Yes yes, I know it is incorrect use of TR but I had to try it out on the road properly just once. Anyway, earlier today I found a nice straight and dry stretch of quiet road. Not a car, animal or pedestrian to be seen.

I stopped completely and put it in sand mode and commandshift (I find at holds on to a gear too long in D when accelerating hard). I then floored it and holy mother of god it is quick off the line I don't just mean quick for a big weighty 4x4 but quick full stop.

I don't claim to know exactly what sand mode does to the cars setup but if I were on a race track side by side with say a manual Golf GTI, the GTI would easily win the drag race overall but off the line the SD4 would trounce it.

No intention of racing it anywhere of course but curiosity got the better of me here. Has anyone else dabbled with sand mode? 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

It is pretty staggering how quick it launches, but I do have to disagree with the GTI comment I'm afraid... Launch control on my GTI is on another level altogether! Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Surely yours is a DSG if it has launch control? If it's pouring it down with rain then....

SD4 will be a tad quicker than TD4 too I guess 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

Yes sand mode is quick. The auto (particularly the SD4) will be quicker still than my manual TD4 because torque is limited in 1st gear to save the DMF and clutch. Used it a few times, once to get out quickly from a layby on the A38 and although not as fast as the auto would be, still quick enough for a 2 tonne landy LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Starting off in Sand Mode in an Auto I6 =

I guess petrol prices are cheaper over there then if you drive an i6

They stopped making them over here due to lack of demand. Driving with a lead foot can see the diesels economy drop but an i6 would need to come with its own oil refinery  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Today it's showing $1.59p/l (£1.06p/l) for Shell V-Power 98RON. Approx. 500 Kms to a tank doing mainly short journeys.

Hmmm - I think the Green Brigade will love me... not!

Fuels not expensive here either, its the tax thats expensive on it.

£1 a litre...oh the days!

Bbc's website last week hand an interesting page, you put in how expensive your fuel is, and how many litres your tank is and it tells you how much it costs you to fill. Nothing exciting there.

Except it then tells you how much you save compared to the most expensive in the world (Netherlands, the golf would be £9 more on a £70.98 tank) and the cheapest in the world (Venezuela, £70.05 cheaper )

Ye in the wet probably to 30mph the Freelander would possibly see off the golf, 240hp through the front wheels is a bit much on a damp road. Yes it is DSG. Freelander has 'Launch Control' too, on both manuals and auto's  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Launch control on FL2? What's that then? Hold foot brake whilst building revs perhaps? 60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

Yup

Foot brake on, revs at 1750, right in the torque, brake off and floor it. That takes up and turbo and transmission lag.

I wouldn't do it often though, I've only ever done it once!

Manuals balance the throttle and clutch at the same revs, clutch out quickly whilst flooring. Balance it so the revs stay at about 1750 until the clutch's out

Again don't do it often unless you like buying clutch's! Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

I can see the clutch and flywheel being launched somewhere too do this for long

Good job I have an auto then  60 plate SD4 XS, Stornoway Grey, Arm rest pack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly--gT1RJdk

and don't complain when inappropriate use of sand mode results in the early failure of a component!

Namely a Grand's-worth of Diff!! Foraging near Gaydon....
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MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles