I'm hoping to get some views on whether the auto is worth the extra cost over the manual.

To give you some background - we currently have a Baltic blue 2.2 TD4 XS manual which we've had for 3 months. It is my wifes company car and she is moving jobs in the next week or so. Although the car is great, I've always fancied having the auto as I think a laid back driving style suits a 4x4 .....even though the FL2 does drive and handle exceptionally well. Now here is the dilema - looking at the company car tax rates for the manual and the auto it shows the auto to be 34% of list versus the 28% for the manual. This results in approx £800 extra per year for the XS and around £900 for the SE. Incidently, I want the SE as the only thing I dislike about the FL2 is the 'hole' in the dash ...plus the heated screen, sunroof etc is also worth having. Plus this time round we are going to opt for the leather option which also adds front armrests which I also miss.

So what are people's views is the auto worth it (we do a reasonable amount of town driving but it's not like the manual box isn't a good one) ... based on the SE the extra tax over 3 years is getting on for £3k which is considerable!

don't know why but just didn't expect the auto to be that much less efficient in terms of CO2?

All of my recent cars Volvo V70, BMW 320d, Volvo XC90 x2 and now FL2 HSE have all been auto. I have probably paid over £10,000 in extra tax over the past 10 years but dont regret it. Auto in the FL2 is one of the best i have driven apart from BMW so I would recomend. If you can afford the extra tax you will think its worth it. Like you I dont really see why the auto is so much worse in tax as its not that much less in mpg than the manual, but HMGOV just loves to find a reason to take away our hard earned cash I was tempted to down grade to an XS or SE but when added it up there wasn't much extra in tax to have the HSE and it was less than my XC90 cost anyway.

Dont know if you intend to join the caravan brigade but the auto is far better if you are going to tow anything or go off road.

Anyway as they say the choice is yours.

I deliberatly waited to get the auto version of the FL2, after having my first auto (a Disco) in 1996.

I've now had my FL2, which is pretty much exactly the spec you now want, for 3 months. I have never regretted the extra cost for a minute. In fact I feel like celebrating it every time I drive it, especially when I hit heavy traffic, or feel tired, or when on a longer trip. It drives like a dream with minimal effort. You can get out after a long trip and still feel relaxed and fresh.

The auto on the FL2 is ofcourse way more sophisticated than the one on my old Disco. It really does everything you could want, and suit whatever mood you are in. I tend to use the standard drive setting the most, but I do also use the sport setting and command shift when I feel like it, or the conditions seem to favour them.

So ..... if you can afford it .. I'd definately recommend the SE Auto. I very much doubt you'd ever regret it!! I assume you've test driven onealready!? Maybe worth getting your dealer to loan you one for a day, and really try it out ... and get hooked!  Life is not a dress rehearsal!

Yes, Crossy, the Auto is worth every penny (or cent)!
I own the FL2 TD4 Auto since beginning of August 2007, and the Automatic gives this SUV the extra touch it deserves. If you read through other topics of this good forum some members have changed their manual FL2 against automatic, and regret that they have not ordered the automatic at the very beginning.
The automatic is "made" for theTD 4 engine due to the high torque of this engine, and response, acceleration and relaxed driving is unsurpassed by the manual. Even the slightly higher fuel consumption is reasonable with 02-03 l/100 km.
If you should ever go "off-road", the automatic increases the driveability tremendeously. This also applies to towing. Ask the experts, they will confirm.

So make your choice carefully, the automatic is worth its money.

YF

Most certainly: YES!!!!
Both in terrain as in daily traffic: gthe auto is very smooth and a joy to ride!

Succes with your decision.

Wheatonshunter

If you have a "laid back" driving style the Auto could well suit you i have only driven the FL1 auto as a courtesy car for a few days ...hated it ...think i must be a control freak i need to feel the responsiveness of the engine like i`m actually 'driving' the car ....the FL2 auto may be better but i just feel like i`m driving a Very expensive Golf cart in an auto

Thanks for the responses - it seems all those with the auto are very pleased with their choice - not suprising I'm 99% sure that if we stay with the FL2 then I'll be joing the auto brigade. Just looking at a few other cars before making a final decision as the company car options with this company provide some interesting options in terms of the cars we could get for the same cost of the FL2. But must admit I've really enjoyed driving the FL2 these past 3 months (done nearly 5,000 miles) and not sure I could go back to a regular car

Crossy,

I had the manual HSE then was fortunate and had a buy back due to problems and was allowed to alter the spec to Auto, as this had been released since my original car was bought. Its fantastic. Manual is super but if you want manual you have the command shift, also sport mode in auto works a treat, and for being just plain lazy std auto mode. Its quicker on paper than the manual, not that you would notice .5 of a second and it is noticably quiter. I would never go back to the manual and I have always had manual in my 20 years of driving. Maybe its age..... (shut up GS69!! ) Also on the recent off road day at Tong, no clutch smell compared to the manuals, off roading was a breeze.

If you choose the FL2 get the auto for sure

Thanks Carlfraz, the auto is a certainty if I get an FL2 but wavering a little in our choice of car at the moment - the nature of this company car scheme / catrtax means we can get an Audi A6 Avant 2.7Tdi Le Mans auto (S Line with bigger wheels , full leather etc etc for those that know the Audi specs) or a similar BMW 5 series M Sport Touring auto, and having a look at them yesterday they are very appealing - especially the Audi. The cars cost significantly more than the SE Freelander but when you add in the company car tax which is less for the Audi and BMW the overall cost is very similar - not to mention the improved fuel economy ... which over 20k miles per year is well over £1,000 savings ...so lots to consider.

Based on that .... go with your emotions ..... which car appeals the most and will give you the most fun and pleasure. Forget the car tax bit ...... that's too mundane; this is all about passion!!!!

Obviously for me there would be no contest .... the FL2 wins hands down, for the wide range of pleasures it delivers with ease!!  Life is not a dress rehearsal!

I'm with you on that Nick Jan, but thats still a tough choice. As you say the FL2 gives the variety of driving plus the offroad ability and the higher driving position. Plus I could not deal with our local BMW dealer for service with a second car......Elms Bedford has ashocking , and I mean shocking attitude towards its customers, had numerous rows about paying for loan car when the wifes Mini Cooper went in for warranty work (several times) and they wanted to bill me for the car each time!!! Needless to say got the loaners and did not pay still not pleased though.

Anyway crossy, good luck with your choice, hope you make the right choice...................so what colour FL2 are you ordering????

Crossy, I think you have kind of answered your own question there, because if you can consider the A6 or the 5-Series then you really don't need a 4x4 (SUV, Truck, Jeep thing). However driving position is something that some will prefer in a 4x4 compared to a car, but for pure driving pleasure I'd take the 5-Series.

If you are a passionate driver who likes the twisty bits in the road then take the 5-series, if you want all round quality, good performance and safe driving dynamics take the Audi, and if you want quality, road pressence and the ability to go places where others fear then the FL2 it is.

I would have gone for the 5-Series if I didn't need a proper 4x4 (Not an X5 or the likes) for my job.

Had a fully loaded 525 on rent for over a week a few weeks back and although considerably slower than my current car I loved every minute driving it and din't think I could ever get bored with it...especially trying to figure out the iDrive system!!!