After many years without a 4x4 I'm back in the market for one due to a change of life/work direction.

I'm no stranger to Landrovers, my early memories of my dad's 1.6 petrol Series 1 Safari LWB in the 1960's, learning to drive in a Series 2 and owned several Series, then a Defender 110 and my last one a late model P38 Range Rover auto 20 years ago.

I have some happy memories, tainted by the misery of very long trips in the 110 (back pain) and the air suspension and heater matrix failure on the P38. The main reason I'm probably going to buy a Freelander is that I had the 110 and P38 for towing fully equipped caravans up and down the UK and as I never knew what weight of van I'd be towing from one day to the next, it was not an issue with either of these vehicles as they both towed safely due to them having the 3.5 ton rating.

So I'm going to be towing caravans again, but not as many as I'm semi-retired and this time the vans will be unladen.

I've looked at my options and I don't want the expense of a Disco and the big depreciation and running costs. I can't build up enthusiasm for other marques, (RAV 4, Santa Fe etc) and the Freelander seems to be the best option for me, especially as they seem to have a good towing reputation.

So I'm looking at one the last high spec automatics but have been out of the Landrover fraternity for so long I'd really appreciate some advice on where to look for potential faults and also experiences of towing caravans. I won't tow any oddball sizes of van, like German Hobbys LMCs etc but I could very occasionally tow larger twin axle vans such as an Eldiss Avante. All vans will be towed empty on a maximum 2 hour journeys.

I want the comfort of my previous Range Rover and like the look of the automatic HSE and above with the heated seats etc.

Any pointers would be very welcome!

Getting limited in supply but keep looking on Land Rovers web pages for an approved used one that is MY13 onwards. Even the GS has heated leather. With 2 Years warranty and if lower miles any gremlins can be dealt with but to find the common faults I suggest you use the search tab as weekly someone asks about buying advice. A caravanner may have something more specific to add. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

As Yorky said, go for MY13> onwards preferably from a main dealer for the 2 years peace of mind warranty/LR assist package and obviously the higher the spec the more the toys and extras you get.
GS is well specced but I found the sound system to be very tinny and the dash a bit low key for a ''premium'' vehicle.
XS/SE TECH spec is good, Dynamic is really just a body kit. HSE really good (I may be biased there ) and not worth paying the extra for an HSE LUX/Metropolis over the HSE in my opinion.

The SD4 Auto is a brilliant combination of the 190BHP engine and auto box and apparently excellent for towing snf is lovely and smooth on 99% of journeys when not towing.

Good luck in the hunt

I've seen the Dynamic but I have a very rough farm track to access a property and the front part that body kit looks like it might encounter damage.

I've seen the Dynamic but I have a very rough farm track to access a property and the front part that body kit looks like it might encounter damage.

If this is a regular thing it may be the wrong vehicle all together. Track yes but regular rough I would be in a Disco or Defender. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

I've managed it in the summer in a countryman but I'm thinking about if I get a call to go in the winter months if it's snowed or is icy. I only go there twice a year, so a rare trip.

I couldn't cope with another Defender. The combination of the heavy clutch and the lousy seats destroy my back. I can't justify the expense of a Disco and I don't like to appear too prosperous to customers which is another reason why the Freelander appeals as I think think they look smart but not ostentatious.

Are there any non-Landrover vehicles that will do the same job as a Freelander I wonder? Or maybe I'm asking too much from soft-roaders. I'm so out of the loop with current towing vehicles and their capabilities as it's 20 years since I last towed.

You can tow a trailer to the tip with a Rav4 in Australia:

The petrol (2.5L 132kW/233Nm) does 1500kg, 2.0L only in 2WD at least in Australia only does 800kg, which is all wrong as one would really want a diesel (2.2L 110kW/340Nm) for towing!

http://www.caradvice.com.au/401603/2016-to...fications/ '....though braked trailer capacity remains meagre (1500kg for the petrol and 1200kg for the diesel).'

The Freelander has up to 250kg tow ball weight

Click image to enlarge

series2 wrote:

I've seen the Dynamic but I have a very rough farm track to access a property and the front part that body kit looks like it might encounter damage.

If it's a deeply rutted track you'd best get a Mantec fuel tank protection plate fitted, before you rip the fuel tank out.  FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.

Short answer is LR2 Metropolis, the SD4 Auto 'final' model. .

But any SD4 Auto would be ok, all are comfortable and able.

I agree buying from LR dealer with warranty is best, the extra expense is worth the peace of mind.

From my experience in looking amongst adverts, lots of FL2s have extras added to original specification, more so than many other cars/makes. Look carefully at lists and pictures, you may get a bargain. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 85k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 12th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Also looking to return to the fold, currently looking at a couple of metropolis models but which one - a 48k one owner with LR warranty and full Lr service history or an 18k one ex Lr management and then private owner only 2 stamps in the book and 3 month warranty, same price and both in reasonable condition?

I can't decide whether the 2013 updates make it worth buying 2013 or 2014 model over a 2012.

MY13 on is the answer to that. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

IanMetro wrote:

Short answer is LR2 Metropolis, the SD4 Auto 'final' model. .

But any SD4 Auto would be ok, all are comfortable and able.

I agree buying from LR dealer with warranty is best, the extra expense is worth the peace of mind.

From my experience in looking amongst adverts, lots of FL2s have extras added to original specification, more so than many other cars/makes. Look carefully at lists and pictures, you may get a bargain.

Just for fun, a little story.
A new (and wealthy) neighbour here - still working as CFO of a very successful IT group was looking for a posh 4X4 a while ago and told me he’d decided on a Merc GL whatever. Said ‘try a RRS’. To his credit, he did - and promptly bought one. Loves it to bits and one day was going-on about the Meridian sound system, the heated seats/steering wheel, the Xenons etc., etc. I just said ‘yes, it’s just like my Metro’ and got a very old-fashioned look. So he had a go in mine and vice versa. Have to say, the RRS is a beast and is really planted on the road, but I reckon my FL2 is better off-road, cheaper to buy/run/insure/tax etc. He was very impressed with the Metro, describing it as a mini RRS (cheeky sod!). So, there you have it.... the FL2 Metro - the ‘off-roading pensioner’s RRS’.

Click image to enlarge

Still looking for Freelander and have read a few articles about rear diff failure. Can anyone advise whether this was particularly likely to affect certain models? I have seen an advert for a 2011 model for sale that had a rear diff replacement at a cost in excess of £1000. Did this known fault get rectified in later years?