Hi,
Newbie on this forum so go easy please.....
I owned a series 1 Discovery from new, many years ago - ran it for about 5 years - loads of problems etc, but have always loved Land Rovers. I must admit though to having tended to look down on the early Freelanders as a fob to automotive fashion at the time.
Now, after having run an Audi A4 estate, a Mercedes E class estate, a Saab 95 estate and currently running a 2007 BMW 520d estate I'm seriously considering a Freelander 2 or, as the American's call it, an LR2. BTW the Audi and Merc were full of quality and reliability issues. The Saab and BMW have been perfect.
I'm living in Portugal and as we're heavily penalised by car tax, anything over 2 litres is expensive. This car in HSE format costs a whopping 63,000 Euros, same as my current beemer so I need to think carefully before I trade in my car for one.
I have 3 basic questions:
- Objectively speaking would I be trading up or down ?
- How reliable is the LR2 (not just compared to other LR vehicles but in general) ?
- How expensive are running costs ?
- Would I notice a big difference in interior space and quality ?

Thanks to all those who do reply.

Hi Stormbird and welcome.

Now let me think a second. An estate car or a Land Rover? Yep, Land Rover every time.

Go on you know you want one

As for reliability? I’ve had one unreliable lemon 15 years ago and since then four reliable ones including my current FL2. A Land Rover owner since 1988

From a 1974 series III to a 12MY XS FL2 with help of a 1995 D1, 1996 D1, 2005 D3, 2007 D3 and a 2009 FL2.

Crikey Stormbird - at £55,752 (stirling) at Fridays close you really must be keen.

Notwithstanding, I have become a Freelander 2 convert having had 9 months trouble free motoring. Have averaged about 30 mpg primarily with shortish journeys. Only thing that I would do if purchasing again would be to opt for auto -transmission. Note that the engine capacity is 2.2 litre. At the price you have indicated I would insist that the dealership let you have a weekend trial and then you can assess its suitability.

Tough decision at the price you have been quoted - I think in all honesty I would baulk, keep the Beamer and take an around the world cruise on Arcadia.

Cheers MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

hi and welcome
i bought a freelander 2 brand new in 2007 the only time it was ever in the garage was to get serviced and for a recall on the heater system, at the same time i also owned a bmw x5 2004 but the land rover was a much better drive  2007 fl2 narvik black ,chrome mirrors,side steps,tinted windows,20" kahn wheels,6000k xenon conversion,black leather,garmin nuvi satnav,silver vision indicator bulbs,clear side repeaters.

gstd4-e wrote:

Hi Stormbird and welcome.

Now let me think a second. An estate car or a Land Rover? Yep, Land Rover every time.

Go on you know you want one

As for reliability? I’ve had one unreliable lemon 15 years ago and since then four reliable ones including my current FL2.

tenet wrote:

Crikey Stormbird - at £55,752 (stirling) at Fridays close you really must be keen.

Notwithstanding, I have become a Freelander 2 convert having had 9 months trouble free motoring. Have averaged about 30 mpg primarily with shortish journeys. Only thing that I would do if purchasing again would be to opt for auto -transmission. Note that the engine capacity is 2.2 litre. At the price you have indicated I would insist that the dealership let you have a weekend trial and then you can assess its suitability.

Tough decision at the price you have been quoted - I think in all honesty I would baulk, keep the Beamer and take an around the world cruise on Arcadia.

Cheers

brian27 wrote:

hi and welcome
i bought a freelander 2 brand new in 2007 the only time it was ever in the garage was to get serviced and for a recall on the heater system, at the same time i also owned a bmw x5 2004 but the land rover was a much better drive

Hello Stormbird, Difficult question the reliability one since you can only go off your own experience. As a first time Land Rover buyer I was much concerned about the general level of perceived quality, particularly on the Freelander 1. However, much research on the web and chasing up road tests on the Freelander 2, coupled with the fact that I didn't want an out and out 'rock climber' led me to the Freelander over competitors in the Subaru, Toyota, BMW, VW, Volvo and Audi ranges. The Freelander is now 15 months old, 34000kms, and has not been a moments bother - unlike a previous Mercedes E class which, in line with your experience, had ongoing problems from the day it was delivered: suspension, steering, electrics and trim rattles. As a motoring journalist friend once told me "The three pointed star is the most expensive status symbol you can buy" That obviously can't be the common view, I only mention it to show that every body can tell a different story. At the moment - and there's the rub! - I can say the Freelander is the best all round car I have owned in 50 years of driving, but, another qualification, for what I want it for. If comfort, pretty good refinement, and the ability to go where 90% of other cars can't go I'd say get the Freelander and enjoy it.

Good to know that we are not the only ones with the stupid taxes around the world. I paid for my FL2 60.000 €. I used to drive an Audi A4, and I had reliability issues with audi as well, and this one is holding up quite good for now. (8500 km on the clock)

I looked back then to Q5 and GLK as alternatives, but both were way overpriced, and none capable of some offroading. Although I would like to see some of the features of german cars on this one, I like the car overall and would buy one more over Q5 or GLK anytime.

I had driven back then all three, and liked the driving of Q5 and FL2. But as FL2 gave a feeling you can go anywhere, I took the FL2 (Q5 was also somewhere like 20.000 € more expensive )

I had second test drive with GLK a few weeks ago, and after driving FL2 for a few months the GLK felt just like a C class mercedes, just a bit higher. Interior was very small and I didn't like the alu finish, like I liked it a few months ago.

X3 was also a concern back then, but I sat in one, and it was really small for my taste. I like the BMW's but one of the reasons for taking A4 over BMW 3 series years ago was also the interior being to small in BMW 3.

So it all comes to what you expect, but relaibility wise I don't think FL2 has any difference to other cars. Just beware if you get the FL2 everyone who had or who heard of reliability problems of FL1 will ask you if your car is reliable.  2010 Freelander 2 Select TD4 auto....gone
2011 Freelander 2 TD4 auto ...current

Just beware if you get the FL2 everyone who had or who heard of reliability problems of FL1 will ask you if your car is reliable. [/quote]

I'm told that you can fit all the components that are common to the FL1 and the FL2 into one hand so comparison on reliability would be difficult. At the cost of tempting providence, I collected my car new in early December 2009 and have not had cause to return to the dealer for any reason.

Bopper wrote:

Just beware if you get the FL2 everyone who had or who heard of reliability problems of FL1 will ask you if your car is reliable. .

Just like owning a less attractive Alfa 159 Ti!
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Back on topic(ish) wouldn't know which way to go. Somewhat left-field, how about a Subaru Legacy Outback Diesel?

All-wheel Drive (tick)
Reliable (tick)
Perceived quality (tick)
*Some* off-road ability - ok, not FL2 levels but on a par with Q5/X3 (tick)
Not a BMW X5 or Audi Q5 (tick)

Had my first FL2 GS Auto for 2 years and 26000miles, heater recall and rattle from interior mirror were only problems. This car was off road most weekends and covered 5 rounds of Scottish Rally Championship running 1 hour ahead of event.
Had no hesitation buying same again last month.
Land Rover Experience use only autos for tuition on the off road courses as they perform much better than manual.
Prior to buying first FL2 my son who worked with BMW arranged a 1 day test drive in new X3 auto and offered it to me at 3 months old at a very good discount. I RETURNED it within 2 hours with NO further interest as it was noisy(road noise) even on good surfaces, torque steered and was just not nice to drive, my CRV was better all round. Straight back to Land Rover Dealer for another test drive within a couple of hours of driving BMW, confirmed FL2 better drive in all aspects. Bought 3 month old demo same day.
Only credit for X3 was quieter engine and slightly better fuel consumption. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

Great to get all your replies - an active forum at last !
Yep, Audis and Merc's have given me a lot of gripes; the Mercs are especially over rated and I would never touch this marque again.
The new X3 coming out may resolve some of the problems with the existing model but then again with the Freelander we are discussing a Land Rover here so much more off road orientated. I realise that thinking of changing from a BMW 5 Touring to FL2 is coming out of left field but the bug is getting under my skin. For all the bother it gave me I loved my old Discovery and would love to have one again but at a starting price of 72.000,00 Euros just for the 2.7 S I can really only consider an FL2 and even here the price makes you think twice, hence my insistence in feeling comfortable about the reliability of the vehicle.
Thanks again everyone for your input and look forward to any other comments the forum may have.

Sounds like somebody has made a decision! Off to see your local LR Portugal agent tomorrow perhaps???

Natwest wrote:

Sounds like somebody has made a decision! Off to see your local LR Portugal agent tomorrow perhaps???