Hi all, new to the forum and Freelanders in general.

My v70 has given up and I've managed to convince myself (and my other half) that I need to buy a Freelander 2.

I've got a max budget of 8K and ideally would like a manual HSE under the 150K mile mark.

I've looked at around 8 cars so far ranging from 09'-13' and 110-150K miles. All of them have varying degrees of rust appearing around the rear arches. Either i've been very unlucky or this is par for the course for freelanders of this age. Just wanted to know how concerned I should be and whether it'd be worth getting a mechanic to have a proper look under the car before I buy.

Cheers

Most HSE are auto.


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2...amp;page=3 2013 FL2 XS.
Defender 90 300 TDi.
Defender 90 300 TDi CSW.
1964 MGB Roadster.
1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
17 hand Irish Drought Thoroughbred (mostly lame)
Nagging Old Boiler.

worth a read ......

https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic36969.ht...wheel+arch

Is there any reason it needs to be manual?

The only reason I ask is I much preferred driving our two automatic land rovers. They were a lovely drive and never had any transmission related faults. We've had a mixture of autos and manuals in all our cars and I've got to say automatic had now won me over.

Our Freelander is manual but if I'd had the choice of two otherwise identical ones but with different transmissions, then I'd have gone for the automatic.

We currently have the vehicles (2 autos and the Freelander)

If things carry on the way they are, all cars will be automatic before long as electric don't need a gearbox.

The auto is better suited to the freelander in my opinion. MY13 HSE LUX Aintree Green
MY57 SE Stornoway Grey. Gone
Nissan X Trail
Discovery V8 LPG
Series II Land Rover

hi and welcome i have both manual and auto and much prefer the auto to drive and after 20 + years of driving manuals its just better suited  2009 FL2 S now gone
2011 FL2 HSE AUTO
2012 FL2 XS AUTO
2000 Kawasaki er 5

Automatic for me.
First one owned, though have driven several. Modern autos are far superior to the three and four speed early versions, but still carry some of the stigma.
Command shift always gives you the option of preferred gear selection anyway and is a much smoother change than a manual.

I've now had both.

A 2010 TD4.e HSE in manual, Owned for 2 years back in 2010/2011/2012 and now I've got a Auto HSE SD4. I would 100% agree with the posts above, the Auto suits the car better.

I picked up the latest FL2 because the lead times on a new order for most premium cars atm are ridiculous and it's allowed me to decide that I'm going to take the punt on an Ineos (deposit paid) which I doubt we'll see before 2023 at the earliest. So as a stop gap, I've bought a FL2. I ummed and ah'd over it, with the mix between SD4 Auto or TD4 manual etc (as I'd already owned a manual years ago), but taking the advice on here, I bought the auto.

You may get a pleasant surprise on the Ineos delivery timing  Current driveway contents:
2021 V60 Cross Country B5
2009 FL2 dog bus and shooting wagon

On Order: 2023 Fisker Ocean Ultra - deposit paid.

Another 👍 for automatic. 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)

Hi,

Dont get to concerned about the letters on the tailgate

decide what spec you want and see what comes up that fits the bill (many had ticked the options list)

Have a look back in the for sale threads for what has sold to see what you could have got.

If You want a manual get a manual if You want an auto get an auto and if you dont mind which,
look at them all to find the best car

 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf

NoDo$h wrote:

You may get a pleasant surprise on the Ineos delivery timing

Thanks for the all the replies so far.

Definitely going to take on board the auto recommendations. Had leaned towards the manual because that's I've always driven but also have quite liked the auto Freelanders I've tested.

Regarding the corrosion issues, am I making this out to be a bigger problem than it actually is or is it definitely something to get looked at before buying?

Cheers

Corrosion is not a massive problem on freelander 2. Check around rear wheel arches, some suffer a little here if they haven't had mud washed away regularly. A few report rear subframe issues. Mostly it's just surface corrosion. Others which have perhaps lived by the sea, or in it launching boats have had more significant problems with a few having to replace the subframe. It's by no means a common issue. 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)

Hi there i have a 60 plate xs manual with 65k on it from new.
ITs in red well maintained never wanted for nothing was his 2nd car so why low miles never played up very clean and tidy body work and interior.
Its my fathers whos passed away and i wanted it to go to a good home / a forum member rather than we buy any car or so ???

any good to any one ???? any questions please ask .

Admins i have wrote this down on my hello to the forum ...wanted to get ok off martin....who ive meet a few times if you need to get him to ok it ...pm me