Which description most fits the main driver of your outfit?
In the November/December issue of the Club Magazine, we discussed the increase in popularity of automatic gearboxes for towcars and motorhomes. To help us refine our advice for Club members, it would be really helpful if you could give is a little insight into your experience with these:
Q. Which description most fits the main driver of your outfit?
Which description most fits the main driver of your outfit? 44 votes
4 votes
22 votes
8 votes
3 votes
4 votes
2 votes
1 vote
Comments
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I drive an automatic motorhome/campervan and this is the first auto model I've had
No option for semi automatic gear boxes which I much prefer, gives you more control over gear changes if you need it. I have considered your definition of automatic includes semi automatic models?
peedee
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I'm a caravanner. I tow with an automatic car and I've always/mostly chosen autos for recent towcar choices
Auto/Tipronic gearboxes are a no brainer these days. Skoda no longer offer manual gearboxes on the Kodiaq, and I'm sure other manufacturers are the same on their bigger models.
The last manual I had was nearly 10 years ago, and the towing experience vs. Auto is like night and day. Theres no way I'd go back.
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I'm a caravanner. I tow with an automatic car and I've always/mostly chosen autos for recent towcar choices
@peedee - I must admit that I actually had to look up exactly what a semi-auto gearbox was. My Touareg has a torque converter gearbox and has the ability to switch from full auto to manual, just by pushing the gear selector over to the left. I thought all autos where like this? I use the manual option fairly regularly - and especially when doing long descents with the van on the back - to keep the speed down and save on brake wear by using the engine for braking. I'm sure my Discos had the same feature.
With dodgy knees, I wouldn't want to go back to a manual with a clutch pedal!
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Before we swapped to a motorhome I towed with automatics for 8 years and from that experience I personally can't understand why anyone would not opt for a auto. That was based on towing thousands of miles across both Europe and the UK. When we changed to a motorhome it was disappointing, that at the time, Peugeot did not offer an automatic on their base vehicles. They do now apparently. In a few years time its going to become increasingly difficult to buy a manual vehicle of any sort?
David
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I'm a caravanner. I tow with an automatic car and I've always/mostly chosen autos for recent towcar choices
@richardandros : "I thought all autos where like this?"
....so did I Richard.. 🙂 Our Discovery does this, but I can count on one hand the number of times I have used it... Ours has a + and - symbol for going up and down the gears...
David
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I'm a caravanner. I tow with an automatic car and this is the first auto I've had as a towcar
Our current car Volvo XC60 is the first auto tow car we’ve had previously towed for many years with manuals. Love the auto now wouldn’t go back to manual as towing is so much easer I with the auto box. It does have the option to switch to Manual but we’ve been towing with it three years now and never once used the manual option and we’ve towed thousands of miles on all types of roads
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I drive an automatic motorhome/campervan and this is the first auto model I've had
I am aware of at least 4 types, fully automatic which has a hydraulic torque converter, (my volvo is like this ) a variation on this, the tiptronic which allows manual gear section, automated manual transmission, clutch and gear changes are normally computer controlled but like the tiptronic, gears can be selected manually. This is what I have. Finally the CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) which was belt driven.
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I'm a caravanner. I tow with an automatic car and I've always/mostly chosen autos for recent towcar choices
towed with autos for 12 years. Currently a 2.8 Hilux, six speed auto with manual sequential box, hi/low ratio switch and switchable two/four wheel drive. Love the reliability and solid practical performance.
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I'm a caravanner. I tow with a manual car
I did consider the auto box on my Audi A3 petrol when I ordered/bought it back in 2019. The only thing that put me off was the significant higher cost. I suppose it's a bit immaterial now as very few new cars will have the manual box option. What is certain is it will be a petrol.
Colin
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I drive a manual motorhome/campervan
We have to breath deep, engage driving brain and think hard about which gear box we are about to use……….
MH is a manual.
Big Jeep is an auto/tiptronic, with manual hi/low selection if you are in mud or snow
Classic Jeep is manual, again with manual hi/low selection
MGB is manual, with overdrive. Gear box is a dream, it’s the lack of power steering that’s the entertainment🤣 And trying to remember where the windscreen wiper switch is, and fiddling with the choke (we have some carefully crafted pegs). 55 years old this year bless her❤️
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A ten year old grandson, whose every day transport is an AMG Mercedes, climbed into my trusty Freelander, looked around in disbelief, and said in an astonished voice “Is this manual?”
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I'm a caravanner. I tow with an automatic car and I've always/mostly chosen autos for recent towcar choices
Our current and previous tow car are single speed (BEV). Previous have been auto box.
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I drive an automatic motorhome/campervan and this is the first auto model I've had
automated manual transmission, clutch and gear changes are normally computer controlled but like the tiptronic, gears can be selected manually.
For those sufficiently interested, I found >this< explanation on U-Tube for the type of transmission I have.
peedee
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