Automatics
Comments
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Great video, MM. It says it all really.👍🏻
I liked the Ford reference😂
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Reversing Tip - Get your banksman guide to phone the car (driver) on their mobile phone for a hands-free blind reverse chat = slightly less rows.
Maybe I'm lucky but wife wife stays in sight of my mirrors with excellent hand signals
Does a very good job, I think she could land an aircraft on a carrier👍 and no, she isn't standing behind me.0 -
I am sure MM will appreciate that Ford have dropped their Powershift DSG style in favour of torque converter autos. Too many problems with the dry clutches. VAG however are sticking with thiers and generally the wet clutch DSG are reliable, the dry clutch versions are not. See Honest john for more info.
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Yes, there was a bigger write up about it in the actual magazine, I think "Powershift" is dead.....
Torque Converter rules supreme.......
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/focus
Well, till we're all in electric cars........
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After noting your reply TW, the vehicle that I have in mind is a Vauxhall Astra SRI CDTI Auto. Can any of the forum users recommend a website that will give me details of the transmission? Also in the case of a hill start whilst towing the caravan, is it better to go into the manual side of the box to pull away or is auto acceptable? Also would anybody advise using manual to reverse the caravan onto the pitch? I will be contacting Vauxhall to get their views. Thanks in anticipation.
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I can’t help with info on the Vauxhall, JD, but my gut instict queries whether it’s man enough for the job. No doubt you'll have checked everything out. I suggest doing an internet search for the model and you should find all you need. Wikipedia is often helpful.
Manual mode usually only applies to forward gears so wouldn’t be an option for reversing onto a pitch. The manual mode allows you to control gear changing so it won’t really matter which option you use for a hill start providing you put it in first gear if in manual. Personally, I’d use auto and the box will then sort out the gear changes as needed.
Dont forget there are posts on pg3 from MM and Viatorem explaining all about the different boxes.
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Thanks TW. plus all the people that have replied.
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Good hunting!
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You'd need to enquire at Vauxhall as to whether the SRi is a torque converter auto or an automated manual ie Easytronic. When doing a hill start in an auto, you're (generally*) setting off in 1st gear whether the box is in auto or manual .... the manual bit only refers to when you're actually driving ie you have some control of when/if the box changes gear.
*some autos have the option of setting off in 2nd or 3rd gear to aid a start in snowy conditions
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I believe Opel/Vauxhall currently use a DSG type gearbox however Try the Astra Owners Network forum. Easytronic was an automated manual.
In respect of using manual control of an automatic, why? And as for DSG reliability my Passat with the 6 speed wet clutch variety had a gearbox service yesterday and at 95,000 passed with flying colours. However as mentioned above, the dry clutch DSG’s are not noted for longevity and best avoided.
For impartial technical info on choice of cars available with TC or reliable DSG auto boxes search Honest John website.
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@flatcoat .... In respect of using manual control of an automatic, why?
My little Smart Roadster has flappy paddles and manual control is the way to go if you want to 'press on' on twisty B roads ..... Smart's automated manual isn't the best on these kind of roads when in auto 😉
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I have a sort of manual override on my Volvo XC70, I think it's called Sports Mode or somesuch. Anyway I find it handy in hilly country as it delays change-ups. Other than that I don't do much sport these days.
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This question is aimed at all caravan tuggers with an automatic. Do any of you have any regrets? Would any of you consider going back to using a manual gearbox? Any other comments are quite welcome.
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MM, ah yes, to be honest my brain wasn’t thinking flappy paddles even though my ex had a C220 coupe automatic with paddles which I used.
As for going back to a manual, no I would not! And that is from someone who was a died in the wool advocate of a manual box......
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As an ex-tugger, no I would not go back to a manual for towing, or for the day to day car
The irksome thing about our current MH is that it’s manual but better that than a Fiat automated manual in my opinion.
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Over nearly 50 years of towing caravans...................obviously the first few towcars were manual gearbox....no real problem....first auto was a 1976 granada gxl auto (3 speed) and was so much better when reversing!fast forward to 1989 granada 4 wd.only available as manual....soon changed for scorpio auto.....few more years back to scorpio 4wd....soon changed for senator auto....ever since all towcars have been auto! nuf said!!!
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mine was the 24 valve,what a brilliant towcar but as a downside could have cost me my licence!
(speeding with or without the caravan !!).Had to go in favour of a trooper after getting well stuck in the mud.0 -
Over all my years of towing I have never had the need for a clutch replacement - not even when my last car reached over 9 years old. I have now changed to an automatic, but have always had movers on our caravans and used them extensively. My thinking is that you don't pay out hundreds of pounds for a mover, and then not use it to keep the car's workhorse loading to a minimum.
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