Towing with an Auto car?
Hi, We are thinking of changing to a small caravan from a motorhome which coincides with changing the car!
What are members thoughts about towing with an automatic car, we are thinking of a Vauxhall Meriva 1.7 CDTi 16V. ?
Thanks
Comments
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My last 4 tow cars have all been auto (two Merc estates and two Discoveries). I would never go back to manuals. Apart from the ease of driving you get easier hill starts. Modern autos allow manual control should you wish to overide (for example lock in a low gear on a long descent). Having said this my vehicles have all had large engines so you do need more opinion from those towing with smaller cars.
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Plenty of opinion on the forum ..... if you manage to trawl through it all - not the easiest forum to seach .... of the merits of 2 or 3 pedals. Those that 'want to be in control' and the two pedal converts.
2 pedals good ..... 3 pedals bad
Unless it's a Vauxhall's Easytronic automated manual, which I think the Meriva will be. Not the best of automatics.0 -
I was always a 'do it myself' manual type of gal and was reluctant to change, but we recently swopped from a manual Freelander to an automatic Discovery.
I take it all back. I love it, both solo and for towing. It's so easy not to have to worry about changing gear and tows extremely well.
They've come a long way since I first had an automatic but I'm sold on them now.
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I changed my car to an autometic when i bought a caravan. i would never consider going back to manual if i could help it.
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I would be more concerned about the suitability of the Meriva as a tow car Irrespective of the gearbox!
That wasn't the question though
A Meriva won't tow your new TA caravan, but as the OP specifically says 'small caravan' we might be talking
a micro caravan .....
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Manuals for over 40 years.........first auto sept last year....what have I been missing.....relaxed and stress free towing doesnt even begin to describe it !.. No more smelly clutches when reversing or manoevering. Just as ecomomical. No more dinosaur cogs
and clutches for me.Tj
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They have yet to make an autobox that can anticipate what is coming up. That is a task for a DRIVER. The auto will always be reactive, not proactive, but some folk don't notice. I guess maybe they didn't get the opportunity to climb Shap with a Gardiner
180 under the bonnet.0 -
Ive been driving for well over 50 years and only in the past 15 years on Automatics, but despite countless earlier comments of mine, - I would never now want to go back to a manual "Stick Shift"
I think JillwithaJ put her finger on it, Automatics have changed and improved so much in recent years that earlier fears are now groundless.!
Personally I would avoid the smallest of engines. although even those have probably got better now.
Go for it! The advantages are increasing all the time. I just wish i could get the DCOS to change to automatic. But she is a bit stubborn!
TF
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They have yet to make an autobox that can anticipate what is coming up. That is a task for a DRIVER. The auto will always be reactive, not proactive, but some folk don't notice. I guess maybe they didn't get the opportunity to climb Shap with a Gardiner
180 under the bonnet.Write your comments here...They already exists auto systems that know an incline is approaching using both car sensors and GPS, typically used in some lorries.
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auto systems that know an incline is approaching using both car sensors and GPS, typically used in some lorries.
They still need some work on the live satellite pictures to factor in the dithering numpties in front and the armless tractor-driver with no signals!
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They have yet to make an autobox that can anticipate what is coming up. That is a task for a DRIVER. The auto will always be reactive, not proactive, but some folk don't notice. I guess maybe they didn't get the opportunity to climb Shap with a Gardiner
180 under the bonnet.Every auto i've driven was capable of being manually overridden on the very rare occasion its necessary
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Towed with Citreon C4 Picasso 1.6 automatic for 4 years without any problems.
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My first towcar was a Toyota Surf, brilliant, then Kia Sorento manual, worst thing i ever did, Sorento a lovely car, but in a traffic jam or smaller roads manual a nightmare. Last car a Freelander 2 auto, brilliant, Now have Kia sportage Auto, first away trip this weekend with this car, fingers crossed. Auto every time.
hopefully!!!0 -
If God wanted us to drive a manual, he would have given us three feet
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May be a bit late with this reply but I tow with a Skoda Octavia with a automatic DSG gearbox gives totally relaxing tow would certainly recommend this car over a manual average towing mpg about 30, solo over high 50s.
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They have yet to make an autobox that can anticipate what is coming up. That is a task for a DRIVER. The auto will always be reactive, not proactive, but some folk don't notice. I guess maybe they didn't get the opportunity to climb Shap with a Gardiner
180 under the bonnet.A reactive driver will always be a reactive driver no matter what the gearbox is. Automatics can also be driven in manual mode.
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Ive just come across this thread and agree 100 percent that auto is better BUT I've always struggled and continue to struggle to meet the nose weight of my van to the nose weight of the car which is much lower than a manual am I alone on this or is it a
common problem?0
