Hi, as a brand new forum member I hope it's ok that my first post is a poll! I'm between two Freelanders (FL2 Commercial), would love to hear your thoughts to help me choose. First up, there is no such thing as a FLRSH for a commercial in Ireland, I swear nobody stamps their books over here. They are both ex fleet company cars, so I have chased up as much history as I can, both were serviced in generic garages, not LR:

Vehicle 1 • basic spec, 65,000 miles, questionable service history, power steering rack & pump replaced.

Vehicle 2 • good spec, 92,000 miles, good service history, rear axle replaced under warranty.

I would normally avoid high mileage, but I believe diesels are fine for high mileage once maintained properly, and sometime high mileage is better if they are motorway miles, as opposed to low, city mileage. Price & year is similar enough.

The first vehicle probably was serviced, but I have no way to prove it before the 45,000 mile mark.

The axle concerns me.

general coachwork is pretty good on both, but lets just say nobody was out with the autoglym every weekend!

Your advise and experience much appreciated.

rear axle? diff more likely

autos or manuals?


do you need/want the higher spec? At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

chicken george wrote:

rear axle? diff more likely
autos or manuals?
do you need/want the higher spec?

tow bar the clutch will be fried, they are fragile already,
you can get aftermarket parking sensors fitted anytime and they will probably work better than LR ones ( they dont like rain) but wont mute the radio.



tyre choice in snow will make way more difference than terrain response At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I would go for higher spec - also because it's manual and has no towbar. Had it been auto, I would still have chosen higher spec probably.... especially since you say the prices are similar. The service book IS interesting should anything else totally fail and you may want to have some goodwill from LR...
Parking sensors ARE the best, provided of course they work. I would not buy a car without them any more, considering the size of the car (ok, pretty good visibility, but anyway).

Yeah, I would probably give the low spec/low miles a miss. It's never too late to learn something new...

Buy neither, get an auto......... Ours - 2008 Stornoway Grey HSE Auto
Tricia's - 2006 Royal Blue Beetle Cabriolet Auto
Mine - 2014 Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport Matt Black
Ours - 2007 White Bailey Pageant Champagne

rjc1944 wrote:

Buy neither, get an auto.........

Neither, get. D4  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650