Auto or manual?

Posting on behalf of my dad, he's looking at getting a Freelander but is unsure whether to go for an auto or manual. It'll be the TD4, aside from the auto being slightly heavier on fuel what are the advantages/disadvantages of both?

If like me he drives a lot, has a bad back/hip etc. which might be aggravated by de-clutching in motorway traffic queues, I recommend an auto.

If he's going to do much off-roading, I recommend a manual.

He has a bad back and normally drives autos, he just wasn't sure of the combination of 4wd and auto.

Zonda_ said:

He has a bad back and normally drives autos, he just wasn't sure of the combination of 4wd and auto.

Click to expand...

My V6 Freelander works great as an auto.
It has a steptronic gearbox which I usually only use in snow.
I could be wrong but I think some don't have the steptronic (allows you to choose when to change up or down).

Obviously the fluid needs changing once in a while, but I haven't heard of any major problems with them and mine's done over 140k miles now.

Hi, he'd definitely like a steptroninc, his current car is a 530 with it, I have a 320d with it too. I've been looking at the TD4s but they don't seem to have it, seems odd.

Zonda_ said:

Hi, he'd definitely like a steptroninc, his current car is a 530 with it, I have a 320d with it too. I've been looking at the TD4s but they don't seem to have it, seems odd.

Click to expand...

Some definitely do, I looked at a 2004 TD4 that had it.
I'll keep a look out; if I see one I'll let you know!

Steptronic is called CommandShift on Landys, most late TD4's have it. The auto is actually better off road, as the torque converter avoids the need for slipping the clutch

bukko said:

...

If he's going to do much off-roading, I recommend a manual.

Click to expand...

I recommend the opposite. Lack of low ratio on Freelanders means that edging over obstacles requires a hellish amount of clutch slip. Without slipping the clutch, the long first gear ratio means that you are travelling uncomfortably fast to take obstacles.
With an auto, you can hold it on the brakes and creep over stuff and edge up hills without abusing the clutch.

This one has CommandShift, can tell by the markings on the gear selector

2004 54 LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2.0TD4 AUTO SPORT AIR CON 18" ALLOYS | eBay

I just checked Ebay classifieds.
There are some on there but they are absolutely stupid prices! One of them is 11 grand! You can get a cheaper FL2!
Maybe because we're heading into winter now some people try it on.

SES88 said:

Steptronic is called CommandShift on Landys, most late TD4's have it. The auto is actually better off road, as the torque converter avoids the need for slipping the clutch

Click to expand...

dave21478 said:

I recommend the opposite. Lack of low ratio on Freelanders means that edging over obstacles requires a hellish amount of clutch slip. Without slipping the clutch, the long first gear ratio means that you are travelling uncomfortably fast to take obstacles.
With an auto, you can hold it on the brakes and creep over stuff and edge up hills without abusing the clutch.

Click to expand...

Good tip - thanks both!
I still want a manual V6 though

I'd go for an auto every time, especially for off roading for all the reasons already stated. I had my V6 for near on 7 years and loved the fact I could creep along when needed.However, due to the V6's monumental thirst my current Freelanders are both manual Td4's and after having the auto for so long I still manage to forget I'm driving a manual and every now and again I'll stall them.Even though I've mostly been driving them for the last few years.

If I did a lower mileage I would definitely go Auto. I'm fairly certain that ALL auto Freelanders were Commandshift. When BMW owned them they called them Steptronic, but all Ford did was change the name to Commandshift to get away from the BMW connection. It's the same JATCO box. Yes they can cause problems, but if the oil is changed properly, then they are probably ok. That's the conclusion I came too. There's a solenoid that goes but that's external so no probs. If it goes bang, then to be honest, the price for a recon one is not that far off fitting a new clutch and DMF etc on a manual.

All the ones I'm looking at on Autotrader have poor pictures of the inside so I can't see if they are steptronic or not.

Our is an early ish 2001 ES Td4 Auto that has the Steptronic gearbox. I also have a back problem and find the Auto Freelander great to drive. You can plod on in normal auto, or 'Sports' mode if you want it to hang onto the gears a little long, or manual shift up and down the box.. When cold it can hang onto the gears a little longer on the up shift, but once warm its a very nice gearbox.

very rare to find a manual v6, not many of them about and usually early models pre facelift

as far as I know all the auto's did have the Techtronic you just pull the gear shift over to your right and then it is in sports mode or you can up or down gears my 2001 had it and now my 2006 hse auto does I just love it if I ever drive my wife's freelander I nearly always end up through the windscreen I have been driving auto's for so many years and hers in doors is a manual

This one is a petrol TD4 LR2 apparently
Land Rover Freelander 2.2 TD4 GS 5DR 1 lady owner from new

SES88 said:

very rare to find a manual v6, not many of them about and usually early models pre facelift

Click to expand...

I'm still thinking about changing my V6 to a manual. I don't do much off road stuff so for me the off road advantage of the auto is not really used. The auto is too dimwitted for fast road driving! A V6 manual would be better on fuel and have better performance!

bukko said:

This one is a petrol TD4 LR2 apparently
Land Rover Freelander 2.2 TD4 GS 5DR 1 lady owner from new

Click to expand...

Ha ha notice its Irish!!!!!!! No offence intended to the Irish of course!!