Semi-Automatics

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BigJock2005

Active Member
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308
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Bucks
Guys'n'gals
Time for a stupid question. I've had RR classics, discos and modern RRs. All have been either manual or automatic. Simples.
I'm thinking about a Defender, and want an automatic. I'm seeing a few Defenders for sale labelled as "semi-automatic". Sorry, but can you advise WTF that means?
Is it just an auto you can change manually? I mean they've all done that since about 1923...!
Thanks a lot!
Jock
 
Guys'n'gals
Time for a stupid question. I've had RR classics, discos and modern RRs. All have been either manual or automatic. Simples.
I'm thinking about a Defender, and want an automatic. I'm seeing a few Defenders for sale labelled as "semi-automatic". Sorry, but can you advise WTF that means?
Is it just an auto you can change manually? I mean they've all done that since about 1923...!
Thanks a lot!
Jock
an auto box is a collection of clutch packs and epicyclic gear sets locking various routes through the epicyclics gives the particular gear,semi autos are like a standard gearbox in that you have a number of gear pairs but instead of you using the clutch each gear has an actuator to provide selection
 
Good alternative to fully auto, some say better & it gives you more control over the ratios without having to exercise your left foot & waggle a bloody great gear lever.
I drove them a lot during my years as both a coach & bus driver.
 
Wow, thanks for the info. Can't believe I've missed them all these years.
So basically no clutch, but you still manually select gears as you drive?
I can see how that could be better than an auto, although the modern ones are really unbelievable.
 
I think our C4 Picasso is semi-auto and can be run in "Auto/Manual" modes with Paddle gear shift override Up/Down.
Hate the bloody thing with a passion. Neither fish nor fowl.
Useless at fast pull-away's onto roundabouts and nipping out of junctions either has a traction loss -fit with terrible wheel juddering or the engine just almost dies because its autobox brain cannot cope.
Will never,ever buy anything like it ever again.
 
Judging from Dan's reply it seems that 'semi's' these days are not what they used to be & I can only comment on the commercial 'boxes I've had experience of many years ago. I've never had a car with such a device fitted, only fully autos which I wouldn't be without.
 
Judging from Dan's reply it seems that 'semi's' these days are not what they used to be & I can only comment on the commercial 'boxes I've had experience of many years ago. I've never had a car with such a device fitted, only fully autos which I wouldn't be without.
I think the Citroen version employs an electric clutch and no Torque-Converter so is totally hopeless. In nose-to-tail town or M25 traffic it is so "jerky" it even makes me feel sick.
 
Guys'n'gals
Time for a stupid question. I've had RR classics, discos and modern RRs. All have been either manual or automatic. Simples.
I'm thinking about a Defender, and want an automatic. I'm seeing a few Defenders for sale labelled as "semi-automatic". Sorry, but can you advise WTF that means?
Is it just an auto you can change manually? I mean they've all done that since about 1923...!
Thanks a lot!
Jock
I think everyone has actually missed your question tbh.

There are no such things as Semi automatic Defenders.

Defenders and the Ninety and One Ten. Where only offered as manuals. Mostly the 5 speed LT-77 or R380.

Land Rover did sell the 50th Anniversary with the V8 and a ZF 4 speed auto box (same as same period RR/Disco). I believe the NAS V8 models (N. America) could also be opted with this.

There are a number of converted automatic Defenders. Almost all use the 4 speed ZF boxes from RR/Disco. Lots of firms and individuals have performed these conversions.

You say you seeing a few advertised as semi auto. Maybe you could link some?

Semi auto as a definition probably needs context. It could mean manual gear selection via steering wheel paddles or a lever pushing back and forth. This could be with an automatic gearbox (torque converter) or a manual gearbox with an electronically auto mated clutch. Both types of boxes normally have a D drive mode for full automated shifting. Although there can be exceptions.
 
All the variants used on the PSV's I drove required the driver to move a small lever into various gated positions to select the ratios. In the early days most used SCG (Self Changing Gears) 'boxes, in the '70s Leyland vehicles still used them & of course today some of these systems are very complex (too much so) I agree with 300bhp though insofar as I've never know a LR to be offered with a semi-auto.
 
Here's one example - there seems to be plenty on the LRO for sale section.
https://forsale.lro.com/land+rover/defender+110/216216
Ok. I suspect a few things are going on here.

The little info bullet points are either pulled in from a database based on the reg number automatically. Autotrader use something similar and it is often completely wrong.

Or the seller can manually select the items displayed and have done so incorrectly.

Are all of the semi autos you’ve seen on LRO? If so it is probably a software bug on their platform.

For the specific 110 you linked. There are a couple of give aways. The description mentions a new clutch fitted. And the info bullets say “0 miles” which should be a give away that the info listed in this section probably isn’t correct/accurate.
 
There were actually some Nineties sold with a V8 and an autobox. Sadly, they were never available on Defenders.
I know of the 50th Anniversary Defender with the 3.9/4.0 V8 and ZF 4 speed auto.

The NAS with the 3.9 V8 could I think be opted with the auto as well. But I might be wrong on that.

I didn’t know the 3.5 carb was available with an auto box. Was it the 3 speeder GM unit as used in early Range Rovers? Guess some Special Vehicle models or mil/export might have used something different. Such as the 3.9 Isuzu diesel used in Australia. Not sure if they were auto or manual tbh.
 
I know of the 50th Anniversary Defender with the 3.9/4.0 V8 and ZF 4 speed auto.

The NAS with the 3.9 V8 could I think be opted with the auto as well. But I might be wrong on that.

I didn’t know the 3.5 carb was available with an auto box. Was it the 3 speeder GM unit as used in early Range Rovers? Guess some Special Vehicle models or mil/export might have used something different. Such as the 3.9 Isuzu diesel used in Australia. Not sure if they were auto or manual tbh.

I think it was a Borg Warner 3 speed, not certain.

I do know they existed, because I have driven one. It was owned by my flatmate in the early Nineties, and he offered to sell it to me when he emigrated to New Zealand. I have always regretted not buying it, it was an excellent vehicle in all ways, although not very economical at speed.
 
I didn’t know the 3.5 carb was available with an auto box. Was it the 3 speeder GM unit as used in early Range Rovers?

Yes it was & the 'box was the Chrysler Torqueflight (3sp)
Vehicles thus specified had a modified floor pan to accommodate the larger transmission, deleted with the intro. of the ZF in '85.
 
Yes it was & the 'box was the Chrysler Torqueflight (3sp)
Vehicles thus specified had a modified floor pan to accommodate the larger transmission, deleted with the intro. of the ZF in '85.
Very interesting. Bet there can’t have been many.
 
Thanks for all the info people. As 300 said I suspected the vehicle description was simply wrong.
Well I have my work cut out: ideally, I would like a 110/Defender with a V8 in it and an auto box. Rare as hen's teeth as far as I can see.
I have a trusted friend who works for an independent Landy garage - he has offered to fit a V8 mated to a ZF for not stupid money. If I select a solid 110 for a decent price (why do people pay so much more for low milers? They really don't suddenly go wrong a 100k!!) then I could maybe end up with a decent cart.
However... good things come, to those who wait.
 
I have a '92 90 CSW with an auto-box from a Disco 1, great combo! Semi-auto as in Citroen/Smart et all is to steered well clear of. ECU for clutch and another for gear selection, both liable to fail, with huge pause for every gear-change.
 
I have a '92 90 CSW with an auto-box from a Disco 1, great combo! Semi-auto as in Citroen/Smart et all is to steered well clear of. ECU for clutch and another for gear selection, both liable to fail, with huge pause for every gear-change.
What engine do you have? I have been considering on and off converting to auto with my tdi
 
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