Manual transmission

[patsaunders]

Hey everyone!

Wondering if anyone out there has a manual discovery 3 with air suspension(so late model S) and what your experience/opinions are? Does TR still work well with a manual? Does this configuration even exist?

Thanks!

[sheerluck]

Will be surprised if you find one. One of the members on here who works at one of the big city LR dealers posted up how many manual D3s his dealership sold. If I rembember rightly, it was some very low number, like 3.

[patsaunders]

Thanks mate!

Good to know the odds. It's a shame, I just really enjoy driving a manual, autos can get a bit boring on a long trip, plus I like to have the ability to roll start if necessary (there's not much you can fix on a D3 on the road but at least you can get started).

Still, if there is someone out there with the experience of driving one? If it's an awesome vehicle I can be more patient in my purchase to find one, if it's average then there are plenty of autos available.

Thanks

[rufusking]

Poke around disco3.co.uk, you might get some answers. There are a lot more manuals in the UK/EU than most other places. South Africa may be another option for info on manual D3's.

As for roll starting, good luck. There are a lot of electrical systems that need to be up and running before it will start.

[XDrive]

As was mentioned in a previous post. It is very difficult to 'push start' a modern diesel manual vehicle. Most modern diesels have more electronics than in a petrol vehicle and the fuel solenoid requires power in order to open to let fuel flow. Without enough battery power, to lte this happen, it is hard to start a modern diesel vehicle.

Your best option is to 'jump start' the vehicle with another battery.

[AnD3rew]

I would imagine you must lose at least some of the TR functionality with a manual. I gues you would still get all the suspension and body management assuming air and some of the throttle response but there is a fair bit of trickery in the transmission as well I am assuming.

[patsaunders]

Great point being made everyone thanks. Might have to learn a bit more about modern cars if I'm going to get a D3 it's hard to re-learn what you know. I can't think of a nicer more comfortable vehicle to cover the k's in on trips but it hard to let go of the ability to fix things that go wrong (even with all the preparation) I've read a few post from people saying things like "now that I've got used to" or "since I've been re educated" which gives me a lot more confidence.

[Marmoset]

I drove one at a Land Rover Experience day I had when I lived in the UK. The instructor was puzzled why I asked to drive a manual, saying that the auto gets the best out of the car. From memory the gearbox wasn't unpleasant in its action but given how intelligent the auto shifts work I'd be more than happy to buy another auto.


I've had to borrow a car for the last few weeks (a 2014 mazda 6 diesel auto) as mine's off the road after an accident, and I can honestly say that the disco box beats it hands down for shift smoothness and timing.

[camel_landy]

Compared to the auto, the D3 manual is horrible. The auto give you sooo much more control. Also, thanks to the sound proofing, people end up stalling the manual loads to begin with too. (You don't realise how much you listen to the engine for the bite point...)

M

[cripesamighty]

Also the D3 manuals seem not to be up to the job. Have a search online to see the many problems people have had requiring replacement clutches.

Try here first
Land Rover Discovery 3 - How many clutches is normal?: Motoring Motoring Discussion forum (http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm't=1200)

[cripesamighty]

double post

[sheerluck]

Also the D3 manuals seem not to be up to the job. Have a search online to see the many problems people have had requiring replacement manual gearboxes and especially clutches.

Try here first
Land Rover Discovery 3 - How many clutches is normal?: Motoring Motoring Discussion forum (http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm't=1200)

JC posted here somewhere about how he thought that the D3 clutch was woefully undersized for the application.

[swarover]

Hi Pat,

I have a manual 2005 D3 S with air susp, 7 seats (cloth) and TR. Its an amazing machine. Its done 305000 km mostly long country trips and some pretty rough off road on beaches and stony headlands here in southern WA. Ive had no trouble at all with the manual or clutch, although I do treat it pretty carefully such as using low range when manouevering, starting and reversing trailers, etc. It is a very nice short throw shifter and great on long trips, and I like it because its different to most Discos. Having said that, when I get another one I'll get an auto, as it is a bit idiosyncratic taking off from a standstill, esp on hills.

Hope that helps.

Nathan