The Doctor wrote:

sportsman wrote:

Apart from auto trade and eBay and dealers is there any other decent websites where I should be looking..Answers please again to reallyconfused .com

You could try Parkers. If possible stick with LR approved. Contact LPR who sponsor this site, they will help you.

As The Doctor has posted you could do worse than the site sponsors, I do know they have a nice Stornoway HSE for sale sadly a manual though  p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

Yippee manual for sale. Contact LPR via PM if you want. Very helpful and quick to respond. I had a query about an ipod lead and they offered great advice  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Current SD4 is my 3rd FL2 Auto, all brilliant to drive.
I changed to Auto for medical reasons in first instance and only LR were offering a Diesel Auto within price range. I previously drove Rav 4 then when spare wheel was dropped and no wheel well to carry one I moved to Honda. I had road tests with both makes petrol autos (diesel not available in 2007/ and they were jerky and high reving. Drove FL2 Auto and was smitten, what a smooth box, only the slightest jerk when pulling away from start on heavy throttle.
I have covered some 65000 miles in the 3 cars and have found
A) if you select N or P when stationary pause for a couple of seconds after selecting D before pulling away, this prevents the initial slight jerk.
B) if planning an overtake (i drive a lot on country roads) I select sport mode and then change up manually as required. I find the changes totally smooth to the point on not noticing them. This also gives better control and speed to pass than using kickdown.
Many of the miles I have driven were on forrestry roads in all weathers and conditions, never missed a beat.
At a recent Land Rover Comp Safari (i was chief scrutineer) I drove up a track to start line, some Disco 2&3 drivers had failed to manage. Ability to do this was auto box and EXCELLENT tuition from instructor at my day with LR Experience. All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

The Doctor wrote:

Yippee manual for sale. Contact LPR via PM if you want. Very helpful and quick to respond. I had a query about an ipod lead and they offered great advice

My one, I wanted an auto, better box  p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

LR should do an advert, test drive the latest FL2 with proper manual or the wasteofmoneyshift auto box.

 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

It depends whether you're a CRAP DRIVER as to whether a clutch goes early!

I'm a bit behind with the auto expresses...I've just read the one testing the SD4 against the X3 Q5 and XC60, where they said the FL was 'expensive in this company (it was the cheapest on test) and the auto offers no manual control. On that basis I've recently been taking what AE says with a pinch of salt!

We have an auto, but the viscous couplings can go wrong, more electronics...etc etc so it's just personal opinion what's best (auto hehem ) Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Big Dave wrote:

It depends whether you're a CRAP DRIVER as to whether a clutch goes early!

Ah yes - agree, but if your buying used you dont know if the previous driver was any good or not and so could face an expensive bill for replacing the clutch... another reason to buy aito  Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

the only way I would ever have an auto would be for medical reasons ( as druand has stated )

the manual gearbox and clutch are a big part in the art of driving and I would miss it too much to give it up.

an auto would take away a huge part of my driving pleasure and I would only accept it if I did not have a choice in the matter.

but like everything else in life that day will certainly come, so I would not decry the auto, just hope that you auto guys keep testing it so that all the creases are ironed out for me !!

Iain

The Doctor wrote:

It jerks when accelerating quickly and kick down is hideous.

I would like to see you changing gears in a manual, during kick down, without any jerks and overflaring the engine or grinding the clutch....

So just to recap it looks like a 50/50 split on what people prefer and there doesnt seem to have been a lot of failed clutches bearing in mind like someone already said you do get people who cant drive properly and ride the clutch,i think i will go with the Manual...Thanks for all your input guys its really appreciated

The Doctor wrote:

It jerks when accelerating quickly and kick down is hideous.

The above post is so true.
This is my first ever Auto and I love it.
To me it's not a "proper" 4x4 unless it's an auto.

alex_pescaru wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

It jerks when accelerating quickly and kick down is hideous.

I would like to see you changing gears in a manual, during kick down, without any jerks and overflaring the engine or grinding the clutch....

The Doctor wrote:

The thing with driving a manual is that you know the gearbox and when to change to get the best out of it. Never suffer jerky kickdown cos I am in control rather than the car.

Absolutely right - how could you?

It's called "changing down" on a manual...

...and I'm sure you're very good at it. Trevor

'60 reg SD4 XS (long gone!)

trevd01 wrote:

The Doctor wrote:

The thing with driving a manual is that you know the gearbox and when to change to get the best out of it. Never suffer jerky kickdown cos I am in control rather than the car.

Absolutely right - how could you?

It's called "changing down" on a manual...

...and I'm sure you're very good at it.

Sure am. It looks as if despite this debate, sportsman is going to do the right thing and buy manual. Unless he has a last minute change of mind for the worse and buys auto  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey