Anybody out there with a Freelander with a toasted motor, or trans, or both? I want a cheap, straight body freelander, I don't care what works or not.
Want a Freelander!!!
- Thread starter agbuckle98
- Start date
What is your plan?
My wife thinks a Freelander would make a great winter car if a powertrain solution was found. I have been researching engine answers. And have found a clean FL with a "blown" engine.
My wife thinks a Freelander would make a great winter car if a powertrain solution was found. I have been researching engine answers. And have found a clean FL with a "blown" engine.
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group captain mandrake said:
A far better solution about be a Subaru Outback, Audi A4, Mercedes E320 4matic, etc. Hell just about anything is better.
Why stick to something that is known to be a huge piece of shit?
If you want a freelander, and yes having owned one it blows away audi a4/s4/a6/q7, subaru forrester, my buddy's outback and any disco/lr3 in the snow. I cont care for the mercs..
Why tackle a FL - theres not much room to fit much else into it the way they have that steering setup..ya know they make them new, and I turned mine in after much deliberation. But yes, I would own one again as a commuter/mall rat vehicle in snowy weather.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ii6kdI6Kb...0-h/Subaru_ultimate_off-road_Forester_top.JPG
http://www.thaiautomaxx.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
I thought those two were neat. Albeit the front departure angle is sad looking on the off road 'thing', that aside, for a lowlander rig, it may be fine
Why tackle a FL - theres not much room to fit much else into it the way they have that steering setup..ya know they make them new, and I turned mine in after much deliberation. But yes, I would own one again as a commuter/mall rat vehicle in snowy weather.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ii6kdI6Kb...0-h/Subaru_ultimate_off-road_Forester_top.JPG
http://www.thaiautomaxx.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
I thought those two were neat. Albeit the front departure angle is sad looking on the off road 'thing', that aside, for a lowlander rig, it may be fine
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What makes it that much better in the snow?
I'm assuming you've had a lot of wheel time behind an A6, Outback, DI, DII, LR3 in the snow to make that call.
I'm assuming you've had a lot of wheel time behind an A6, Outback, DI, DII, LR3 in the snow to make that call.
garrett said:
Garrett, yes, i've driven them all extensively except the D1 and the Q7. my Q7 was a dealer test here in seattle, and what it was on was hardly snow -mostly in wet roads, and it was just a pig, beasty for my tastes; but I could see me driving it in 15 or 20 years..when I am in my 50's..tastes evolve as one ages.,..
Freelander will run circles around a lr3 in the snow
I've driven a bunch of d1s, have always been turned off by their brakes and engines, which is why i own a 04 disco..better brakes, faster pickup
my time evaluating these have sometimes purposefully in the worst weather to evaluate best which to buy, a few years ago when I got my FL, it was cause I needed something that was snow capable for a then family business...if not for the tranny and engine issues, I'd have kept it. When the pathfinder I wheeled finally ate a 2nd tranny; I knew a disco was gonna be part of my stable.
..subarus are nice but ETC on LR is faster reacting and more effective IMHO.My mom loves her forrester and I love driving. a few times a year that is.
My buddy/brokers Outback is fun but 'buzzy' to drive. I would take a Freelander over any of the above on a ski trip thru a snowy pass.
What would you be driving, out of the list above?
My favorite car to drive is my saab but its a fwd and sucks in snow. The s4 is awesome but I tend to keep more speed than I know is good for me in the snow in that thing..
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From what I have seen the ETC in the FL is horrible. The LR2 is a vast improvement, but I can't see how the ETC in the FL would be given high marks. Maybe in snow it works better buy off road it's sloppy.
I have not driven that many vehicles in every condition to pick just one.
I've really been impressed with the E320 4matics.
I have not driven that many vehicles in every condition to pick just one.
I've really been impressed with the E320 4matics.
I know on the ML320 once we put a decent set of tires on it and got rid of the worthless Dunlops that thing has become a beast in the snow.
garrett said:
Well, it's not something I'm actively working on.Mrs. Ness said:
My wife thinks they would be good for an Iowa winter daily driver.
As far as I'm concerned, I have a hard time accepting that there is nothing that can be done about the engine situation. I admit that I have never worked on Freelanders, but I have a feeling that there are a lot of them out there with only blown headgaskets-not slipped liners. There are tons of these vehicles out there with "junk engines". I'm thinking if you can get one cheap, pull the heads, if the liners are OK, fix the coolant leaks and you have a decent winter beater at a good price.
As far as dropped liners go, I find it hard to believe there is absolutely nothing that can be done, even if cost were not an issue.
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B
built2crawl
Guest
The hippo does great in snow and ice over here in CO. People tend to talk down toward the little truck, but my current and previous DII has seen double the repairs and $$$ to fix. If you can find one for less than 1k and mechanically fit to repair, go for it. Takes 87 gas and gets decent mileage. Of course their are other cars/trucks out there that are better, but it's a rover!!!
Freelanders wouldn't be that bad if it weren't for the motor, transmission, and rear window regulators. I guess it doesn't have much going on in the looks department either though, LOL.
You want a freelander? I get them in about twice a month with bad motors. I will sell you one. Pm me if you are serious about it.
When replacing my FL (I sold it w/ over 115K on it), all I've done is swear at the tin can I'm currently driving in the winter. The classic isn't 'roadible' yet (back window issues don't allow it to stay shut, and theres muffler issues). But I never had anyone even remotely keep up with me in the snow. I could keep up with any of the lifted Discos in the snow (unless I just plain bottomed out in really deep stuff).
The biggest single difference maker however is tires (I ran BFG's on my FL and just loved them).
The biggest single difference maker however is tires (I ran BFG's on my FL and just loved them).