Towing with an automatic?
Comments
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Eileen. In my opinion dont hesitate with an automatic vehicle for towing - it makes life so much easier. Have towed for many years with automatics and manual and wouldnt go back to manual.
As for electronic handbrake I have never found an issue with it .
My only cautionary advice with manual or automatic make sure its suited to the caravan you are going to tow.
As for Freelander other people here might be able to answer that as I have no knowledge of them
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I went automatic about 3 years ago for towing and wish I had done it long ago - takes so much hassle and wear and tear out of towing. My daughter thought I would be bored driving an Auto - not in the least it still has ooomph solo when I put my foot down! Best decision I have made in a long time!
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"In my opinion dont hesitate with an automatic vehicle for towing - it makes life so much easier. Have towed for many years with automatics and manual and wouldnt go back to manual."
I have seen this opinion expressed many times. Just WHAT is it that people find so much better with an automatic? There are various things which make towing a bit more challenging than driving solo, but changing gears is one thing I have never found to be an issue. (Not being controversial - just genuinely interested).
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If the manual gearbox and associated clutch had just been invented then imagine how the marketing people would try to sell them to us. The concept would be short lived. Why auto? Think about that queue of traffic and the non-stop in and out of gear, the foot continuously on the clutch. Then there is the joy of being able to concentrate on driving in the knowledge that you will always be in the correct gear in an auto.
I have driven automatics for the past 20 years and would never accept a manual car. It would be like self flagellation. No thanks. Go for the auto, check out the towing limits and enjoy it.
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I agree with the post above. Driving an automatic car is really easy and so less tiring. For me, it comes into its own in heavy 'stop-start' traffic. It cuts out the continual changing of gear - less wear on the old clutch leg/knee and a much smoother drive. Our 'second car' is a manual gear change and I hate driving it these days. It's really Carols car and I really not feel inclined to deprive her of it!
David
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Auto's every day of the week and twice on Sundays!
That said, I have always had proper autos with a fluid torque converter, I have no idea about the DSG type 'manual' auto boxes as I have never driven one, other will surely comment.
Also what is this handbrake to which you refer?
I know its probably bad practice, but I never use mine - I never need to when driving, I have never been in a situation where the auto box did not hold the car (one of the beauties of the torque converter) and when parked, the gearbox is locked in park, locking the wheels from rotating. [waits for people to tell him off!]
The Americans and some European cars I have heard, refer to them as emergency brakes and they are on foot pedals to be operated in an emergency only.....well that's my justification ;-)
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We could all turn your comments round ...... just WHAT do you find so great about gear shifting? Usually those that have never driven an auto, other than a spin roun the block in their mate's auto & got their feet tied up, all 'want to be in control'. Yes, all us converts to 2 pedals can/could drive manuals if we want to ...... but we don't want to. Borrow a proper auto for a week or three see if your opinion changes. I'm willing to get you'll be a 2 pedal convert.
(Then try using both feet ..... a foot per pedal
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You are correct in one respect, relying on the parking pawl is extremely bad practice even if it is common practice. Anyone relying on the parking pawl alone must be extremely mechanically unsympathetic to allow the weight of the vehicle to rest on such a small component especially on a slope."Locking the wheels from rotating", is factually wrong, the parking pawl locks the transmission only and if you were to be hit when stationary the wheels would rotate and the pawl would snap like a carrot (expensive), that is why the handbrake is a legal requirement when parked on a public highway.
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Eileen it's a great choice, but then I am biased
On my third new one and the SD4 auto is the choice with 2 pedals and a proper torque converter. Plent of grunt with 420Nm, stable ride, 150kg noseweight it will pull your caravan nicely.The one I have now has the electronic handbrake, and has auto release by just pressing the go pedal or you can release manually. Easy to get use to and very efficient in holding the car. Have now started my 4th year and no problems with the electronic brake and only a new electric boot catch needed in that time.
Auto box works well towing but reluctant to go into 6th gear at 60mph whilst towing, but the car is high geared and is quite happy in 5th at 60mph and 2000rpm, whereas 6th would be 1600rpm and be borderline on slight motorway inclines.
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I have been driving automatics for a long time and currently have a VW Passat fitted with a smooth DSG automatic gearbox and electronic handbrake. The DSG bit gives full manual control via paddles on the steering wheel that is occasionally handy when one wants to play at being a boy racer; not that I ever do of course.
I really cannot imagine why anyone would want to a manual clutch/gearbox apart from cost and the sight of a manual handbrake is a turn of; both good for exercise I suppose.
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I am so glad someone else never uses the handbrake! Foolishly on a very steep hill I occasionally engage handbrake as well but can't remember when I last did that!
As well as slow traffic - I find auto on roundabouts so very handy - I don't have to do anything! Definitely a more restful way of driving - and I had no idea what I was missing until I almost accidentally bought one. Skoda were phasing out the Octavia (the model I had) and I thought to get a bargain on the old stock - the dealership only had an automatic left which I thoroughly test drove and bought! It had 10 miles on the clock as a demonstration model!
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Auto and electronic hand brake are excellent and make driving, either solo or towing, less strenuous. The auto is self explanatory. But the electronic brake comes off automatically when you press the right pedal. However, I have a DSG and tend to slip the lever into 'P' when halted at lights etc when towing to save wear and tear on the system. Solo the 'stop/start' system usually saves the need to slip lever into 'P unless going to be stopped for a little while (at level crossings/lights for example). I tend to use the manual side of the auto to give extra braking when towing and going down steep hills but really only in the Alps or similar. Have had VW autos for 10 years now and wish I had gone auto many years ago. Haven't tried a hand brake turn with the electronic brake!
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I went DSG auto with my current car and love it! Had previous experience of an early DSG box and the latest is much better. I slip into neutral when waiting at lights etc and always use the electronic parking/handbrake when leaving the car. However I also drive a manual Audi A2 which I also like but I cannot see me going back to manual with any future tow car.
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On the Freelander 2, the Auto box is actually more robust than the manual box. Always go for an Auto on the Freelie.
I didn't know it had an electronic handbrake - certainly my 2011 Freelie didn't have one. I have one on my current car, a Discovery 4, however and IME they are a boon operationally (my wife always struggled to put the manual handbrake on, on our Freelie) but need a bit more work to keep maintained.
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For years I never used the manual handbrake on my auto Landcruiser or the electronic one on my auto VW Touareg UNTIL a very sad accident happened not far from us - a car rolled out of a driveway where it had been parked and ran over a woman pushing her baby in a pram. The baby was killed. It appears the handbrake had not been applied to the car.
I don't know but I assume the car was manual as I don't think an automatic could roll...but after that I try and remember to apply the handbrake every time I park. If that single action takes more than one second I'd be surprised but if it stopped an accident what's it worth?
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You misinterpreted my post. I have no particular feelings either way between driving a manual or an automatic. I was interested in why people particularly favour them for towing.
During 3 years working in the US I drove (mostly large) proper automatics. I even owned an 8.6litre V8 Cadillac Eldorado for a year! I accept that automatic technology has probably advanced considerably since then, but it certainly used to be the case that although automatic was fine on big cars, it left a lot to be desired on smaller models.
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They're not, most are semi automatic sequential, doesn't even have a clutch pedal as that is controlled by electrickery and hydraulics by a steering wheel paddle alongside the shift paddles.
Plus racing cars such as F1 are not common on the road towing caravans, can you come up with a better analogy.
As for lesser racing cars with a manual gearbox, it must be a 'mans' thing being a glutton for punishment, and again haven't seen one towing as yet.
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I was just reading an article in Autocar (I think) which stated that BMW are not going to be having manual gearboxes on their cars from the 3 series up as they only sell 5% of their cars with manual gearboxes. They will retain manual for the M series cars but thats it. I think that says something about what people prefer now when buying cars. I have a V90 Volvo which is only sold with Auto box and that has the electronic handbrake. The handbrake can be programmed to come on automatically when the car is stationary and automatically goes off when the accelerator is pressed or you can just have it on fully when the cars ignition is turned off. Either way it is always operational and and is the best solution when parked up. I also would never have another Manual gearbox on a car I was buying.
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Just love my automatic Freelander !
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The subject of handbrakes on autos has come up before and the non use of a handbrake when parked is not allowed in the Highway Code. My car for example will not allow you to leave the car unattended without putting the electronic handbrake on.
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