Freelander Love - Talk to Me....

[Father Ted]

Can I ask an unbiased opinion from people who have actually had experience of the 1800cc Freelander please, rather than those people who have heard off a bloke down the pub that you should never ever touch one with a 10ft barge pole.

 

The Maverick has had a deposit taken on it, but a Freelander is for sale nearby at "quite attractivly priced" shite value. It looks nice, looks clean, doesnt appear rusty and doesnt seem to be a kettle (yet). Worth it? Can I live with one? Or is it like rubbing Deep Heat cream onto my piles as a cure for backache (well it takes your mind off the pain in your back doesnt it?)

 

EDIT:-http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/freelander-1-8-k-series-hgf-more-data-36863.html

 

Ahhh, well perhaps not then.

Shame.

[dollywobbler]

I wouldn't go there. I like the look of the Freeloader but they seem a bit of a nightmare. Fragile transmissions, iffy electrics and then the kettle issues on top.

 

Apparently, one trick they have is to suddenly drop the rear door glass and then open the tailgate while you're driving along! GR8 4 LOOSIN FIDO!

[Father Ted]

Yes, back to trailing through Autotrader for a Fronterror probably. I really want something 4x4, SWB and able to seat 5 in an emergency (oh and tow 1800kgs).

But I also want something cheeeeeeep. and of course its the wrong weather for buying 4x4's cheeeeeep.

[dollywobbler]

I'd say stick with the Maverick/Terrano. They're a great bit of kit and much more refined than a Frunterror. Good support via the Nissan 4x4 Owners Club as well. I know of a Terrano diesel for sale in North Wales for £600. Even the facelift ones can be cheaper than the one you were looking at.

[trigger]

No personal experience but a guy i used to work with bought a 1.8 brand new in 2002 that lasted 17000 miles before the head gasket failed.

 

On another hand a family friend has a 04 plate diesel version and can't rave about it enough, There's still plenty of other 4x4's I'd own before i'd buy one though.

[dollywobbler]

Actually, Trig posting has just reminded me. Don't rule out the Kia Sportage. Saw a very tidy one make £850 at auction the other week. They're pretty much forgotten.

[KruJoe]

Don't buy anything in until you've had a go in an early SWB RAV4 (or first facelift to look less poverty stricken). They're an absolute hoot to drive. Smart ones are cheaper than any Feelander, and if reliability is an issue...

[Pete-M]

I've never owned a Freeloader (I'm not that mental), but I have driven a few.

 

They're pretty good to drive. Excellent ride quality.

[Volksy]

I rate the RAV4 too, even if mine blew up on the way to Chamonix last year,

 

We nursed it through the rest of the season, till it ran its big ends. They're a tough little car, although are sensitive to oil changes, mine hadn't been touched in about 4 years and ultimatley paid the price.

 

They are a hoot to drive, and handle unlike most softroaders, mine never got stuck, despite no difflocks and low range.

[Tonka]

If you MUST have a Freeloader then buy a TD4, but not a high mileage one, at least that way you will avoid all the K series ills however you still have to contend with failing viscous coupling on the propshaft, the IRD unit. clutch hydraulics, all 5 window regulators and/or door latches, sunroof mechanisms, rear wheel cylinders due to rusting rear brake pipes, seizing up of caliper sliders, bushes on the multi-link rear suspension, diff mounts, uneven tyre wear, failing rear diffs, knocking driveshafts.

 

OK so many of the above could be said to affect many other vehicles built in the last 15-20 years but Land Rover are still miles off achieving the level of quality control and reliability expected for a vehicle of that price and perceived quality.

 

How many independant Toyota specialsists are there? how many Land Rover ones?

 

I work with them all week and wont' have one neither will 3 out of the other 4 staff at the Independent specialist we all work for.

[meggersdog]

Well I've owned two Freelanders ...1 a five door with a noisey IRD unit and uneven tyre wear on the rear and the second a three door but you couldn't open the rear door as the window was disconnected from the motor and propped up with wood.Both were petrol and I thought drove very well.They all seem to suffer from atleast one of the problems Tonka has listed.

I've also owned a three door RAV4, not sure of it's towing capabilities or offroad prowess but the 2.0 litre petrol is reasonably quick if a little thirsty.

[Cavcraft]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13165

[lancashireclamper]

Yes, back to trailing through Autotrader for a Fronterror probably. I really want something 4x4, SWB and able to seat 5 in an emergency (oh and tow 1800kgs).

But I also want something cheeeeeeep. and of course its the wrong weather for buying 4x4's cheeeeeep.

 

Would this be of any interest F T?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1988-F-MITSUB ... 19cda52225

[eddyramrod]

+1 on the Rav, I had one over here the first time we came. It was a load of fun. This shape:

Although I didn't go stunt-driving with it.... honest, Budget!

[CIH]

Ravs are bastards for seized bushes.

[Father Ted]

Morning.

So....

Freeloader - world of pain akin to wiping your arse on an Alcowipe (done that and beleive me it hurts)

Rav4 (swb) only 4 seats (sell a child, or leave wife behind)

Fronterror Sport - only 4 seats (sell a child, or leave wife behind)

Maverano or Terevick - OK if you can buy one with working brakes

Kia Sportarge - OK

 

Did I mention I need it to be N reg or later to pop my plate on?

[messerschmitt owner]

 

Did I mention I need it to be N reg or later to pop my plate on?

I have found I can pop plates on any age of car! Darn things keep falling off the roof though when I go round corners.

 

The wife has never forgiven me for losing all her eternal beau china that way!!

 

Frankly, I have found it easier to pop plates on the table. They tend to be safer there.

 

[Father Ted]

The wife has never forgiven me for losing all her eternal beau china that way!!

How vvery 80's - we had some too.

[dollywobbler]

Not sure a swb Mavranno would seat five. Seems a bit tight in the back. LWB would be ok, as would a LWB Frontera - just watch out for the 'wrong' engines in those, which are the 2.2 petrol and the 2.5 VM diesel.

 

They did a lwb version of the Mk1 Rav4 as well. Hideously cheap. No-one likes them. Same goes to a lesser extent for the long-wheelbase Suzuki Vitara.

[ashmicro]

One of my mates had a brand new 1.8 Freelander 1, and it was just crap. He had Charles Hurst Land Rover on speed-dial.

 

One of our elderly neighbours had one, and it was DIRE, badly made to the point of actually being dangerous. He weighed it in and bought a used Hyundai Tucson.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

My dad was given a Sportage as a company car for about 5-6 months and was quite happy with it. He even drove it into a wall at approx 30kph without destroying the car, the wall, or himself (the joys of lunchtime seafood with ouzo).

[AnthonyG]

My dad has a 03 plate TD4 Freelander, it hasn't given him any problems at all. Maybe they learnt how to build all bits correctly and assemble them in the right order by then!

 

I'd risk a diesel, but not a 1800 as the engines under extra stress in that application.

 

What about a RAV4 Mk2? Or Ford Maverick Mk2/Mazda Tribute? - if you can find one - they are pretty rare, Fords came with 2.0 Zetecs or 3.0 V6s (autos only) from 2001 onwards. The lack of a diesel meant sales were dismal, I've seen a few early ones about though. They were officially deleted from the Ford price list in 2006, although it was more or less impossible to get hold of one after late 2003.

 

I'd be looking for a Hyundai or Kia as new as the budget allows.

[Volksy]

What about a RAV4 Mk2? Or Ford Maverick Mk2/Mazda Tribute?

 

Still both four seaters, as far as car seats allow anyway.

 

I'll even vouch for the Mav, v6 auto with yeehaa coloumn select!