As per title!! which do you prefer and why! im not sure which one to go for.

Manual. A more 'in control' driving experience. Significantly more fuel efficient, especially with the new Stop/Start facility. Auto is 'nice' to drive, but I never miss it when in a manual.
But everyone to his own.

As said above, each to their own.
I have just hit 3k in my auto and I love it. Never owned a auto before, but it is, absolutely, the most easiest car to drive, effortless in fact. I would strongly recommend it.

However, i have never driven a manual FL2 and may think the same if I had picked a manual.

If your in the market for a FL2 and can not decide, take a test drive of both, a day in each? HSE, Auto, Colour - Yes

If you're planning to go really offroad with the thing, go for automatic. The performance is even more impressive then. Had a demonstration before I bought one and the guy stopped halfway a steep hill and continued without ever sliding back. Doing that with a manual may burn the clutch.

Maybe for that reason, if you planning to pull a caravan, go for automatic too.

I've gone for manual as I'm not planning on doing any of those things on an regular basis, and I like the control of shifting gears. I've owned a automatic and always felt I had to trust the car when moving uphill from a standing position. In a manual I feel I'm more in control. Tought the FL2 is quite impressive in that regard, the feeling is still there.

Also since I do a lot of driving I felt the fuel consumption was also a benifit, especially since I'll be getting the start/stop version next tuesday (yipieeeeee!).

For those who don't understand why I bought a proper offroader and wont go offroad, the reason is simple: I bought one becouse:
1. I can.
2. It looks good.
3. I have a son and his cousin who always tag along on holidays and 2 dogs (Jack Russels so they fit the part).
4. becouse its the only car in years that brings me a smile when driving it.
5. my wife said so.

And counter to general good taste, I'll probably be blinging it up too

zone30 wrote:

5. my wife said so.

 At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

No decision for us really, let the gearbox do the work, and easier to sell/trade on. EDITED to add ' in higher spec's it's almost expected to be an auto'

Auto every time

Last edited by MVS on 9th Apr 2009 10:30 am. Edited 1 time in total

cheers guys!! I've test driven both and found the auto to be a bit sluggish but is that just because i'm not used to it?

Yes you could say an auto is more sluggish, it's designed for a more relaxed type of driving. They are also slightly less efficient generally so aren't as nippy (VAG DSG being an exception).

You pay's your money and make's your choice,.....depends how you want to drive it

I would have got a auto, if it was available when i bought as it better for towing and the occasional off road trip

More relaxed drive, especially rush hour start stops trips and on longhaul trips Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

for the last 5 cars I owned when deciding to change to a new one I said it would be an auto, but each time I spend the surplus money for an auto on a more visual option. And each time I say to myself, my next car will be an auto (especcially when in a traffic jam). It is a more relaxed driving with the auto, but I must say that the manual in the FL2 is also great (due to the 400nm torque?) Fl2 zermattsilver TD4 S man

One week into my auto....no arguement the auto is the one to go for, superb engine/gearbox marriage makes life driving on todays roads sooo much easier...don't think the difference between manual and auto is a decision maker, my auto is plenty fast enough...provided you press the pedal..as for economy I am still playing with it but last tank average between fills was 31.7mpg which I reckon ain't bad given the type of motor it is....well pleased  09MY TD4 HST Auto Stornoway Napoli in Ebony Black Side Tubes + Side Protection Strips

Automatic Positive: The best for real off-roading (as I found out on my LRE). More relaxing to drive.
Automatic Negative: More expensive to purchase (here). Uses (much) more fuel. Some say sluggish.

Manual Positive: Cheaper to purchase (here). Fine if not doing real off-roading (for the stuff I do its great). Uses much less fuel that automatic.
Manual Negative: Not as good when real off-roading.

Ya pays ya money and takes ya choice  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
Stornoway Grey with Ebony Black Pleather, Clear Indicators, Body Side Mouldings etc.

Last post just about sums it up: Manual for economy, Auto for city drivers and maximum off-road capability.

I chose manual because I downsized after 3 Discoverys when fuel hit £1.32 per litre and my G4 D2 was nearing 100,000 miles. It does eveything I need for mixed motoring, motorway cruiding for work and mild offroading - the odd bit of tricky stuff does not scrub the clutch too much becuase it's rare. If it was regular the auto would be a must.

I've driven the auto and its the best I have been in. Tha 6th gear is higher than my manual and the cahnges are smooth. You can shift manually if you want but it does decide whcih gear you are to be in and I like to be in full control. Gone... 2013 XS TD4 Manual Firenze Red
Gone... 2008 (09MY) XS Td4 Manual Stornaway Grey
Prior... 2003 G4 Discovery 2, 1998 Disco 1 and 1997 Disco 1 Company car before that
Also gone in Nov'13, after 7.5 yrs, to new owners with time for more TLC - 1980 Series III 88
Current 2015 Discovery Sport HSE 2.0

Had both, manual first, then auto. My choice....Auto all the way

Be lazy and hit auto, be sporty stick it in sport mode , be extra sporty and involved with the gears then put it in manual. Yeh great if you want fuel efficiency get a Prius not a Freelander (I had 48.8mpg out of my manual on a 'Clarkson London to Edinburgh in an Audi' style trip. Currently getting mid high twenties as the norm where as in the manual I used to get approx 32mpg as the norm so 20% worse.

Another few things in the auto favour:

1. Quieter
2. Despite feeling sluggish, quicker than manual due to the overboost.
3. No creaky gear lever which I had in the manual at 13K miles - friggin annoying.

Best car I've ever owned this one