 170,000 before it played up I believe it is how you treat a car is to how long everything lasts ,ok when buying and you do not know the history then get it checked out.

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It started with "needs checked yearly" then it went to "change when you buy the car"
then it went to "change at 70k miles"
then it went to "treat as a service item"
now peeps quote LR main dealers tell peeps to replace at 70k miles.
I bet they don't. Funny thing is most of this in centred around those who sell vcu's reconditioned. The same re-conditionners who refused to help in the early days of the one wheel up test when I wanted a load of vcu's to test. Peeps will make their own decision. If it makes them happy then so be it.

last week when I was getting mine MOTed at the local LR dealer he is a man that knows it all except the one wheel up test I directed him to look on here and he was very impressed with it .also yes a lot of things do have a shelf life ,and I have said before on here you will get somebody ask a question then next thing is lots of them items were on EBay. there I have said it again

teddywood1 said:

last week when I was getting mine MOTed at the local LR dealer he is a man that knows it all except the one wheel up test I directed him to look on here and he was very impressed with it .also yes a lot of things do have a shelf life ,and I have said before on here you will get somebody ask a question then next thing is lots of them items were on EBay. there I have said it again

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I've been stopped by fellow Freelanderers who want to know about ma hippo. It's in good conditions even though it's a 2001 model. When discussing Freelandering it's funny when they suggest I should do the one wheel up test oft ere. I never let on... ound:

WeyHey, I have sources one

Gone for a 09/09 XS with Sat Nav, heated seats, Alpine (Not sure if they all have that) and heated windscreen plus a spare wheel Wink. 2 owners and full service history and 69000 miles

Its Silver Grey with half leather and what appealed is the cloth is black and not blue

Hope to get the vehicle next week