A disability put me down the automatic route

HSE TD4, very very nice. Cannot comment on SD4 as never tried one but got an experience day coming up so might get a go then.

Though I am getting on a bit  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

I was 26 when I ordered my Freelander. Had it only been available in auto then I would never have purchased it. The think that put me off a D4 was that there were no manual options  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

I started my FL2 ownership with a TD4 manual but swapped in May this year to an SD4. The SD4 is much easier to drive and there's no danger of clutch slip as I got under hard acceleration in the manual.....I know it probably needed a new clutch. The only "problem" I find with the auto is that it has an annoying habit of changing UP when you lift for a corner and then hunts down the gears when you want to drive out of that corner. Command shift sorts that problem but you shouldn't have to.
Overall the answer to the OP question is.....SD4. MY13 Santorini Black SD4 HSE

LR NUT wrote:

I was 26 when I ordered my Freelander. Had it only been available in auto then I would never have purchased it. The think that put me off a D4 was that there were no manual options

I know you can put a D2 auto box etc into a manual D2 or defender and vice versa...... wonder if you could have bought a D4 then converted to a manual box and pedals etc from a D3

My previous cars were manual but I also had company cars that were auto. These days with all the hills & density of start stop traffic around here with average city speed of only 30 km/h I'm over it with manuals! Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

AW14 wrote:

why does anyone want a manual?

totally agree, and if I had a quick car it would be manual (although in BMW I would go for the auto every time) but IMO (and a few others) Land Rovers just suit being auto.

Personal taste at the end of the day though

I have been a keen driver all my life, but I am very happy with the automatic FL2.

It suits the FL2 large amount of torque, and I believe that you would have to work exceedingly hard to keep in the right gear as the FL2 does. I also doubt that you could produce the quick, full throttle, gear changes time, after time, after time.

I owned a Triumph Dolomite Sprint for many years, it was quick, to my surprise the SD4 FL2 matches the acceleration times and top speed of the Sprint. 0-60 mph 8.7 secs ; Top Speed 118 mph.

If you choose the FL2 SD4 Auto then you will quickly wonder why anyone chooses manual gearboxes.

Also some time spent climbing in the woods on a 'Land Rover Experience' day will show you the advantages off road of the auto box, as you slowly clamber out of the holes, in complete control. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 77k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

totally agree had 2 t d 4,s both auto very good ...
HSE AUTO SD4 GREAT

with an auto you have manual and auto
with a manual you get what a manual ...... No Brainer for me ..!!!  Wales
Were the mud is thicker, and the ruts are deeper.
(And we have the water to wash it off, and more on the way..! )
Sd4 and chrome Ar*e piece, Auto box for best fun
09 Xs Gone
12 xs Gone
HSE with Leather seats and 4 years warrenty.. staying for now !

Just gone from TD4 to SD4 and the SD4 is so much better in almost everyway (in things the engine can effect anyway).

AjM, can you elaborate please, as is there THAT much difference?  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Not earth shattering, but certainly more torque, it really throws you back of the line and I accidentally got a 4 wheel spin the other day (admittedly it was wet and I floored it).

You can def notice it, put it like that.

torque figures between TD4 and SD4 are basically the same, its the BHP where the biggest number change is.

However I think due to the different turbo and associated mapping, the SD4 definitely feels quicker, smoother, and quieter than the TD4. Economy isn't quite the same as TD4 possibly but you can achieve decent mpg from the SD4 if your not too heavy on the right foot

OK, thanks, BHP . Torque . I'm Jules light foot anyway  If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

🐑
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

BHP is the amount of power output from the engine at a given RPM (revs)
150bhp/160bhp for the TD4 depending on model year or 190bhp for the SD4 all model years

torque is the amount of force the engine produces at a given RPM and is then applied to the wheels, so the higher the torque figure the better the car puts its power down on the road. IIRC its 310 lb/ft of torque for all engines


I stand to be corrected in any way by cleverer mechanical engineers on here