Hi all,
just had to trade in my 2012 TD4 manual HSE for an 2011 SD4 XS Auto due to injury and illness making it difficult to change gear. I did not plan to do this as I absolutely loved the manual even though I had only had it for 6 months or so but as i say above, it has been forced upon me.
However, early impressions of the SD4 are that it is superb to drive, very smooth changes, excellent acceleration - have to wait and see about the mpg!
I tow a caravan (sorry CG! ) and have been told that the auto is best, but will have to wait until early spring to test this out.
A few toys missing from the HSE, but the XS does have the roof spoiler, full size spare and 18" HSE alloys. Also get the colour coding.
Moved from Santorini Black which looked brilliant when clean (but looked dirty as soon as you moved off the drive!) to Indus Silver which already seems to stay cleaner for longer.
Just hope I love this one as much as the manual i have had to let go. 2011 XS SD4, Indus Silver (Getting to love it more and more)
2012 HSE Manual, Santorini Black (Loved it and did not want to let it go)
2011 Honda CRV EX IDTEC (Gone and never really loved)
2007 HONDA CRV CDT-I Exec (Gone and really missed)

Sounds good. I had a manual HSE TD4 for 6 1/2 years and was faultless and could not really complain about anything on the car.

But 5 weeks ago I changed to an SD4 Auto HSE Lux.

The Auto is far superior to drive than the manual in every way. A lot easy to drive quickly when you want to as well. As for fuel economy, we have gone from an average or around 33 mpg to about 25/26mpg. But this one has just clocked 10,000 miles and the old one was nice and loose at 64000 miles. So time and mileage should see it improve.

As for towing. What a difference! I took our van out for a bit of a drive just to try the new car out a couple of weeks back and it tows so much better as an auto as well.

I don't think you will be dissapointed. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

Thanks for the post reply Mav.
I enjoy it more each time I drive it, probably getting used to changing my driving style to the auto. I am pretty easy on the right foot, so hopefully MPG won't be too bad.
I have heard that the auto adapts itself to your driving over time - whether that is true or not I don't know.
Can't wait to get towing with it.
Forgot to add in the first post, one of the other extras was Landrover mud flaps, which fit so much better than the ones I had from powerful UK. 2011 XS SD4, Indus Silver (Getting to love it more and more)
2012 HSE Manual, Santorini Black (Loved it and did not want to let it go)
2011 Honda CRV EX IDTEC (Gone and never really loved)
2007 HONDA CRV CDT-I Exec (Gone and really missed)

I've heard too that the auto adapts itself to your driving over time but how!!!
Can anyone in the know tell me how this is possible and martinbcfc never be sorry for towing a caravan

Who cares about mpg when you are driving such a fantastic car. I use to worry about fuel consumption but then did some calculations and reckoned the difference in cost between getting 30 and 40mpg in relation to the overall cost of running a car like this is not worth bothering about. I have had my SD4 for nearly 3 years now and still smile every time I get into it. And when you put your foot down its performance is superb!
And as for towing.....brilliant!
I am trying to decide whether I should trade-in after 3 years but after completely trouble free motoring since I got it new may be I should just keep it..

We went from a HSE TD4 to an XL SD4 at the end of August, both autos.

MPG on the SD4 is about the same as the TD4 but as it has only done 5K this may improve over the next year.. The extra power makes driving a nicer experience and towing is the same. The auto box does indeed adapt to your driving style but it is not really noticeable.

We lost a few goodies going to an XL but as we went from a 2010 HSE to a 2013 XL the improvements were worth the change.

I think you will find that you are very happy with the change.

Enjoy, as our trans-atlantic friends say!

It does seem that most people are v happy with the auto and same applies to those like me who change from the manual.
MPG is not really a major concern - if I can get anywhere near the 30 - 33 around town as I did from the manual I will be happy.
Even at this early stage, the driving experience just seems so much more enjoyable.
Never been the boy racer type as I grew up driving Bedford TK's and anyone who has drove those will know it was not the quickest thing around, but I do enjoy putting my foot down now and again to feel the power and acceleration of the SD4. May not be quick enough for some, but it suits me down to the ground! 2011 XS SD4, Indus Silver (Getting to love it more and more)
2012 HSE Manual, Santorini Black (Loved it and did not want to let it go)
2011 Honda CRV EX IDTEC (Gone and never really loved)
2007 HONDA CRV CDT-I Exec (Gone and really missed)

Don't talk to me about the crappy Powerful UK mudflaps!

MPG doesn't overly worry me, but it is annoying when the cars don't match what the manufacturers claim. This is not just LR, but all manufacturers. Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

I had the GS SD4 (before LR ruined it) I liked the auto quick of the mark, relaxing to drive. But for me, this time, the extra was better spent on other options.

I miss it in stop start traffic though. My next car will likely be an auto. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

What do you mean, before they ruined it? Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

The GS was a nice spec, now most things that were standard are now options, and justify it by giving you leather interior. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Ah, I see! Freelander 2 HSE Lux 2013MY - Barolo Black with Ivory Leather. Alpine DVD - Privacy -Evoque 20" Dynamic Wheels and more to come.........

Going back to the gearboxes, I have a friend who had a brand new td4 xs in March 13 it's going into the dealers next weekend for a new clutch and flywheel , it's done about 6k miles so this old problem still haunts the fl2, our gs was a manual but if I were to buy another fl I would have an auto our new car is auto and it just seems to make sense on our congested roads 

Click image to enlarge

My last four cars have all been automatics, Toyota Rav 4, Two Suzuki Grand Vitaras and now the 2011 Freelander xs and none of them have given me any trouble. Would never go back to a manual

Chris

Update on the move to the SD4 auto.
Have to say that I think it is a brilliant car, very smooth on gear changes and quick if you need it to be. A really enjoyable driving experience. MPG is not brilliant, but is close to what I was getting with the manual, but as someone said, you don't buy a Landrover for economy!
The manual car was good, but this is in a different league. At the moment I can never see myself wanting a manual car again. 2011 XS SD4, Indus Silver (Getting to love it more and more)
2012 HSE Manual, Santorini Black (Loved it and did not want to let it go)
2011 Honda CRV EX IDTEC (Gone and never really loved)
2007 HONDA CRV CDT-I Exec (Gone and really missed)