How to shift gears quickly in a Defender?

[tempestv8]

I took a brand new Defender for a test drive yesterday and I was surprised that I could feel the gears slightly crunch when I was shifting from 2nd to 3rd. It's as if the synchros weren't able to keep up with a normal shift motion. And to those who are wondering, no I'm not even pretending that I was at a traffic light derby. I was actually shifting like a normal person would.

I would imagine that the "crunch" sensation would be even more pronounced in low range but I didn't end up trying low range.

1st gear is awesome - very nice and low. 2nd gear starts on flat roads with no load seems entirely possible.

What do people do when they need to shift quickly, e.g. towing a load and climbing up a hill from start?

Cheers all,

Lawrance :)

[slug_burner]

double clutch

[dmdigital]

Lawrance, you really are a closet Defender lover! Isn't it about time you bit the bullet and got one;)

I haven't found a problem, the gear shift is a lot shorter than the Tdi, so I guess I'm just used to it. First is low... Low range first is even better:)

There's a trick to starting in 2nd gear, but I'm not allowed to tell you as you don't own a Defender:p

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Maybe the car was just new and still bedding in?

In the td5's R380 filling them with syntrans makes a huuge difference.

[tempestv8]

I am told that the 6 speed manual gearbox is the same as that used in the Disco 3, which I find really hard to believe because I can't see many D3 owners who will be skilled at double declutching. :D

I took my wife to test drive the Defender on Saturday with the hope that she might say yes to one. Unfortunately the lack of sound insulation gave her a big headache and so it put a kybosh on the hopes of upgrading to a Deefer.... ;)

She still prefers the D3 TDV6 auto. I wonder why. :burnrubber:


She said that the Defender is very cool but as an "everyday" car, it's a bit too truck like. And she's probably right (no offence, Defender owners!).

So we are just going to focus on D3s instead.

Lawrance

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Yeah... see defenders are a bit like that. They also don't test drive well. You need to live with them for a bit. You kind of get used to the racket and appreciate their other qualities. :)

Comparing a D3 to a defender on comfort is not really very fair :eek:

[dmdigital]

She said that the Defender is very cool but as an "everyday" car, it's a bit too truck like. And she's probably right (no offence, Defender owners!).
:spamsign:You don't deserve a Defender now:banban:

[dmdigital]

By the way the new Defender's have Syntrax in the transfer case.

[tempestv8]

:wasntme: I was just reporting what my wife said! :angel: :whistling:

[Blknight.aus]

for uber quick shifts I go halfway between a double clutch and no clutch change...

I match the revs on the way out with a little slipping of the clutch and as the engine dies off punch the clutch in snick the next gear flick my foot off the clutch and get on the noise.

[kenleyfred]

I'll go with what Captain Rightfoot said. Live with it, it definetely grows on you. By this I refer to my wife who was against the Defender. Although my baby, it is her daily drive and she now really loves it. They are a completely different beast to drive after having any other vehicle. Her last was an auto Disco Tdi.

Sadly having said that, whenever the Defender is back for warranty work she gets a Freelander, and really loves that. Especially annoyed when she hears it is actually cheaper than our Defender.
Kenley

[lambrover]

tempestV8, if you where to buy a defender would it be your daily or your wife's daily, you know where I'm heading so I'll leave it there. go for a drive in a series 2 88" with old original springs then she'll love the Defer. :D

[clean32]

I took my wife to test drive the Defender on Saturday with the hope that she might say yes to one. Unfortunately the lack of sound insulation gave her a big headache and so it put a kybosh on the hopes of upgrading to a Deefer.... ;)

Lawrance

Mate___ Dum should have slipped her a Mickey in her morning tea ( panadol)

[slt]

You're not MEANT do do anything 'quickly' in a Defender! It's a bit like 'slow food'. Sit back and enjoy the experience and, as others have mentioned, it'll grow on you!

Having just bought a new 130 (and as a previous owner of a 110) I did notice that the new gearbox was gated quite narrow, and was also a little tight at first. So sure, if you had never driven one of those beasts a test drive would feel a bit ordinary when compared to say a D3. But after 100km or so it was fine.