How reliable are freelanders?

[AndyThoma]

I hope more than my 95 d1 at least. I'm having lots of issues with the disco and because of rising fuel prices, I'm thinking maybe I should keep the disco as a moab/wheelin truck and get a more efficent daily driver. So what's the major issues of freelanders? What kind of mileage should I see? Will I be repairing a FL as much as a disco I'd keep it stock and use it as a daily driver/ski vehicle.

 

[marc olivares]

andy,

buy one of these any we'll go ride together.

 

[LRNationals]

freelanders ared discontinued! look into a xtype jag!

 

[lrcb40]

I'd trade my Freeloader for one

of those triumphs and come ride too, Marc! That is such a sweet ride, so comfortable and the thing doesn't leak oil like the old Triumphs (like my brother's, so you know how old I am ). That's my plan, sell the LR, get a Tiger and tow it behind the Rangey!
Andy

 

[syoung]

Freelanders are being redesigned- not currently in production since the source for engines went tits-up and then sold to the Chinese.

They are fairly good with reliability- but still a Land Rover. Mine didn't have anything major in three years- a few little things that were done during the routine maintenance visits, nothing that required a special trip to the dealer.

 

[Frank84]

currently at 52k miles

around 20k the engine "broke" and was replaced, there have been a few other minor issues but nothing too bad - less annoying issues and less maintenance than the DII

front brakes don't last long, but rears last forever so it sort of makes up for it. Gas mileage is better but still not great, at least it uses regular.

keep the disco if you do much wheeling in the rocks, without low range and clearance the freelander is not much fun to drive on rocky trails. I find the throttle to be too touchy as well, and the viscous coupling does not lock 100% - i've been stuck with 1 wheel spinning. Mud, snow, and deep water seem to be no problem though.

 

[AndyThoma]

I was thinking used. I was hoping for better mileage. The whole idea is to keep the disco for wheeling. Looking at used price locally I think I'd be better off with a CRV or maybe a subie. Cheaper and 4cyl so better mileage. I thought the freeland was over 20 mpg? Is it the 6cyl that's so thirsty?

Marc- How do I carry two dogs and ski's on that thing? Actually I'll let you talk to Emma --- the trauma nurse wife --- about getting a bike for me Her view on "Donorcycles" is less than favorable. After her you'll also need to talk to my trauma nurse sister and nurse mother But I always wanted an enduro. Clark at regent has picts of riding his r1100 bmw thingy on trails in moab, gets me all hot and bothered about getting a bike when I see them. On a side note we need to go wheel while I can still afford gas for the disco.

 

[stephen]

i just a month ago picked up an offlease freelander se, it is super clean, veryyyyy low miles, and had its initial maintainence issues that thanks to this board and Steve i was already aware of and had fixed. the sad thing is, i traded in a 2000 subura imprezza on it. which was starting to have its own issues crop up. so far, the lower mileage is a let down, but on the upside, I feel a whole lot better watching my wife drive of to work in a heavier duty vehicle, the way people drive here in Connecticut is akin to anarchy, and the suber doo was a light weight against all these Hummer and Escalades now clogging up our region. and they drive like they are driving smaller sports cars. go figure. So there is a trade off with this, lower mpg, for more metal under your butt. but i bet the prices come down before you know it. It is a pure case of corporate greed taking advantage of an already bad circumstance.slow down to more sensible speeds and we will save in the end.

 

[bri]

I have a 2000 Outback Ltd.

Best car that I have owned for reliability, utility, function in a single package,

It performs amazing in wet/snow as long as you do not high center.

Everytime I think I will go get a new one I re-convince myself to run it to the ground.

25-30 MPG consistently, but nothing very exciting though.

I would like a freelander, but with gas the way it is want to keep one decent milage vehicle.

I wish the Passat GLS TDI came with 4motion, then I might move for the 38 MPG, but not sure that I could give up such a reliable vehicle.

 

[AndyThoma]

I drove a new XT outback. Fast damn wagon! I liked it but my wife has some weird thing against subies, so convincing her is hard. Plus to find a low mile preowned one in Utah is hard. People get them and drive the snot out of them. Almost better to buy a new one (in Utah), which I am having trouble justifing the new car price.

 

[JSQ]

buy a subaru.

 

[Leslie]

I've got over 85k on my '02 Impreza, it has been completely trouble-free (as long as people don't pull in front of me). Fun car to drive as a commuter.

The only downside to it for me, is that I'm not the smallest guy, and the seats are designed for someone who isn't as big as me. I'm used to it, but, they could be a tad wider.

FWIW...

-L

 

[p m]

Andy,

Given the similar situation (five V8-powered 4x4s in the family of 4 drivers), I looked at the others - a Forester with a turbo was a prime candidate. However, the new ones (03?-on) seem to have a completely fucked up center console/elbow rest - to a point where you'd have your hands sore after driving a manual in traffic for an hour (need to keep the elbow way high not to bang it into the cubby box).
Fast forward - ended up buying an XC70 for my wife. About the same worth off-road as a CR-V (that is, none), but good for an occasional ski trip. Normally, in a Disco, she'd use close to a tank's worth of premium gas every week ($60-70); three days into that Volvo driving, she's down to a 3/4 of a (smaller) tank of regular gas. Something to keep in mind.