Hi everyone, so I’m back in a Freelander again, after a foray into Touareg ownership, which was great but expensive, and then fulfilling a dream owning a Defender 90 TD5 XS.

I owned the Defender for 18 months and it became a major project / hobby, refurbishing the truck and creating my vision. Problem was, the driving experience was not great for commuting and my work was requiring longer journeys, not really suited to the TD5, even with sound deadening, acoustic mats etc. I felt I was trying to make the Defender into a more comfortable, usable road vehicle, something it was never going to really be.

So after a major breakdown that left us stranded, off the road for a month and a new ECU later, I took the reluctant decision to sell my truck and get something more suited to my needs. This was my daily driver, so it needed to work as a car for work and for the family. I wanted to stay with a Land Rover, but felt a Disco was too risky with potential engine problems and would have similar running costs to the Touareg. So a Freelander seemed the best fit to me and was a vehicle I knew well from before.

Decided I wanted a SD4 Auto again, ideally a HSE Luxury or a Metropolis. Having seen a few good looking ones sell quickly, I jumped at this one as soon as it was advertised. Full LR service history, good tyres and the interior is spot on, apart from a few scuffs on the boot side panels.

I have a few mods in mind, lining the door bins, black and silver LR badges, fitting a tow bar... the list may grow!

Feels great to be a FL again, and the family seem happy that they can travel facing forward as opposed to the side facing seats in the Defender, which caused a few white / green moments...

Looking forward to being part of the forum again! 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Pictures?
I did the Td5 thing with a Disco 2 (which I still miss) still have a yearning for a Defender which probably won't happen now. Like you a Discovery 4 was too scary Freelander 2 suits my needs perfectly at the minute.  Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

That car is mega shiny and what a lovely colour. Welcome back.

Thank you, I spent quite a few hours on her today, Dodo Juice Orange Crush wax, gives it a deep shine. This is my first red car for a long time, since a VW Golf Mk3 with a faded pink tailgate 😂 loving the Firenze, it really pops in the sunlight 😎 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Here are before and after pictures of the TD5, learnt so much about mechanics, repairs and upgrades, but time was right to change.

Before...





And after....




 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

SD4x4 wrote:

Hi everyone, so I’m back in a Freelander again, after a foray into Touareg ownership, which was great but expensive, and then fulfilling a dream owning a Defender 90 TD5 XS.

I owned the Defender for 18 months and it became a major project / hobby, refurbishing the truck and creating my vision. Problem was, the driving experience was not great for commuting and my work was requiring longer journeys, not really suited to the TD5, even with sound deadening, acoustic mats etc. I felt I was trying to make the Defender into a more comfortable, usable road vehicle, something it was never going to really be.

So after a major breakdown that left us stranded, off the road for a month and a new ECU later, I took the reluctant decision to sell my truck and get something more suited to my needs. This was my daily driver, so it needed to work as a car for work and for the family. I wanted to stay with a Land Rover, but felt a Disco was too risky with potential engine problems and would have similar running costs to the Touareg. So a Freelander seemed the best fit to me and was a vehicle I knew well from before.

Decided I wanted a SD4 Auto again, ideally a HSE Luxury or a Metropolis. Having seen a few good looking ones sell quickly, I jumped at this one as soon as it was advertised. Full LR service history, good tyres and the interior is spot on, apart from a few scuffs on the boot side panels.

I have a few mods in mind, lining the door bins, black and silver LR badges, fitting a tow bar... the list may grow!

Feels great to be a FL again, and the family seem happy that they can travel facing forward as opposed to the side facing seats in the Defender, which caused a few white / green moments...

Looking forward to being part of the forum again!

Welcome back to the fold, what a fantastic colour I really like that, is it Firenza Red? And what a shine
Cheers
Moe

Very nice, it looks in good condition, although you may need a new pair of sunglasses with that shine. 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?)

moestr7v8 wrote:

Welcome back to the fold, what a fantastic colour I really like that, is it Firenza Red? And what a shine
Cheers
Moe

Interested to see OP is in the Midlands and the Defender spare wheel cover emblazoned RCV who are the Indies I use in Kent

Lovely, definitely the nicest colour available. 👍 Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Looking

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

Sidthecat wrote:

Interested to see OP is in the Midlands and the Defender spare wheel cover emblazoned RCV who are the Indies I use in Kent

Looks Slick
Great job