Freelander......Manual V Auto

[Dave_374420879]

Hi....looking to buying a Freelander for better towing,but wondered what peoples preferences were between Auto/Manual?

Thanks,

Dave.

 

[otherclive]

I went through the same debate when choosing a Sorento. The auto will be better for pitching up, in heavy traffic and generally wil give a relaxed tow without any bother of clutch wear etc. Howver the auto Freelander is not very good on mpg even solo. I have seen figures of less than 30mpg solo, and low 20s when towing. If mpg is a consideration then the manual might be more suitable.

 

[RogerP]

I've had a coule of Freebies both TD4 Autos.

As with any 4x4 and Auto mpg will be low , however I was getting around the 28mpg solo and that is in heavy rush hour city traffic. My friend who does a similar journey to me is getting abut 36mpg but he drives like its a Sunday every day. Slow and steady ,slow and steady.!!!!

(He'll kill me for that , but wouldn't argue!!!)

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Hi Dave

My wife and I have just purchased a Land rover Freelander facelift TD4 Auto HE 2005. After a great deal of invstegation of tow cars in my price range this was the towcar i went for. On this model it has the BMW engine fitted as standard also a larger flywheel. The freelander is small as 4x4 go and there are a few problems for towers such as rear door cannot be opened fully when caravan is attached. Also you cannot put P/Bikes on the back because of the spare wheel. If you are going to use the car as a comute car this could burn a hole in you pocket 28mpg.

But on saying that I just did Worthing West Sussex to Kingston upon thames there and back. Started with full tank and filled back up on return from kingston cost was

 

[Glenn_5132962]

The Jatco auto box in the freelander is a bit weak. There are lots of documented failures in different cars fitted with this (japaneese) autobox. Therefore manual is my advice.

 

[bigbilly]

I've just bought a Freelander 2 and this will be the first tow car that I have owned with an auto box.

I can say that the 6 speed box is absolutely superb and I would recommend it.

My dealer fitted a genuine Land Rover towbar/electrics as part of the deal. What I hadn't realised, at the time, was that when any trailer is recognised by plugging in the electrics the turn indicators are part of the standard display, parking sensors are disabled, the lower gears stay in longer ( a bit like sport mode), and the ABS is balanced for towing.

I also like the manual shift operation which is very slick.

Bill

 

[otherclive]

Bill, what mpg are you getting solo and towing?

Cheers

Other Clive

 

[bigbilly]

Other Clive - sorry about the delay in responding. Started towing with only a few hundred miles on the clock and kept well within the max.3,000 rpm maximum and got 28 - 32 all the time on the computer.

Also driving fairly steadily getting 34 - 38 solo.

Went on a 70 mile journey recently only to be phoned and told it had been delayed. Using the manual gears and not exceeding 55 mph I got 46.9 mpg on the computer !

Expecting these figures to fall under normal driving.

Bill

 

[otherclive]

Bill thanks for the update, actually the figures don't look at all bad, certainly better than the press reviews, which probably tend to be driven enthusiastically. I would expect them to improve a bit as the engine losens up over the next few K miles.

Cheers

Other Clive

 

[Gary_374372266]

Hi All

Had my freelander 2 hse auto for just over a year and now at 30,000 miles i am getting around 26-28mpg towing a twin wheel bailey limousin at a steady 50-55mph.

Pulls lovelly and no probems with the auto at all.

Best

Gary