2012 D4

**JayBee75** · 21st March 2012, 11:22 AM

Thought I would post this reply up:

"Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding the Land Rover Discovery 4.

The 8 Speed Automatic is only being offered in the UK & Europe for 2012MY and will not be on sale in Australia or other rest of world markets in this model year. This is predominantly driven by punitive Co2 taxation in these countries.

Land Rover Australia cannot comment on the content of future model year vehicles however if you were to wait for an 8 speed transmission on Discovery 4 an estimate of the time it could take may well be over 12 months or more.

The vehicle with the 6 speed transmission is by no means inferior and the 6 speed is a very well proven transmission with all the accolades to go with it. The current 6 speed transmission matches the majority of the local competition and packaged with all of Discovery 4's other attributes makes for a world class vehicle".

I have family in the UK with the"new" spec D4 and my response to LRA is you are now selling a outdated model here at a inflated price. Just makes me annoyed that we get treated the way we do in this country. It is making me reconsider whether I get a D4, not sure whether I hold off now until end of year hoping that 2013 brings in the new changes, or unfortauntely buy something else?.....

**TerryO** · 22nd March 2012, 04:05 PM

Getting upset and teaching LR Aus a lesson by buying someone elses product is fine if that what you think is a good idea, but seriously what else is actually better that you could buy that has a superior transmission and engine to a 3.0 D4?

cheers,
Terry

**camel_landy** · 24th March 2012, 06:54 AM

Nowt wrong with the 6spd.

TBH - I prefer the stick to the flappy paddles. If you're off-road, the flappy paddles are a PITA!!

So, don't get upset that you're not getting all the shiny new toys!!!

M

**SBD4** · 24th March 2012, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by JayBee75

....It is making me reconsider whether I get a D4, not sure whether I hold off now until end of year hoping that 2013 brings in the new changes, or unfortauntely buy something else?.....

I have to agree with the other guys Jaybee, I don't think I would be choosing baked beans over an eye fillet just because it didn't come with a bearnaise sauce.

**Disco4SE** · 24th March 2012, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by camel_landy

TBH - I prefer the stick to the flappy paddles. If you're off-road, the flappy paddles are a PITA!!

Drove a LR with the flappy paddles a little while ago. I found they got in the way............a real pain in the bum.
Too close to the steering wheel.
Not sure what LR were thinking. Its a 2.7 ton towing / 4Wd vehicle, not a racing car. Not sure about everyone else, but I put mine in Drive and drive as the gear suggests.

Cheers, Craig

**TerryO** · 2nd April 2012, 08:29 AM

Having driven several vehicles with 'flappy paddles' I reckon they are the biggest toss you can put on any vehicle for daily driving.

Believe it or not even SsangYong had had their own version of this with steering wheel buttons since 2006 and its a waste of time.

If that is the direction LR are going then they are truly kidding themselves if they think a 4x4 needs these kinds of useless toys that 99% of people will never use given a choice.

I think the name in itself 'flappy paddles' says it all.

cheers,
Terry

**mowog** · 2nd April 2012, 08:47 AM

I have an auto Cooper S with the flappy paddles...

If the urge to self shift comes upon me I find using the actual gear stick to be better than the flappy paddles. In sport mode the shifts are pretty good.

I will on the odd occasion in auto mode hit the up shift on the flappy if the gearbox seems to be holding a gear to long and that is about all they are good for.

**Graeme** · 2nd April 2012, 10:09 AM

I regularly use my button equivalent of flappy paddles in my 3.0 to cause earlier upshifts and in preference to using the lever so as to avoid sport mode activation. However I don't attempt to use the buttons any time the wheel is turned because I'd have to look for them and I wonder if proper paddles would be much better. In tricky off-road situations the gear lever is always in the same position and large enough to be found without more than a fleeting glance but usually without looking at all.

**DRD** · 4th April 2012, 11:59 PM

I have found around town that in auto it stay to long in 4th so I just shift it to select shift up a gear and back to auto and the box stay in the selected gear.
Bit like a manual with auto if you get lazy
Cheers
Des

**camel_landy** · 7th April 2012, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by TerryO

Having driven several vehicles with 'flappy paddles' I reckon they are the biggest toss you can put on any vehicle for daily driving.

Actually, for daily driving they're great... It's off-road where they're a PITA.

Here's why:

Off-Road - As the paddles are fixed to the steering wheel, if you need to change gear while the front wheels are pointing in a direction other than straight, it can often take a moment to work out where the paddle is that you need!

On-road - You generally keep things in 'D' unless you are 'Making Progress'. If you are giving it some beans and using the flappy paddles, then you generally don't move your hands from the steering wheel and the wheel is held fairly straight. In this scenario, they're safer as you can change gear without taking your hands off the wheel.

M

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