I got stuck on the beach saturday with my FL2 in front of everybody I will add I felt the biggest prat ever. Anyway, had the same clutch smell, must of stalled it half a dozen times first but there wasnt enough power.

The main problem is the FL2 needs low range like the discovery, defender, RR. First gear ratio is too high when conditions are bad going.
Id of bought a disco3 if it wasnt for the 21-22 mpg putting me off !

On-board wrote:

The main problem is the FL2 needs low range like the discovery, defender, RR. First gear ratio is too high when conditions are bad going.

Or buy an automatic if you know that you'll often be in that kind of situations that will require a low range...

I dont like automatics they're to thirsty for me. Low range would be fine, just like my defender.

I'm with Alex on this one.

If you intend to off road (and occasionally get stuck)- as opposed to green laning, the auto is a better option, especially if like me you are unfreindly to clutches
When it comes to fuel economy you should still get around 30mpg - some get a lot more.
Low ratio would be a benefit if you like to go rock crawling, but I would think the FL2 is too low to the ground for that. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Surely, the Terrain Response has been designed to avoid the need for the LR box anyway. If you select the correct mode for the terrain then the OBC and traction control should take care of just about everything else. I know that when my Dad got a Range Rover years ago, he had the Off Road course chucked in. The instructor said then that the auto box was the best for offroad. I came across a nice icy hill in my Smax and the only way I could get up that was by doing what Npinks said, basically dipping the clutch. Smelt great! Hi Darling, I'll be home in 10 mins. If I'm not back, please read this message again...

Auto box really seems to be a better choice for the off-road than a manual. That's a bit disappointing, because, normally, the manual box should be more robust for off-road adventures. If I had known that a manual-Freely is hampered in this regard, I would have considered buying an Automatic.

Our auto hardly ever goes below 35 mpg, I drive really steady away in towns but on motorways there's no difference between a manual and auto because the auto 'locks' up. The only time on the open road that the economy is worse than a manual is if you accelerate hard enough to make it kick down. There's a nack to driving auto's and I find them extremely satisfying.

Just my findings anyway. Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

I didn't have my specs on - at first sight I thought the title said, 'Crutch smell on a steep hill.'