Help me decide on a new car please! Land Rover?

[Leonberger]

Has anyone got a freelander 2 who can tell me if they have any reliability issues with it? I’ve seen one for sale but I’m not sure whether to risk it as it’s quite high mileage (80k)

Is mileage a massive issue these days? I remember years ago it being an issue but with more modern types does it matter?

Alternatively if anyone can recommend something else that would be great:
Small budget of 6k
Prefer 4x4 as live rurally but not a must
Must have a really big boot as we have 3 dogs to shuttle and a pram to fit in. Currently have a tiguan which is too slightly too small but we can manage at a push with an SUV size.
Prefer not a people carrier style if possible!

We have a Freelander 2 and I love it, it's genuinely my favourite car I've ever owned. We're it's second owner, it has a FSH and is at about 70k at 10 years old (we've had it a couple of years)

However 4 new tyres (the absolute cheapest about because I was in the middle of buying a house) was £600. Brakes were a similar price but I can't recall exactly what needed doing. No other issues so far but I know it will not be cheap when it happens.

The other issue is the fuel economy, we get around 400 miles from a tank which is currently about £95. It is absolutely pitiful and TBH I wouldn't have bought it if I had any idea how expensive fuel would become.

I just got four brand new Michelin cross climate tyres for mine plus fitting for under £500

I wonder why the tyres are so expensive! I’ve had to replace a few on my tiguan which isn’t that much smaller and they have been about £60 a tyre if that!

Mine are all season fancy things to be fair

Go for a Honda cr v or Nissan qashqai.

Fairly mid budget all season tyres for my LR just cost me £190 per tyre, and that was shopping around plus a Black Friday 10% discount.

I presume it's the size/profile that ups the price. Either way, it's particularly galling if they get a puncture before they wear out.

I've got a 62 ref Freelander 2 which now has now done about 120k miles (was at about 40k when I bought it). It's super reliable and hasn't really needed much in the way of repairs apart from the expected stuff. It does drink fuel ( does about 30 mpg) but we live very rurally and many people round here have them because they are great work horses

I absolutely love my Freelander 2!! Wouldn't buy a disco sport as they are unreliable but the Freelander 2 is widely regarded as the most reliable vehicle land rover have made in the last 20 years

I get 400 miles from an £85 tank of fuel.

It is lovely to drive, perfect height to get in and out of easily and get kids into, and still a lovely driving position. The boot is huge.

Mine has done well over 100k miles and touch wood is still super reliable.

I wouldn't get a nissan qashqai or kia sportage as they are just so lightweight and crumple in a crash. For example, the only work my Freelander has needed recently was after a lady in a sportage ran into the back of me at low speed. The tailgate of mine was slightly dented, her car was written off. Though, Nissans at least are fairly reliable.

I'd consider a volvo xc60 or xc90 also but honestly I'm considering replacing my Freelander with a newer Freelander when it finally dies - mine is a 62 plate and I think they only made them up to 63 so there's not much in it but that's how highly I rate them.

We’re on our second Freelander 2. The first one was new on a 57 plate. The current one was a year old on a 13 plate. We would have traded it in for a new one, but they stopped making them at 14 reg.
Ours have been fantastic cars, we do a round trip to Scotland twice a month ( Covid restrictions allowing). We always have a full service , now at a local garage and have just had the cam belt changed.
If you buy one get as low mileage as possible and a full service history.
We’ve thought about Evoques, but they don’t have the load capacity. Discovery Sports, don’t seem to have a good reputation, so we’re sticking to our old faithful for the time being.

Crossed post AnnaBegins. Ours also does over 350 miles on a full tank.
Nice to hear of another fan!

I should have said actually, mine has fancy schmancy low profile tyres which I would never have chosen myself if I was buying new

Re Skoda Octavia - there has been a 4x4 version on a “road” car and a full “Scout” off road, 4 x 4 etc version. In some you can drop the boot floor to make it deeper for big dogs too.

Hyundai are amazing.

For 6k a land rover will be trash, sorry. As will a Volvo xc90- both would be incredibly foolish financial decisions just for the sake of a brand same.

You're much better off with something like a Skoda as others have suggested (although you still might struggle with 6k to be honest!) a Skoda kodiaq if you insist on a 4x4, but failing that then your very best option is a Skoda superb estate. Absolutely monumental boot and incredibly high quality car- just look up the reviews.

Does the Freeloader still have head gasket issues? I know people that have had them and they've all had to have the head gasket replaced. Very pricey!!

Sorry Freelander not Freeloader!!

Thankyou everyone! I’ll have a look at all the options, looks like I’m going to struggle to find anything!

I could in theory get some finance and get a newer car but I’m trying to avoid it…I already have a huge mortgage and a loan from when my roof fell in so would prefer not to have another bill

Qashqai? I currently drive one and it's a fairly decent car. I also drove a discovery sport for a couple of years and fuel efficiency want its forte.

@PhilCornwall1

Does the Freeloader still have head gasket issues? I know people that have had them and they've all had to have the head gasket replaced. Very pricey!!

Never been an issue with ours. I do know the original FL, not the 2 which was a completely different car, had issues.

I have a Kia Sportage. It's lovely and roomy

Will look at both of those- thanks!

I had thought about the Nissan but MIL had one a few years ago and it dropped to bits

Not sure about Uk market but look at Toyota Land Cruiser - previously had a land rover but now would choose a Toyota over that every time. I seem to remember it was also good on fuel. It was an old car and in four years only had a flat battery to change!
Don’t be lured by landrover appeal

When we were on safari in South Africa, every truck was a converted land cruiser. They could drive straight over bushes (possibly not entirely necessary on British roads but you never know). Either way, they were indestructible

Watching with interest. I am thinking I’d getting a Honda CRV. I’m worried about diesels and petrol cars being fazed our and can’t afford a hybrid. Are they suitable for mainly city driving with occasional long trips?

If you only want to do two 30min journeys twice a week, is there any way to work it so you don't need a second car - e.g. hire a dog walker for that time and cycle, or have a regular taxi appointment, or buy a nifty electric cargo bike (expensive for a bike but cheaper than a car for sure, and your work might do a cycle to work scheme).

I totally realise this may all be super impractical for your situation. But I also think lots of people leap to getting a second car without thinking - I've managed to figure out commuting and childcare drop offs/pick ups cycling with a trailer. It worked out very cheap, actually a bit quicker (no sitting in a particular traffic jam), far more reliable, and I'm easily maintaining my health while eating like a horse So it is possible for some (maybe not you).