Last edited by dunroof on 17th Feb 2013 8:53 am. Edited 1 time in total

there isnt but oilseed rape crops, are a different matter  At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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Last edited by dunroof on 17th Feb 2013 8:54 am. Edited 1 time in total

after reading some of the threads would the general opinion may be that the manual freelander drivers are more experanced over the auto drivers as stated in one post that drivers of automatic cars are lazy the auto may be better off road but then again you do need more skill to control a manual car off road than the auto car what i do remember is that when i had a 300 series 3.9 v8 disco that was an auto and i did find it was harder to control in ice and snow with the auto box than a manual box  rainy-city
xs

Last edited by dunroof on 17th Feb 2013 8:53 am. Edited 1 time in total

Off road in a freelander you never come out of first so makes no differents at all!

bigalf1961 wrote:

after reading some of the threads would the general opinion may be that the manual freelander drivers are more experanced over the auto drivers as stated in one post that drivers of automatic cars are lazy the auto may be better off road but then again you do need more skill to control a manual car off road than the auto car what i do remember is that when i had a 300 series 3.9 v8 disco that was an auto and i did find it was harder to control in ice and snow with the auto box than a manual box

Auto has commandshift to enable the driver to have more control in snow and ice so a big difference from the old disco days. It is so easy off road because you don't have to worry about being careful with clutch control.

That said, I have gone off roading on wrangler tyres without any problems. There are pi takers who keep quoting 'hefty' off roading and boast about how my greenlaning can't compete with places such as Bala.

I fully admit that most of the stuff was steady going but the pi takers would soon eat humble pie if they drove up Monsal Dale and realised that it was in fact very rocky and 'hefty'. The manual coped admirably and whilst the auto makes it look easier, the fact that the manual requires more concentration and skill makes defeating the obstacles more rewarding. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

chicken george wrote:

I'm entitled to NFU discounts on a new LR, the dealer offered healthy discount on a new fl2 as well, I ended up haggling with the co-owner of the whole dealership, Being a Yorkshireman I didn't write the cheque without a fight.

And being a Yorkshireman also, he fair snatched the cheque from my hand


The day after I bought a shiny new cultivator from the same company, That arrived yesterday, sex on wheels it is too. If your into cultivators that is

I love new cultivators , boss has bought me one too , coming early next year

Quote:

The Doctor wrote

That said, I have gone off roading on wrangler tyres without any problems. There are pi takers who keep quoting 'hefty' off roading and boast about how my greenlaning can't compete with places such as Bala.

fully admit that most of the stuff was steady going but the pi takers would soon eat humble pie if they drove up Monsal Dale and realised that it was in fact very rocky and 'hefty'. The manual coped admirably and whilst the auto makes it look easier, the fact that the manual requires more concentration and skill makes defeating the obstacles more rewarding.

Don't know who the ps takers are but i have driven a number of Green Lanes over the past three years in my Freelander, some tame, some quite challenging and one where i had to turn back ( with a G4 Disco3) because the conditions where that bad.

Some of us did a couple last year round N Yorkshire, they were quite tame, but we all enjoyed them,you take great pleasure from your adventures, which is good and you let us all know when you have been out and about.

I know what my manual Freelander is capable of and i would think the vast majority of site members do, for those that don't they have access to your posts, which I'm sure they read with great enthusiasm.

Maybe my age has something to do about it, but i now don't feel the need to advertise evrything i do with my Freelander, yes i get involved with the friendly banter and enjoy the site for what it is

So continue you with you adventures and post then up here, people will enjoy them, if they chose to read them as they chose an Auto or a manual Its personal preference and that's what life is all about, making decision’s some good some bad

I have made a decision not to read any more of your posts simple as that as one can only take in so much information about Snow, Tyres and Hefty Off Roading, Oh and i don't mean to offend

Hicksy wrote:

I love new cultivators , boss has bought me one too , coming early next year

simba express trailed 4.6m , smaller than your gear but still hefty At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

That's ok toeknee. I only do it in retaliation. If nobody started this thread or if nobody boasted about auto and slagged off the manual I would never have posted a single word. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

The Doctor wrote:

That's ok toeknee. I only do it in retaliation. If nobody started this thread or if nobody boasted about auto and slagged off the manual I would never have posted a single word.

richardk wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

That's ok toeknee. I only do it in retaliation. If nobody started this thread or if nobody boasted about auto and slagged off the manual I would never have posted a single word.

Such a shame this forum has degenerated into retaliation, boasting and slagging of late rather than constructively helping other FL2 owners or prospective owners of these great cars. The original thread was about reliability not personal preference.

Well said that man  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

richardk wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

That's ok toeknee. I only do it in retaliation. If nobody started this thread or if nobody boasted about auto and slagged off the manual I would never have posted a single word.

Such a shame this forum has degenerated into retaliation, boasting and slagging of late rather than constructively helping other FL2 owners or prospective owners of these great cars. The original thread was about reliability not personal preference.

Surely an auto is better off road,, it gives you a semi variable minimum speed as opposed to the manuals rather high first gear.
Sadly clutch burning is easy in an fl2, mine did get hot in Keilder forest, on a track the organisers said was for discos + rrs's only. that was despite some careful driving. it wasnt a matter of me rushing either as the convoy nature of the day resulted in lots of stop starts so there was no point hurrying, infact the extended pauses probably saved my clutch from a beating that day. The fl2 driver two cars behind me did smoke out his clutch badly, the whole forest stank, but he said later that the clutch recovered ok.

for more normal driving an auto is mostly excellent,
I do know they arn't great for passengers when in traffic jams inching along, as they tend to set off with a slight surge and then brake to stop, this can cause car sickness - this is in merc not sure what fl2 autos are like.
My dads merc has an excellent brake hold so auto drivers dont have to sit in traffic with their foot on brake, just jab the brake pedal once when you have stopped and the brakes stay on until you set off again. this also extinguishes the brake lights courteously for the driver behind.
Apart from the stop start traffic thing I've never known a jerky auto and it is possible for a poor/lazy driver to replicate the same stop/start jerkiness thing in a manual car.

Usability of the manual fl2's clutch and gear box is very good, bar the high first gear which does annoy sometimes.


I would have either system on a future car, but to be honest I prefer the auto now, shame it costs so much more and has a fuel economy cost. but changing the clutch or dmf is a costly job and seemingly is not uncommon in an fl2

final verdict , a draw, buy which ever you prefer/suits your wallet

There is no single compelling mechanical reason to choose one over the other, preference will dictate more than cold mechanical facts.


Just put it in a black car job done  At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race