Land Rover Freelander 2.0 TD4 ES

Might seem funny that I would tell a friend to get a Freelander TD4 with the problems I've had already but it's such fun it's almost worth the hassle. The bad news - in 6 weeks of ownership I have had two warning lights - one a sensor problem and two days in the shop to fix & the other the hose pipes to the engine were split. Two days in the shop again. I had a rattle due to a loose window screw and it's going in again for another rattle despite being told it didn't exist when I had it checked over. Now I will need to replace the drivers window due to grit scratching it as I lowered it. Not exactly a great commercial for it's sturdiness or reliability. Thank God I bought it used from Land Rover. They have provided excellent service and have not billed me.

However the joy of driving this car makes up for most of the rest of the stuff. It's surprisingly nippy, great on motorways and with the Sport gearbox pretty good on country lanes. I like it. A lot. Whether in a years time or so I will stay with Land Rover is a different question. I love the heritage and the new Freelander looks great but how the car performs over the next year will be the acid test.

Buy one but buy it from a Land Rover dealer. Just in case you are unlucky too.

Bought this Freelander TD4 ES in 2005, 3 years old,for £11,000 been nothing but trouble.Sold it in 2010 for £2500,in the 5 years I have had it I spent £7000 keeping it on the road so actualy lost £15,500 in 5 years and it has still only done 89,000 miles.

Just some examples of what had to be replaced.

All the fuel injectors.

Gearbox

Clutch twice

Rear suspension mounts twice

Windescreen wiper motor and mechanism

All four electric window mechanisms, rusted away.

Electric sunroof mechanism,rusted away.

Primary and secondary fuel pumps.

These are just the things I can remember. Never used off road, I dread to think what would have broken if it had been.

Would never buy one again.

In comparison I also run a Ford Ranger, done 150,000 miles without anything being replaced.

A very well put together car. dont be put off by other peoples bad luck.

I traded a Range Rover 4.6HSE for the Land Rover Freelander 2.0 TD4 ES, so as you can imagine, I knew that I wasn't going to get the refinement and luxury of a Range Rover. However I was pleasantly surprised with the ride quality, quietness at motorway speeds, smoothness of the engine, and obviously the fuel economy of this car. Added to that, the leather seats, aircon, 6-CD player, heated seats, privacy glass on the rear (optional extra) and the sportmatic gearbox, surprised me that a little car with a diesel engine could be as refined as this. I am sure that the base model Freelanders do not have this level of luxury, but my overiding impression is that the Freelander is more than half the car that the Range Rover is, but for almost a third of the price - and when you put insurance and fuel economy over the year into the equation it makes it even more so. I think Land Rover have finally got it right with this car.