Auto or manual
I have always thought it was better to choose a manual instead of an auto gearbox vehicle for towing.
however, having used a manual Kia Sedona for successfully towing our Swift Accord 500 for 14 years, we are now thinking about buying a Kia Sorento (latest model) and naturally thought about the manual version.
i have read several complaints about clutch burning issues re hill starts ad reversing so I am now thinking about an auto version which specifies a 2000kg max tow load. Our van is approx 1500 kegs laden so well within limit.
Any advice re auto/manual choice appreciated
cheers
Rob
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This has been debated several times here. Those that feel they 'want to be in control' will always say manual. Those that have seen the light & have driven one further than the end of the street will choose automatic. Be aware though that some autos have manual mechanics with electrickery to operate the clutch .... some even have 2 clutch plates to burn out e.g. VW's DSG.
I enquired about Kia's Sorento automatics. Kia said it was a torque converter auto but my local dealer said it was a DSG type auto ..... I'm none the wiser now.
We have 4 cars between the 2 of us ...... all autos 😊 2 proper autos, (one of which is my tow car) and 2 automated manuals
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Many thanks for your reply...I will endeavour to find out which mechanism the Sorento has
cheers Rob
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Auto box every time for me.
The VW Passat DSG auto gearbox is excellent, instant override when needed using the finger switches on the steering wheel.
Unfortunately our model didn't come fitted with any form of suspension so we have just traded it in for something more comfortable, but still auto.
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My brother's Merc is like that. Like travelling in an oxcart.
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Whereas my Mercedes is like travelling on a cushion of air ....... because it is
You find that a lot of cars have a 'go-faster' version that comes with 'sports' suspension. ..... just another way of saying that you'll feel every crisp packet you drive over. The penalty for a car that's designed to go around the Nurburgring at speed.
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My Passat was the Go Slower eco version that lacked the ride on air choice. I now have a boring old man's version of a Volvo XC70 with a suspension system of which my dentist approves.
Still automatic though.
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My car's suspension has the option of comfort, normal & sports ..... not quite sure how a 2.2 tonne barge can ever be sporty
.... Comfort, is not dissimilar to a 50s Yank Tank and is my default setting other than when towing which is when I select normal. Sports was selected when I first bought the car to see what it was like ..... never to be selected again. 😉1 -
His C class does have the AMG Sport pack, so it's uncomfortable as well as cramped.
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Auto.
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Oh no, not this subject again!
Having missed out on auto boxes all my driving life, I now have one
... well a Ford Powershift. Not a "proper auto" because it has two clutches somewhat like the "DSG" type.
It's made by Getrag and runs in an oil bath so no you can't "burn them out" (they do have their own special peculiarity, but it's easy to live with)
Day to day or towing? I would have an auto (of some sorts) every single time.
Much more of a relaxed drive.
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Off on a tangent a little
In my younger days I drove a Leyland Octopus and Scammell Routeman, both with 6 speed crash gearbox. Double de clutching makes you leg hurt
Before I retired the company breakdown was a Volvo FH12 with 14 speed semi auto. guess what was nicer to drive
Back on topic. we have had auto cars since the late 70's due to my Wifes health and mobility issues. Seems really strange now on the odd occasion I get to drive a wobbly stick type
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I have been using a Manual Sorento to tow a Lunar Clubman and recently a Delta. The car is 2014 and I have heard that some people have experienced clutch problems but that could be operator error. However I am in the process of buying a 2107 Auto Sorento. Although the towing limit is smaller for the auto it is still well within what is required for most large caravans. I have only had a long test drive in the auto but I am well and truly hooked. All the test reports say that the auto is the better tow car. As far as the Sorento is concerned I think they are a great car and at close to 70 years of age believe me I have had quite a few. I did drive an auto Range Rover some years back but the auto box has improved so much since then I am really looking forward to the change. A real joy to drive. They have self leveling suspension too so another added bonus.
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Having towed with both, they're equally good, but auto's are slightly more thirsty, although probably no more so than using cruise control. Once drove (solo) from A11 to Wimbledon, pre M25, in a manual though - took 48 hrs for my left leg to recover! But I don't anticipate anyone doing that sort of trip with a van hanging on the back!
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I have a nissan terrano 2 year 2000 it has done 160000 miles still going strong but constantly needs welding up I was thinking of changing to a kia sorento 2005 model debating manual or automatic are the automatics good as some say the manual cars eat clutches also do the sorentos rot like the terrano does any advise would be welcomed
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I tow my twin axle bailey Barcelona with a 2013 Sorento auto , it is a very good tow car and an excellent car solo good mpg around 23 towing and 41 on a run. but make sure you read the towing advice otherwise you could have transmission problems.
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Deleted User by poster
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We had 3 Terranos - great tugs.
We later had 2 Sorentos. A 2008 manual and a 2009 auto. The manual suffered from cooked clutch when reversing the van. They both had the permanent non-switchable Haldex 4wd as opposed to the switchable system on the slightly lower spec models.
Both Sorentos were good tugs but the auto was preferable in view of the clutch issue with the manual. However, the auto was thirstier and in the £500ish bracket for road tax. We didn't keep them long enough to be able to judge the effects of metal worm but, looking at others on the road, I suspect they fare better than the Nissans did.
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Hi
what towing advise do you mean regarding auto box on a sorento ?
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do the 2005 sorento automatics return a good mpg while towing my terrano does 20 towing and 30 solo my main concerns are the reliability and corrrosion I can only afford to buy a 2005/2006 sorento at the moment and being 12 years old would hope they would last another 8 to ten years the terrano is 17 years old and has rotted badly needs constant welding to keep it going !
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I have used Auto's in all of my big 4x4's since 2001. I would never consider going back to a manual, - ever!
But having tried a VW type DSG box I would never use one for serious heavy duty tugging. For me it has to be a tough Torque converter box every time!
TF
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MM is quite correct. Pretty well all automatic boxes today give the driver full control of gear and engine braking solutions. That applies to both DSG and Torque Converter boxes.
Kennine when did you last test a modern Auto box? I ask because 17 years ago I had the same reservations, but then someone I knew and who's expertise I respected persuaded me to give an auto box a full extended test, including towing. Since then I have owned 6 different full sized 4x4's and I say now that I would never again choose to have a manual. My wife car is a manual Honda, its a good car but the manual gearbox is an absolute pain in the whatsits!
TF
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