I presently have a Freelander 2 SE manual but am seriously considering swapping to an auto freelander 2.

My question especially as I tow is will the auto make a big difference.....?

Freelander22se wrote:

I presently have a Freelander 2 SE manual but am seriously considering swapping to an auto freelander 2.

My question especially as I tow is will the auto make a big difference.....?

Have been known to tug but sorry never towed anything in my life. Can vouch for the auto in normal driving, it makes it a completely different, and IMHO better, car. 58 HSE, auto, lago grey, tints. Mine and my dogs Storm and Sky
TT Quattro, black. Ers.
AC Cobra rep in build. Ars.

Freelander22se wrote:

My question especially as I tow is will the auto make a big difference.....?

Absolutely ! The difference is enormous: much more comfortable and no risk of a burned clutch.
All turbo engines develop almost no torque below lets say 1500 rpm (or higher). The consequence is that towing a heavy load and starting from standstill on a steep slope forces you to start with a slipping clutch in order to take advantage of the higher torque at higher rpm. In the case of a FL2: 400 Nm. Obviously, this is very harmful for the clutch.
I'll always remember the feeling when I drove with a manual gearbox car towing the caravan on a 10 % steep hill, 10 Km. long. I was in a cold sweat just by the fear that something or someone could force me to come to a standstill...

I see only one disadvantage: the higher fuel consumption.

The best tow car I have ever owned and I have owned 20+ cars over the years including what I consider the next best which was a 2.9 litre Granarda auto.

Every car I have ownedhas been an auto with no problems except the Granada which had the box replaced by Ford due to a manufacturing error.

Always used to fit Kenlowe fans and gearbox coolers early on but manufaturing and lubricants have improved so much in thr last few years I no longer bother.

FL2 auto did not even get flustered when I towed a full size American motorhome weighing in at nearly 8 tons out of the mud on a caravan park so go for it.

Bill Turner Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

Have just returned from France I towed for 1000 miles absolutly faultless, this included 1 trip of 400 miles in a day, towing with the auto and cruise control is so easy.24 MPG when towing, solo 36, only have 3k on the clock so hopes this improves. Home is where my caravan takes me.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing myself, swapping for an auto, so good to hear positive things about the towing.

I love the auto. I've convinced my Dad to swap his for an auto too. So much more relaxing to drive - great for off road and towing. Go for it - you wont be disappointed  Gone - TD4 XS Auto, Sumatra Black, Mud flaps and side strips, clear indicators, private plate, privacy glass

Have seen a 58 Plate Blue HSE Auto Freelander 2 with 7000 miles today..

Tempted but 7.5k to change when all towbar / gap etc added in

Esepcially as I have a 57 SE manual.

Was very nice though as face lift model with body colourings and changed leather / spolier etc..

What was you offered as trade in? Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

npinks wrote:

What was you offered as trade in?

'56 se manual I been offered £14-15k Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

npinks wrote:

'56 se manual I been offered £14-15k

Something else to consider with a high spec auto with cruise control is that the cruise and gearbox ECU's work together so the car drives a lot better in most conditions when the cruise is engaged - IIRC like all the other Landies the F2's autogearbox will hold onto high gears longer when cruise control is engaged as the engine effectively remaps itself for the conditions. In day today driving there is not a huge difference between autos and manuals these days fuel consumption-wise. Also unlike a manual with cruisecontrol an automatic will change gears while the cruise control is engaged making life even easier for the driver.
I much prefer to tow heavy things over any distance behind my RR Sport than behind my Defender purely because it is an automatic (and has a much more powerful engine than the 90 ) How can carbon have a footprint, it has no feet?
Now driving - RRE Coupe Dynamic Lux Auto with Plus pack, Fuji White, Ebony, SD4 with tow pack
Gone - 2010MY FFRR TDv8 Stornoway and Ivory, Privacy - the pace of a TDv8 RRS, the incomparable grace of a Range Rover
Gone but will be missed- RRS Tdv8 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather
Gone (only a little missed) RRS Tdv6 2.7SE Giverny Green/Aspen
Defender 90 County HT in Epsom Green

Tim in Scotland wrote:

Something else to consider with a high spec auto with cruise control is that the cruise and gearbox ECU's work together so the car drives a lot better in most conditions when the cruise is engaged - IIRC like all the other Landies the F2's autogearbox will hold onto high gears longer when cruise control is engaged as the engine effectively remaps itself for the conditions. In day today driving there is not a huge difference between autos and manuals these days fuel consumption-wise. Also unlike a manual with cruisecontrol an automatic will change gears while the cruise control is engaged making life even easier for the driver.
I much prefer to tow heavy things over any distance behind my RR Sport than behind my Defender purely because it is an automatic (and has a much more powerful engine than the 90 )