Freelanders (ducks and hides)

My reply wasn't meant to be aggressive, I've read it over again & I still can't see how you thought it was
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. I finished of the post with
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so I think it may be as you said you being over sensitive.
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Maybe, I think perhaps I was reacting to a number of (actually incorrect) assumptions in your post... for example that I had read previous posts on freelanders, and that I appeared to have already made my decision regardless of what people might post back on the thread. There is a lot of sensitivity on this forum about disingenuious posting and I didn't not want to find myself accused of this!

We all communicate differently so I am happy accept that there was no intention on your part to appear aggressive; however I do believe that I am as entitled to react to posts from my perspective as you are entitled to phrase them from yours! - and occasionly this is going to result in minor misunderstandings.
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I have heard they are not very reliable too,. One friend had one and got rid of it sharpish and also brother bought one for sil and she sold it again as it was more in the garage than out!!!

I sympathise with your dilemma, I am going through the same process at the moment!!!
 
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You wont be able to safely or legally tow a horse with it.

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This is simply not true. A Freelander is rated to 2000Kg. With the right trailer, you'll be both safe and entirely legal.

that may not make it wise, but that's a different matter

E
 
Firstly, yes you can safely and legally tow a Horse with one (one not two). I don't know why people say they have no power? We have one (a diesel 04 model) and it has plenty of power so that's nonsense. How fast do you want to go in it? As for weight, they only weigh about 150kg less than a defender. The Disco is much heavier but we can't all afford one!
Landrover limit it to 2000KG towing, personally I would never tow anything that was heavier than the car itself. My trailer + horse is 1500KG and the Freelander is just over 1600KG. I see people towing these really heavy trailers with 2 big Horses. Sure it'll be within the 3500KG limit, but it will still be heavier than the vehicle. I don't want shot down in flames for this comment, but it is true.
I use my Freelander sometimes to tow, but I also have a Mercedes sprinter van and that's what I normally use. Purely because I'd rather put the wear and tear on that. It tows really nicely (it's bigger than the trailer), is just as economical on fuel and is way heavier than the trailer.
Yes power matters, but so does the brakes and the weight. If I was swithering over the 2 I'd choose the freelander as the 4X4 makes it more stable. Funnily, this months Horse magazine has an article on towing vehicles and the freelander comes out well.
Right, anyway!! Yes, I would ensure it's a TD4 engine. High mileage wouldn't put me off as it's a diesel. The dent is the one thing I'd be concerned about but you are getting that checked anyway.
In an ideal world we'd all have lorries but we can't all afford them!!!
 
The motoring editor in the Daily Telegraph once published a letter from someone asking whether a Freelander was suitable for towing a horse and trailer. The editor replied that she would be better off using the horse to tow the Freelander...
 
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The motoring editor in the Daily Telegraph once published a letter from someone asking whether a Freelander was suitable for towing a horse and trailer. The editor replied that she would be better off using the horse to tow the Freelander...

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And this month's '4x4 Mart' has an article asking what vehicle to buy to tow 2 horses and still 'have fun' and came down on either a Freelander TD4 or a Nissan X-Trail

not that I agree, but it's an equally valid opinion


E
 
My former boss was a senior manager at Land Rover and was able to have a new company car every 3 months. He sent back all the Freelanders that he was given as all had major defects on them.

When he and 2 others from LR joined my company they all wanted 4x4's again, but refused to have anything from LR. When the employees will not have them, you know there is something wrong!
 
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And this month's '4x4 Mart' has an article asking what vehicle to buy to tow 2 horses and still 'have fun' and came down on either a Freelander TD4 or a Nissan X-Trail

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I have been looking for a new tow vehicle and was told by NISSAN that the X Trail was not really up to the job.... in any form!!!!

Perhaps they just didnt have one to sell me.... they said the Pathfinder or Patrol (cant remember which or could have been either)!!
 
Fine.... but at some point, we're going to seriously have to stop burning so much diesel....

on the continent, people pull trailers with cars all the time. I truly do not believe that a Freelander is worse than, say, a Mondeo, for pulling trailer.

As long as you stick with the 85% rule, you'll be fine...


E
 
Had you thought about using the cash for a deposit on something newer, If you are worried about reliability?
Haven't had a freelander so can't help with that but good luck with your search!

Pilib X
 
thanks to everyone, I am going to make a decision to either just spend more money and get a TD4 freelander which seem to be the better ones or stick with the passat, laguna, mondeo idea I had orriginally.
 
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