Landrover Freelander 1.8 petrol 2003

[rovers90]

There's two rules to follow when buying a Freelander 1: firstly, never ever buy a petrol one; secondly, always obey the first rule! I had a TD4 version and it was a fantastic vehicle.

[roycurwen1]

Get a old frontera 4x4 . Go any were / simple /cheep 4x4 /loads of room with the seats down .

[WorcsWuss]

It always amazes me how people slate the freelander. They have generally either never owned one or did but didn't take into account what it really is!

My old man's had a few. Won't have anything else now. He swapped his last Sport for an F2...

First one he had was an x reg 1.8. We had no problems with it. Pre-facelift 1.8's overheated because the thermostat didn't open soon enough. This was only a problem if it was driven hard from cold. Later ones had a different thermostat to combat this and if looked after are absolutely fine.

Off road they're brilliant. They lack ground clearance but make up for it with agility and light weight. They'll leave anything Japanese and most other land rovers for dead over anything they can physically get over.

The lack of low box and a car like 1st gear make them a bit awkward to tow with, but that said, we tow the combine header with our td4 van.

Like all vehicles there are good and bad points. The 1.8 is not the pick of the bunch but for the money they're still a great truck. Not a hardcore mud plugger or tow vehicle, but to pull a 750kg trailer and get across wet ground, as well as zip up the motorway in comfort and reasonable economy the freelander takes some beating.

Don't be put off!

[treequip]

It always amazes me how people slate the freelander. They have generally either never owned one or did but didn't take into account what it really is!

My old man's had a few. Won't have anything else now. He swapped his last Sport for an F2...

First one he had was an x reg 1.8. We had no problems with it. Pre-facelift 1.8's overheated because the thermostat didn't open soon enough. This was only a problem if it was driven hard from cold. Later ones had a different thermostat to combat this and if looked after are absolutely fine.

Off road they're brilliant. They lack ground clearance but make up for it with agility and light weight. They'll leave anything Japanese and most other land rovers for dead over anything they can physically get over.

The lack of low box and a car like 1st gear make them a bit awkward to tow with, but that said, we tow the combine header with our td4 van.

Like all vehicles there are good and bad points. The 1.8 is not the pick of the bunch but for the money they're still a great truck. Not a hardcore mud plugger or tow vehicle, but to pull a 750kg trailer and get across wet ground, as well as zip up the motorway in comfort and reasonable economy the freelander takes some beating.

Don't be put off!

 

In my case you are right, I have never owned one but I have worked on many and they are SHITE

[WorcsWuss]

In my case you are right, I have never owned one but I have worked on many and they are SHITE

 

How many have you worked on.... As a proportion of the total manufactured?

 

Presumably you haven't had to fix the good ones..... Just the mistreated ones....

[treequip]

How many have you worked on.... As a proportion of the total manufactured?

 

Presumably you haven't had to fix the good ones..... Just the mistreated ones....

 

Couldn’t tell you off the top of my head but dozens, and yes it was a commercial garage so no one brought good ones in.

Common problems outside the woeful K series engine are drive shafts, in particular corrosion under the ABS ring that then splits it and wrecks the sensor, if it hadn’t already died of its own volition (3 amigos syndrome)

Rear diffs can be a problem to the extent that I know of three that are running in front wheel drive (rear prop removed)

Window motors are pretty pants, changed plenty of them.

 

The evidence is out there but the point is, this thread was about “should I buy a pile of junk that was parked up cos it broke and has been there a while”?

The answer is NO don’t touch it, even a good one is bad and they don’t have to be mistreated to be bad.

[tuttle]

How many have you worked on.... As a proportion of the total manufactured?

 

Presumably you haven't had to fix the good ones..... Just the mistreated ones....

 

please ask your dad 'how many times has he whacked his knees getting in the freelander on the door pockets?'

 

I have driven/bought/sold, 40+ its was only the 1.8 petrol that was a 'no no'

[pycoed]

If he was paying YOU £500 to take it, then it would probably be OK as a deal. If you have to pay HIM £500 for a 10 year old, years laid up, non MOT'ed car widely acknowledged to be a heap of crap, then he's no mate of yours. If you do fancy a challenge then scrap price would be circa £100 in S Wales, so don't pay a penny more, even to a mate.

[Beezy]

I own a 2000 1.8 petrol, after the missus made me get rid of my 3door commercial Td4.

 

Td4 was amazing, I'm afraid to say I've had numerous issues with the petrol, and relatively low miles each week. (Weekend miles only, have a co. car) They are juicy too, full tank £60 ish lucky to get 250 miles on that.

 

All this said, for a cheap truck that can tow ok, tows my 10x5 Ifor well, even loaded with a bit of timber, bit gutless overall and just set aside a bit for repairs...

 

To summarise I defo wouldn't buy another, and looking to PX it very soon.

Hope this helps

[Minotaur]

Bought a 1.8 Petrol Freelander from a family friend, 3 years old, very careful lady owner, full history, services every 3-5000 miles. Blew the head gasket 3 months later. Land Rover refused to have anything to do with it or make any contribution in any way, shape or form.

Do NOT touch a 1.8 petrol version, the engine is not up to the job.

If you want it and its good cond etc, look at the possibilty of dropping a TD4 in it.

Other wise walk away if price is more than scrap value.