Hello all,
I'm in need of a liitle help as I'm questioning myself...

I've owned my freelander 2 for about six years now and I can honestly say it's been fantastic. It's just done 132k miles. It had 46k on it when I bought it.

Im only the second owner. The first owner bought it new from Hunters in Chester. He had it serviced every year, if it needed it or not!

I've serviced it myself every 10k miles or so and only ever used the Castrol oils.

It gave me a problem last year, I think it was, when it wouldn't start. It turned out to be the steering column lock that was sorted for about £23.

Im about to splash out about £2200 on it.

Im getting 4 new springs & struts, all the drop links changed, rear suspension support arms ​(both sides) and two new genuine LR front wishbones. All because It's giving me a knocking sound!

It's had the diff replaced earlier this year by Bell Engineering.

At 70k miles it had a new clutch and flywheel. Also all the fluids were changed along with the water pump and cam belt.

I've also just taken delivery of of an inlet manifold without the swirl flaps.

Would anyone else spend over 2k on keeping a 14 year old car???

The car has given us loads. It's pulled our caravan thousands of miles across the UK giving us, many great holidays.

I've looked at another FL2 but the price of them used with low (ish) miles is silly. Like 5k over what I paid for mine.

And its in fantastic condition. People can't belive its 14yrs old.

Thanks in advance for any replies 👍

In for the penny in for the pound.

I'd do it in a flash once I am happy with the vehicle and it's history which is mostly yours anyway.

I jusy thought I could being a bit too sentimental 😂

It's been a great car and I'm thinking it will last a few more years 🤔

I think I've seen a post on here that the owner had just covered 275k miles and still going strong...

Digger
As you have looked after it and understand your FL2 so well, I would carry on using it.

As a thought, have you considered takiing some of the everyday mileage awayfrom your FL2 by getting a small BEV (BMW i3, Nisson Leaf, or similar) to run around in, and keep your FL2 for towing, bad weather and other things its good at.

As they say - The devil you know ..... FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

DIGG3R,
Mine's a MY2008 113,000miles, since owning it 6 years now I've replaced the A/C compressor,
A/C condenser and had some rust cut out in a wheel arch, other than that just consumables and batteries,
I would quite happily replace the parts you have listed as it would cost far more than the £2k to replace it with
a later model. DAVE.
I.A.M. F1rst Driver.
Gone 2003 Discovery TD5 Auto,
Gone 1986 Defender 90 Station Wagon
Gone 1984 Range Rover 3.5 Vogue Manual.
Gone 1970 Series 11A/3 SWB 3.5 V8 Hybrid
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Van
Gone 1966 Series 11A SWB Van
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Station Wagon,

Our FL2 had done 185k, totally reliable, but the auto gearbox very very occasionally would flare. So was looking at ripping it out and having it overhauled. That and she needed a respray - previous one had faded badly.

So was "persuaded" to sell her and buy an Ewok. Big Big mistake I went from a happy FL2 owner who's car had been serviced on the dot, never gave a hint of letting me down, into a much newer car that was a complete and utter death trap. Chopped in the Ewok as soon as possible, lost £8k against a DS - best £8k I have ever wasted.

Both DSs have been OK, but the moral of the tail for me is NEVER get rid of a car that you are happy with for one with unknown history.

The EWOK was bought from Williams LR Manchester - so hardly a back street dealer. It would have cost far less than £8k for the gearbox and respray. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Mine had an engine transplant which ultimately was paid for 18 months later by the Indy that caused it after I won the court case …. At the time it happened it was a tough call to replace the engine or break the car for spares - roughly £5K for the exchange engine fitted (by another Indy) vs around 6k value, and I had no absolute certainty of success in the court.

The engine was changed at 103k miles and the car is at 150K now, no other issues. My decision to repair was based on knowing the car history intimately and the high residuals/pricing in other FL2’s, and not at all taking to Ewoks or the new DS - plus like the OP, we’re second owners from new and we’ve put 130k of the 150k miles on this.

Looking back now 2 years on- we still made the right decision, especially given high used car pricing just now…. Lexus RX450H - 500 mile a week commuter- I just couldn’t trust in a newer RRS or DS for that….
2009 Freelander 2 HSE... 155K miles, we’ve done 135k of those, has done brilliantly on the commute and staying firmly put as car two in the household
2002 Jaguar XK8 Coupe... fun, fast, ours for 12 years and owes us nothing - so staying with us too…

the clincher for me there is you saying it is in fantastic condition, I have a similar dilemma, whether to get a newer car simply because mine is 14 years old BUT, mine is the rustiest version I have ever seen, if it was mint, no problem, all wheel arches show rust, all doors at the bottom inside show rust, the inside body where the rear doors close is rusty , , , all this makes me worry how bad mine is underneath . . .love the car, drives great (at the moment)

BUT, like I say if it was mint I would definitely keep it going 2017 SEAT Ateca 4drive 2.0 xcellence (May 2022 -
2007 HSE with HST bodykit in Zermatt Silver 169,700 miles (dec 2016 - May 2022 )
2007 Honda Civic Type S GT (2012-2017)
2002 Mini Cooper S (2008-2012)
1992 Honda Legend 3.2i (2003-2008)
1990 Honda Concerto (1999-2003)
1985 Honda Accord (1997-1999)
1983 Honda Accord (1993-1997)
1983 Mini Mayfair (1988-1993)
1974 Mini 1000 (1979-1986)

Last edited by Northcroft on 26th Sep 2021 9:41 am. Edited 1 time in total

Wow... I feel a bit better now 😂

I had considered a smaller car and just use the FL2 for the caravan, but we're limited for space. The caravan is stored away from the house.

The FL2 is spotless. Both the sub frames were given a good rub down and treated a few years ago as the powder coating was flaking off.

The only sign of what looks like could be rust is under the tailgate handle, and its just a very tiny bubble.

Thanks for the replies 👍

DO the numbers.
Lets say the "new" car is £150 to tax, loses £500 a year in depreciation, and costs £250 for insurance - remember you can't have your insurance discount on two cars so the new car will be with no discount. So running cost before fuel is £960. With fuel at £6.37 that's 150 gallons of fuel.

for runaround at 50mpg 10,000 miles = 200 gallons
For a Freelander 2 driven by me at 28mpg 10,000 miles = 357 gallons

so the breakeven point is 10,000 miles, if you are going to do more than that in the poxy tin can then it probably makes financial sense. Right up to the point where there is an accident and being in the Land Rover makes so much sense.

Of course none of this takes into account of the additional MOT, purchase cost, routine maintenance or the space it takes up on the driveway. I come at this from a different viewpoint to most, I lost two friends in car accidents within a short space of time, at which point we bought our first Land Rover. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I've done it... Its in the garage as I type 😂👍

I assume that's the Freelander in the workshop for it's new bits.  DAVE.
I.A.M. F1rst Driver.
Gone 2003 Discovery TD5 Auto,
Gone 1986 Defender 90 Station Wagon
Gone 1984 Range Rover 3.5 Vogue Manual.
Gone 1970 Series 11A/3 SWB 3.5 V8 Hybrid
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Van
Gone 1966 Series 11A SWB Van
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Station Wagon,

Yes, sorry...

All done now.. However, I'm still getting like a rattle type sound from the front, when I go over speed bumps? I would have thought all the new components would have stopped that? 🤔

Did they change the strut top mounts when replacing front springs ? 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)

Im not sure to be honest?

The receipt just says strut assembly and coil assembly. No mention of top mounts?