Hi,

I'm a FL2 owner in the (very) early stages of moving to a MY10 RRS TDV6. I'm quite a frugal (i.e. tight-fisted) driver and tend to drive with (reasonable) fuel economy in mind rather than performance (although occasionally do like to have the odd play). I'd normally expect to get about 37MPG on a long A road/motorway run driving to the speed limit.

I know that my planned RRS isn't going to give me the same MPG return as my manual 2.2TD4, but I'd like to drive it to get the best economy I can. I would normally have gone for a manual gearbox, but this clearly isn't an option here so I was wondering if anyone actually drives using Command Shift for regular driving (as opposed to when thrashing it).

I had a Freelander 2 auto loan car for a few weeks and although the auto box gave me about 5mpg less than my manual, I tried driving it as a manual and usually managed to beat the auto MPG figures.

Don't get me wrong - I don't want to sound like someone who's buying a car they can't afford to run and is going to drive everywhere at 45mph, it's just I'm not loaded enough to be able to just ignore the MPG I'm getting.

So, anyone use the box as a semi? As a matter of interest, what sort of returns are others getting with 3.0V6s and what's you're driving style?

Thanks!

Last edited by NightFox on Wed Mar 03 2010 12:08pm. Edited 1 time in total

When using Command Shift you don't get the 6th gear, so you would have to knock into auto when cruising. That's either an issue or not, depending on your personal preference obviously  

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Really? I had a test drive yesterday and am sure I could put it into 6th. I guess it might not auto-shift up to 6th when you're in "S" mode, but I'm (almost) positive I manually upshifted to 6th.

Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong though... Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.8::MG Montego Turbo::MGB GT::Rover Sterling::MGF::MG ZT 190+
Discovery Series II Td5 GS::Discovery 3 TDV6 S::Freelander 2 TD4 XS::Freelander 2 TD4 SE
Range Rover Sport TDV6 3.0

You're right - doesn't auto shift  

2009 Outstanding Contribution Award - Joint Runner Up
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it will if you go fast enough
(on the TDV8 anyway) Sons of dogs come hither and get flesh
Clan Cameron

I'm pretty sure you can get it into 6th at about 40mph in Command Shift. Auto does tend to hang onto lower gears more so I guess its using more fuel as the engine is at higher revs for the same road speed? FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

70km/h is as slow as it will change up to 6th in command shift on my car, on the nice flat roads around here that equates to a fuel consumption of 7.2l/100km (39mpg)  Sons of dogs come hither and get flesh
Clan Cameron

Bradders wrote:

I'm pretty sure you can get it into 6th at about 40mph in Command Shift. Auto does tend to hang onto lower gears more so I guess its using more fuel as the engine is at higher revs for the same road speed?

On a flat straight road in my manual FL2 I'd tend to go for 4th @ 30mph, 5th @ 40mph and 6th @ 60mph. The FL2 auto box tended to leave the change till about 10mph more than I did, even under gentle acceleration. I know the auto box is supposed to adjust to your driving style, but I can't see it changing as low as I do - I guess it doesn't know the road ahead so always tries to keep some performance in hand in whatever gear it's in.

During my RRS test drive, I tried changing at the same sorts of speed and the engine didn't seem to have a problem (test drive was in a TDV8 though), but don't know if it would have made much difference to the fuel economy compared to just leaving it in full-auto.

Also, it's odd but although I drive a manual at the moment, driving an auto like this with Command Shift I have to keep reminding myself to change gear (yes, I know I don't need to but when I'm trying to use the gears manually) Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.8::MG Montego Turbo::MGB GT::Rover Sterling::MGF::MG ZT 190+
Discovery Series II Td5 GS::Discovery 3 TDV6 S::Freelander 2 TD4 XS::Freelander 2 TD4 SE
Range Rover Sport TDV6 3.0

I use the sport mode thing a lot - when you push the stick to the left from normal auto mode.

I believe this stops the use of top gear and gets the car to change up later in the rev range.

It certainly makes the car go a bit faster.

Also, I have not noticed ANY change in fuel consumption from the normal auto mode. I get just over 28 to the gallon in my MY09 TDV6 no matter which one of those I use. Which begs the question ..... why would you not put it in sport all of the time?

.... unless that is, there's something wrong with my mileage computer thingy! I've been mad for flipping years, absolutely years, over the edge for yonks.

[quote="mercuryl.... unless that is, there's something wrong with my mileage computer thingy![/quote]

In both the P38 Range Rover I had before and the 2.7 TDv6 Sport I have now the "mileage computer thingy" had been hopelessly over optimistic with the figures it produces compared to manual caluclations. Don't believe a word it says.

IME you need to take 2-3 mpg off it every time. Gordon Kerr
Bedford, UK
2007 Java Black RR Sport TDv6
1980 Brooklands Green Triumph TR7

gordon kerr wrote:

[quote="mercuryl.... unless that is, there's something wrong with my mileage computer thingy!

In both the P38 Range Rover I had before and the 2.7 TDv6 Sport I have now the "mileage computer thingy" had been hopelessly over optimistic with the figures it produces compared to manual caluclations. Don't believe a word it says.

IME you need to take 2-3 mpg off it every time.[/quote]

Lol - mine is reading 23.8mpg. Just filled up today and I'm getting 18!!!  FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

Didn't we have the command shift 6th gear will/won't thing last year? MY10 3.0 TDV6 HSE, Zermatt Silver, 20" Diamond Turned Alloys, Factory Privacy Glass, Premium Leather, Contrast Stiching, Side Steps, Etc

Gone 2006 '56' 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Zermatt Silver, 20", Side Steps, Brembos, Dynamic Pack, Etc

VW Transporter, 19" Rims, T32 170 BHP, Lowered

I seem to think you can almost 'programme' the auto box to drive to your style.
A couple of days 'driving miss daisy' with the command shift will make the box short shift when you go back into auto mode.

That certainly works the other way round, 'drive it like you stole it' for a while on command and the auto box will hold gears a lot longer when in back in auto mode.

As for the economy......not sure the RRS is the best choice of car but at least it will stop quicker than a Prius


Daz 2017 4.4 Autobiography FFRR - love this car
Gone - VW T5 Transporter
Long gone - 2009 Disco
Long gone but never out of my thoughts - 2008 TDV8 HST

Had a 150 mile trip each way yesterday.

first part kept around 65 mph in cruise control return 27.1mpg

Return trip used command shift and returned 33.3 mpg.

Makes a big difference to when you can get into 6th gear, if using auto box changes up at about 57-58 mph using command shift it will take 6th from 42mph.

Have tried a steady 56 before but in auto never gets into 6th so have found it is more economical to run about 65mph where box has managed to get into 6th