I prefer auto's in bigger cars, cars that are more on the comfort side of driving than sports like 4x4's. Why would I want to worry about changing gear when the car does it for me, balancing clutches on hills sometimes when towing, trying to make every gearchange as smooth as possible when the car can do it for me? The LR auto is very good, and i didn't need to drive it long before I could tell when it would and wouldn't change gear and what to do to make it do what I want

Ours regularly returns 35mpg plus on fairly open runs, (I know this might make Nick a bit sick!) never below 30 even in town. Our D3 could be persuaded to never go below 25 mpg and that was an auto too.

It's all on opinion. Test them both and see what you think. My opinion is as stated, and also that people getting pitiful mpg from auto's either a. don't know how to drive them properly, or b. there's an issue with the vehicle. Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Big Dave

Careful questionning whether people know how to drive auto's properly. Driving my old auto for max economy (inc coasting and always using manual etc) the best I could coax out of it on flat Belgian roads was 38 mpg. My new manual (less than 1000miles) gives low 40's on flat roads where I live without really going for it (28 in the last [auto] one)!

Bear in mind my normal daily drive (2009 Ford Foucs 1.6 TDCI [not econotic stop start model) I get low 60's on A and B roads without really thinking about it. Sometimes it is just the car no matter how well serviced or tyres pumped up etc.

Maybe my last car wasn't a good'n, or more realisticly a 2 tonne 4wd that requires large energy inputs to get moving with an auto box that whilst silky smooth on the move just saps the power required to get it moving?  Freelander 2.2e HSE , Privacy, Fully debadged, 19" Chrome SHadow alloys

for me its got to be the Auto. I changed from a manual CR-V to get an auto. in todays traffic congestion and average speed cameras I prefer an auto.
If you want driver involvment why buy a FL2, or any SUV type vehicle, buy an Austin healy sprite or MGB.
I think the auto suits the FL2 as a relaxing cruiser, rather than a sports car, still as as someone else said its horses for courses so its nice that LR give a choice.

1STFREELANDER wrote:

If you want driver involvment why buy a FL2, or any SUV type vehicle, buy an Austin healy sprite or MGB.

....because vintage sports cars are not ideal for rural environments or British winters. What's the problem with preferring a more hands-on control with a 4WD?

driver involvement in the FL2 does give back a lot of pleasure to the driver who is looking for this rather than just get from A to B.

the manual gearbox is superb and once you've mastered the high ratios, etc the feedback in terms of rpm/torque/acceleration is very rewarding. ( sometimes I just change gear for the sake of it !! )

and along with this you also have a high driving position/terrain response/and every extra you would ever need.

why would I even consider a sports car ??

you do not have to drive fast to enjoy this...............indeed I probably am one of the slowest drivers on this forum...................but I do enjoy it !!

Iain

ps but someday I know I will need an auto, and the FL2 does seem to have one of the best autos on the market.

pps and from reading other posts on the forum the auto would seem to be ideal for offroad and for towing.

Last edited by iain cooper on 23rd May 2010 8:43 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Lesson learned...even the simplest of questions leads to a huge debate!  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Intresting the comment about the FL2 having one of the best auto boxes. From what I can see from the internet
the FL2 auto is bulit by Aisin Warner and is basically the same box fitted to VW/Audi group with the Tiptronic gearbox, Volvos, Ford, Citroen and a few others. to cap it all the company is owned by Toyota.

Nice to know that spares are not going to be an issue - with several manufactures are using the box.

Maybe the gearbox and engine combination works so well is because LR engineers have spent more time tuning the software that links the two. Terrain response must impose several software maps, the time spent developing the maps would give a better understanding of how the combination works together.

Then again they could just have got lucky  Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I can't see it being simply an 'off the shelf' item that is shared with all them cars, the 5 litre V8 and 3 litre diesel in the Range Rover and the Discovery are shared with Jag, and the diesel with Peugeot,but in LR guise iit's very different.

Some components may be shared but from my experience it's a very diffferent 'box Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Absolutely.
The likelihood is it's a common shell but the gearing and control internally will be specific to the car. If VW/Audi use it and it's Toyota built then it's likely to be pretty reliable too.

One thing I'm unsure about though...
If an auto box is the ultimate for off-road scenarios, why is the Defender only available in manual variants?

AndyT wrote:

One thing I'm unsure about though...
If an auto box is the ultimate for off-road scenarios, why is the Defender only available in manual variants?

I bet there are more auto's than manuals of the thinking mans Defender - the D3.
But thats a completely different discussion.  Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

AndyT wrote:

One thing I'm unsure about though...
If an auto box is the ultimate for off-road scenarios, why is the Defender only available in manual variants?

No no no, there are some concepts being thrown about for an all new defender, due for show in 2013 I think, although LR are a bit concerned to the publics take on it.

I think auto's aren't necessarily better, I think they are in the absence of a Low range 'box, but when one is available, I think manual is favoured for extreme situations, although I could be wrong Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

I think you're absolutely right on both counts. Manual with a low box is the best alternative for seriously challenging terrain. Also, the Defender has to live on - there's no serious substitute. There is a potential issue with Tata's attitude towards the company's direction though. I suspect they're more interested in the luxury sector. Hope they don't fiddle too much.