Which is better off road

a simple question, is auto better or manual better for off roading? I have been led to believe that manual is better, what are your thoughts?

M

I prefer the manual gearbox myself, more control over the vehicle. Same with having the clutch to use. A lot of articles I've read in the past say that is a personnel choice. See if you can borrow or test drive an auto to see the difference.

I would stick with manual have more control as fishface says and just an example when going down hills etc you can use the engine braking better as it is just easier - in an auto would have to put foot on brake was it all the way down to 1st and it just aint the same and tis awkward thinking bout all that when off roading when it is intuitve to stick it in 1st on a manual! Just me thoughts!

Hi to throw a spanner in the works and automatic will use more engine brakes down hill especially if it's a good box. You might need to drop it down a gear or two

Charlotte

I have an auto and its great off road. Your always in the right gear for a start! don't need to change going up em big hills and risk loosing power or even worse a stall.! as for coming down, drop it into 1st low ratio and let it go! it takes a bit off bottle to get used to it but every one I meet always admires an auto. In fact have heard it said that 90 enthusiasts seek disco auto engine & box combo's.

Disco Lights said:

I but every one I meet always admires an auto. In fact have heard it said that 90 enthusiasts seek disco auto engine & box combo's.

Click to expand...

I dont believe EVERYONE you meet admires them. What about the milkman, bank manager, or even when you met your wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend/farm animal (delete as appropriate). Surely someone you have met doesnt admire them, or even mention them for that matter?

And as for the 90 enthusiasts, who counted them? What happens if i want to be one of the 90, does that mean someone loses out or the whole thing goes to pot cuz theres now 91 enthusiasts? And surely if there is only 90 seeking them bits, what happens when they have them? Is there no more demand for the bits in question? Or is there another 90 waiting to take their place?
I worry about these things.

your reading tooooo much into it bud! I have had more + conversations regarding the auto than the manual, If this posting is confusing you or even p**sing you off, just move on?

It isnt, i was being humourous being in the good mood that i am tonight.

As for my two penneth worth, id prefer the auto, despite owning a manual.

Thank you, at last a sensible social response

i think he likes you lenny

Shall we dance?

LOL - I love this guy - reading this thread has cheered me up no end tonight!

thats a scouser for yer

Mine is a Auto, have yet to ake it off road, must be the thought of ending up like some of the discoveries on the picture gallery.
It gets lots of TLC may be it needs a thrashing every so often.
As to who admires Auto's, my local garage does, £ signs flash up in their eyes every time I stop at the pump!

Having driven Tojos and Nissans off-road in manual and auto, I would have laughed at anyone seriously going off road in an auto... major laughing, sniggering and pointing at behind their back (as you do )

....... until I got this Discovery that is. I have to admit that I was incredibly impressed with hill descent, manual mode on the mode switch and 1st low.

I even tried just 1st low without the hill descent and if you can cope with the extra 1-2mph down hill, it is very capable, but the hill descent is sweet. I live next to a mountain (the only one in the flat outback around here!) and there is a track down one side that is seriously 50-60 degrees for about three car lengths and then flattens out to about 40 degrees, and the hill descent just walks over the lip and down she goes without speeding up or slipping sideways. Very impressive. Frightened the $%^&* out of the missus but worked a charm. So I would prefer a manual ..... in anything other than a Discovery

PS... no..thats not the mountain in my avatar but rather some rocky escarpment 50 klms away.

well if the fuel economy bothers you perhaps yoiu should be looking at Yarris? or something.