Manual v Automatic
Comments
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Modern autos do not need an oil cooler, some models require you to remove a blanking plate in the front grill for added air flow if you are towing.
Having been driving and towing for more years than I can remeber, I cannot understand why anyone would want to tow with a manual gearbox by choice.
Auto = always in the right gear at the right time, and yes you can still change down if .decending a gradiant. Changing down when acsending with no loss of momentum.
Manual = Ooops, need to change down quicky, or Ooops forgot to change up.
No contest!
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Thought the BMW 5 series needed an oil cooler fitting and is fitted as standard if the towbar is a factory order,
Might be wrong, just what I have read.
One reason a manual box might be preferred over an auto is the cost. I would have needed an extra £3k to have a spec that allowed an auto box on my LR.
I can shift a lot of gears for that and I always can find the right cog.
Like for like, then yes, Auto
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I am shocked at drivers admitting they cannot drive a manual.gearbox car effectively -- one said Oops -forgot to change up------ oops- need to change down quickly .
Driving effectively involves thinking ahead.
Having an auto gearbox car myself I can see how people might become too reliant in the car making all the decisions for the driver. This IMO is OK.while driving solo.
I would say that being aware of the needs of driving effectively is particularly important while towing. relying completely on an auto box IMO is a poor option Better to understand how to get the best from the vehicle when towing by utilising the many many options and flexability of controlling the gear changes manually.
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Who said they couldn't drive a manual? I can if I choose .... as I suspect all the other auto converts could too .... I just don't choose to. 2 pedals are plenty enough even when towing and though my tow car hasn't a manual option, I've been driving autos
for long enough to know how to make it change up or down when I want it to.0 -
Modern autos do not need an oil cooler, some models require you to remove a blanking plate in the front grill for added air flow if you are towing.
Having been driving and towing for more years than I can remeber, I cannot understand why anyone would want to tow with a manual gearbox by choice.
Auto = always in the right gear at the right time, and yes you can still change down if .decending a gradiant. Changing down when acsending with no loss of momentum.
Manual = Ooops, need to change down quicky, or Ooops forgot to change up.
No contest!
Write your comments here...My auto is often in the wrong gear, which is why i often use manual mode to obtain the engine braking i would use with a manual.
I only went auto due to having trouble remembering what gear i was in with a six speed box, not always obvious with six gears.
My next auto will also have more than six gears to reduce revs at motorway speeds.
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You can only add gears to reduce revs if the engine has enough grunt to allow it otherwise you'd rarely be able to top gear. Extra gears are normally added within the range of the lower gears whether that be auto or manual.
Write your comments here...Excellent point Sir !!
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You can only add gears to reduce revs if the engine has enough grunt to allow it otherwise you'd rarely be able to top gear. Extra gears are normally added within the range of the lower gears whether that be auto or manual.
Write your comments here...Not true.
My car will easily tow at 1500rpm, so should have no problem solo at 70 in a higher gear.
Tig has 7 gears, and Crv 9, the latter solo at 70 is at around 1300rpm with less power and torque than my car, plus its heavier.
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my Tuscon is never happy in 6th whilst towing unless I'm on a 5 mile down-hill stretch. I've got into the habit of sticking to 5th at about 58-60 and it's happy all day at that. I just wondered, with 6 speed autos, are they constantly changing from 5th to
6th and back again? Can you "lock" them into the lower gear? One last point, autos used to be slightly worse in the mpg department, I notice on some spec this is no longer the case0 -
There's too much worrying by some if they cannot cruise in 6th gear, who's to say that 6th is better than 5th in economy and 'happiness' of the car engine, an auto will choose the appropriate and if its 5th then so be it.
I can shift across to 'Sport' and it will hold gears rather than hunt especially useful for rural road driving, I can manually change through the gearbox if I want to insist it runs in 6th gear but if it approaches 1300rpm it will force a downchange to stop the engine from labouring likewise it will force an upchange if going into the red section of RPM.
Sensors also detect low torque, no or little throttle and braking for downhill, it then holds or changes down to enable engine braking but of course you can overide if you want.
Once throttle input and speed is being achieved the converter will lock and there is very little input/output loss in efficiency.
Torque converters and electronic wizardry have come on in leaps and bounds in later years with some cars being very close to their manual counterparts in the MPG stakes.
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When Ford dealer fitted towbar/electrics to my Mondeo estate Powershift to Ford spec, electronics were also updated so towing connection is recognised and programming adjusted accordingly (including ABS). I presume this helps prevent any 'hunting' effects.
Certainly never noticed any when towing my Modena at approx 90% weight ratio. Also seems to cope well using cruise control - down changes on ascents only noticeable on rev counter. And down change doesn't kick out cruise control like it did on previous manual
change. Only downside to Powershift so far was high cost of 3 year service involving full renewal of transmission fluid (over £200 additional cost, though I was aware of this recommendation from Ford when I acquired the vehicle)0 -
Dave. The 6 speed DSG,fitted to the diesels,has the clutch plates in an oil bath. Its the 7 speed that is dry.
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Our Skoda Superb 2.0 auto diesel has been a gem over the five years of towing mainly in Europe. I'm changing to give it a rest, hopefully my latest accusition a Toyota Rav 4 diesel 2.2. Auto will take the reins just as easy, I collect it tomorrow. I swear
by automatics, especially with an option of using it in manual mode should you want.0 -
Allways automatic for me
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Do they still fit manual gearboxes to cars?
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My wife can only drive an automatic so we have an automatic for our caravan. A vauxhall zafirra 1.9 auto and she pulls our xplore 7.29m no problem, and we have taken it up and down some pretty steep hills.
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