Freelander 2 is the way to go

[Inox]

Good evening all,

This is a post to all those considering to buy a second hand Freelander 2 - I strongly advise you to do so.

I have had my 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE (with manual 'box) for 3 years now.

Bought for R120 000 with 177 255km on the odo.
Since then:
Total Distance driven: 57 087km
Total Fuel consumed: 4582,69 litres
Total Fuel spend: R64 580.15
Average fuel consumption: 8.02L/100km
(This includes everything from cape town 7am peak traffic through to off roading in deep river sand and highway cruising).

Total Cost of servicing: R33 311 - For 3 services, cost driven up due to R12 000 preventative maintenance replacement of water pump and timing belt at 10 year service and replacement of rear brake discs due to normal wear and tear for R8000 along with normal consumables making up the rest.

Total cost of tires: 1 Full set of 5 new 18 inch good year Wranglers replaced: R12 200 (R2440 per tire)

Total depreciation: R33 000

Total cost of insurance: R29 592

Thus Total Cost of ownership (calculated not by cost of purchase, but by cost of depreciation, accepting that R87000 remains as equity): R172 683.15

Average cost per kilometre: R3.02

There are the bare bones of what it costs to own a Freelander 2 and I can't be happier to pay that amount for the service this car has given me.

Thus far I have gone on 3 trips to the Namibian south, combined tar, gravel and rough twin track driving over rocks and through deep sand.

A 4500km round trip from Cape Town via Tsitsikamma and Addo National Parks to the Northern Drakensberg then back down over Naudesnek pass to Rhodes in the Eastern Cape then on through Camdeboo National Park and Karoo National Park back to Cape Town - doing all the Camdeboos 4x4 trails.

Another 5 day trip to Karoo National Park - covering as much of the off road trails as possible.

A 5250km round trip from Cape Town to Sodwana, Kosi Bay, Ponta Malongane, Maputo, Kruger National park and back down in 19 days.

and coming up I have a trip to Augrabies and Kgalagadi.

I bought this car trading up from a 1997 Honda Ballade when I graduated from varsity in 2016 - the sheer amount of South Africa that owning this car has 'unlocked' for me is incredible.

Every time I push the button it starts. Every time I take it off road it surprises me.

Considering that the closest price to R120 000 that one could spend on a new car in 2016 with 4x4 capabilities would have been a Renault Duster 4x4 diesel which used to cost R258 900 new, or the Suzuki Jimny in the region of R240 000. That would mean that buying and running my Freelander 2 for 3 years has costed me the same as buying a less comfortable newer car would've costed me before even driving it off the dealership floor.

I think that this proves as a decent case study that buying used has its merits over buying new and that buying a second hand Freelander is really good value for money, if you budget ahead for maintenance.
In my view the maintenance isn't even that expensive, certainly a more expensive car with a motorplan costs zero to maintain in five years but if you see how much it costs to finance that car over a five year period at 13% interest its a different story!

I'm new to the 4x4/overlanding world, but I have to say I am very pleased with the car that is introducing me to it!

Cheers,
Inox.

[Lammie]

You know that this is all a secret?

I also love my Freelander

[Jembo]

Who says one can't fall in love with a vehicle?! I love my Disco 1 and also every Landy I owned before it....

[dieselwa]

Shhhhhh!!!

[Veneficus]

You know that this is all a secret?

I also love my Freelander

Wait so Freelander owners wants the fact that their car is good to remain a secret

Why do you enjoy getting less money for it when you sell it one day

[Lammie]

Cheaper to buy the next one

[lizardalpha]

Well, I have only had mine from Feb this year, traded my much beloved bmw on it, and at first I was a bit disappointed. Keep in mind, we have owned a Disco 3 before, so the Freelander wasn't as great as the Disco, nor as fast as the beamer, however, once I reminded myself that it is not either of those, I started liking it. Initially I feared the "bing" error that I always feared in the Disco, but that has also gone away now. The more I drive it, the more I start liking it, and the more I want to go places, unlike with the Disco, where I was too scared to drive the damn thing.

Time will tell, but I think this car will be a winner.

EDIT: One repair bill already, but not for my account. Rear main oil seal replacement, at about R10 000.

[Inox]

Wait so Freelander owners wants the fact that their car is good to remain a secret

Why do you enjoy getting less money for it when you sell it one day

Haha yes one does get less on resale than at time of buying but that is true of any vehicle. I would never have bought the Freelander 2 new for R480 000 but once it reaches R120 000 the value becomes pretty constant and that means cost of running becomes much more reasonable if you factor in depreciation into the equation.

You can buy a new volvo XC60 and get 5L/100km for sure but you’ll take a R50 000 knock in resale value in the first year.
Much cheaper to run a second hand Freelander and run it at 8L/100km with the ability to go almost ​ anywhere (I know the new Volvo XC60 is amazing and its apples to oranges - but I’m referring to the last of the prev shape).

[Skylark]

Thanks for the post op, very interesting and some great points made with the sums to back them up.

[Koos Best]

No Inox, dont tell everybody about a Freelander 2, just now the price sky rockets!!!


It is a fantastic car,!!
BEST KEPT SECRET IN 2ND HAND MOTORING

[germannewbie]

Hi all

New here and we are in the process of buying a 2008 Freelander 2 TD SE 2.2. wanted something affordable and reliable for the odd occasion our Renault duster was unavailable and this seems to have great reviews.

[Disco Smiley]

I am a Landy man and have had Series, Disco 2 and Defenders. Currently I have all the landies in my signature.

I left S.A temporary and was in France for a while. From there I moved to Oman. Here I decided to buy a car. Was looking at Disco's but could not find a good one. Then, about 6 weeks ago I ran into a Freelander 2 2013 model. Mommies car. 160K km and in reasonably good condition. Paid around 107K. 2L Turbo petrol engine.

Had to do the following: Overhaul starter, service, Oil cooler for auto box, CV boots front, rack & pinion rubbers. All this including all filters and labor was around 12K. She Ave 6.7L/100KM. Fuel is around R10.00/L so I am not to concerned

We are using her to go into the mountains and desert areas in Oman. I knew the Freelander is not bad but she really surprised me. We go onto some serious roads in the mountains and into sandy roads and she do it all with ease. Only issue is I cannot find all terrain tires for her here. I have to import. All terrains are not popular for every day cars in Oman. For weekend toys in the desert, these boys have serious toys with serious tires.

I am seriously thinking of bringing her home when my contract here is done. Will see what life bring.