Considering a Freelander 2

[zedevan]

Hi Guys,

Thought I'd introduce myself - I've been searching for the 'right' 3.0L Subaru Liberty for awhile but there's hardly any of the exact spec I'm after for sale so decided to start looking for alternatives and that's what has brought me to looking at Freelander 2's. Mainly interested in a manual diesel, and so far that's the only Freelander I've driven.


Nearly every H6 liberty is fitted with a 50mm hitch, where it would seem finding a Freelander with one already installed would be nearly impossible, which is strange given they are better suited to towing

DPF - would I be best looking at the earlier diesels to avoid having to worry about one of these, or they aren't that much of an issue? if its a TD4_e will it have one?

Real world fuel economy and reliability of the SI6? It probably makes the most sense for me to compare this to the subaru, and given the amount I drive the amount of petrol they use isn't the biggest concern to me - are most the ancillaries shared with volvo's that have the same engine?

Bike racks on the roof - it seems this is rarely done I assume due to the how difficult it could be to put a bike up that height, then the total height once they are on?


Any thoughts would be appreciated -Evan

[Lightwater]

I have a new Si4 (only comes in auto in Aust.) so I don't have any real fuel figures yet. My mechanic said to buy a petrol engine, as for a typical week the car sits in the garage. So petrol prices are not really an issue.

The little I have driven it so far, I am very happy with the Si4 (Ford eco boost engine)

I was looking at a Forester and Tiguan plus may others but they all fell off the list very quickly. Wanted an auto, I'm over it with manuals even though I still like them. Not using the car for towing. But I believe you may be better off with an auto for towing, but not a DSG transmission.

My gut feel is that the auto in the Freelander would be very good, maybe someone else can provide their experiences.

[rew]

diesal auto is the way to go I get 650 ks to a tank around town pretty good

[mountainboy]

Auto is the choice for the FL2, either petrol or diesel. I have the i6 and love it

[omvanders]

I have a manual diesel and love it.
I suspect that many who would say that auto is the choice for a FL2 would say that in general about most cars they might purchase. And vice versa for those who love their manuals. Mind you, I love my auto Disco 1! ;)

[Ronc]

I have 2009 diesel, great for traveling distances just returned from a trip to Taree yesterday used a bit under 3/4 tank cruising on the speed limit max 110 or so

[rapserv]

Brother has just received his 2007 diesel fl2 back after having the transmission rebuilt. 70k on the clock, no towing and now a bill for just over $5000.... Not impressed to say the least.
He will be persuing LR for reimbursment over the matter even though its now out of warranty. I think its something like 240k/km service interval on the transmission 😡

Sent from my SM-P900 using AULRO mobile app

[zedevan]

Brother has just received his 2007 diesel fl2 back after having the transmission rebuilt. 70k on the clock, no towing and now a bill for just over $5000.... Not impressed to say the least.
He will be persuing LR for reimbursment over the matter even though its now out of warranty. I think its something like 240k/km service interval on the transmission 😡

Sent from my SM-P900 using AULRO mobile app

Thanks Rapserv, was that an auto or manual?

Fr2's are currently ticking all the boxes but the potential cost to repair is quite a deterant. Went and drove an auto TD4 and was surprised by how 'ok' it was - SI4's are out of the question as looking to spend under 30g.

The closest 4wd capable car I can find seems to be either a Suzuki or Prado - not interested in the Suzuki's crap build quality so might go test a 120 prado since 150's are too big for what we're after.

Cheers,


Evan

[mhuett]

Brother here :p


It is an Auto (TD4 HSE)...

Apart from the gearbox crapping itself the Freelander 2 has been the best vehicle I've owned. Capable of light to medium off-road work, comfortable relatively cheap to run, good on road manners, quiet etc...

The Freelander 2 is also bigger than it looks. People tend to think they are CRV or XTrail size but they are quiet a bit larger... in fact a friend of mine calls it the Tardis (Dr Who fans will understand :) ).

I had a Pajero and the fuel (petrol) was killing me!! In the Freelander I usually get around 700km out of a tank about town and have had the computer telling me I have a range of just over 1100km on country freeway trips.

Land Rover Australia are shockingly expensive for service and the only reason I took it back for all services in the first 3 years was because I had them included as part of a 'corporate' deal. After fainting at the dealers quote for the subsequent service I hunted around a little and found a very good Land Rover specialist nearby who may be a little bit more than 'generic' car mechanics but knows his LR's.

As far as the Auto goes I will be getting in contact with LRA to fork out what I had to pay to have it fixed ... under Australian consumer law a catastrophic gearbox failure at 70,000km on a system that is supposedly sealed and doesn't require servicing for 250,000km well and truly comes under the 'Reasonable Expectation' clause....

[rapserv]

G'day Evan,
Brothers 2007 Freelander is an auto transmission. He was very happy with the vehicle...just did'nt think he would have a failure of this magnitude at 70k.

Sent from my SM-P900 using AULRO mobile app

[260DET]

It's a tough call trying to decide, the dynamics of the FL2 appeal greatly to me yet the over all value and reliability of the Kia Sorento also appeal. I'm buying new in a few months and at present have no idea which way to go. Seven year Kia warranty makes the decision even harder because I don't change vehicles very often :confused:

[Lightwater]

I don't change vehicles very often :confused:

Peugeot 504 17 years (rust after 220k), Seat Ibiza 18 years (head gasket after 230k), my mechanic wanted the car, he did service it for it's entire life. Hopefully Freelander Si4 lasts as long.

[murcod]

It's a tough call trying to decide, the dynamics of the FL2 appeal greatly to me yet the over all value and reliability of the Kia Sorento also appeal. I'm buying new in a few months and at present have no idea which way to go. Seven year Kia warranty makes the decision even harder because I don't change vehicles very often :confused:
There's an updated model Sorento coming out soon. Slightly bigger with upgraded safety features. It's twin, the MY15 Hyundai Santa Fe, has already been updated and has stuff like automated self parking. Depending on what spec level you were thinking about it might be worthwhile waiting.

I've been looking for something that has the space for a large dog in the rear. Most of the new "SUV's" - with their curved/ sloping rear roofs -are useless for such tasks :(. The FL2 is a possibility, along with the Sorento/ Santa Fe. The 7year warranty and cheap servicing costs make a Kia very attractive. Their current diesels also don't have a particulate filter - so no expensive potential problems with doing short city trips.

[crackers]

So the Freelander 2s blow up gear boxes. Is that an auto thing or do the manuals do it as well? I hope to be buying something soon and can not afford gearbox replacements.

[Cambo_oldjaguar]

To be honest this is the first I've heard of the trans crapping out at low kms.

It's a a Japanese Aisin unit that's used in so many other makes & models. And are generally considered reliable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWTF-80_SC

You'd have to be very unlucky for it to go bang...

[crackers]

When is the changeover or what makes a Freelander 2 over a Freelander 1? No, I'm not being dense, I'm getting conflicting information that the BMW diesel vehicles are Freelander 2s from 2001 with other sources saying you didn't get the Freelander 2 until 2007. And which are the reliable ones? I can't find it now but I remember reading about diff conflicts causing the F1s to lock up so when was that fixed?

[Cambo_oldjaguar]

Freelander 2 is from 2007 onwards. It's a completely different vehicle to the first gen Freelander, nothing in common except the name.

[crackers]

Freelander 2 is from 2007 onwards. It's a completely different vehicle to the first gen Freelander, nothing in common except the name.

Thanks mate.

[Tusker]

To be honest this is the first I've heard of the trans crapping out at low kms.

It's a a Japanese Aisin unit that's used in so many other makes & models. And are generally considered reliable.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWTF-80_SC

You'd have to be very unlucky for it to go bang...

x 2.

My 2009 i6 hasn't missed a beat.

Regards
Max P

[Phideaux]

G'day, Evan; Car choice is always 'horses for course'. (Around town, preferentially we use wife's Honda Jazz 'origami car'). If you want genuine off-road: Land Rover Freelander2 diesel, auto-box. Nothing without low range will match it. Ditto comfort and quiet for highway driving. In 2011, I test-drove a Hyundai (not the Kia clone) and was impressed by the motor - and not much else. Hyundai was an uncomfortable seating position for me, at 183cm. Freelander 2 is also the car to 'see out of' (Evoque: be seen in). Freelander is incredibly comfy for a long run. I've driven 500k, unpacked, and then felt like going for a drive to look around.
I've towed 2tonnes - and simply put it on cruise. No problems.
I've had no warranty work - I purchased additional warranty, a gamble I seem to be losing on!
Disadvantages perhaps for you: 'boot/dog space' - a little limited.
Lower warranty: If you've still got a $30k budget, most will be out of warranty. If new - look at the Disco Sport, but last I heard there was a 5month waiting list. (A 9-speed Disco Sport will probably be our next, 2017 or so.)
The Kia spec I saw (and that 7-year included warranty is attractive!) has (diesel) more power, more torque, more weight to pull, worse fuel consumption, and same towing capacity. While the off-road isn't as laughable as a BMW X1 or X3, I'd still prefer the LR. (Look for the open-shut-doors test on Land Rovers. Most others have doors jam when the chassis flexes.)
Traps with the Freelander:
* forget the genuine LR towbar. It has a unique 40mm box - 50mm is normal for Oz and has interchangeability. The ARB towbar is less than half the price and is at least (!) as good.
* just found out: European standard means 'disc pads' means 'discs and rotors'. I've got 78,000k from mine (rears) but others are getting 60,000k only. $450 at Graeme Coopers (Sydney) - NRMA quoted me $735 (Canberra). (!) My fronts probably have another 5000k in them. In the Kia, you'd probably get two sets of pads before needing rotors. It's heavier, though.
Hope this helps.