To all
I’m in a total dilemma, currently in the market for a replacement 4x4 and currently have had an old (dare I say it) Nissan Terrano for 15 years covered over 100,000 miles without any major problems. I am put off Land Rovers by the reports through various sources on poor reliability issues, but I can’t say I’ve seen any at the side of the road with their bonnets up awaiting a tow truck. With all this in mind I still want one and was thinking of a 2 – 3 year old Freelander. Basically I have three questions :- What’s the most reliable vehicle and in relation to the faults. What are the problems and Would it not be possibly to rectify these prior to a potential failure with a spot of D.I.Y. at weekends etc
Regards
Steve

Defender tdi... feck all electrics to go wrong... well feck all to go wrong at all... and a moderate level of comfort, and anything that does go wrong would be sortable in a weekend with a bit of DIY... Dunno common faults with em, but that would be my suggestion

Freelander will not be the best thing for reliability...

I have a defender 200 TDI, pretty bullet proof I'd say, only problem I had was a rotted rear crossmember

Welcome, I'd stay well clear of a Gaylander if you want a trouble free ride, a fender would be your best bet, then a disco although they aren't totally trouble free (tin worm mainly), and if you don't mind getting your hands dirty a rangie, can be very rewarding but sometimes costly.

Welcome and hello,

After reading you comments about Landrovers being unreliable, what has to be born in mind that after 15 years it would be unusall to find one with 100,000 miles on the clock, more then likely heading on towards 130,000 if not a great deal more,

The reason I think that I think you dont see many at the side of the road is cause as a Landrover owner we tend to tinker and fix things ourselfs, so we get to know which things are good on it and which are bad, therefore as things do go wrong we deal with them, if you also in trouble Landy owners tend to help each other out, one of the great things about the Older ones the things are so dam simple, myself the only time I have had to be recoverd was when a rear wheel bearing totaly went on me in big style. Apart from that always be able to get home, or reapir at side o the road.

There is one thing about Landys once they got hold of you, you'll always have one, its not just the Landy its self but the people that have them.

Sorry gone on a bit too much, but to which one is best, its the one that you own at the time, lol, and what you going to do with it, I have had a freelander for four years from new dealer serviced, only problem was the service costs at the main dealer.

It just deppends on what you want to do with it, the level of comfort you want, and how much time you want with dirty hands, also the newer the landy the harder you will find to repair DIY....

Give us some more details on what you want it for, we can give you a better idea then.

LOL at the Defender replies

The guy has a Nissan Terrano, and is looking at Freelanders, I dare say a Defender is not the right choice for him in this instance.

The fact of the matter is a Defender is an awesome choice if you want a largely uncompromised off roader, or rugged work horse. However in alot of modern environments, even the new shape, supposedly more user friendly model is unsuitable. It's not comfortable, not specced very well, not got very good road manners, lacking in many modern attributes which most people require, and actually quite expensive for what it is given all that.

If you're after a soft, comfortable family wagon that CAN go off road when asked, you may well be looking in the right place for a Freelander, but be aware of it's limitations.

If you want more than that but retain the comfort and specifications then go for a Disco.

We all love Defenders around here, I do too. But you either need or specifically want one, they really aren't aimed at the sort of market I suspect this guy is looking at. Yes I know there are county spec options etc, but still, the Defender is based on an aged design of vehicle that was built to do a completely different job to what the Disco or Freelander does.

Can it infill as a family vehicle, or a runabout? Ofcourse it can. Is it better at doing it than a Disco, or even competition like a Shogun for example? No, it really isn't.

I`ve had a series 3 and have a Defender and Range Rover currently, I`ve also had a Nissan Patrol amongst other things. Assuming you have a 2.7td Terrano then I suspect you will find the smallest leap (assuming the Terrano met your needs) is to a diesel Disco. I would try a TD4 Freelander as well if I were you but a better comparator for the Freelander is the X Trail, not the Terrano.
Broadly speaking you will trade on road manners for off road capability in moving to a Land Rover product. Again generalising, if you choose the most capable off road product (Defender) it will be the most uncomfortable on road, which is why I think the Disco might be the best compromise.
Ultimately you have to try a few and not buy the first thing you see.
Ian

Matt TDi said:

LOL at the Defender replies

The guy has a Nissan Terrano, and is looking at Freelanders, I dare say a Defender is not the right choice for him in this instance.

The fact of the matter is a Defender is an awesome choice if you want a largely uncompromised off roader, or rugged work horse. However in alot of modern environments, even the new shape, supposedly more user friendly model is unsuitable. It's not comfortable, not specced very well, not got very good road manners, lacking in many modern attributes which most people require, and actually quite expensive for what it is given all that.

If you're after a soft, comfortable family wagon that CAN go off road when asked, you may well be looking in the right place for a Freelander, but be aware of it's limitations.

If you want more than that but retain the comfort and specifications then go for a Disco.

We all love Defenders around here, I do too. But you either need or specifically want one, they really aren't aimed at the sort of market I suspect this guy is looking at. Yes I know there are county spec options etc, but still, the Defender is based on an aged design of vehicle that was built to do a completely different job to what the Disco or Freelander does.

Can it infill as a family vehicle, or a runabout? Ofcourse it can. Is it better at doing it than a Disco, or even competition like a Shogun for example? No, it really isn't.

Click to expand...

matt :boink:

A Depender is the right choice everytime

Stick with the terrano over the freelander we've just taken our 19 y/o maveric off the road with 200k and one section rotten above the rear spring carrier, dad preferred it to my disco but I see a disco as a decent replacement for it although I'd prob choose a td5 of u have the money

Steve L said:

To all
I’m in a total dilemma, currently in the market for a replacement 4x4 and currently have had an old (dare I say it) Nissan Terrano for 15 years covered over 100,000 miles without any major problems. I am put off Land Rovers by the reports through various sources on poor reliability issues, but I can’t say I’ve seen any at the side of the road with their bonnets up awaiting a tow truck. With all this in mind I still want one and was thinking of a 2 – 3 year old Freelander. Basically I have three questions :- What’s the most reliable vehicle and in relation to the faults. What are the problems and Would it not be possibly to rectify these prior to a potential failure with a spot of D.I.Y. at weekends etc
Regards
Steve

Click to expand...

You are the one that has to put all the facts together and then decide which is best for you. There are many talented people on here with good advice.You will have to live with your choice.

I'd look for one that came from a older professional couple, that didn't 4x4 off road in it.

good luck in your quest

Thanks Peep’s one and all for your responces

Personally I do like a 110 Defender, but she who must be obeyed commented why do we need such a big vehicle. Unfortunately she does have some common sense. (don't they all) Doesn’t help that my son is thinking of a 90 Defender.
I agree with one of the comments that with modern cars effectively D.I.Y. is limited so the defender may be the better option al be it a small one!

Regards

Steve

Steve L said:

Thanks Peep’s one and all for your responces

Personally I do like a 110 Defender, but she who must be obeyed commented why do we need such a big vehicle. Unfortunately she does have some common sense. (don't they all) Doesn’t help that my son is thinking of a 90 Defender.
I agree with one of the comments that with modern cars effectively D.I.Y. is limited so the defender may be the better option al be it a small one!

Regards

Steve

Click to expand...

Sounds like you got your work cut out for you, this might help your case.

Honey look how much room there is for when the family grows.

Honey look how much room there is for camping and such, improves family bonding.

Honey lets go green laning keep a couple blankets in there for the right moment

Honey this will last a long time 250,000 miles

Just keep using the honey stuff but spread it to thick

get a defender and get rid of the wife prob sorted..