auto vs manual

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listerdiesel said:
We find five speeds with the manual box better than the four on the auto, and if I'm towing the big trailer with the show engine, I can make it work harder at lower rpm than with the auto.

Philip hasn't tried his ES V8 with the trailer on, perhaps I'll let him tow it back from the Landy Zone 10th Anni celebrations!

Peter
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Personally, I've never found a manual better for towing, seamless changes on an auto and engine braking if needed, what is the point of slogging the engine at low revs? Better letting it run at optimum rpm.
 
Datatek said:
Personally, I've never found a manual better for towing, seamless changes on an auto and engine braking if needed, what is the point of slogging the engine at low revs? Better letting it run at optimum rpm.
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Not quite as it sounded! :D

The V8 has quite a decent power/torque band that starts about 2200rpm on mine, I'd rather keep it in that band where it is most efficient and economical that let it rev higher up the scale with the auto.

The five gears are a better match as well.

Peter
 
listerdiesel said:
Not quite as it sounded! :D

The V8 has quite a decent power/torque band that starts about 2200rpm on mine, I'd rather keep it in that band where it is most efficient and economical that let it rev higher up the scale with the auto.

The five gears are a better match as well.

Peter
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You don't just "stick it in D and forget about it" when you drive an auto, you know!
 
MGBGTV8 said:
You don't just "stick it in D and forget about it" when you drive an auto, you know!
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I do, always have done unless driving in snow on a hill which is very rare nowdays, one of my other cars has a position to enable me to use the steering wheel paddles which I tried just the once or twice, don't see the point that of selecting manual gear unless on a track.
 
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I have manual discovery 2 and I would only recommend a manual if the owner has spent his whole life body building, the clutch is so heavy that if you drive in heavy traffic your left leg will feel dead when you get out.Its fine on motorways or in the country but if you are going to drive in heavy traffic forget it and go for a auto.
 
discool said:
I do, always have done unless driving in snow on a hill which is very rare nowdays, one of my other cars has a position to enable me to use the steering wheel paddles which I tried just the once or twice, don't see the point that of selecting manual gear unless on a track.
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I use the gear selector all the time on my auto for engine braking when slowing and for running in 3rd when on speed restricted climbs where 3rd with torque convertor locked is much more economical than top with torque convertor unlocked.
 
Well from my point of view I have an auto because I like it off road, but for day to day use I would have got a manual for the extra 2-3mpg you get out of them.

But, an auto in traffic is nice because your not messing about a lot.
 
tobytess said:
I have manual discovery 2 and I would only recommend a manual if the owner has spent his whole life body building, the clutch is so heavy that if you drive in heavy traffic your left leg will feel dead when you get out.Its fine on motorways or in the country but if you are going to drive in heavy traffic forget it and go for a auto.
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Never had a problem with mine, and my wife manages quite well too.

Peter
 
stutab said:
And you get through more brake pads
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Only if you don't know how to drive! There's a long steep motorway hill near my home (5km at about 12%, or 1:8) which I regularly drive in my Auto V8 without touching the brakes. Select 3 or 2 and let the engine do the work.

I wouldn't want a manual now. Town or motorway, auto is excellent - especially with cruise control.
 
stutab said:
You can't bump start an auto if you get a sticky starter or low battery. Your not supposed to tow an auto. And you get through more brake pads
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OK u have managed to bump start a disco on your own so well done, or have you had some additional help with that which is all u need if a battery failed and u have an auto, Jump leads or RAC come to mind.

You can certainly tow a D1 auto, I've towed a RRC auto from Wales to South London.

I don't think 35,000 + miles on a set of LRs genuine pads is that bad.
 
Auto's are for girls, yanks and men who don't understand the relationship between revs, torque and speed. Only a manual will give you full control and flexibility.

I've had both, obviously the auto is better around town, but that was about it's only advantage.
 
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Must admit that in the comprehensive folder of invoices for the entire 15 yr history of my auto 300, front brake pads are the item that feature the most - and quite regularly at that.

However we are hardly talking a fortune to replace them - it hardly seems relevant to deciding which gearbox is best for the intended use of the vehicle.
 
bblake said:
Auto's are for girls, yanks and men who don't understand the relationship between revs, torque and speed. Only a manual will give you full control and flexibility.

I've had both, obviously the auto is better around town, but that was about it's only advantage.
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True, a manual gives you better control. That said, I've known plenty of drivers with manuals who have no idea what the relationship between revs, torque and speed are, and plenty of auto drivers (myself included) who do.

As I said, if you are using cruise control (and I tend to do mostly motorway driving in my D2) an auto makes much more sense, since it changes gear instead of just over fuelling.
 
stutab said:
Vs 47k on manual
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I did 48k + once on my RRC then the warning light came on so I had them changed. :p

With my disco when I renew my pads I always seem the have only used only 3/4 of pad material, but it's sods law the remaining 1/4 will run out in mid winter so I always make pad replacement a summer job, even though I may still have a few thousand miles left on the old ones.
 
srtgray said:
True, a manual gives you better control. That said, I've known plenty of drivers with manuals who have no idea what the relationship between revs, torque and speed are, and plenty of auto drivers (myself included) who do.

As I said, if you are using cruise control (and I tend to do mostly motorway driving in my D2) an auto makes much more sense, since it changes gear instead of just over fuelling.
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Never done much motorway driving in mine, so can't really comment, bar that my 300tdi will happily hold its own at 40mph plus in fifth (max I do is about 80mph), so can't really see the benefit of an auto.

As for cruise control, only "had" that on my V8's and it never friggin' worked anyway. Had a Galaxy with cruise and found it pretty much unsusble in the UK, but great in France, Italy, Germany where you can go more than two miles without having having to apply the brakes!
 
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