tjam,
what do you think of the freelander, we have just put a deposit on a Y reg TD4. I have been reading other threads and there are good and bad comments.
thanks
Hi Gill
If you do a search for my nickname you'll see that I've got nothing but praise for the TD4. I tend to speak as I find and I can honestly say mine has been fine. The surveys that people cite are fine as far as they go and I also looked at them myself before buying ours. I also asked people who had got them. I know three TD4 owners, one rover diesel and one 1.8 owner. They all think they're great cars. Even the 1.8 owner who has had the headgasket problem - I believe its this headgasket issue that gives the brand an unreliable label.
I was reflecting on what somone said on one of the other threads when they quoted What Car saying a negative point was reliability. I've read that same comment against the brand for years now. Now I might be told I'm wrong, but I don't think the editor is going to re-write the review every year. So even if the brand had improved its difficult to see how that comment is going to change.
I would also checkout who you would use to service the car as some of the main dealers can be a little less than helpful - a fact also contributing to the poor survey results. You sould be able to find a good independent specialist.
I think the other reason people knock them is because they try and compare them with Shoguns and other large 4x4's. They are not going to compete with vehicles like this, but neither are they going to cost as much to run.