I've noticed sometimes I'm stationary at traffic lights an the car is idling around 900 rpm, I think it's because the car has come to a rest in 2nd gear. If I command shift into 1st the idle drops down to a much more reasonable 750ish. Is this normal? Doesn't always do it so it must be dropping to 1st sometimes and not others.

In normal road use the car doesn't use first gear - you should get a message on the dash telling you this if you manually select it with the paddles.

Not sure about 900rpm being high idle but I am sure a grown up will be along shortly to advise.  Bish.

2005 110 TD5 CSW
2011 TDV8 Vogue SE (gone)

1st gear is indeed normally used. The high idle is because the box isn't in 1st and is because the box hadn't reverted to full auto mode from command shift mode or hadn't had 1st gear manually selected by the time the vehicle came to a stop. Moving off in 2nd is possible but mine struggles on inclines. I try to ensure that mine is in full auto mode when coming to a stop.

Cheers Graeme, what's the quickest way to get back to full auto after being in command shift mode? When I remember, I switch to sport mode and then back.

900rpm whilst sitting idle is really noticeable, it was only today I worked out it was a 1st/2nd gear thing but I was sure I wasn't in command shift at that point (was just showing D on the dash, not D2) so the car should have dropped to 1st itself, I'll take more notice the next time I drive it.

I tend to use command shift a lot because I find in full auto it holds on to the revs too much for my liking when going up the box, it annoys me so I tend to upshift manually a lot. I wondered if an adaptation reset would help but also read that it might cause more grief than it's worth and without knowing if it would "learn" my driving style I'm not sure it's worth it.

If you have time, hold the upshift paddle for a couple of seconds otherwise downshift to 1st then hold the upshift paddle, taking off in the middle of it all if needed.

I too manually upshift to use the low torque and to stop all the unnecessary revs. It also reduces TC slip and the resultant hot oil and worn clutches. Resetting adaptations hasn't ever achieved any improvement on this gbox that I've noticed, only on my previous 6-speed 3.0 D4.

First thing I would do. Call Bodsy and get it Megaflushed with his mobile kit on your drive. Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
2025MY Defender D350 90 in Silicon Silver on coils
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
Many, many other Landies over the years
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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I'm with you tezza on it holding onto gears too long but only 1st to 3rd. It doesn't seem to do it when the transmission is cold though. Hold the right paddle up to cancel command mode.

Hmmm, I'd swear blind I got a dash message about 1st gear.... perhaps it was when using one of the driving modes (terrain response?)

Going to have to search now aren't I!!  Bish.

2005 110 TD5 CSW
2011 TDV8 Vogue SE (gone)

Found it!

When in Grass / Gravel / Snow if you use the paddles to downshift to 1st it comes up with a message saying start in 2nd in slippery conditions.

Also checked when in D and select the upshift paddle it changes to 2nd so definitely starts in 1st.

Apologies for misleading you with my first post.  Bish.

2005 110 TD5 CSW
2011 TDV8 Vogue SE (gone)

Cheers all for the info.

Interestingly I was playing around today and I swear there's an rpm difference between being in full auto, stationary in first Vs command shift stationary in first. I'll need to check it out with iid to get accurate numbers but either way it's better than being in 2nd

If you stay still in auto, after about 8 seconds the torque converter partially disengages to save fuel and the revs will rise a smidge.