Member Since: 07 May 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 119
2009 XS v 2014 HSE
Just given back brand new HSE after a day. Back in my 2009 XS. Things I liked about the posh one.
1. Reversing camera. Found it really useful
2. Electric adjustable seats. Although no more comfy.
Things I didn't like
1. Rotary gear shift. Difficult to knock into neutral
2. Paddle shift kept knocking it into command shift them didn't know why gear wasn't shifting
3. 8 speed box. Not sure it added anything. Droned a bit in top gear.
4. Stop start. Didn't realise car had it. Couldn't understand why I kept stalling an auto!
So on the basis that I disliked twice as many things as I liked, my old XS is twice as good as the new posh one.
15th Nov 2014 11:01 am
nigel207
Member Since: 26 Mar 2009
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 1350
But, if they offered to swap, I bet you would?
15th Nov 2014 1:55 pm
jonboy1968
Member Since: 07 May 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 119
In a heart beat. £50,000 worth of car v £23,000 is a very persuasive argument.
Think the point I am making is that a 5 year old model, holds up well against the very latest that the Discovery brand has to offer. And that recent updates have not really moved things forward.
Most disappointing was the 8 speed gear box. As a newby to auto boxes I thought the 8 speed box would be smooth and instant. No smoother than the 6 speed, and occasions of hesitation when the load pedal was applied.
16th Nov 2014 1:20 am
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50967
You will be lonely with your view of the 8 speed ...maybe a day wasn't long enough or yours was duff 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
16th Nov 2014 2:52 am
boyd
Member Since: 26 Mar 2014
Location: Brackley
Posts: 217
^ what he said
16th Nov 2014 8:07 am
fisherman
Member Since: 16 Jan 2007
Location: Hornchurch Essex
Posts: 1789
I have found the 8 speed an improvement regards towing as the paddle shift is conveniently placed. Not used one before and didn't expect to use this one much but find I do much more than anticipated. Mine is smooth with no snatching at all and the point is to keep the engine at optimal rev's for power, this in turn improves the economy. Anything that helps in that direction has to be good. Except stop/start tech which is of course. FFRR 2017 4.4SDV8 Autobiography. Cost so much I must be mad!
D4 HSE 2012 Like a second wife, more expensive but goes better! I almost cried this time!
D3 HSE 2006 (Almost 8 years together, true love)
Land Cruiser VX 1994 11 years together, wife cried when I p/ex'd for my D3
16th Nov 2014 8:36 am
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
Re: 2009 XS v 2014 HSE
jonboy1968 wrote:
Things I didn't like
1. Rotary gear shift. Difficult to knock into neutral
How difficult can it be to turn a knob one click to the left
jonboy1968 wrote:
2. Paddle shift kept knocking it into command shift them didn't know why gear wasn't shifting
I've never managed to hit the paddles by mistake, the heated steering wheel switch is another matter By the way if you want to put it back into auto mode just pull and hold the up shift paddle
jonboy1968 wrote:
3. 8 speed box. Not sure it added anything. Droned a bit in top gear.
IMHO the 8 speed box is a huge improvement on the 6 speed one, it seems to suit the car so much better. Not sure what the droning could be maybe there was a fault on the car
jonboy1968 wrote:
4. Stop start. Didn't realise car had it. Couldn't understand why I kept stalling an auto!
The stop/start gets a bit of getting used to but you soon fail to notice it working after a short while it is really unobtrusive Cheers Ian
--------------------
Club N.E.R.D.S
Kielder 4x4 Safari
Discoless
16th Nov 2014 3:35 pm
Lucero
Member Since: 07 Oct 2014
Location: South
Posts: 121
Why would you want to knock it into Neutral?
17th Nov 2014 2:51 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23538
When stopped at lights or in stationary traffic, I'll normally select neutral and apply the handbrake.
I don't like being blinded by brake lights when stationary in traffic. So I don't subject others to mine.
Perhaps it's coincidence or luck, but by regularly using the EPB, I've never had any problems with it on any of my Disco's over the last 8.5 years.
Tempting fate I know.
I still much prefer using a stick over the rotary dial and the paddles are a pain to use when driving off- road.
The 8 speed box is better, but actually I never had any complaints about the 6 speed in my D3 and 2010 D4.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
Last edited by LT on 17th Nov 2014 3:16 pm. Edited 1 time in total
17th Nov 2014 3:10 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Nocking it into neutral is pretty routine on the D3/D4 if the off-road or towing conditions require it.
The 8-spped box is a night and day improvement over the old box. More torque available faster, lock-up quicker, better layout requiring a maximum of 2 clutches open at any one time, no sequential shifts required for excellent kick-down, gear selection for corner entry and exit rather than just corner inhibit, shifts in under 200ms, automatic neutral selection on brake hold, engine speed matching etc. I could go on but it is really rather good.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
On the recent trip to the Gaydon test track,the boys in the back were 8-speed virgins.....it's fair to say,when the instructor knocked it into Sport,and got busy with the loud pedal,there were more than a few surprised and complimentary comments regarding the gearbox and engine combination "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
17th Nov 2014 3:22 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23538
I agree Euan, when "pressing on" you really notice the difference between the 6 & 8 speed boxes.
Most of the time I tend to "waft" along in the D4, so I don't perhaps appreciate the 8 speed as much as others here do.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
of course. 
By the way if you want to put it back into auto mode just pull and hold the up shift paddle 
