Prospective Buyer

[grey_ghost]

Hi All,

I am thinking about buying a Freelander 2 for SWMBO. It would be a daily driver, and not used for any trip work... (I've got a 101, Perentie, Stage One V8, 60 SWB Series II, 61 LWB Series II & 2 Door Rangie for that...)

What are peoples thoughts & experiences with the FL2?

4cyl diesel vs 6cyl petrol?

What models are best? SE, HSE, ??

I might tow a small trailer with it (7x5) for tip runs - but certainly nothing seriously heavy..

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,
GG.

[rangieman]

Deisel is the only option here as they seem to be very reliable Tom [thumbsupbig]

[discojools]

Wife's 2014 Freelander SD4 is a great car..totally reliable, done 100,000 now. Trouble and strife and daughter have tried to wreck the interior, only damage a couple of ac vent knobs broken.
She tows horsefloat no prob with one horse only.
I really enjoy driving it...great engine. Not many frills though.
I actually prefer it to new Discosport which replaces it.

[rar110]

The revised 2013 interior is much nicer. The SE and above has the larger centre info screen. HSE has some very nice extras, and worth the extra money. TD or SD motor is another consideration.

[rar110]

I'm not sure how much research you've done. I was seriously considering a FL2 at one stage.

This family of PSA motor is fitted to a range of makes incl Ford Mondeo and Peugeot, as is the Japanese Aisin 6 speed transmission.

[Mick_Marsh]

I knew it.
Didn't take you long. Looking for your next purchase I see.

[grey_ghost]

Mick - you gave me your disease. Or should I say hobby/passion....

[Mick_Marsh]

I have a solution for you.
We can discuss it as I move my treasures next to my new treasures in my new shed.

I'll let you borrow my new 101 camper from time to time.

[trumpycam]

If you go ahead some pre-emptive maintenance won't hurt, we just bought our second FL 2. i.e Auto fluid, change till it looks clean, Haldex service and the rear Diff oil. Also if really keen the front Transfer box. All these are "sealed for life" which is not specified, as to how long that is!! One more check power steering reservoir if fluid looks brown and dirty the filter in the Res is blocked or dirty, so need to change Res and flush, or pump will eventually give up. All these are fairly easy and not too expensive, all that aside they are great cars and very capable, we loved our first one till a truck ran into the back of it and wrote it off. Three days later we went out and bought another.
Joe

[Freely2]

The TD4 and SD4 engines after MY11 are the same mechanically. The TD4 can be remapped for around AUD$700 to be just like the SD4 (or even more power / torque) if you want. So if you get a nice MY11+ TD4 eg with sunroof etc, I would save the money and get it instead of the SD4.

The pre MY10 TD4 and prior had different turbos and are not the same.

[Rossco_here]

I recently picked up an MY12 SE SD4 Auto and love it, the SD4 is a great motor and the entire package is awesome to drive and very capable off-road and being compact makes for easier city work, parking & tight tracks... but my previous Amarok sure beat it for storage ;)

[Phideaux]

Only 'real trouble' has been recent - 6 years and 110k - and it was probably the fuel filter. Tried to get an engine re-map - and it failed, a first for Coopers. A few weeks later, got new tyres (routine) and after it came back, felt like the turbo was disconnected (intermittently). Got the filter replaced by NRMA servicing - invoice said, 'filter tested and found faulty'. (I'd have done it myself but it's not an entirely simple job; two covers, unscrew, screw in, prime, then bleed, then start - and I've found the physio more expensive than mechanics usually).
So far so good with the new filter.
One rear door window got conniptions - but fixed itself before I could get it to an auto-electrician.
Same rear door sometimes doesn't lock - so: hit 'lock' /twice/ on the fob, all fixed.
No other problems.
For towing; rated 2 tonnes and we've towed that - with 420nm it's effortless.
For 'around town' - bit of an overkill, it's a car that likes open roads and back-tracks. But it does seat 5 adults comfortably.
Personally I avoid 'short runs' in the diesel if I can.
V6 petrol was 'thirsty'; Petrol turbo 4 (from Ford) is better - but not as better as one might hope (thus said the reviewers).
Most owners I've spoken to are in the 'very happy' category.
In fact, I will probably go looking for a low-km 9-speed instead of going to Discovery Sport.

Hope this helps - it's one owner's experience.

Phideaux.

[bnicho]

I've owned my 2007 6 speed manual TD4 for about 14months and done just over 20,000 miles. Turned over 130,000 miles (not km) yesterday. No faults and very happy with it. Service parts are cheap from Karcraft and it's been easy to work on. Even changing the fuel filter is easy with a bit of thought.

[omvanders]

I recently picked up an MY12 SE SD4 Auto and love it, the SD4 is a great motor and the entire package is awesome to drive and very capable off-road and being compact makes for easier city work, parking & tight tracks... but my previous Amarok sure beat it for storage ;)

Sure it's not like an Amarok but sitting alongside my Disco 1 the FR2 is actually a slightly bigger car.