Talk to me about Freelanders

I know that Rovers pretty much suck, but I have an opportunity to get a low mileage one with a bad tranny as a direct swap for an old high mileage F150. And since I work at a tranny shop...

Anyway, just how bad are they? Parts cost?

Which engine? Rover K-series is rightly known for blowing headgaskets. This can be fixed by fitting the so-called pressure relief thermostat and the latest upgraded headgasket...

IIRC there is something slightly odd about the way the drivetrain works on these but for the life of me I can't remember what it is.

After a little googling...

Ah yes, there is something with the centre diff that causes issues: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/diff-problem-21440.html

This page might give you some kind of idea what sort of problems UK owners of the earlier -06 Freelanders experience: http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=192

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Ok... that was enough for me. I'll pass. 2nd worst out of 22 marques.

I think it would've been a good deal, but probably not for you...

Land Rovers are actually great. Very durable and will go anywhere off-road. Freelanders however are complete garbage. Theres a reason the values are hovering around $5k for a NICE one. That Jatco trans is a nightmare, but at least they tend to stay fixed if you replace them. Rebuilds are iffy. Also the engines don't blow head gaskets they drop liners requiring a new engine. They go for about $12k, if you can get one, which you can't. Rover cars went belly up and the engine works was sold and shipped to China. Don't bother with a used one since EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM is going to have the same problem. In a nutshell: Land Rovers=good, Freelanders=run away!

Don't know much about Freelanders..............but I see a lot of them at the salvage yard. That generally is not a good sign.

I remember you used to see freelanders around all the time, but you almost never see them anymore. I saw one recently, but that was the only one i have seen in years.

Travis_K wrote: I remember you used to see freelanders around all the time, but you almost never see them anymore. I saw one recently, but that was the only one i have seen in years.

That's 'cuz they are all in the salvage yard.

I bought my diesel Benz from a seller who had just picked up a brand new Freelander. I told her she would have nothing but headaches with it, and she refused to believe me. This was 7 years ago, and I would love to compare shop receipts.

Range/Land Rovers are cool and all, but I would just buy a used Jeep and call it a day, even a 4 cyl. SE model.

Even tho the idea of a Freelander is dead, ONE more thing to think about.....have you EVER seen a guy drive one? The ones I see in this area, they are ALL driven by single WOMEN.

Incredibly, the British think they are THE small UTE to own. They don't sell it here, but THE version to own would be the turbo-diesel/manual transmissioned powered Freelander.

integraguy wrote: Even tho the idea of a Freelander is dead, ONE more thing to think about.....have you EVER seen a guy drive one? The ones I see in this area, they are ALL driven by single WOMEN.

Actually that's the same over here.

integraguy wrote: Incredibly, the British think they are THE small UTE to own.

Actually, they don't IME. They've got a pretty dire reputation over here (have a look at the links I posted above) but some people still buy them. But then again, some people also used to buy Yugos...

Thanks for the input everyone. Just for S&G, how 'bout this question. How is the rest of the Freelander if you exclude the engine and tranny? I'm thinking that right now the tranny is toast and the engine has already been replaced (at 60k ). What if I took the cheap deal and ditched the engine and tranny for something else... like a mercedes diesel or some other small 4 or 6?

According to wiki, these were the engines offered in the first gen:

• 1.8 L K-Series I4
• 2.5 L Rover KV6 V6
• 2.0 L BMW M47 TD4
• 2.0 L L-Series TD I4

Hmmm... M47 you say...

This one has the V6 so it has to be first gen and has to be the Rover. Second gen Freelanders had the Ford SI6 inline from the Volvo

Not all of those engines made it to the US, did they? I don't think we ever got the Rover K-series in any vehicle.

I was a trail leader for the Land Rover National Rally a few years ago. On the trail leader training run we did ahead of time, we spent a lot of time discussing how to get a Freelander through some of the spots. Generally, the answer was "no, this trail isn't suitable for one".

The only V6 offered was a Rover, and this one is definitely a V6.

LSx swap?

I too thought the Freelander was based on the Escape's platform. Check mounting locations and swap in some Ford parts if they match.

curtis73 wrote: The only V6 offered was a Rover, and this one is definitely a V6.

Sorry, I meant that little 4-cylinder K. Quite the hot rod engine in the UK.

IIRC the V6 is a little better than the I-4 which has a dreadful reputation for doing the "an oil change and a new head gasket, squire" thing. My Elise has a 1.8l K and is on its 3rd head gasket in 80k.

You can build a powerful K-series but a lot of them were engine-shaped grenades when they fell off the production line.

While it was up in the air yesterday I got a good look at the pan. I assumed it was a RWD platform with AWD, but its not. Its your standard cheap FWD unibody with a little AWD transfer case. I think I'll pass.

RossD wrote: I too thought the Freelander was based on the Escape's platform. Check mounting locations and swap in some Ford parts if they match.

Completely different.

Went to an area glass shop a few years ago, there was a Freelander sitting in the corner of the shop sans windshield. The guy at the shop was also under the impression that it was the Escape's cousin, and was somewhat surprised when he attempted to install an Escape windshield in it.

He went on to say that (at the time) there were no third party suppliers making replacement windshields, and that it was special order through the dealership, to the tune of $1,xxx. Needless to say, that must have been a very awkward phone call to the customer.