Freelander

[Allyson]

Do any of you tow with the freelander, what do they tow like any problems?

They don't seem to have a very good write up on which car althought you see loads of them on the road.

We have looked at a 02 plate.

 

[trucker]

Hi, Allyson weve got a Freelander and it tows my caravan a treat. The new van weighs in at 1465kg which is around 95% match. no problem so far. Weve had the freelander neary 2 years now and done 20,000 miles no problem with it at all.

If you do get one get the TD4 as I understand the 1.8 petrol is not so good for towing and it blows head gaskets for a living its the old rover k series engine still

Hope this helps

Clive v is you man if you want to know anything re landrovers

Kevin H

 

[cliff_5040076]

Hi Allyson

This is a question that crops up now and again and it usually degenerates into a slanging match between those who believe Land Rover's are the best 4X4 on the market and most everyone else.

Most motoring journalists do not rate them very highly as you have found.These are people who have no axe to grind either way and have experience of driving all the Freelanders competitors. The concensus from this source is that you can buy a much better vehicle than the Freelander from a number of manufacturers.

There are loads on the roads as you say but quantity has never been indicative of quality or reliability. Unless you do research,its not until you buy a vehicle that you become aware of its problems and drawbacks.

Most people who own one will tell you how good they are but an element of bias will have affected their judgement.

You alone will have to decide who's opinion you value greater, the motoring press or owners of the vehicle.

If after you have done your research you go ahead with the Freelander --

As Kevin H as pointed out do NOT buy the 1.8 petrol ,you're in chocolate fireguard territory with this model.

Best model is the TD4 but beware it is lower powered than most of its rivals and considerably slower.

Reliability has been a problem but has improved in the last few years.

Good luck

 

[trucker]

Cliff, Landrovers do not have a good name in the press as you quite rightly have indicated. I wanted a Freelander and decided with my heart to buy a new one when my head told me to buy a Nissan x trial. I went ahead and bought the freelander, being new it has 3 years warantee 3 years free sevicing and 3 years eu breakdown cover so the risk of buying and owning one was reduced with the package.

As for being Bias I can only say what i know, 20000 miles 2 years and it hasnt been back to the garage once apart fron the 12000 mile sevice (Free!!)

Do you realy think I would give a positive opinion to someone that a product has been good if it hadent??

whats the point in that.

people that accuse landrover owners of being bias start the "degenerates into a slanging match"

and no it proberbly isnt the best 4x4 on the market or in its class but i like it and it has servred me well so far, if thats a slanging match bring it on, if not do not provoke, all I did was give an honest opinion

Kevin H

 

[trucker]

oh and as for being fast, or not who cares, been there done that and got the speeding fines to prove it, chill and be chilled. hare and tortoise spring to mind.

 

[CliveV]

I have a 1.8 GS 2001 model Freelander (we also have a 3.9l Discovery as well as a 200TDi my son is doing up)

I would not recommend the 1.8 for towing - the TD4 is a far better bet. The 1.8 is fine as it goes but it lacks the grunt needed for towing.

The problems with the head gasket are well known on the 1.8 and are easily prevented. In the main it is the pre 2000 model year that had the problem. The thermostat was put on the backside of the engine rather than on the top hose end. Result is that cool water entering the engine shuts the thermostat and the water in the block stops flowing = cooked engine = head warp.

From 2001 model year on the thermostat is remotely sited so the problem is usually found on later models. Regular servicing on this engine is a must.

Stick a remote thermostat in the top hose and take out the stupidly sited original and the problem goes away. Stronger head gaskets are also available to add to the security.

I use ours regularly and find it nippy, chuckable (Four wheel drive is GREAT FUN in a Freelander) and a real long distance cruiser. Good economy as well.

The Traction Control is truly excellent in slippery conditions. And the Hill Descent Control is awesome. So VERY different to the Discovery's but really good. But use it too much in muddy conditions and you will go thro' discs and break pads at a rate of knots!

So clever tho - the way it progressively cuts in more when you steer into the corner when descending steeply.

If you can get one of the last Freelander TD4's from the Lode Lane factory it should hold its value well as the new Freelander is made elsewhere.

The TD4 is a great engine for towing and being a BMW unit is not likely to suffer the stigma that the 1.8 suffers from - i.e. coming from a failed manufacturer.

 

[CliveV]

I have a 1.8 GS 2001 model Freelander (we also have a 3.9l Discovery as well as a 200TDi my son is doing up)

I would not recommend the 1.8 for towing - the TD4 is a far better bet. The 1.8 is fine as it goes but it lacks the grunt needed for towing.

The problems with the head gasket are well known on the 1.8 and are easily prevented. In the main it is the pre 2000 model year that had the problem. The thermostat was put on the backside of the engine rather than on the top hose end. Result is that cool water entering the engine shuts the thermostat and the water in the block stops flowing = cooked engine = head warp.

From 2001 model year on the thermostat is remotely sited so the problem is usually found on later models. Regular servicing on this engine is a must.

Stick a remote thermostat in the top hose and take out the stupidly sited original and the problem goes away. Stronger head gaskets are also available to add to the security.

I use ours regularly and find it nippy, chuckable (Four wheel drive is GREAT FUN in a Freelander) and a real long distance cruiser. Good economy as well.

The Traction Control is truly excellent in slippery conditions. And the Hill Descent Control is awesome. So VERY different to the Discovery's but really good. But use it too much in muddy conditions and you will go thro' discs and break pads at a rate of knots!

So clever tho - the way it progressively cuts in more when you steer into the corner when descending steeply.

If you can get one of the last Freelander TD4's from the Lode Lane factory it should hold its value well as the new Freelander is made elsewhere.

The TD4 is a great engine for towing and being a BMW unit is not likely to suffer the stigma that the 1.8 suffers from - i.e. coming from a failed manufacturer.

WOOPS! - should say the problem is NOT usually found on post 2001 models

 

[Danny_5134221]

I had a Freelander Td4 and it towed my caravan rather well, unfortunately it was a bit unreliable, therefore Landrover re-purchased it from us and we then bought a Sorento. Never looked back

 

[Allyson]

Hi Guys

Went out today and saw a 5 door Land Rover Freelander 2.0TD Serengeti.

Any views on this model would also be much appreciated.

We will stop looking at the petrol version now.

Many thanks again

Allyson

 

[RichardS1]

Hi Allyson, I ran a TD4 as a company vehicle for nearly three years covering over 90k miles with over 10k towing a caravan at 1450kg. The reliability was faultless with the car only visiting the dealers for routine servicing. It was also a great towcar which had plenty of power for the caravan I was towing.

 

[RogerL]

The Freelander's poor reputation for build quality is a legacy of production practices in the Rover Group and BMW eras of ownership.

Although much improvement was made during BMW's ownership, Ford's management and engineers were appalled at the low standards tolerated by BMW. Ford's own standards have been gradually applied but practical limits apply to existing models.

The new Freelander will be a huge change in build quality as it's being built in a Ford factory - don't mock, they build better cars than Jaguar or Land-Rover, not as high specified but better built!

As an aside it seems that BMW's reputation is based on their design and development quality, rather than their build techniques.

 

[Allyson]

Hi Clive

Can you recommened any good garages in South Wales?

Regards

Allyson

 

[CliveV]

Sorry Alyson - not from personal experience. Try some of LR Forums - I am sure they will be able to help.

Be very wary of buying any Land Rover from a non-specialist dealer - if they have ended up on a generic car lot - it could mean that the car does not meet the criteria of good service history etc.

Obviously a LR approved used one would be best but they cost more - however they get a good warrenty and with the new model out there should be some bargans.

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

Hi Allyson, Not sure what sort of garage your looking for. To buy a landy, I've dealt with Stratstones in Penarth Road Cardiff and they are usually ready to give a good deal.

For repairs I can recommend an independent Land Rover garage on the Cardiff to LLantrisant called Promec. They did some repairs and servicing on my Freelander and they were cheap compared with the main dealer and a good job was done.

 

[chelsea1]

We have the Freelander TD4 2.0 diesel.

Tows our senator like a dream and is good on the mpg.

We've had our 02 plate freelander for 4 years and have never had any problems with it at all.

I would agree with the other poster to suggest the TD4 (bmw diesel engine) and not go for the 1.8 petrol.

 

[Allyson]

Thanks for everyone's reply, we will be going for the Diesel option rather than the petrol version.

Seen one we liked today will be going back tomorrow to hopefully finalise the deal.

 

[Glenn_5132962]

roger - Ford own Jaguar therefore Jaguars are built to the same quality standards as fords. In fact the new freelander is being built alongside the jag x type at the ford premier automotive group facility in liverpool.