If anyone knows of any good ones around that meet this criteria, please send me a PM or post up on here. She wants to tow a caravan so a towbar would be an advantage too. I'm hoping for a 2005/6 model perhaps?

I take it you are talking of a Freelander 1? Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Yes Steve. The last ones in 2005/6 seem to come up for that money from time to time, it's just finding a good one. I'd be really surprised if she (My Sister) could get a FL2 for that money.

I was wondering! Though it was a bit of wishful thinking on your behalf. My Brother-in-Law bought a manual one (TD4 SE I think), unseen on eBay with just over 80K on the clock and used it daily with no problems other than consumable items like tyres, servicing and brake pads. He sold it a few years later with over 145K on the clock. Seems they were less troublesome than the FL2's with high mileage. Good luck - they are out there. Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Now sorted.
We found and bought a 2005 FL1 Sport with running boards, spare set of winter wheels with new tyres, new 18" tyres on the car, fully spec'd up with full service history in silver. What seemed a very reasonable price of £2350. My Sister is really excited and looking forward to collecting it later today.

Having had three FL1s I always thought that they looked more like "proper" 4x4s . The FL2 certainly is a more comfortable car but the current trend is for 4x4s to look more like an estate car on stilts 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I really like the 3 door sport with the top off & am thinking of getting one for some cheap summer sun driving

Avoid the petrols 1.8 and 2.5 V6 unless you like skimming LR heads as a hobby  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Hi Nut I am not up with the FL1 so what engine in UK is best ? FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

I had three FL1s, the first was a 1.8 petrol and sure enough the head gasket went. The rest were the BMW TD4 engine which was very good and had a chain driven camshaft. When BMW took over (don't know for sure when) they made a number of changes to the vehicle which sorted out a number of problems (like changes to the rear diff ratio which reduced the problem of castellation on the rear tyres and subsequent noise) they also changed most of the electrics, engine and gearbox. Apart from the head gasket on the X reg 1.8 that I had I had no problems with the two td4s (one manual and one auto) . I would go for a TD4 post 2002 and nothing earlier. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Also one thing to note is that the life span of the VCU is only 70,000 miles as the fluid congeals over time. In normally driving the VCU is piping hot after a 30 minute drive. So if it hasn't been done get it done ASAP to avoid and transmission/driveline failure. You wish mash up the front IRD which the gearbox is connected too. The propshaft bearings will most likely need to be done also if the VCU is the orginal unit. One bearing is in front of the VCU and the other is behind it. Personally I would change the VCU once the car is 7 years old or more. Certain FL1 owners had VCU failures with only 30,000 miles on the clock and that was with the later facelifted models. MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

I had 2 FL1 TD4, both autos.

The first one (2001MY) I ran for nearly 4 years, 75k miles. I had the VCU replaced via Bell Engineering for £250 exchange IIRC, and the gearbox needed replacing at the end which is why I got rid, brilliant car and surprisingly capable off road on the Peak district green lanes.

The second one (2004MY) I only ran for a year and 27k miles as land rover dealer made me such a great offer on it. I almost bought it back a couple of years ago too.

brilliant cars and great with the roof off, proper beach buggy experience

The thing that always intrigued me was that the two door soft top version always looked shorter than the four door version yet was on exactly the same chassis. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

the doors on the 3 door were huge, to allow back seat passengers to climb in/out, and I think this created the optical illusion of them being shorter than the 5 door.

I used to love driving round the roof off, it was a proper lifestyle vehicle and one I think that LR should bring back on a more modern floorplan.

They have in the evoque convertible,just costs a bit more!