Auto or Manual....no clear winner.

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
seanlandy

seanlandy

Active Member
Posts
286
Location
Cannock
Having only just joined the forum, I have been of the mind set that I should get myself a 200 tdi, which fits my budget. However, I just missed out on the bidding for a k plate manual, but the chap, who I happen to know coincidentally, also has an auto on an L plate in better condition and 12 mths mot. Initially, i didn't consider it but he, having had both, swears by it. Having read many a post there just seems no obvious winner as regards choosing one over the other. The draw would seem to be the 12 months mot and the fact I know the chap will have looked after it.....but an auto. I have never had one so just not sure. A test drive and some objective (if that's possible :)) would be welcome, in advance of a test drive. Cheers
 
I have an Auto (I'm also do not come from foreign lands) they don't stall as easy off road, I have never managed to do that as wll (oh I'm waiting for the abuse about learning how to drive a manual).

However, they are less economical and not as easy to fix in places like Africa if they go wrong, not that I care that much. The oil on a service costs a lot for an auto as well.

One thing, if you travel at about 50mph a lot of the time an Auto will drive you nuts. 52mph and your ok though.
 
For on road or off? I've had both and can say there's bits I like about both of them. Off road an Auto stops you ruining your clutch but lacks the response and control of a manual. On road the auto is nicer to drive but expensive if you have gearbox issues. I will be buying myself a Td5 later this year but I will look at condition/mileage etc over what gearbox it has.
 
seanlandy said:
Having only just joined the forum, I have been of the mind set that I should get myself a 200 tdi, which fits my budget. However, I just missed out on the bidding for a k plate manual, but the chap, who I happen to know coincidentally, also has an auto on an L plate in better condition and 12 mths mot. Initially, i didn't consider it but he, having had both, swears by it. Having read many a post there just seems no obvious winner as regards choosing one over the other. The draw would seem to be the 12 months mot and the fact I know the chap will have looked after it.....but an auto. I have never had one so just not sure. A test drive and some objective (if that's possible :)) would be welcome, in advance of a test drive. Cheers
Click to expand...


It depends on the year of Disco I. If it's an autobox car before 1996 then it will be NON-EDC and really dog slow.

After 1996 the autobox cars had their power boosted to 120 bhp (111 before) to take into account the slush box losses.
 
I have a 96 EDC auto and I love it, I rarely go over 50mph and it dont drive me nuts? I only get about 25mpg, if I am lucky it will get more like 30 mpg at about 60mph on the motorway. Its run 100% on bio so fuel is cheap anyway.

It can be sluggish for the first few miles when cold, once warm it meets all my needs for speed and power.

Try test driving both is my advice, bet you prefer the auto
 
My thoughts were the 12 mnths mot being a big fatctor, and like an above comment the condition. In theory it would not need too much doing over the next few months. There are plenty out there. As I say, a test drive may be the decider.
Pre 96 so I am guessing the older autobox
 
Condition is priority, i really dont think there is alot of difference between the two except personal prefernce, rust is the big issue check very carefully for it just about everywhere, im sure you would be happy with either, i have an auto as i prefer them especially off road as you have a free hand for the cb, and no clutch to burn out !
 
seanlandy said:
My thoughts were the 12 mnths mot being a big fatctor, and like an above comment the condition. In theory it would not need too much doing over the next few months. There are plenty out there. As I say, a test drive may be the decider.
Pre 96 so I am guessing the older autobox
Click to expand...

Nope it's the same box, only that 96MY onwards had EDC electronic diesel control therefore giving a small increase of power to the engine.
 
Well a test drive later and I must admit I am impressed with the auto. Press pedal and go. Kick up seems fine and in low range effortless changes up. I must say I am surprised how much I liked it. My other toys are all manual, so maybe an quto in the fleet? In very good nick too, so.....bugger...decisions.
 
Its not a easy choice , i have been looking and there's a lot of auto's out there .... im a manual man as a rule but ive been told the auto box is a dream when towing ( which is what i need )but what are they like on the slippy stuff as you cant feather the clutch ???? good luck with choice :)
 
Auto all the way , I love manuals but the disco is so agricultural in a manual and the auto a completely different car ..

In the mud its great and effortless , much kinder on the drive train and far less likely to brake something like a LR chocolate drive shaft or CV ..

I've had both manual and EDC pumps and theres not a lot in it and as long as they are serviced well and gear box not neglected they are pretty bullet proof .

Infact I have only ever had faults with manual gearboxes and clutches ..

make sure it changes smoothly when it should and no bangs when it changes up .. it shouldn't change like a manual as one did I drove the other day
 
I does change really smoothly. I think that was my surprise. I reckon I am pretty much set on the one I tried. I suppose off road you also have the option of manually selecting the gears anyway, if say for example you thought first was all that was needed. I will now have to find out the correct procedures for changing into low range and diff lock. I don't think the owner had often had to do either, if at all.
 
Told you that you would like the auto :D

Mine is fine off road never had a problem yet, check the diff lock etc all works though, mine was stiff as hell as I don't think it had ever been used, its freed up now though.

I did not know you had to reverse it when I first used it to get the diff lock off and the light to go off on the dash, so don't make that mistake like I did :confused:
 
Ah! Right! So to engage diff lock or low range the way we did it yesterday was to move forward slowly, then put in neutral and then engage either diff lock and/ or low range. and to disengage diff lock to do similar. I am guessing this is not the right procedure then. Wont have done any harm just the once though? As I said, like with yours, I don't think he has used it.
 
seanlandy said:
I does change really smoothly. I think that was my surprise. I reckon I am pretty much set on the one I tried. I suppose off road you also have the option of manually selecting the gears anyway, if say for example you thought first was all that was needed. I will now have to find out the correct procedures for changing into low range and diff lock. I don't think the owner had often had to do either, if at all.
Click to expand...
diff lock is engaged just by pushing the lever over to the left in either hi/lo or neutral it makes no difference it can be done on the move as long as any wheels arent spinning its is engaged disengaged by compressing a spring in the t/box so once selected will only go in when everythings aligned which could be straight away or a second or two later ,if transmission is wound up after using diff lock some forward or reversing might be needed to disengage ,high /low is a dog clutch so you need to stop and put an auto in park or nudge it in r or d to engage either
 
Right thanks. So to disengage the diff lock the only indication is actually the light going off? The hi/lo is more obvious.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Discovery 2. Question about auto box replacement, help most appreciated!
Replies
5
Views
774
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
J
Options for adding CDL - 2003 D2 V8 Auto
Replies
4
Views
393
sierrafery
sierrafery
Henryt21
2000 discovery 2 auto
Replies
9
Views
1K
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
Y
Air suspension fault , will not operate via switch, flags error
Replies
1
Views
270
ydouaskm8
Y
DiscoEsko
Disco 2 td5 Auto to Manual swap
2
Replies
23
Views
4K
Stanleysteamer
Stanleysteamer
Back
Top