Manual or automatic
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Years back when Michelle wanted to go down the caravaning route, my only comment was, the thing does not dictate what car I buy.
Last week it didn't!
I bought a 2018 Audi Avant Black Edition, 190 bhp, wait for it,............. petrol, with 7 speed auto gearbox.
Towed Saturday from York down to CMC Chapel Lane, then yesterday into Cornwall along the A30 and its hills.
Fuel consumption towing around 1480kg, car loaded plenty 21.7 mpg.
But with regards to Auto gearbox, stunning!
Rapid seamless gear changes, engine revs automatically matched to the new ratio, far better for the drive train than any manual gearbox.
Once on the A30 at Exeter set it at 55mph and the outfit stayed there. The gearbox changing gears as and when needed.
As a side point, the car also applied the brakes on the downhill sections too.
Very easy driving, far better than manual.
Auto gearboxes have come on from the old days of 3 gears. Downside at 38000 miles the oil needs changing. Never changed gear oil in a car in a lifetime of ownership.
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A recent enquiry at our local Audi dealership revealed their autos to be the dry dual clutch variety. 😕
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I changed back to a real 6 speed auto last year (left knee nacked)my how they have changed!! from years ago,
,seamless changes either solo or towing an still average arround 29mpg with the van on the hook and over 40mpg solo that's 2ltr 181bhp, w will not now go back to manual box 
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No 😃👍
As long as you dont put heat into them, that is slipping the clutch by driving without first engaged fully, a dry clutch gives a better experience and higher mpg.
I no longer reverse the caravan ever, my Jag broke the dual mass flywheel on a manual 6 speed box, long reverse into storage, lots of heat build up, pop.
A wet clutch under similar conditions would contaminate the oil, and also wear out!
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We'll have to disagree on that one W&M.
Btw, how can you drive an auto without engaging the clutch?🤔
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Speeds below 5 mph ish, the clutch has to slip, such as very slow moving traffic. In such, Truro today for example, my style is to stop, wait for a gap then drive into it. Nothing to do with the clutch but the start stop function.
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I think you’ve just described an auto box that’s not fit for purpose 😂
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Surely waiting for a gap then pulling forward using stop start is still causing the clutch used for the odd number gears in the VAG dual system to work the same as just creeping forward?
We had a 62 reg VW Tiguan DSG (from new) with stop start and whilst it was quite a good gear change most of the time, occasionally it would suffer a harsh gear change when very hot.
The Aisin 6 speed in our Freelander 2 is a TC box and is seamless. It's also aware of having the caravan attached when the electrics are attached and adapts the gear changes including making it use 1st from every stationary or rolling start pull away.
This Sunday we took our 44 year old Triumph Stag out for a drive, that has a BW35 auto box and whilst perfectly pleasant to drive you can feel what its doing unlike our Freelander.
We also have a friend who has just sold his Audi A4 estate as scrap because the Audi CVT box in it had just destroyed itself for the second time. so another one to avoid.
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Nope, only first gear and reverse would slip the clutch, other gears wouldnt be selected if the speed didn't allow the clutch to close.
Triumph Stag, now your talking. I had back in the day a TR7, mildly customised. First car in the area to be sprayed in 2 pack paint, it had actual alloy wheels too, Wolfrace Slots. I used to polish them with a sheepskin buff every week come rain of shine! Ah memorys.
Erm Vespa scooters have CVT drive nowadays, just saying.
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Really?
How so.
Oh by the way, it depends on the engine whether or not your Audi gearbox has wet of dry clutches.
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I had a Peugeot scooter nearly 20 yrs ago that had a CVT drive as did DAF many many years ago with their Variomatic. Industry though is getting rid of these types of variable drive as & when they die and replacing them with direct electrickery drive motors.
They aren't the best! 😉
Slushbox autos are still the way to go ... especially when towing ... no clutches to slip (drive bands aren't quite the same)
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True, but amazing to drive.
Way back when I had a 2.8i Granada automatic, I'm sure it only had 3 gears!
You would approve,
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