Which transmission would I be best to go for and does either one suffer more issues.

Won’t be towing but need something that can get up a uphill track in snow. Live 3 miles up in the hills

Any advice appreciated

My vote is sd4 automatic and let the car find the right gear and traction.
Regards Den If you want to rob a bank buy a shotgun if you want to rob people buy a bank.

Thanks but I want to stick for a vehicle without dpf, also my budget won’t allow for a 13 plate onwards

manual ! -------- as YOU drive the car not some box of bits, programmed to 'try' and do it for you.
also don't go for the electric handbrake -------- you decide the biting point ---- its easy.

if you don't want DPF and want to be towing then a 2006 - 2010 TD4 Auto would be best option for you IMO
manual gearboxes are fine, but can be prone to DMF failure which is a £600-£800 job to sort. Not heard of many, if any, problems with the auto box and TD4 or SD4.

advice would be to get one that has a good service history, and then get the diffs, Haldex and auto fluid services asap for peace of mind. Doing those should give you another 10 years all being well.

inneedofhelp wrote:

Thanks but I want to stick for a vehicle without dpf, also my budget won’t allow for a 13 plate onwards

If you are mostly driving in town then auto is best.

The manual Td4 has better MPG.

SD4 is only available as an auto I think?

Personally I prefer autos as it is a more relaxed driving experience,
especially if you are old like me.

Auto is probably more reliable also.

Have had manual and auto FL2s. Auto is my favourite by a big margin. Driving is much more enjoyable in an auto I find.

If you are going to encounter severe weather , auto every time . The autobox is great with the Terrain Response Programmes , and with the hill descent control . The early 160 non DPF engines have more than enough grunt for the car . You still have the ability to manually shift using the command shift mode if you so desire. My 09 has handled every Pennine Winter since 2011 , on one of the most treacherous and steep cobbled climbs in Yorkshire . Having said that , you can’t beat the laws of physics , and when traction goes it’s a 2 tonne sled like everything else . Autos are easier to sell on if that matters . 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Hi,
if you like Autos buy an auto
or
if you like manuals buy a manual

neither have any issues if it needs a clutch then it needs a clutch like any other manual car does and autos like oil changes

if you dont mind which box then look at all cars and buy the best car you can, which ever box it has

I personally think a TD4 with a Manual box and Electric hand brake is the best car to go for


 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf

Definitely 2008 Auto HSE with 180 BHP

Why would anyone in their right mind go manual when the auto is so good, let the box do the work while you concentrate on where the wheels are.
2006-2008 right price range, manual handbrake, pre DPF, old style Haldex (mine was still good after 185k),
HSE because it has a good level of equipment even by todays standards

Definitely biased Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

having had manual and Auto

Driving experince is lush with an Auto. bad points fuel consumption and road tax Av 26-29 mpg 400+ per year tax
Driving experince is ok with manual good points cheaper Road tax and improved MPG 40-47 mpg 190 per year Road tax

never needed a clutch with my manual, been towing a twin axle van and in europe for 7 years.

If road tax and fuel not a problem go for Auto all day long 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 !

My vote is for auto, but Im finding a realistic 33-34mpg on average over a very mixed useage of A & B roads. Up to about 37 on a decent run. So good for towing, I just find the auto suits the car so well.  Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

I've had a facelift manual 10 plate and now have an 07 auto.

The 07 auto is my favourite by far and is a nice easy drive and works better for me off road as you don't have to do much and just let the car sort it's self out. I don't see the point in a manual unless your driving something sporty and want more control.

Down side to the auto is £330 a year road tax and 30/35 mpg. If the cost of running matters then a manual is the better option.

From 2010 my the tax is £280/year the SD makes sense and if you're doing a 100 mile round trip or more every month or so then forget about the dpf it's not a problem. The maximum bhp before 2010 my is 160bhp and can cost considerable more on VED than an SD which only comes in auto. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Auto with the SD 4 engine.