Posted by Dave Connaway on April 29, 1998 at 10:42:39:

In Reply to: New Disco - is it worth it? posted by Mike and Linny on April 28, 1998 at 04:01:04:

2 points to answer:

a) My NAS Defender 90 (August 1995) at 11,000 miles needed a new rear diff and because of the diff damage also needed a new axle casing. Cost the warranty company a lot of money. Been chatting to an Off-roader in Yorkshire (England) who last weekend fitted a shortened Discovery prop shaft complete with * rubber doughnut*
which absorbs vibrations and shocks and seems to be his answer to NOT breaking diffs and half shafts whilst off-roading.
Question: when did LR start fitting these dough nuts to Discovery's and presumably they do the business with the diffs? Find the date change (if any) and this may be your solution.
I think RR also use them and both vehicles front and back?

b) Last month I drove a RR with Auto Box, road tyres and BMW straight 6 turbo diesel engine, all day at an off-road customer demo for my local dealer. I was mightily impressed with the performance of the auto box since this was my first opportunity to off-road all day with an Auto, rather than short sessions. Although the Discovery is not fitted with the BMW engine your question was about auto boxes and given the choice now of buying a NAS Defender with Auto box, I'd trade in my manual box vehicle. If you can afford ABS I think the over-run problems down steep slopes will not be a problem (used carefully and with the correct gear). The great advantage with the auto box is that you can change gear on the move when you have made an error of judgement. With a manual box off-road changing gear when traction appears to be dissappearing can be highly dangerous, but with the auto you can change gear safely although the transmission may take a short period to catch up with the change in road speed. An auto box is also much kinder on the axles whilst off-roading?
Auto boxes on the road will be more thirsty on fuel but my vote is go for it !!!

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