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Sluggish Auto Gearbox

193K views 337 replies 89 participants last post by  RafflesNH  
#1 ·
is anyone else disappointed with how poor the Auto gearbox is? I had a Merc auto a year or so ago which was an absolute dream to drive, both pulling away and in general driving. My disco though is woeful bordering on downright dangerous when pulling away. whether I'm taking a rolling start or from complete standstill if you put your foot down to pull away you get absolutely nothing for 2/3seconds then it pulls away like an absolute rocket, firing you back in to your seat! Its about as subtle as a clown fight.

I genuinely think its trying to kill me!
 
#2 ·
the auto box in mine is almost perfect, you sound like you are driving a freelender auto - which is sh1t
 
#5 ·
One of the main features that gets consistently brilliant scores from all the independent reviews of the DS is the 'fantastic' 9 speed auto! I have never read a review that didn't like it.
 
#6 ·
Hillwalker said:
One of the main features that gets consistently brilliant scores from all the independent reviews of the DS is the 'fantastic' 9 speed auto! I have never read a review that didn't like it.
Unfortunately in the US, several reputable car reviewing magazines and sites have problems with DS' transmission.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/09/land-rover-discovery-sport-review/index.htm
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/land-rover/discovery-sport/2015/
http://www.cars.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/2016/expert-reviews/

I personally think DS' transmission is fine -> once you get used to it. However for the expert reviewers, as the guy from Consumer Reports, they "expect more".

 
#7 ·
the US reviews, and problems with the drive, are most likely petrol engine, and not the transmission, as mentioned in a few reviews that I read.
 
#8 ·
Your driving style will adjust to the slight lag ... try being less aggressive with the throttle pedal as you set off
 
#9 ·
Yeah - me - also used to merc 7-speed (her indoors has a 2014 SLK). 2-3 seconds is a bit long - it just feels that way when heavy things are heading towards you! Still, I find I use the paddles to get it down into the gear I know it's going to need ahead of time rather than wait for it to get up, have a coffee, put some socks on, and then decide it's ready to do what I asked...
 
#10 ·
Hillwalker said:
One of the main features that gets consistently brilliant scores from all the independent reviews of the DS is the 'fantastic' 9 speed auto! I have never read a review that didn't like it.
Just makes you wonder if the reviewers actually drove the car or just regurgitated the brochureware.
 
#12 ·
In my opinion auto box is brilliant except for pulling away quickly from a standstill, I think the issue is that car stops and starts in 2nd gear and when you press the accelerator hard it is in wrong gear for fast getaway. As I said before you get used to pressing accelerator lightly to get moving and judging the gaps you can pull into at roundabouts etc..
 
#13 ·
I have to wonder if the people happy with the box are more tolerant than I of the poor and slow selection process, or never experienced a better system, or if some people's boxes are worse than others.
 
#15 ·
sanpadm said:
Yes, I experience the same issue. It is very annoying. It up-shifts so quickly than needed & I often hear the higher gear engine sound! And downshifting is very slow! I have to kick down every time :-(
Like everyone says, I may get used to it & live with this nuisance eventually.
Are you using the car in Eco mode as your description of the gearbox behaviour fits that very well. In normal mode its very easy to control the gear changes with pressure on the accelerator allowing it to change up or down as and when you want it.My most recent auto before the DS is a Golf Gti with DSG and that behaved very similarly to the DS.
Tim
 
#16 ·
Maybe im too fussy.

It surely cant be too much to ask for it to be in first by default from a standing start though can it? Using the paddles is a good shout as a workaround but should you be expected to take over because you cant trust the car to be in the right gear to pull out on a busy road?

As I say, I could be expecting too much but for a ÂŁ40k+ car I'm a little disappointed
 
#17 ·
Hi Tommo

I have faced same kind of very slow gear change but only when the temperature is 20 Celsius degrees below zero.

On warmer conditions my gearbox is working like a dream
 
#19 ·
timhum said:
sanpadm said:
Yes, I experience the same issue. It is very annoying. It up-shifts so quickly than needed & I often hear the higher gear engine sound! And downshifting is very slow! I have to kick down every time :-(
Like everyone says, I may get used to it & live with this nuisance eventually.
Are you using the car in Eco mode as your description of the gearbox behaviour fits that very well. In normal mode its very easy to control the gear changes with pressure on the accelerator allowing it to change up or down as and when you want it.My most recent auto before the DS is a Golf Gti with DSG and that behaved very similarly to the DS.
Tim
Hi Tim, I drive in normal mode. I have now learned to change down. It doesn't change automatically on its own whenever needed. If this is the case all the time, I rather prefer to drive the manual transmission car :)

I face the exact problem as written in the following review.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/23/2015-land-rover-discovery-sport-review/
 
#20 ·
Couldn't agree more, going for an overtake the other month and as soon as you put the foot down it should just go but no, its like the DS is having a think about what it should do. "mmmm what gear am I in..... do I need to go down a gear..... yes lets do that....." then 2 seconds later you get a burst of power and speed.

It was getting so bad I took it back to the dealership who did some checks on it and found that one of the 3 computers was out of synch.
After fixing it the lag is not as bad as it was but certainly not perfect.

sanpadm said:
I face the exact problem as written in the following review.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/07/23/2015 ... rt-review/
yup, the review sums up the problem well.
 
#21 ·
Hi Guys
I'm new here, but have been looking around for an explanation for this issue.
I'm completely with Tommo on this.
Have driven other automatics, predominately BMW.
For a premium brand it is a terrible gearbox I think. I have tried all driving modes and I find normal non-Eco to be the least painful. It's my wife's car and she loves it, so that's that.
We also suffer from the B-pillar rattle.
 
#22 ·
Are the ones complaining of lag from standstill driving the 2.2 engine model with 6 speed box or the later 2.0 Ingenium engine with 9 speed box?

My current Freelander has the 180 BHP 2.2 engine with 6 speed box and definately suffers from it but the DS's that I have driven twice now with 2.0 litre Ingeniums and 9 speed box were definitely much better but not quite perfect. Try launching in sport mode, it seems to improve it slightly.
 
#24 ·
Failure to change down early enough when going up hills, the need for command shift to compensate for the late change down, very jerky take up from stationary. There are so many issues that have been raised on this site and shared with LR thru' the LR evaluations to new owners! Interesting that DS owners who had Audi, Merc or BMW as their previous cars have the most to say about this disappointing box!
 
#25 ·
After having the DS for 10 months now, I am getting used to the slow take up, the lack of response to me is more noticeable when towing, the DS will not change down quick enough on slow in lines resulting in the engine struggling.
The only solution is to manually drop it a cog on the paddles.
Needs remapping.
 
#26 ·
Moose said:
After having the DS for 10 months now, I am getting used to the slow take up, the lack of response to me is more noticeable when towing, the DS will not change down quick enough on slow in lines resulting in the engine struggling.
The only solution is to manually drop it a cog on the paddles.
Needs remapping.
You are right Moose, you do get used to what the auto does and compensate for it, shouldn't have to but I don't find it an issue now.