Hi all.

New member here so hello to all.

I'm looking to buy an L322 and my original plan was to buy a 2010 3.6tdv8 but, having read a fair bit about the 4.4tdv8, I'm now considering the latter car.
My only gripe is I really hate the rotary gear selector and wonder if anyone has converted back to a command shift lever as per the 3.6 or 5.0?
I currently drive a 3.6 Sport and the feel of both steering wheel and gearshift are equally weighted and give a real sense of being connected to the car and in control of something mighty!

As far as I know, there are no mechanical linkages on the 6HP28X nor the 8HP70 but just electronic switches controlling servos and the cabin architecture is the same barring the facia panel.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you.

Have you driven something with the rotary?
. Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

The 6-speed has a mechanical gear selector controlled by a cable, hence the shift lever. The 8-speed doesn’t, hence the electronic rotary dial.

Phil

Unnecessary quote removed

Ive changed from a Touareg with a conventional but somewhat chunky 'T' bar gear lever. It fely very alien in the Rangie with its dial. Having lived with it now for 2 weeks I have no issues with it at all, it works beautifully, the steering wheel paddles completely removing any 'need' for a lever.. BMW i3 Electric Car
2012 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8 (now gone)
2006 VW Touareg 3.0 TDi V6

I use the paddles regularly but have learnt to not use them whilst turning as I've used the wrong paddle a few times when the wheel is upside down. However I don't particularly recall using the previous D4's stick whilst turning but never shifted in the wrong direction either.

What ever you do, don’t swap it for the BMW like lever from the Sport!

Complicated, not intuitive and (worst of all) has several pointless “safety” lockouts that have left me stranded in the middle of a junction, locked out of any and all gears - with me left shouting at it, like a scene From that Fawlty Towers episode with his poor 1100

Love my rotary after that

i thought i wouldn't get used to my knob but its use is second nature now..

Now that could well be the quote of the day  Too many toys, not enough time

2011 4.4 TDV8 AB Black

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Vogue tdv8 08MY poverty pack - wow

RRPhil wrote:

The 6-speed has a mechanical gear selector controlled by a cable, hence the shift lever. The 8-speed doesn’t, hence the electronic rotary dial.

Phil

Thank you for clarifying that point.

I think perhaps I'm a little "old skool" when it comes to cars and I really liked the look and feel of the shift lever of the 3.6 and 5.0 models.
The various economy updates however on the 4.4 make it a very attractive option but can't help feeling my left hand would be "searching" as it does the first few times you drive a left hand drive car

Thanks again everyone.

G

When I got mine I thought the rotary shift would take some getting used to.

In reality, it took longer to get used to the electronic handbrake. 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Also the rotary just adds some automation; if you switch the engine off in DRIVE it's says: Warning not in park (but not to worry sir I'll put it in park for you, carry on owner sir)
Not sure the stick does that.

Just a lovely bit of Range Rover magic there.

The motorised knob up and down adds even more Range Rover magic every time you start and stop the engine.

Oh also, I reckon I can do an eight point turn quicker using the knob. I say eight, I seem to always need to turn the beast down some narrow alley. Often with traffic giving me eye-rolling evils. But the knob gets it done fast and the clicks left and right become intuitive, you can do it in unison with winding the steering wheel.

Knob wins over stick every time.

. Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

I was also not a knob fan, but got used to having one quite quickly

My only gripe is that it takes a few seconds after starting the car before my knob is erected into full operating position, so I've got into the habit of starting the car before putting on my seat belt - and by the time i've done that I can select drive.

It certainly wouldn't be worth spending any money on a stick IMHO - there's the steering wheel paddles if you feel the need, which I almost never do (and only for braking)

I knew it wouldn't be long until a knob erection was mentioned!!!!
.  Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

I agree though - the ability to turn the engine off & it goes into Park automatically is great - and probably compensates for my erection issues