Currently in the market for a disco and got a chance to buy a 97 disco 5 speed. Never driven a manual offroad just the auto disco 2.
how much of a pain is it ? I’m assuming lots of clutch wear etc ? Or does the low range keep it from staling ?

 

@redwhitekat I can not speak to the Disco but I drove a 5 speed R50 pathfinder off road for 5 years, clutch wear & stalling are not an issue if you pick the correct gearing. As you noted low range 1st gear you can stall but you need to work at it. The biggest issue is how much time do you have driving a manual. If you have a lot of experience it is not much different, but you need to learn the truck.

Off Road manual means:

• Knowing what rpm you stall at in each gear and gear range (hi/lo)
• Where the clutch grabs as you release the clutch
• How to start on any hill without the E-brake
• Knowing rpm ranges and corresponding speeds low and high range

Lastly accept some chunks of trail will be slow long steep grades up or down hill you are going to be picking a gear and sticking to it, which means higher RPMS

 

Thanks Richard

 

It definitely adds a degree of difficulty. Especially on steep hills, where you either don't make it or are inadvertently stopped by another vehicle...it happens...especially on two tracks/forest roads. Not saying its impossible...it just adds. If you're in low range it's much more forgiving...but there are times you just get caught in the wrong gear. Which often leads to getting stuck or needing to reverse yourself down hill. I've driven a stick all my life, on one vehicle or another, and still would prefer an auto over a manual in the woods.

 

I’m really liking my auto’s off road, but until 4 years ago I only knew manual. It wasn’t many years ago that the 4x4 world sneered at auto’s. If everything else about the Disco is right I don’t think you should worry about the manual.

 

The main question: it is a diesel? Then manual gear is easy to handle due to higher torque especially at low rpms. You just let the clutch slip in quickly and on a level road they don't even stall without hitting the gas pedal (I could drive my 80hp VW van this way back in the day). A gas engine requires more accurate clutch/gas pedal handling.
The advantage of manual is better fuel mileage.

 

i wheeled a stick shift cherokee for years, make sure the emergency brake is spot on, ebrake it, slide the the clutch and gas properly and it's like butter, On several occasions i had other jeepers comment about how my automatic must make it easier to wheel,
More low range driving than with an atomatic.