Hi everyone, my first post here but I'm a regular on the defender2 website.
I'm after a freelander 2 got a budget upto 13k would like se or hse spec auto and black.
I've owned several defenders and currently have td5 90 which I've owned for 8 years and plan to keep forever as it's a great workhorse but no comfort in them.
Also had 2 td5 disco's
2 old freelanders (old shape)
And a range rover l322 so I'm a landie man through and through
The advice I'm after is what are the autos like on fuel and what is the yearly road tax on these ?
Is there any common faults to look out for when buying one?
Look forward to any advice
Cheers Paul

I have had two manual FL2s and an auto FL2. I do mostly short journeys on B roads and got about 30-32mpg for the manuals and 28-29mpg for the auto. This improves a fair bit on longer journeys. Tax wise, older FL2s (without stop/start), cost £265 for manuals and £285 for autos. I'm not sure what the reduction is for newer (2010 onwards) is. If you plump for the auto, the main potential problems are diff and haldex related. They are reasonably quiet vehicles so if you hear a drone or whine from the rear end get someone to inspect it before purchase. Loads of people have high mileage FL2s that have had no issues so I wouldn't necessarily say either was a common fault. The rear brakes tend to rust up and partially seize so check the handbrake for smooth operation and rear discs.

Other than that, check the normal Land Rover problem areas-damage underneath from careless off-roading and oil leaks! As an everyday car, the FL2 is in a different league to a Discovery.

What he sead ^^^ very nice reliable car

Labradorslave thanks for quick reply,that mpg sounds great as I'm currently getting 18 mpg from my porsche cayenne which I'm going to get rid off as it's to big for the wife to drive,plus as I said in previous post I'm a landie man

cqr
Do you do greenlaning in yours?

Looking at some of CQR's pictures Id say it was more like brown laning

I always forget how much the tax is on the autos, just got my renewal letter through and its £180 for my manual 2012 GS.

To be honest I can't understand why the tax should be different between auto and manual after all they are same vehicle just goverment robbing people
Is there any stuff that should be done to engine before a potential purchase i.e when researching disco 3 everyone mentions cambelts a must before buying, any advice would be a great help

Cambelts don't need changing until 150000 miles so you shouldn't need to worry on that front unless you are buying a high mileage one. Service wise, they are a fairly standard diesel unit and everything else is "sealed for life" so doesn't get serviced. A few people are changing auto box fluid and diff oil but they aren't on the official Land Rover service schedule for lower mileage cars.

The FL2 is a fairly complex vehicle so a dealer history is nice to have but not essential. I have always taken down the name of the servicing dealership and called them before purchase. Land Rover dealers keep a detailed record of any non-service related problems and, in my, experience, they are usually more than happy to check their records for you. I have walked away from a couple of cars that were in and out the workshop on a regular basis. Like all cars, some are very good but there is also a few troublesome ones.

Labradorslave
Thanks again, cambelt shouldn't be a worry than as not planning on a one with so many miles, good idea about ringing dealer didn't give it a thought just presumed they would be secretive about telling anything.
Just one more thing are they iPod/iPhone compatible, does track listing come up on display?
Thanks

Hi Porky am on my third freelander the first and second were manual and my present car is auto which I've had since last December and its superb to drive feel like a different car altogether. I only do about 7000 miles a car so am not bothered about the extra fuel cost, and get such a buzz when diving it counteracts the extra road tax. 2013 hse auto, black, almond leather, exnon lights, factory privacy glass, exhaust finisher, rear boot spoiler, mud flaps. Body door side moulding and steps.

Gone and fondly remembered
2012 XS (2013 up-grade LED lights front & rear)
2007 hse (2011 facelift)

Cheers chalkey
I do prefer autos find them more relaxing to drive,compared to my defender 90 td5 which is manual and the clutch feels really heavy in one of those, the freelander will be my weekend car as baby on the way and there isn't any comfort in a defender, it's good to hear your opinion as you have owned both manual and auto thanks

Good luck with choise let us know how you get on  2013 hse auto, black, almond leather, exnon lights, factory privacy glass, exhaust finisher, rear boot spoiler, mud flaps. Body door side moulding and steps.

Gone and fondly remembered
2012 XS (2013 up-grade LED lights front & rear)
2007 hse (2011 facelift)