Firstly I would like to explain my situation, I currently work for a Landrover dealership in the Midlands, I work in the after sales side, therefore I am constantly in and out of Freelanders of all ages, models and engine options. The Freelander concept is basically a good one, the cars are ... Read review
4 X 4 - Four Wheel Drive (4x4) - 5 Speed Automatic, 5 Speed Steptronic Automatic Gearbox - 2497 cc - Max Speed: 113 mph - 175, 177 bhp - Diesel, Petrol - Available Trims: Sport Premium, Sport, SE, HSE
4 X 4 - Four Wheel Drive (4x4) - 5 Speed CommandShift Automatic Gearbox - 4394 cc - Max Speed: 124 mph - 306 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: HSE, SE, Supercharged Autobiography, Vogue
Advantages: Excellent TD4 engine, rugged good looks Disadvantages: Poor 1.8i petrol engine
Firstly I would like to explain my situation, I currently work for a Landrover dealership in the Midlands, I work in the after sales side, therefore I am constantly in and out of Freelanders of all ages, models and engine options. The Freelander concept is basically a good one, the cars are designed as a road car which has excellent four wheel drive capabilities. these 4x4 features still make it the best in class. The build quality and engine reliability ... ...after car come in with the same problems, rear door seals, head gaskets and engines on the 1.8i, anti roll bar links etc etc, I am sure all the Freelander owners out there know what I am talking about. But despite all of these problems the cars are getting significantly better. The new 2002 my cars are released now and they are significantly improved on the previous efforts, predominately in my opinion, due to the involvement of Ford. The build quality ... more
Firstly I would like to explain my situation, I currently work for a Landrover dealership in the Midlands, I work in the after sales side, therefore I am constantly in and out of Freelanders of all ages, models and engine options. The Freelander concept is basically a good one, the cars are designed as a road car which has excellent four wheel drive capabilities. these 4x4 features still make it the best in class. The build quality and engine reliability is what lets this car down. Everyday I see car after car come in with the same problems, rear door seals, head gaskets and engines on the 1.8i, anti roll bar links etc etc, I am sure all the Freelander owners out there know what I am talking about. But despite all of these problems the cars are getting significantly better. The new 2002 my cars are released now and they are significantly improved on the previous efforts, predominately in my opinion, due to the involvement of Ford. The build quality id much better and the BWM TD4 engine is the best diesel I have ever driven, apart form perhaps the TD5 in the discovery. If any one out there has any questions they would like me to answer or queries about Freelanders or landrover in general email me or respond to this opinion.
To add to my opinion I would like to include a few things specific to Freelanders that should be looked out for when purchasing used one of the earlier models.
Firstly the security panel in the boot. This is prone to filling with water, due to faulty rear door seals. therefore it is also important to avoid placing CD autochangers here. I have seen numerous flooded changers and LR will not necessarily contribute due to the fact that they recommend auto-changers be placed under the passenger seat. This smacks of LR knowing about the problem but doing little about it. Secondly it is important to check the history of the car, try to find out where it has been serviced and ring the dealer and ask them to talk you through any major work they have done to the car such as diffs, engines, head gaskets etc, In my experience, although I’m not sure why, Freelanders tend to be either bad 'uns or good 'uns. in the trade this is called Friday afternoon syndrome, i.e. that particular car was badly put together because it was done on a Friday afternoon when all the guys on production wanted to go home. Only buy a car if it has full dealer service history , as you then have 12 months parts warranty if the same thing goes wrong again, which it probably will!
Thirdly if you can at all help it don't buy a 1.8i The engine is very underpowered for the size of car. This leads to them being thrashed which in turn causes all sorts of mechanical problems. The most common being headgaskets, where I work we usually replace around 3-5 headgaskets a week and usually 1 engine, which is a fairly large number if you multiply it by the 126, the number of UK dealers.
Thirdly ensure it has had the recent safety recall done. I know all you Freelander owners thought it was just for the handbrake or wiring loom, but each Freelander had a number of other items checked and replaced such as the inlet manifold gasket, another contributor to headgasket problem, which the customer was not informed about.
...right vehicle and buying the Land Rover Freelander 2.0D was the best thing we ever did! It has been 8 months since the purchase and no regrets so far. I honestly cannot find anything I would change about it.
Taking into account I pay a lot less for my diesel here than in most countries, it is still very economical.
Firstly, the Land Rover booklet from which we chose the car was very informative, full specifications, interior designs, wheel sizes ... ...space good and with the folding seat option you have endless room for luggage or even an emergency sleep over.
In this good looking practical vehicle you will have an all over comfortable ride, in the security that you have the best features and backup Land Rover can offer. ...
TeresaTunaley 22.05.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Land Rover Freelander 2.0
Advantages: Great work horse with a cavernous back Disadvantages: Poor visibility when reversing horse trailer - especially to the left.
I have owned my 2.0d x reg Freelander diesel Commercial (van jobber) for 2 years had 80,000 on the clock when i got it and now has over 100,000. It had rather a lot wrong with it when i got it, all the usual problems but as hubby is in the trade it wasnt to bad to fix her up and as she is a van she was pretty cheap to buy. I have 3 horses so this is my vehicle to cater for their needs. The permanent 4 wheel drive has got me out of some sticky situations ... ...shows, which in our climet are usually rainy and muddy and the Freelander tows through mud beatifully and I have never got stuck yet. Though visibility with the hardback with no windows can at times be tricky for reversing the trailer especially back to the left, but the wing mirrors are of a good size.
Being a van the space in the back is cavenous just right for all the parifinalia i have to truck round, and I can get a fair amount of bales in ...
allys-ponies 20.01.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Land Rover Freelander 2.0
Advantages: Still outselling any other 4x4 Disadvantages: Many.
Let me first say that I am reviewing this due to working first hand at a Landrover dealership and watching many freelanders, discovery's, and Range Rovers come flooding in with problems. I have never owned one and never will now but have seen, driven them many times through out my two years working at the dealership.
I was the valeter there and would constantly have many opinions from customers and sales people. The Sales advisors would say to me ... ...and for the price bad workmanship. You might disagree but here are some of the reasons why I think they are rubbish
Firstly, the 1.8 petrol freelander is awful. It drinks fuel and the engine lasts about 30,000 miles before a new one is needed. Ford really need to get there engine in because it is its biggest downfall at the moment (Ford have taken over Landrover in case you didn't know). The diesel however is much better. Also this make of car will ...
leon452 06.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Freelander 2.0
Advantages: The earlier (non turbo) Diesel is willing and reliable. Disadvantages: Although a little underpowered and can be expensive to service.
I bought my 8 year old Freelander 2.0 XEDi with 80,000 miles on the clock and a recently changed cam belt and can report trouble-free motoring. It was expensive (they hold their value) but I soon discovered that my car has an electric sunroof which never worked and remains permanently shut. I didn't check before purchase:-( , but A/C compenates nicely. Mechanically, the car was sound, although at last MOT (89K miles), I had to replace the rear trailing ... ...or 15% of the original sale price!! Apart from these high costs, the car has been reliable on the road and the Diesel engine is frugal, returning 38MPG average. There are little electrical bugs that plague the car, such as display backlights failing on the lower dash and the clock backlight no longer works. The heater also takes an age to warm the car up in the depths of winter. I have never taken it off road, so the HDC hasn't been tested by me. ...
mintymiller 30.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Freelander 2.0
Advantages: Good all-rounder Disadvantages: Jack of all trades, Master of none
The Freelander is quite a unique vehicle - a bit of everything, a jack of all trades - which works both for AND against it! I wanted a vehicle that would take me off road, but also cope with the masses of motorway miles I do, so its proved alright. The Discovery would have been my first choice but was simply out of the budget range. Japanese equivilents are just too tacky and not best suited for anything other than a grass verge! So the Freelander ... ...you're not in a rush to get anywhere, but it can be a pain in the .... I've had a few mods done now (chip, intercooler and suspension) which means the performance is ALOT better. I couldn't survivie without it. The petrol version is slightly better, but fuel economy of any sort doesn't exist!
Off road: Everyone who sees it mudplugging initially laughs, but is gradually won round by the capabilities of the Freelander. OK, its not a pure off roader ...
ellislp 09.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Freelander 2.0
Road Handling
Fuel consumption
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Advantages: Good towing capabilities Disadvantages: Storage of removeable hard top
I bought a Freelander TD4 two months ago, having always been a huge fan of the LandRover marque.
It is quite unlike other Landrovers and other vehicles in it's class.
The handling has the secure feeling of a smaller car, but has the added benefit of a high driving position, allowing a greater view of the road ahead.
I have found the TD4 diesel engine perfect for towing my large caravan. The torque levels are good making effortless work of muddy campsites, cruising at 60mph or winding mountain roads.
Without the caravan it performs very well off road. The traction control and ABS work extremely well and inspire confidence. The hill descent control makes light work of tricky descents. Ground clearance is good enough for the capabilities of the vehicle, as long as your careful about deep ruts. If you want a vehicle suitable ...
Advantages: generaly a great car just dangerous to third parties!! Disadvantages: is this car safe to be on the road in its present condition?
i recently bought a new Freelander with the full body pack,,mistake! after just 3 months the front panel,below the grill disappeared while on a motorway journey, landrover dealership was not interested and suggested that I had hit something,well I decided not to argue and bought another which incidentally comes in grey plastic and had to be painted to suit cost £250.00 3 months late this piece flew off again! this time hitting the windshield of a passing lorry luckily enough he stayed on the road! again up till now landrover still not interested and suggested that I fitted it wrongly! its 2 push and turn screws and took one minute and saved £80.00 by doing so, today I discovered the front passenger door panel,at the bottom, flapping about whilst washing the car,is it about to fly off also? have anyone reading this had any similar ...
Advantages: Powerful engine, it makes you feel safe Disadvantages: sounds like a tractor
could "skip" gears and the car would still pull you up to speed without any trouble.
The ride I found to be a very smooth one, with only the odd bump disturbing the gentle ride.
**Looks**
The outside of the car I think looked great, with its big wheels and its high cab. The car has a rustic "get up and go" look but sum how it still has a sporty ness about it.
The interior had a modern stylish look and feel to it. The colours that my grand parents decided to have (Cream with green) complemented the car and just set it apart from any other Landrover I have ever been in.
I am disappointed to say however that this is all let down by the poor quality of materials used in the car. After only 2 1/2 years the paint on the grill covering the speakers started to rust and the paint fell of leaving a horrible mess. The chrome ...
Robust, Powerful, and Comfortable, Good Value @ Left Hand drive
Extremely Poor Traction, Poor Braking System, Fickle and easily worn tyres (unless with a purchase of a good set of good years for exmaple) Inconvenient and well, useless differentiation facilities, Radio is fickle and performs poorly over excessive use, (*)
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