+1 for auto SD4 vs manual TD4 - martinbcfc is spot on IMO. 2016 BMW X3 30d SE in red
MY2013 SD4 XS Firenze Red, 19" 10 spoke contrast paint wheels, Signature Strips, Grand Black Lacquer trim, Cold Climate Pack - gone!
2007 TD4 S Stornoway Grey - gone!

Honestly there is no comparison. The auto is sooo much nicer. Feels like a different vehicle. It's not just the obvious gear change, it is also how much smoother and more refined it feels. Less vibration and noise in the cabin. (Coming) 2016 RR Evoque td4 180 HSE Dynamc
(Going) 2013 TD4 GS Auto - Santorini Black with black leather. Cold Climate, UK Lighting & Armrest Packs. Privacy Glass. LR Rubber Mats. Full size spare.
60 000 miles averaging 35mpg

(Gone) 2010 TD4 Manual GS - Stornoway Grey. Sold at 3yrs old & 64k miles. Final average consumption 39.2mpg.

Been out for a drive today
Noticed that if I get to just over 30mph it will drop into 4th gear and then I can let off slightly and the car will stay happily in 4th at 30. Similarly, it moves into 5th at just over 40 and I can ease of to 40 and it will stay in 5th. Whether this is normal I don't know, but it suits me as car is happy at slightly lower revs, so should help on fuel economy. short journeys do not help with mpg, but it climbs up considerably when motoring at 50 or above for a while.
Just keeps getting better.  2011 XS SD4, Indus Silver (Getting to love it more and more)
2012 HSE Manual, Santorini Black (Loved it and did not want to let it go)
2011 Honda CRV EX IDTEC (Gone and never really loved)
2007 HONDA CRV CDT-I Exec (Gone and really missed)

for SD4 very smooth and nice to drive.

How strange....test drove the auto and manual cars, and found the auto dull and uninspiring to drive. Much prefer the driving experience of the manual.

I have owned and driven several automatics in my time, and didn't particularly rate the LR automatic - even in SD4 specification.

Horses for courses I suppose.

I had an auto FR2 for 6 years and the auto box was excellent. It was truly inspiring to drive as it adapts to your driving style. Extremely swift of the mark and super smooth.
Fantastic for towing and so effortless.
It used to take about 50 miles of driving to re-adapt after towing the caravan before the gear change points reset to their lower values.
The fact that the box changes down gear approaching roundabouts and will also hold its speed descending hills by changing down on its own beats the auto boxes where you are forever sitting on the brakes to slow an auto down.
Roadtesting an auto from a dealership is a waste of time as the autobox will feel awful due to demo vehicles having so many different drivers.

Only downside was MPG and cost of box if it failed.Biggest concern as my box had suffered a fault for the first 6000 miles so the box had suffered with always pulling away in 2nd gear even towing.

MPG with Auto was overall about 26-29 and towing 19-21 mpg Long steady run about 33mpg.
My manual is doing 42.2 mpg on a run and 28.6 towing
Auto  Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !