Hi all,
New here. Have used the search facility but no joy - although my question has probably been answered previously.
I currently have a 200Tdi - but wife wants something a bit newer - have read all the discussions on whether to get a Td5 or a 300Tdi etc - general concensus seems to be 300Tdi all day long for reliability and simplicity etc. I think the trouble is finding a good 300Tdi - my budget is upto about £6k but why spend that if i don't have to - a re-imported 300tdi for around £2-3k would seem to fit the bill but they're all auto's - nothing really against the auto (apart from slightly reduced mpg) just always preferred the manual. So is it relatively straightforwatd to convert an auto to a manual or is it more trouble than its worth? Is the engine management linked into the auto transmission with regard to the cruise control (where fitted) etc.
The car would primarily be daily transport (10k a year) but used at weekend for towing the horse trailer so it wouldn't be used off road as such unless you consider a muddy field as off road!
Cheers
Andy

If you can find a decent jap import with little rust,just buy it and enjoy it.They are great for towing and are about the best modern (Ish) thing LR ever made.Forget the manual and let yourself adapt to the auto.Waxoil the hell out of it,maintain it with quality bits and enjoy it as long as you can.

Stick to the auto's ,they are much nicer to drive.Hill starts are easy even when towing.You can manoeuvre into any position slowly and in control without all that leg work and clutch slipping.You can still get around 25 mpg if you take it easy

Cheers for the replies guys - like i said nothing against the auto just wondered if it would be a fairly straight forward swap. I'll start looking for a jap import then. Seen a few advertised locally and i'm not to far from car equality but their website doesn't see to be to clever. Thanks again.
Andy