just bought a freelander

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georgiegirl2

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hey all, so excited just paid my deposit on a freelander this week now all i have to do is wait for the money to come through from the bank etc! I was going to try something bigger but im 21 and so insurance wise they seem like a good option. Have checked weights etc and all seems to be fine, I will be learning to tow a wessex clubman trailer (v lightweight) and then will only be taking my horses places singly - george gets a complete stress on if he goes to a party with someone else as he is far to neurotic - good as gold on his own though! Just wondering what everyones thoughts on freelanders are? I know they dont seem to have too many fans! The one ive bought is an x reg 2 litre diesel, full service history and spotless and also got it checked out by my trusted mate who is a mechanic before parting with my cash.
 
They're great for what you want. I had Freelander and pulled one horse in an old Bayhill trailer. It did the job well, had enough guts for that and was reliable. I'd love another one if we didn't have 2 horses now. As a compromise between and every day car and to do little journeys towing one horse they're the best for it.
 
we have one for towing and although it survives, uses a hell of a lot of fuel, doesnt tow well up hills! we should have gone for a discovery!! hope it works out for you though
 
i have a T reg 2 litre diesal and pull one horse in an old rice trailer - never had any problems and very economical with fuel - i had a fiesta before and to be honest it doesnt use that much more for running round town! I must say that i have an anti snake bar fitted and i wouldnt tow any horse without one x x
 
Not everyone has a mummy and daddy that can afford an M class. Some have to go with what they can afford to buy and to run - nobody's asking you to tow with a Freelander so why rain on someone's excitement?
 
ive just read my reply - and i just wanted to make it clear that i never never never towed a horse and trailer with a fiesta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Not everyone has a mummy and daddy that can afford an M class. Some have to go with what they can afford to buy and to run - nobody's asking you to tow with a Freelander so why rain on someone's excitement?

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She just gave her opinion which is what the OP was asking for. I'm sure for the same price you could get a shogun or fourtrak. I don't no if they are cheaper to run than a freelander but they are better towers.
 
we used to have a fourtrak a few years ago (got stolen along with mytrailer hence having to beg lifts for two years) which mum towed.....thing is I am going to need my car to br able to run me to work and up to yard etc as well and fuel wise is wasnt cheap and because they have a much larger engine size (even though they dont go above 50 lol) its very difficult to find an insurance company that will touch me with it.
 
Yes thats true I remember trying to find an insurance company that would insure me on a fourtrak.
I like the freelander as a car just don't trust them towing.
 
Keep your eye on the clutch and the thermostat on the Freelander. Check your rad as often as you can and keep it well topped up.

It wouldnt be my first choice either but fingers crossed you have got a decent one.
 
I personally wouldnt buy one of that reg, I am getting the new freelander 2 and the guy at landrover said how awful the old ones are cause they have a MG engine !!! So an engine that is was made for tiny light cars ! not big heavy cars with a trailers, the head gaskets (sp) go, baically they are not the most reliable of cars!
The newer ones - 04 and up are much better and the freelander 2 is like a different car!
I hope your not paying more than £3.5k for it!
 
The 1.8 petrol models might have been MG engines but the diesel TD4 (from about X reg onwards) were designed by BMW. There are a lot of Freelanders around and so I think we tend to then hear more about problems with them. If I'm 100% honest it wouldn't be my first choice of car to tow either (The Disco or Defender would be) but at the end of the day it's horses for courses and it has to suit each individuals pocket and lifestyle.
 
i didnt think you could tow with one?
Im going to look into getting one now iv read this....
iv got about 3-4k and was looking to get a box....
but might trade in car and get a freelander!
i thought it would be a bit much crusing to uni and bk in a discovery!! and under 25's screwed on ins....
(runs of to auto trader..............)
 
Lucky you!!! I love freelanders, I used to have a Discovery, but much prefer the freelander. I am planning on getting a Defender, much more suitable for me and my animals, who seem to trash my car.
 
if your looking for a good reliable 4x4 that tows well on a budget I would recommend the shogun, they go on for years and years ! and tow really well, I know a few people that have them and love them and never have any probs.
 
i've looked into the weights etc. freelander should be fine for lightweight trailers and is in fact recommended by ifor williams for their 505 range. I'm 21 with 2 years no claims and can get insured for 450 with my mum as an extra named driver on the 2litre version
 
the one i've bought is an x reg 2.0 diesel - the guy who came with me (has mot'd and serviced my micra for years with discount) said this is the better engine to go for? I did go try a discovery but one with high milage and to be honest going from a micra to a disco at 21 seems a bit ambitious. I went to try the freelander twice, loved it both times, for an x reg it is EXTREMELY tidy, has never towed previosly and has a full set of brand new tyres including spare. it was advertised at 4695 and i got the price down to 4250 saying it will need a new cam belt doing soonish(land rover recommend 80k miles) and i want a tow bar putting on
 
Get the cambelt done asap because if that goes you'll need a new engine. Better safe than sorry! I loved mine and you probably have the TD4 if your mechanic said it was the better diesel engine to go for. You'll have hours of fun with it.
 
Had two freelanders in the past & "sorry" nothing but trouble, my sister had one to pull her trailer and she soon got rid of the freelander to get some thing with more guts....
 
We have a V reg diesel and it tows our 505 with the pony in it fine. I have towed it with the 15:3 and pony in it (checked the weights and was just inside the limits) it was fine for local 10 minute journeys but probably wouldn't have gone far with both in.
I think they're a good compromise (sp) for someone on a budget.
Ours had no problems until recently when the head gasket went but at this age it could have happened to any car IMO.
 
Oh dear, hope you have better luck with yours than we did with ours. I hated towing with it, switched to a Pajero which was much more powerful
 
I have one and i love it! It's an x reg too.
I have no problems towing my 505 with it at all. I find it very econimical too. It pulls fine.
If its an x reg it should have the bmw engine in it which is really good.
I know the petrol ones have caused lots of people problems but i love my diesel 2ltr and wouldn't swap it!
 
I have an 's' reg (worst to have) petrol model, i have spent over £1500 on it in 2 years including new head gasket, at the moment it is awaiting a new coolant hose from land rover. Apart from the problems i must admit I do like them and will probably swap it for a newer diesel one. I have only towed with mine once with a 505 and 16.2hh horse, it was only 10 minutes down the road though but managed fine, although do think towing alot would put alot of wear and tear on clutch etc. I know someone that had a s reg petrol and used to tow 2 16.2hh in an 505 and she was forever having new clutch's. I was speaking to landrover a few months ago and apparently L/R know that the head gaskets are a common problem for the older models with the rover engines. and will pay towards the cost of fixing if you have it done at a L/R garage.
I personally would have a look round at prices too, £4200 (sorry can't remember exactly how much you put now) seems a fair bit to say how much the prices of them are dropping.
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