My trusty steed is in the stealers having its third service done and have this 64 plate SE SD4 Auto as a courtesy car for the day.

Click image to enlarge

• SD4 has a lot more grunt (to be continued in the bad)
  
• Heated steering wheel and seats are nice on a cold morning
  
• Integrated sat nav is nice
  
• Arm rests are also nice to have
  
• Lots more things to play with
  
• Keyless entry and ignition is nice, plus I don't have to worry about it getting stolen off my drive...
  

• The auto box is truly awful, I don't understand why people love it. Its slow to change, you can hear it revving excessively before it decides to change. CommandShift just doesn't feel good to use, no real movement.
  
• 30.5mpg doing the exact same route as I do in my manual TD4 which gets 42mpg
  
• Why are the dials on the dash the other way round? Didn't realise for ages, then saw what speed I was going!
  
• Brakes feel pretty weak compared to the TD4, presumably with more power (and speed) and weight they aren't any different
  
• Seems like theres a lot less places to stuff things than on my GS, no pen tray and the gap where the sat nav would go. Cubby hole in centre now contains the second cupholder and no rear cubby hole.
  
• Heated windscreen was much more visible than anticipated, almost like driving whilst looking through a net curtain
  
• Electronic hand brakes are rubbish
  

I had arm rests fitted as part of my factory order. They are a must. My old Rangie has them so I knew the Freelander would have to have them
Love the heated screen I opted for too - I don't notice it anymore except for the odd occasion when the light catches it. * GONE. GS TD4 Manual MY2013. Orkney Grey with privacy, cold and clearview packs, armrests (a must!) and a spoiler.
* 2011 4.4 TDV8 Full Fat. Amazing piece of kit.
* GONE.2012 RR Sport HSE SDV6 Orkney Grey. Rocket ship. 33mpg.
* Range Rover Classic '93 200Tdi Factory fit
* 1949 80" in family since 1975

Possibly the mpg was to do with reversed dials The further you put your foot down the longer it takes to change, once you see the heated screen it is always there, get out the car walk round it then get back in and look through the screen, not at it  my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

that's the big drawback with an auto gearbox, ie you have no control.

as you have found the engine will rev and bear no relation to the speed of the vehicle, or which gear it is actually in at the time. ( that's why it uses much more fuel than a manual transmission )

must be so frustrating if you actually enjoy driving the car.

Iain

When will people learn, just like the auto box has too

It has been said time and time again, you have jumped into the car straight after someone else, the auto box has adapted to there driving style and now you come along, confuse the hell out of it and expect it to be perfect.

The DIY brigade will always argue that the manual system is better, I sometimes wonder how they cope with a flushing lavatory as this is surely a backward step from having to tip the contents out oneself!

Of course, it's down to personal choice and will always be, but to dismiss it as truly awful is your problem not the gearbox'

Quote:

Electronic hand brakes are rubbish

Could you expand on that statement

Plus points:
1) No silly lever in the middle, much tidier.
2) Very effective in holding the car,
3) Auto drive off perfection and smooth.

Minus points:
1) None that could be worse than an archaic ratchet lever.

Autobox, the above posting says it all.

How long is this "learning" process? I've got the car till tomorrow morning so expect to have done ~350 miles in it by then. The previous driver must have some weird driving style for it to be like this, driving my dads old automatic fiesta from the 90's was more responsive

EYorkshire wrote:

Plus points:
1) No silly lever in the middle, much tidier.
2) Very effective in holding the car,
3) Auto drive off perfection and smooth.

1) I don't mind the lever, it makes no real different to me and removing it hasn't seemingly given me anymore usable space.
2) If it wasn't effective in holding the car, thats a separate issue
3) Can't say I've ever had a problem driving off with a traditional handbrake, even less so in the FL2 as even with a manual it creeps with no accelerator input.

No handbrake turns in the snow either

iain cooper wrote:

that's the big drawback with an auto gearbox, ie you have no control.

as you have found the engine will rev and bear no relation to the speed of the vehicle, or which gear it is actually in at the time. ( that's why it uses much more fuel than a manual transmission )

must be so frustrating if you actually enjoy driving the car.

Iain

If I wanted to "enjoy " driving" a car ie throw it around coners I would buy a sports car. Next you will be telling me if I want to "enjoy" some fresh air I should wind down the window manually  Do it now ! Your a long time dead !!

The phrase 'casting pearls before swine' comes to mind

I haven't driven an SE spec but did look at a brand new one when I was out to get the XS I had.
It did not call to me.but your take on the auto I cannot understand
It is smooth easy and relaxing to drive in the HSE I have now.
Nor the EPB that is the future in modern cars and is a bonus over the manual I had in the forester I traded in.

When I had the XS for a while I kidded myself it would suit over an HSE, before long I realised and traded it.
HSE sd4 auto = just what I want
Fuel consumption I have no interest as I am to busy being content driving the car I really enjoy.

I'll see if it changes as I drive it more, but the way people harp on about it here over the manual made it seem like it was the second coming of Christ in gearbox form.

I guess its not as bad as I made out, I was just expecting something more than a usual automatic gearbox that hunts around constantly for the right gear.

Edit: Also for SE spec it has a lot of options specified on it, Meridian hifi, auto lights/wipers, 19" wheels, heated wheel, rear view cam etc.

I haven't driven a manual FL2, really like the auto.
Yeah, it can be a bit slow to pull away sometimes
But I still love it SD4 HSE Lux Orkney Grey,Full size spare tyre,Ugly kid glass.

350 miles will be plenty for it to learn, if I drive home via the scenic route rather spiritedly, I get to a point 2 miles from home that is common to both routes. After the spirited drive, the car hasn't a clue which gear to be in, I obviously drive that section of road very similarly, its a 30 zone and I stick to it, the car is hunting around for a lower gear almost cajoling me to go faster, a bit like a kid after a handful of blue Smarties

Auto's are not to everyone's liking but give it chance and it should reward you, if not, then at least you can say you tried

DrRpb wrote:

I had arm rests fitted as part of my factory order. They are a must. My old Rangie has them so I knew the Freelander would have to have them
Love the heated screen I opted for too - I don't notice it anymore except for the odd occasion when the light catches it.

Always thought having arm rests was a must. Then I got them, and after a month or so, never used them again!
Now the heating windscreen a different matter....love it