Faults:

Sunroof.

Rear window.

Side window.

Central locking.

Air con.

Radio speakers.

General Comments:

The BMW diesel engine attracted me to the Freelander. After a short ownership, that's all you are left with. The rest of the vehicle components seem to fail around it.

The engine is quite nippy, but the gear change is jerky and the ride is like a boat.

Fuel consumption is high due to the permanent 4WD.

The main problem is build quality, which is horrendous unfortunately. I will stick with German and Japanese in future. Land Rover just cannot compete.

Faults:

Back seat, when folded flat, would not return to upright.

Fuel injector failure.

Electric window winder failure.

Another electric window winder failure.

Another fuel injector failure.

Third electric window winder failure.

Clutch failure at 98.000.

Needed a complete rear light assembly, for the sake of a replacement indicator bulb.

General Comments:

Did actually like this car, and it towed my caravan with ease.

Expensive to repair, when things go wrong.

Rear seat assembly replaced under warranty eventually, after the dealer supplied the wrong part three times.

An injector failed, and left us needing a tow in. Cost to me, over £400.

The electric windows start to fail; to replace these, it will cost you around £150 each for your passenger doors. If the one on the back door goes, that will set you back over £200.

Another injector cost me over £300 when I broke a contact while replacing an indicator bulb. No problem thinks I, just get another bulb holder?.

Sorry sir, we don't sell bulb holders... but we can sell you a complete light... Oh and that will be around £50.

Now I don't have a problem replacing the clutch at 98,000 miles. What I do have is a problem with the cost of doing so. £1,700 at the dealers, or £1.500 at a 4-4 repairers.

My TD4, has now been sold. I won't be buying another one.

Faults:

The nuts holding the exhaust onto the exhaust manifold came loose and fell off.

General Comments:

The Freelander is a reliable and comfortable car to drive.

It is a common misconception that these vehicles are not really designed for off road action; I have had mine through two and a half feet of water and have driven across a variety of terrains.

I don’t do this often mind, but I see no point in having a four wheel drive vehicle if it is only ever going to see tarmac.

The 1.8 engine is not too thirsty and is still very powerful, mine doesn’t have a towing bracket fitted, but that hasn’t stopped me. Only last week I towed a neighbour’s car several miles. And it had no problem; I was even able to accelerate quite comfortably without feeling like I was dragging the other car!

The car is comfortable and is lovely to drive, inside you get all the refinements of a luxury vehicle (dependent on model), mine has heated black leather seats, full electrics (inc mirrors), multi-disc changer, the list goes on. Two of my favourite features are; the rear electric window and the rear door. The window makes carrying lengthy objects no problem at all. And the side opening door allows for easy access, open it and slide large object in.

I love my Freelander and I’m looking forward to the winter weather, as I’m sure we’ll have no problem and lots of fun. Go go gadget Freelander.