Considering a Freelander 2

260DET · 15th February 2015, 08:51 AM

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

Lightwater · 15th February 2015, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by 260DET

I don't change vehicles very often

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 · 27th February 2015, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by 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

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** · 8th July 2015, 08:24 PM

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** · 8th July 2015, 09:50 PM

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** · 8th July 2015, 09:55 PM

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** · 8th July 2015, 10:00 PM

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

**crackers** · 8th July 2015, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Cambo351

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** · 9th July 2015, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Cambo351

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** · 16th July 2015, 11:09 AM

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.

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