Manual Vs Auto

Dragonwalker said:

Stick shift

cheap auto security in USA

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LOL - good point

West Slope Rover said:

I prefer the auto, and compared to some auto 4x4s I've owned, I especially like the tranny in my RRC. Plus, an auto is superior in snow, which is found in abundance around here 5 or 6 months out of the year.

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yep same here

Auto it is...
Sure, the manual is more economical and has the added advantage of superior engine braking, but you've got to admit that it offers you option of one less thing to think about when driving, especially in instances when you got to split your attention in two, such as when you got the baby in the car sitting in rush-hour traffic; much more easier to take your foot off one pedal unto the other and go.
Besides, wife can't drive a manual and I find its easier for her as well for the daily commute in conditions as stated above.

ifloochies said:

Auto it is...
Sure, the manual is more economical and has the added advantage of superior engine braking, but you've got to admit that it offers you option of one less thing to think about when driving, especially in instances when you got to split your attention in two, such as when you got the baby in the car sitting in rush-hour traffic; much more easier to take your foot off one pedal unto the other and go.
Besides, wife can't drive a manual and I find its easier for her as well for the daily commute in conditions as stated above.

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That and the gear changes don't get in the way when your wife gives you a little Wink wink

Manual every time. Had both in Disco1's and the auto was terrible, and uneconomical, for my needs (country lanes, farm tracks and fields mainly). Guess if your driving in towns and main roads a auto would be easier.

Besides, an auto in a V8 and you are damn near looking at gpm rather than mpg.

bblake said:

Manual every time. Had both in Disco1's and the auto was terrible, and uneconomical, for my needs (country lanes, farm tracks and fields mainly). Guess if your driving in towns and main roads a auto would be easier.

Besides, an auto in a V8 and you are damn near looking at gpm rather than mpg.

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yep average of 12 per tank

Gonna be running her on 50/50 diesel and cookin oil,

Probs gonna cover 500miles most a year so mpg/gpm isn't such an issue lol

If you use the hold positions on the auto you will get control that's nearly as good as with a manual, with the added benefit of smoother power modulation in slippery conditions.

What you will not get is quite the same level of engine braking. It's good, but it's not as good as a manual.

Didn't we do this thread last month ?

KeepDigging said:

If you use the hold positions on the auto you will get control that's nearly as good as with a manual, with the added benefit of smoother power modulation in slippery conditions.

What you will not get is quite the same level of engine braking. It's good, but it's not as good as a manual.

Didn't we do this thread last month ?

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what is hold position

Thor1950 said:

what is hold position

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I think he means using the numbers in High Range to limit the highest gear, or in Low Range (at least in my D2) pressing the Mode button turns the Auto into a Manual, and selecting the number puts you in that exact gear, without any shifts up or down.

srtgray said:

I think he means using the numbers in High Range to limit the highest gear, or in Low Range (at least in my D2) pressing the Mode button turns the Auto into a Manual, and selecting the number puts you in that exact gear, without any shifts up or down.

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If you use those they lock in that gear only in a D1. I use the term, "lock it in gear"

SnowmanV8 said:

If you use those they lock in that gear only in a D1. I use the term, "lock it in gear"

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yes understand that. say select 3rd (on a 5 speed) it will start in 1, shift to 2, then to 3 but no higher

Thor1950 said:

yes understand that. say select 3rd (on a 5 speed) it will start in 1, shift to 2, then to 3 but no higher

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Mine didn't it would start off in the gear you chose.

SnowmanV8 said:

Mine didn't it would start off in the gear you chose.

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Even in high range? That's not normal for an Auto. I think the 'box in my D2 is the same as the one in the D1, and it doesn't behave like that - except in Low Range with the Manual mode selected.

srtgray said:

Even in high range? That's not normal for an Auto. I think the 'box in my D2 is the same as the one in the D1, and it doesn't behave like that - except in Low Range with the Manual mode selected.

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zf box in discos does start in 1st whatever gear you select 3rd just means it wont change up past 3rd but will change down

srtgray said:

Even in high range? That's not normal for an Auto. I think the 'box in my D2 is the same as the one in the D1, and it doesn't behave like that - except in Low Range with the Manual mode selected.

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Hmm I can remember using it in low range but I don't think I ever locked it in high range other than when I drove her a bit quicker so wouldn't know 100%

Yes, I meant "the numbers"; when I was taught, they were called "hold positions".

Conventional autos will start in whatever gear they like, usually 1st, and change up to but not past the hold position selected. Modern flappy-paddle jobs, along with manumatic/tiptronic/DSG/PDK etc. do not.

You don't need to worry about being in too low a gear with an auto - you can feather the brakes if you need more control (although, as pointed out last time we had this discussion, that heats the tranny fluid. Only a problem if you do it too hard, too long or your cooler's shot), you *do* need to worry about being in too high a gear, hence the hold positions.

If you're driving a flappy-paddle D4 off-road, stick it in 'S' and drive it like a manual.

Autos are great off road. DSG not so great. I had one on my last car with flappy paddles. Brilliant on road, but the DSG being a manual gearbox doesn't like doing small movements forwards or backwards. It is either on or off with next to no slip. Reversing slowly up a steep incline was not easy, and if you only wanted to move a couple of inches, forget it.

When I have been off-roading with manual vehicles, almost without exception the manuals are stalled several times, occasionally at inappropriate times, whereas the auto just carries on. They don't have as good engine braking, but with decent planning ahead are fine. I use my brakes less than many manual drivers.

The best one is the one you feel most comfortable with.

How can a auto ever be better off road? A half way decent driver will be one step ahead and in the correct gear BEFORE any situation arises. A auto can't do that and will only change gear when trouble has already started.

Or do people not read the terrain ahead off them anymore and drive as if they are playing a video game?

bblake said:

How can a auto ever be better off road? A half way decent driver will be one step ahead and in the correct gear BEFORE any situation arises. A auto can't do that and will only change gear when trouble has already started.

Or do people not read the terrain ahead off them anymore and drive as if they are playing a video game?

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Yes they can. Also an automatic is better than 80% of all drivers on the road as it will shift a lot better than a human. Ever been taught race? I mean a proper shift in a car? No? Then an auto is better at changing gear than you. I was always 1 step ahead when I went offroad in my auto seeing 2 or 3 manuals get stuck because the drivers had issue's keeping power up but not spinning the wheels. In an auto that is a lot easier. On another note. I can outrun most manuals round castle in an auto. Manual really really isn't better than a modern auto box. Because 99% of the tools that drive them can't shift for ****!