Would be newbie

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guy-taliesin

New Member
Posts
9
Location
Aberystwyth
I'm looking to replace our old Sportrak with Freelander.
I've done my homework, I know about the engine (old MGF in garage) but Viscous Coupling and front diff are different matter. Won a '99 three door on ebay but it locked the rear inside wheel on gravel/tarmac on full lock. Felt like the handbrake was dragging whilst driving. Lots of knocking from back end as well. What with an oil filler cap that seemed to be hammered on, almost clear water in header tank and a really heavy clutch pedal I left it there. Was I right? Is there anything else I should be looking for apart from the electrical stuff and leaks?
Ideally I'm looking for a 2000 up-date model - just before the tax rates went up. Can I realistically expect to get to get a reasonably tidy one for around £1500 - and from what I can tell I should budget for changing the coupling straight away. Guy
 
You'd be better enginewise to go for the diesel though on your budget you're looking at an early L-series with the older ird.
You were dead right to walk away from that lemon though & it sounds like you know what you're doing so good luck.
 
guy-taliesin said:
I'm looking to replace our old Sportrak with Freelander.
I've done my homework, I know about the engine (old MGF in garage) but Viscous Coupling and front diff are different matter. Won a '99 three door on ebay but it locked the rear inside wheel on gravel/tarmac on full lock. Felt like the handbrake was dragging whilst driving. Lots of knocking from back end as well. What with an oil filler cap that seemed to be hammered on, almost clear water in header tank and a really heavy clutch pedal I left it there. Was I right? Is there anything else I should be looking for apart from the electrical stuff and leaks?
Ideally I'm looking for a 2000 up-date model - just before the tax rates went up. Can I realistically expect to get to get a reasonably tidy one for around £1500 - and from what I can tell I should budget for changing the coupling straight away. Guy
Click to expand...

Close shave there
 
Thanks for getting back guys - hunt continues. Really scary thing is the ones that have head gasket fixed and then blow hole in piston!!! My MGF has been fine - so far - but I check the water religiously. Strikes me that the real problem with all Austin Rover stuff is that people expect them to be like the Japs. There's still grease nipples on the MG - and I bet most people who buy them don't know that!
 
guy-taliesin said:
Thanks for getting back guys - hunt continues. Really scary thing is the ones that have head gasket fixed and then blow hole in piston!!! My MGF has been fine - so far - but I check the water religiously. Strikes me that the real problem with all Austin Rover stuff is that people expect them to be like the Japs. There's still grease nipples on the MG - and I bet most people who buy them don't know that!
Click to expand...


Stretching out an engine originally designed as a 1.4 litre unit to 1.8 litres, sticking it in to a heavier 4wd body which means it'll really have to work to haul the thing around & not properly designing the cooling system isn't really a recipe for success & if you think hard about it goes some way to explain why these engines appear to fail more in the Freelander than other lighter sportscars like MG's & Lotus's. This is why you'll find a lot of people on here will advise going down the diesel route.
 
Keep away from the petrols mate. Nothing but trouble. Have a read about them.

look out for a clean 1999-2000 Diesel L series - (XDI - XDEI)

Good old engines, the old original rover engine before they got mucked up in the new models. There Bullet proof engines, not the fastest but there great work horses.

I have a 2000 reg XDI, done 75,000, Fitted a Synergy and i wouldnt buy anything else.

Good luck :D
 
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