I have a Coachman Laser 650/4, which is quite a heavy twin axle van. When I bought the van several years ago, I had a FL2 TD4 manual. (09 plate)
I found towing it with that FL2 hard work. Also, 2 failed clutches didn't help, I quickly changed it for a D3. The D3 was amazing, and it never felt as if I was towing the van.
5 Years on, and the D3 had to go as it was 8 years old with 100000 miles on the clock, and a lot of expensive faults developing.
Did my research and bought a 63 plate SD4 auto.
I cant believe how well it towed compared to my first FL2. Not as quick of the mark as the D3, but a very capable towing vehicle.
I'm a happy bunny. Updated- Waiting for a Scotland v England 6 Nations home win. 24th Feb 2018
Gone-1972 88 SWB Soft top
Gone-1981 24v FFR Lightweight
Gone-2009 Freelander 2 TD4 GS manual
Gone before it bankrupted me- 2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto
2013 Freelander 2 SD4 GS Auto

Once your over the initial loss of a D3 or D4, and you get used to slightly less room, the FL2 isn't too bad at all.
Most satisfying part of ownership is when you keep reading all the various woes (and high costs) that the our D3/D4 brethren experience ..... then match that against the cheaper running expenses (and less likelihood of such costly repairs) and you know you've made the right decision.  FL2 now gone and have a couple of items left for sale:-

Brodit active iPhone holder + Brodit dash clip,
Bluetooth Music Streaming Module.

I learnt a long time ago that towing with an auto will always be better than with a manual, but with the weak FL2 clutch it does seem especially true on this car. My van is pretty heavy too, and my HSE auto does the job brilliantly. Set the cruise for 60 and don't worry about hills ever again!

mcsimmo wrote:

I have a Coachman Laser 650/4, which is quite a heavy twin axle van. When I bought the van several years ago, I had a FL2 TD4 manual. (09 plate)
I found towing it with that FL2 hard work. Also, 2 failed clutches didn't help, I quickly changed it for a D3. The D3 was amazing, and it never felt as if I was towing the van.
5 Years on, and the D3 had to go as it was 8 years old with 100000 miles on the clock, and a lot of expensive faults developing.
Did my research and bought a 63 plate SD4 auto.
I cant believe how well it towed compared to my first FL2. Not as quick of the mark as the D3, but a very capable towing vehicle.
I'm a happy bunny.

Well it towed well, until the red warning triangle appeared on the dash along with "restricted performance" !! Called LR assistance, they were ther in 40 mins(lay by on A35) Plugged in his laptop, EGR valve sticking. He could recover us back to the dealer in Barnstaple,(not an option, collecting new van next day) or drive it for the next couple of days as it was. he reset it and it was fine for 2 days but coming home going uphill on the A30 near Exeter it happened again, so as advised I put it into Sport and changed gear manually. It was OK , bit slow, max 2000 revs! All fixed under warranty by the dealer(had a new Disco Sport while it was being done!) looking forward to our 5 weeks in France now. MY 2013 SD GS Auto

Wonder how the French recovery service is ?