Land Rover Freelander for wifey? Other ideas?

lendaddy · 01-17-2005, 06:04 AM

My wife currently drives a 2000 A6 2.7 twin turbo, she doesn't really like it(neither do I to be honest). She want's something bigger. We don't have a ton of cash right now, so $15k or less is the goal. She use to drive my Range Rover, but it got a little unreliable so I took it over. Soooo.. I actually like Land Rover products, and am considering a Freelander. I can get an '02 -'03 for what you would pay for a Honda Accord of the same vintage???? I like that it's AWD and taller, etc... Anyone have thoughts on these? Or maybe another direction I should be looking for $15k or less?

mattdavis11 · 01-17-2005, 06:18 AM

Maybe a Toyota Land Cruiser? The 1991-1996 FJ 80 L/C's are near bullet proof. 91-93 had a 4.0 liter I 6, the 94-96 have 4.5 I 6. Right now my 91 has 198K miles with no problems, the other two in the family are a 94 with 245K miles and no problems, and a 95 with 190K, again, no problems. I think in 1997 they started putting V8's in them. Full time 4WD.

lendaddy · 01-17-2005, 06:29 AM

I am a BIG fan of the Landcruiser, but they are sooooooo friggin expensive. To keep it under $15k I'll have to be around 100k miles on the thing. I don't know, but I have a hard time dropping 15 large on a nearly decade old truck with a rolled odometer..... Maybe still it would be a wise choice though as I know they are bulletproof. Hmmm.

mattdavis11 · 07:07 AM

I'm biased lendaddy. In all our family has 7 land cruisers ranging from 1974 to 1995, 1 FJ 40, 2 FJ 60, 1 FJ 62, 3 FJ 80. If you ever do any off-road driving, they are superior to anything else I've been in. We use these L/C's the way the they are intended to be used. I haven't priced them lately, but I would't balk at buying another one day if I needed a work horse.

If I needed one, I'd snatch this up.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6443&item=4518839711&rd=1

It was 1998 when they added the V8.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Only about 5,000 of the Isuzu VehiCross were ever made, 1999-2001 about 500-1,000 per year were imported to the USA.

The owners love them, claim it's a SUV sports car. originally sold for about $31,000, can pick them up for $10,000 to $15,000 now a days.

Site link:

http://www.vehicross.info/modules.php?name=Jig

lendaddy · 01-17-2005, 07:10 AM

INteresting vehicles Kach, I've seen em before but never really checked em out. My wife would likely be turned off by the futuristic styling, but I kinda like it. Could be a great vehicle for me

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Proton yellow is the hot color to get. Quite a few white ones out there normaly, finally seeing some black ones for sale.

There are isolated reports of engine rod bearings going early, although there are several 150,000 miles cars out there with no problems.

The 6-disc CD changers is a common failure, gaskets around the headlight leak on almost all of them. Wheel bearings may go as early as 30,000 miles. Power window problems - should of been a recall on that one, but was not. And if it runs rough at idle, the intake gasket needs replacing - some owners have done this twice in under 100,000 miles.

Not a Toyota, but the owners seem to love them despite their flaws.........kind of like a Porsche.

NOTE: They are ALL automatics, some kind of special transmission which checks torque 20 times a second is in control.

Jay Auskin · 01-17-2005, 11:20 AM

Friends of mine have the Freelander. Cute, trendy, stylish. That's why they bought it. Then they found out it was underpowered and drank gas like crazy. They're not happy with their purchase.

mattdavis11 · 11:48 AM

The I 6 in either a 4.0 or 4.5 has a worm gear driven cam. No belt/chain to ever worry about. Just a fyi.

Britwrench · 01-17-2005, 11:42 AM

Sounds like a good swap although you should keep the wife and not bother with the Freelander. Either a Toyota or Honda would be better or perhaps a Subaru Forrester or Legacy.

lendaddy · 01-17-2005, 11:57 AM

Lots of good info here. Maybe it is time for another Japanese vehicle, it's been a while ('89 CRX).

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

why SUV? For the life of me I don't understand why the masses gravitate to them...something in the neocon koolaid?

ronin · 01-17-2005, 12:38 PM

it's a left-wing conspiracy, I tell you

lendaddy · 01-17-2005, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
why SUV? For the life of me I don't understand why the masses gravitate to them...something in the neocon koolaid?

I'm going to assume you're only partially kidding

I live in "the sticks" a serious four wheel drive vehicle is a wise choice. Our roads are not always plowed etc... A larger vehicle is nice for moving stuff, my wife does advertising and always has big displays etc... to pick up or tote. We have a child so it's nice to be able to toss his crap in the back, toys, playpen, Ronald Reagan comemorative play set, etc... I like that a bigger vehicle wins more accidents than smaller vehicle. Oh yea, I just prefer them. That last one is my favorite and more than enough reason for any third party. I too am only partially kidding

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
why SUV? For the life of me I don't understand why the masses gravitate to them...something in the neocon koolaid?

Equally, "why a 25 year old car that has no A/C or cup holders and struggles to keep up with a Subaru sedan?"

Personally I love SUVs/trucks (bigger the better) and 911s (older the better). If I had the money I would have a garage full of them. Call me crazy but I hate sedans.

Back on topic, stay away from LR. Go for the Outback turbo.

lendaddy · 01-17-2005, 01:00 PM

I think selling the wife on the outback turbo would be tough. I like it, but she would likely call it ugly. Also, I'm sure it's out of my $15k range anyway.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

subaru ugly? Worse than a LandRover? egad...

I hate sedans too, but love hatchbacks/wagons. SUVs don't do it for me...

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
We have a child so it's nice to be able to toss his crap in the back, toys, playpen, Ronald Reagan comemorative play set, etc...

A few people have sold their two door VehiCrosses because they have a difficult time getting a child seat back there.

Looks like you could use a 4-door something.

Willem Fick · 01-18-2005, 04:14 AM

Freelander? Nah!

Slow, thirsty, looks beter than it really is! It's also not really any more spacious inside than the A6, if at all.

Had the "priviledge" of a 2000mile journey in one recently, and will never do this to myself again - at time walking seemed a more reasonable option!

Cheers!

Willem Fick

lendaddy · 01-18-2005, 05:09 AM

Thanks guys, I guess the Land Rover is out of the question as is the VX. I am now back on the Landcruiser hunt.

Nostatic,

I like hatches too. This A6 is my first modern sedan, and will likely be my last. At best the car is "just there". SUVs work for me, so do P/U trucks BTW. It's just the lifestyle up here and believe me they come in real handy.