Potential Purchaser

[Bexter]

I am looking to buy a 4x4 and am interested in the 2.0 diesel automatic. Can anyone tell me some general info on this vehicle? What are the towing capabilities? I have 1 horse and access to a trailer, would the 2.0 be suitable? :D

[Newsreader]

Hello welcome to the forum :)

The towing limit for a Freebie is 2000kg, so it really depends how heavyu your horse and trailer are :D One pony in a single ifor would probably be fine, but a big horse in a wooden trailer might be pushing it. I have heard people say the 1.8 petrol can struggle a bit when towing, becuase of the high revs needed, so the diesel is certinaly more suitable on that score.

[Bexter]

Happy New Year!

Thanks for the reply. Info much appreciated. Is there anything I sould be checking when looking at Freelanders? They have been recommended as good, reliable about town cars (escpecially the auto) and being the first 4x4 that I've had, I want to make sure that its's going to be money well spent!!

[brooklynodog]

Please note that towing limits are only the maximum weight the car can cope with not the maximum SAFE limit. As recommended by the Camping and Caravanning club, this safe amount equates to 85% of the kerb weight of the vehicle. Without access to the handbook, I believe the kerb weight of the freebie is about 1500kg, 85% of which is about 1275kg.
Having said this, we regularly tow our 950kg `van with no problem (allow another 200kg for possessions) We tow with an 03 manual td4, and it is a pleasure to tow with. The diesel engine is a superb tow!
Paul

[Blippie]

The mas towing capacity for the Freelander is 2,000kg, but if the vehicle is fully laden, a 2,000kg trailer would exceed the "gross train weight" so some documenmts quote the towing limit of the vehicle as 1,800kg.

We use a TD4 manual for towing a 15hh horse in an Ifor Williams Hunter trailer. It is a stable towing platform and we have noticed that the horse has loaded better since towing with the Freelander (previous towcar was a Subaru Legacy).

Unlike larger Land Rovers, the Freelander doesn't have an additional low ratio gearbox. These gears come in handy when low speed manouvring/hill starting with a laden trailer. This is where the auto is useful. That said, your clutch control will soon compensate for this and you quickly learn not to slip the clutch.

Regarding buying a Freelander, the less experienced purchaser is best advised to consider the diesel models. We have one of each. The earlier "L-series" diesel is a reliable engine but the later BMW TD4 diesel is even better. At 110bhp, it has the same power as a Defender or Discovery Tdi engine. If your budget can stretch to a TD4 then you're laughing.

Cheers

Blippie

[Bexter]

hi blippie,
many thanks for your reply,really do appreciate the help and advice,also after talking to my local mechanic who has looked after all my vehicles over the years he reiterates what you & others have said about the td4 auto deisel,so thats the one i'll be getting...... so the hunt begins !!
being cheeky now,is there anything in particular that i need to beware of , apart from leaky sunroofs,of which i have replaced & repaired several.
I will of course let you know how i get on.:D

[Blippie]

By the time the TD4 arrived, Land Rover (BMW-owned at the time) has sorted out many of the gripes that had affected the vehicle.

There are still the odd defect that is characteristic of the model, such as Mass Air Flow sensor problems, but these can only be sorted when they crop up.

When looking at a potential vehicle, test every electrical doodah and push every button, inclusing the lights and the horn. Check the air con and the heater. Do all the windows work? Do the rear seats fold down? Does the cubby box in the boot open? Is it damp inside? Check under all the mats for damp patches. Does the rear door tail glass drop when you hold the unlock button on the key fob down for 2-3 seconds? When the engine is running, do the wing mirrors heat up?

Does the mileage correspond with the wear on the driver's seat and pedals? (That said, our 48,000m and 102,000m Freelanders have had seat covers for most of their lives. The older one is shabby but not worn. The newer one has a slight rub on the squab.)

Check under the bonnet before and after the test drive.

Is there a manual and a full service history? Barter the price down if there isn't.

If the spare wheel has a cover, take it off and inspect the wheel and tyre. If the vehicle has alloys then the spare should match. Check for locking wheel nuts on all.

Drive the vehicle in first and reverse gears in tight circles, full lock, with the windows open. Listen for any interesting clunks, scrapes or skids.

If you find any potential problems, be it a blown bulb or a funny noise, use your judgement to either barter the price down or walk away. If there are any questions, you can always come back to the forum for advice - be it about a defect or about a particular model.

Have fun. My bit of advice, bearing in mind I don't know anything about you or your driving style, is not to rule out the manual gearbox if the right one comes along!

Cheers

Blippie