How childish.....its almost as bad as the 'my colour is better than yours' drivel that rears its ugly head on disco3.co.uk every so often  
My Landrover History:
2011 Freelander 2 SD4 Sport Limited Edition - Current
2008 Discovery 3 GS Auto
2006 Discovery 3 Manual
2004 Discovery 3 Manual
2003 Defender TD5 CSW Manual
1996 Defender 300TDi CSW Manual

Dom Harvey wrote:

How childish.....its almost as bad as the 'my colour is better than yours' drivel that rears its ugly head on disco3.co.uk every so often

True but this isn't the first time this topic has cropped up and it won't be the last time I suspect  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

.....thought I'd escaped all that when I changed from a D3 to a FL2. 
My Landrover History:
2011 Freelander 2 SD4 Sport Limited Edition - Current
2008 Discovery 3 GS Auto
2006 Discovery 3 Manual
2004 Discovery 3 Manual
2003 Defender TD5 CSW Manual
1996 Defender 300TDi CSW Manual

Dom,
What are your thoughts of FL2 since the change from D3?
I'd be interested to know.
I'd love a D4, but can't justify the silly money to buy one.
Yet  Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Children, children, stop this silly discussion, of course the Auto is better than the manual and my Dad is bigger than all your Dads, so there

EYorkshire wrote:

Children, children, stop this silly discussion, of course the Auto is better than the manual and my Dad is bigger than all your Dads, so there

Manual wins hands down plus you have the SD4 which is also the auto and it's an even worse jerky kickdown than the normal auto. High praise indeed. If only LR had gone to the expense of making a new clutch and made a manual SD4, that would have been much better. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

The last few years I have seen my travel into and out of the city become increasingly start/stop due to traffic, and one stretch of road has 8 roundabouts in less than a mile meaning up and down the manual box, it's this that turned me towards the auto plus the worrying clutch saga because I tow. I was looking for a more relaxed driving experience but knew I would be losing a little excitement that a manual has given me over the years, and yes, if the SD4 was offered with an uprated clutch it would have been a hard choice.
I loved dropping down a gear in readiness, exacting smooth clutch control and changes when needed, all things I miss in the Auto. I also agree the kickdown is back jarring as it drops down into too low a gear that is unnecessary for a diesels torque, that's why I never use it.
So basically, they both have their uses and I think the manual command shift goes a long way in combining some manual control with an automatic.

Or maybe I'm getting old

Pegleg wrote:

Dom,
What are your thoughts of FL2 since the change from D3?
I'd be interested to know.
I'd love a D4, but can't justify the silly money to buy one.
Yet

I have written about auto v manual but put it in D3 to FL2 by mistake. part 3 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.

All the Auto vs Manual / Black vs Grey / HSE vs S / Whatever vs Whatever debates, inevitably involve people trying to convince others (and themselves?) that they have made the 'best' decision, and also some people posting things seemingly purely to provoke a response.

I did 50,000 miles in a TD4 manual. In some situations, including reversing up a steep hill to park close to my garage door it was easier to control than an auto.

I now have an SD4 which comes only as an auto. I do not find that it revs too much or has a jerky kickdown. I do find it much easier in traffic and the engine to be more refined and responsive, which is what I was hoping for.

The manual gearbox is very sweet. particularly for a largish 4x4.

The auto is also a very nice drive.

If you like manuals you'll be very happy with the manual, if you like auto's and can afford the extra cost to purchase and run one then you'll like the auto.

If you want an SD4 your options are limited! 2011 SD4 HSE Ipanema Sand
Gone but not forgotten - 2007 TD4 SE Izmir Blue

The Doctor wrote:

EYorkshire wrote:

Children, children, stop this silly discussion, of course the Auto is better than the manual and my Dad is bigger than all your Dads, so there

Manual wins hands down plus you have the SD4 which is also the auto and it's an even worse jerky kickdown than the normal auto. High praise indeed. If only LR had gone to the expense of making a new clutch and made a manual SD4, that would have been much better.

I can only think you must driving like Sebastian Vettel off the grid, foot hard down until your chosen speed is reached. It is a very refined drive and the kickdown on the SD4 which EY has mentioned does throw you back in the seat but I expect like me EY has found you don't need to put the pedal through the floor, just a gentle steady press down and a sufficiant surge of power is transmitted through the refined transmission.  p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

That's what I was trying to say
No need for the back jarring kickdown, just smooth, powerful delivery through the most refined auto box that could be mistaken for a "Singer Sowing Machine" giving the impression of riding on the crest of a wave.

Nowt like the dumper truck like manual.

Seriously has this ended up as an Auto vs Manual debate ..... AGAIN???

Is it not simple... as far as a Freelander 2 is concerned;

Auto is better than Manual
Black is better than Stornyway
No towbar is better than towbar...


.
.
.

Oh and proper HSE wheels are better than not proper HSE wheels!!!

Any other car and it might be different though.... Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

Even the FFRR boys squabble over the similar things (except all FFRR's are autos) - usually it's Vogue or Vogue SE or LPG or no LPG for the 4.4 Petrol engine or 4.2S/C.......................... but they still squabble. On RRS it's HST or not to HST or 22" wheels over 20"wheels so you guys are just maintaining the tradition that dissent is good! How can carbon have a footprint, it has no feet?
Now driving - RRE Coupe Dynamic Lux Auto with Plus pack, Fuji White, Ebony, SD4 with tow pack
Gone - 2010MY FFRR TDv8 Stornoway and Ivory, Privacy - the pace of a TDv8 RRS, the incomparable grace of a Range Rover
Gone but will be missed- RRS Tdv8 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather
Gone (only a little missed) RRS Tdv6 2.7SE Giverny Green/Aspen
Defender 90 County HT in Epsom Green

Echo again! How can carbon have a footprint, it has no feet?
Now driving - RRE Coupe Dynamic Lux Auto with Plus pack, Fuji White, Ebony, SD4 with tow pack
Gone - 2010MY FFRR TDv8 Stornoway and Ivory, Privacy - the pace of a TDv8 RRS, the incomparable grace of a Range Rover
Gone but will be missed- RRS Tdv8 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather
Gone (only a little missed) RRS Tdv6 2.7SE Giverny Green/Aspen
Defender 90 County HT in Epsom Green