Hi there
I don't want to sound dramatic, but I've spent the last 15 years 'throwing away' my money on mostly capricious purchases on motorbikes and cars. I'm on a Lease plan for 495 euros a month with an Evoque SE 150BHP , which is a great deal. However, with hindsight I would've gone full on Landrover. I'm looking for: a really good 4x4 but NOT a full off-road like a Landcruiser or Montero or Jeep Wrangler. The Freelander by looks, make and price fits the bill pretty well.
I had the Ford 2.2 diesel in an X Type, and that went pretty well.

Tell me if I'm wrong about my Freelander 2 choice. I'm going to spend up to 15,000 euros.

I need to go for a:
2.2 TD4 from 2012 on to make sure the niggles have been ironed out, plus it gets more modern kit and looks,
Get at least SE trim
Most at that price and age are around 70k miles (120,000kms).
Avoid any with a towbar fitted
Avoid obvious off-road use.
(I'll get a mechanic to check the other stuff)
Right?

What should have been done or has probably broken by 60,000 miles?
What's likely to go and when from then on?
When should I walk away?

I've nearly always bought high, sold cheap and had things go wrong. I'm a seller's dream!!
Next time, I won't go anywhere near a car without a trained mechanic to check it first. And I'll pay in cash when I have it.
I don't want a Freelander 2 to become my next nightmare purchase!

Thanks for your help or for talking me out of another financial disaster!!

Welcome, my list was nearly same as yours

Go for it !!!

 If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Get an Sd4 you won't be disappointed, the auto really suits the Fl2 , we've got a manual and an auto and it's the auto that is the favourite.

Mark 2009 FL2 TD4 SE (Sadly gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS (The wifes , gone after 8 great years)
2012 FL2 SD4 SPORT LE(Gone and missing it)
2015 DISCOVERY SPORT 2.2SD4 HSE (Now gone)
2014 Ford Bmax 1.0 ecoboost ( Gone but what next )
2014 Ford Focus 2.0tdci Zetec S (Gone,but what a car)
2020 Ford Fiesta ActiveX 1.0 Ecoboost
2024 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 Tsi SEL

I wouldn’t worry too much about a tow bar. Nearly all of mine have had them and very few of them have had to pull anything challenging. But, I’d rather tow a load in the trailer, than damage the inside of the car by trying to fit it all inside

I’ve owned one manual and two manuals and one I’ll second that advice - buy an auto. It suits the car better, is much better for even mild off roading and the clutch can start to burn easily under heavy load. It also gets you access to the higher powered SD4.

SD4 Auto is by far the best drivetrain.

See earlier comments
https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic34212.html?highlight=sd4

https://www.freel2.com/forum/search.php?se...rch_time=0 FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

I have an Sd4 auto which I love for the effortless cruising on long distance euro trips, usually three trips to Girona every year. But it does have minor "hesitation" turbo lag problems at low speeds as often discussed here. My previous SE Td4 auto had no hesitation and had all the poke necessary for the above trips, and was much more relaxing around urban driving. Don't be put off with a tow bar without researching its use. Mine has a tow bar and in 4-1/2 years has only towed a 1.8 tonne caravan from Maastricht to Girona with ease, on a one off/one way trip.

I for one would not necessarily avoid an earlier model, manual or one with a tow bar as my 2007 TD4 is all of those and has been the most fault free and reliable car I have ever owned and in fact I have kept it despite buying other cars since. (And I like automatics). It also does about 5 mpg better overall than the auto which over 90,000 miles has been a significant financial saving and my car regularly tows boats up big hills and has done more than its fair share of off-roading and heavy hauling- still on the original clutch and Haldex etc. No major mechanical defects from new - just preventative maintenance - the need for cam belt etc replacement is well documented. The suggested "ironing out of problems" does not accord with my experience as my car is much the better for not having a dpf or electric handbrake or electric stop start - none of which significantly improves the vehicle in my opinion and the later generations Haldex units seem just as prone to occasional premature failure as the original Gen 3 unit. So I would not be swayed by much other than condition, mileage and the service record - buy the best with lowest mileage rather than narrow your search on questionable assumptions. Any competent Landrover specialist servicing a Freely2 at the specified intervals will have noted points of potential concern at each service - if the vehicle does not have that track record then no matter what the model year it could be a turd!

^^ exactly my 2007 diesel.... Best and most reliable car I have ever owned and still own....

As you're in mainland Europe you might be able to find one of these.

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details...4a40879131

The Si4 with Ford 2.0 ecoboost engine is a very good choice. driving on the right side

On my 3rd FL2 - no major issues with any of them so far, but we are not high mileage people and the FL2 avoids short journeys most of the time. SD4 is the best by far.

The FL2 is the most reliable car JLR have ever made. Perhaps not much of an accolade when JLR have just been awarded the honour of making Britain most unreliable car by Which magazine
https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/10325918/t...iable-car/

But you have to remember most of FL2's important bits are tried and tested Ford and Volvo parts. So I'm pretty sure it will be fine. It just needs more regular servicing than JLR recommend. Jules

anglaslt wrote:

As you're in mainland Europe you might be able to find one of these.

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details...4a40879131

The Si4 with Ford 2.0 ecoboost engine is a very good choice.

According to Parkers Free Valuation they'd be worth about £9K in the UK depending upon mileage.
I personally wouldnt buy because I tend to buy cars 1-2 years old for cash and then keep then for another 4 to 6 years. Jules

Cars on the continent are nearly twice the UK price, my 2012 SD4 HSE is about €18000 out here with 55K miles, there are a few 2013 model TD4 ex UK with 100k plus miles for €16000, look for any left hooker of FLs, they are far more expensive. Out here with RHD it pays to sell here and not take home. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

im on my 2nd. great all rounder.
Automatic terrific to drive but thirsty. My Auto used to average 27-29mpg if really lucky 34ish on very gentle run. round the town 24ish.
My Manual has been brilliant and averaging currently on a daily commute 39.8 MPG and thats over the last 2584 miles. In France in the heat on a long run it was averaging 47.
so if fuel a concern, then manual, if fuel no problem automatic for ease of driving
Mines only done 22k now, just starining to loosen up. Mine has a tow bar but not done huge amount of towing, all I can say is when it stowing its effortless, so wouldnt worry too much about one with a towbar Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !

The later the better as far as I'm concerned, if it means you only buy a TD4 Automatic, ( You wouldn't buy a, "twin tub washing machine") worthwhile improvements made from, October 2012