ferguson_tom Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Hi Everyone Some people may have noticed i recently bought a 53 plate TD4 freelander with 70000 miles on the clock. Long and short of it its a dog and have had major problems, electrical faults, EGR valve, fuel pump, brake light switch, mass air flow sensor and now by the sound of it a new gearbox. Luckily it is all under warranty and has been dealt with by the garage we bought it off but i am getting rather nervous about when the warranty runs out next month. Do i have a leg to stand on about getting my money back as its unfit for purpose? Reason i ask we are in two minds about keeping it but we are also struggling only having one car so want to use it as a bit leverage to get a courtesy car from him. I am quite laid back about things and know its not the dealers fault he picked up a dog he sold it on with the best intentions and has been good as gold when it comes to fixing it. The car looks mint and has FSH and on paper is one of the best of the bunch. As part of the warranty with the garage it says no courtesy car is supplied and we signed this but was hoping could lean on him a bit with the not fit for purpose bit. Any help greatly appreciated. It was also be appreciated not to have a page of useless comments about how **** freelanders are and how i should of bought a shogun or disco. Sorry to be mr grumpy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) Very sorry to hear about your experience but as you yourself admit the dealer has stood by his word and carried out necessary repairs. Even if you buy a brand new car then you only typically get a three year warranty and when that runs out the manufacturer can refuse any further responsibility although more often than not they will make a contribution towards items breaking that are deemed to have failed well before expected time. A used car that was some 8 years old with 70000 miles is going to prove difficult if you intend going down the route of fit for purpose. Whose purpose after all? You can't realistically buy old cars and then expect someone else to pick up the inevitable repairs bills. When it comes to 4x4's I believe you're on a hiding to nothing as any sane third party knows they are often bought to do rugged things and work off the beaten track, arguing the toss with a 5 year old Honda Jazz with 22000 miles may be a little easier. Not being overly harsh I hope, just my view having been in the trade a few years. It may prove better to sell on and start again, maybe with a totally different make, there is such a thing as an oldish 4x4 that won't bite your ace at every opportunity. Now incidentally is the best time to sell. Edited February 7, 2012 by Hamster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 it would be worth buying an aftermarket warranty for it when the current one ends. brought one for the wifes Volvo - 2 years for just over £600; it has paid for itself 3 times over already (a/c compressor, traction control sensor to name but a few). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD1927 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 SELL, SELL, SELL!!!!!!!! I bought a 2.0 xedi in Sept 11 with much the same history and condition so far it has cost me more in repairs than what I paid for it. Also to add insult to injury it has been in the garage (for repair)a longer period than I have actually driven it. Mine will also be on the market as soon as the IRD has been replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 thanks for the fast responses, i werent to sure how the whole fit for purpose thing worked as someone mentioned it but that does make sense so can see why we cant go down that track. We take risks buy buying second hand cars and its what i have always done but this just seemed a bit of an exceptional circumstance for this all to happen in less than 3 months and wondered if i could just give the car back and get my money back what i paid for it. I think when it comes back we will see how it goes but the next slightest little thing it will be up for sale. Out of interest who is your aftermarket warranty with as heard horror stories of some not being worth the paper they are written on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richg Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I had a P38 Range Rover for two years, great to drive but repair costs HORRENDOUS it was endless. Last May i bought an Isuzu Trooper Citation, T reg with 100,000 on the clock, now i just get in and go, i just lift the bonnet now and again to check oil and water (never uses any) What a difference!!! I would never buy a LR vehicle again. I am a lorry driver and i see more Range Rovers, Disco's Freelander's ect on the side of the motorway with the bonnets up than all the rest put together. Nuff Said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0145wirbelwind Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I bought a Grand Cherokee on a 2002. I saw that merc motor and said to my self , It`s a merc what can go wrong they go forever..How wrong i was . The shorter list was what did not go wrong with it. It just seems to be a big money pit , but i am so far in with it now that hopefully i have all the jobs covered. Will i buy an old 4x4 again with a 100.000 miles plus, never again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrwabbits Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Unlucky and feel for your sorrow, BUT, There be the lesson to others of the purchase of a FredLander , everyone i have come across has had some major issues and defects or overheated and blown its gasket/engine. Bag of poo s`far as ime concerned, and ive worked for a Lanny agent Think the words - barge + pole spring to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJN Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 the FL2 is a different beast all together IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Total junk mate, father has got a 53 plate TD4 and it has been nothing but grief in the 4 years he has had it. It has had 2 reconditioned gearboxes in it, various electrical problems and all of the window regulators have had to be changed, air flow sensor has been replaced and the immobiliser has had to be discionnected as it was forever playing up. Can't leave it out in anything more than a sharp shower or the boot fills with water. The only reason he still owns it is because it has cost so much money to maintain it he is reluctant to take that big a hit when he wants to change motors. My advice is to get rid asap as it is not a question of if it will go wrong it's more like when will it go wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I bought a Grand Cherokee on a 2002. I saw that merc motor and said to my self , It`s a merc what can go wrong they go forever..How wrong i was . The shorter list was what did not go wrong with it. It just seems to be a big money pit , but i am so far in with it now that hopefully i have all the jobs covered. Will i buy an old 4x4 again with a 100.000 miles plus, never again Grand Cherokee (not much merc to it) are well known for going in a big way at the 100k mark or there abouts and Jeep parts in the UK are stupidly priced. The Ssanyung/Daewoo Musso has the 5 cylinder engine from the sprinter in it and an underrated 4x4 but since Daewoo went pop the parts can be a bit tricky to get daft things likes brake cylinders and clutches but they go for peanuts! IF you are serious about trying not fit for purpose go to trading standards for advice, and be prepared to shell out for lawyer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) I found out today that my 170000 mile Pajero that I sold last year has finally failed an MOT for the 1st time on it's 18th Birthday, a ball joint (parts cost £32) and off it goes again. When oh when will all you LR fans learn :-) Edited February 7, 2012 by poppythedog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) Out of interest who is your aftermarket warranty with as heard horror stories of some not being worth the paper they are written on. its with warrantywise ; www.warrantywise.co.uk. the garage hated them - but only because they were on the ball with parts costs; didnt have an issue with the labour rate, or standard hours for the job. i have had the warranty under a year and they have paid out over £1800. even if i dont have another thing go wrong with the car - its been worth it. it is a nightmare searching online - because all of the warranty companies seem to have nightmare storys - I chose warrantywise because they had the least; and my experience with them has been positive. Edited February 7, 2012 by pegasus bridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 We have had a td4 on a 52 plate for five or six years now, we have put 80,000 miles on it since we have had it. We suffeed the power loss fault at 70 and had a local garage, land rover specialist, try and sort it out. After a lot of trial and error replacing all the expensive bits first the fault was a cheap sensor, found by someone else! Biggest problem with them is finding someone that knows how to work on them, way too much trial and error out there. I have enjoyed ours, the best car I have had to be honest as far as driving/ life style goes and all in all ours has been reliable, now thats beggered it atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Well i know all the horror stories but a colleague at work had a TD4 from virtually new on 04 plate and put 90000 miles on it regularly towed a caravan and has never had any major problems with it. It does seem though he was the lucky one. Thanks for the name of the warranty company might get a quote of them if we decide to keep it. I do sometimes wonder though about the freelander (the 1.8 petrol is a sack of poo) if they are just as unreliable as a disco or range rover but because the customers are normally 'car drivers' they expect normal car reliability. Whereas a disco or range rover owner there might be more enthusiast type people especially on here and forums who dont mind rolling sleeves up and just get on and fix it or pay for it to be done with little complaints because its a Landrover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 IF you are serious about trying not fit for purpose go to trading standards for advice, and be prepared to shell out for lawyer.... To be honest i cant be bothered to go down that route, i could sell the car tomorrow for 6k so only lose 1k on it if worse come to the worse. It was more if i could use it as a threat to get a courtesy car or get my money back of the dealer what i paid for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Hi Everyone Some people may have noticed i recently bought a 53 plate TD4 freelander with 70000 miles on the clock. Long and short of it its a dog and have had major problems, electrical faults, EGR valve, fuel pump, brake light switch, mass air flow sensor and now by the sound of it a new gearbox. Luckily it is all under warranty and has been dealt with by the garage we bought it off but i am getting rather nervous about when the warranty runs out next month. Do i have a leg to stand on about getting my money back as its unfit for purpose? Reason i ask we are in two minds about keeping it but we are also struggling only having one car so want to use it as a bit leverage to get a courtesy car from him. I am quite laid back about things and know its not the dealers fault he picked up a dog he sold it on with the best intentions and has been good as gold when it comes to fixing it. The car looks mint and has FSH and on paper is one of the best of the bunch. As part of the warranty with the garage it says no courtesy car is supplied and we signed this but was hoping could lean on him a bit with the not fit for purpose bit. Any help greatly appreciated. It was also be appreciated not to have a page of useless comments about how **** freelanders are and how i should of bought a shogun or disco. Sorry to be mr grumpy. Only within time limits 3mnths if i remember correctly from my dealer days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted February 9, 2012 Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 Not sure if it is three or six months, best website to check is honest John, very unbiased and straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conygree Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 (edited) If the garage are doing all the work FOC then it may have cleared it's faults, so why not keep it and see how it goes for say 3 or 6 months but if still faulty = sell. I brought an old L200, ok I knew it was a bit rough but that reflected in the price, I did loadsa jobs on it - no probs for 2 yrs, then the head went so fixed that changed the gearbox clutch as well. Still keeping it for the next few years until overall reliability drops off. I have known people sell good old cars simply because they were worried for no reason about reliability. Edited February 15, 2012 by Conygree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 If the garage are doing all the work FOC then it may have cleared it's faults, so why not keep it and see how it goes for say 3 or 6 months but if still faulty = sell. I brought an old L200, ok I knew it was a bit rough but that reflected in the price, I did loadsa jobs on it - no probs for 2 yrs, then the head went so fixed that changed the gearbox clutch as well. Still keeping it for the next few years until overall reliability drops off. I have known people sell good old cars simply because they were worried for no reason about reliability. Very true, i bought a brand new Volvo on a T plate. It had a new gearbox within weeks, a new engine management computer within a year and a full engine re-build before it was two years old. I was terrified of what it might cost to run out of manufacturers warranty (which was a horrendous price to extend). Its still running today and the decorator in the next village owns it now, i had not seen it until 2 yrs ago and assumed it was on the scrap heap a long while back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted February 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Thanks everyone for your replies, the story now is everything is done and the freeloader is a lot happier with the gearbox and clutch etc. The engine management light is still coming on at high revs but the dealer has said he can not work it out and said take it to landrover get it done and just get them to send him the invoice. So we are going to keep it and see how it goes for a few months, problem we got is if we sell it we would only get 5k part ex or at best 6.5k for private so we will lose a fair bit of money which we cant do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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