1999 Land Rover Freelander Si 3dr Softback review from UK and Ireland

1. Throttle body had to be replace within a week of purchase.

2. Exhaust had to be replaced prior to taking ownership of the vehicle.

3. Electric window motor replaced after 40,000 miles.

4. Micro switch sensor for tailgate window replaced twice.

5. Soft top replaced 3 times due to 3 separate faults.

6. Rear brake shoes came off whilst performing an emergency stop.

I have always wanted either a 4x4 or a cabriolet so the Freelander softback seemed like the perfect compromise.

I purchased my Freelander in January of 2003. Big mistake. I blame no one, but myself for the mis-fortune I have had with my Freelander.

I went to view the vehicle and was unable to take it for a test drive as the dealership were waiting to fit a new exhaust to the car I had chosen. I suppose I should have walked away from it then, but I didn't. In my defense, it did have a full Landrover service history... allgedely! so I thought it would be in good shape.

I took ownership of my Softback about a week after viewing it and less than a week later it was back at the dealership because the vehicle was occasionally idling at 3500 revs. Problem? Throttle body. An expected fault according to the dealer.

Next. I was driving with my window down and as the weather would have it in Scotland, it began to rain. Not a problem, I'll put my window up! No I won't because it is now not working. Back to the dealer. Problem? The electric window motor required to be replaced. Again, an expected problem with this model according to the dealer!

The next problem in my opinion could have been the most costly. Landrover fitted an excellent system into the softback model whereby if you collapse the softback portion of the roof, the tailgate glass automatically goes down or if you keep your finger on the "open" button on the key fob the glass goes down allowing access to the boot. On several occasions I returned to my vehicle after leaving it for a considerable time to find that the tailgate glass was in the down position. Once more, back to the dealer who could not understand my anger at this problem. They simply said that when I had been returning to my car I had kept my finger on the button to long causing the window to slide down.

A demonstration was required. So in the presence of the head of mechanics I closed my car door and waited. About 30 seconds later the tailgate glass lowered of its own volition. Problem? A faulty microswitch. You guessed it, again another expected problem with this car according to the dealer. So "expected",in fact, the Microswitch had to be replaced again a few days later.

Then there was the Soft top! The zippers burst twice causing the entire soft to to be replaced on both occasions then the metal support arm snapped which resulted in the soft top being replaced for a third time. As I was becoming to "expect", it was also a expected problem.

At this stage I expressed my anger to the head of the dealership that Landrover should build a car with so many "expected problems". I felt as though I was being used by Landrover to iron out problems with this car.

I could continue, but I have already written enough. I am sure you have got the idea by now. DO NOT BUY A FREELANDER!