Towing with an Automatic?
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You should try one for a week ..... I'm sure you'd like it
Have you never even been curious about how they are to drive? I admit that you do need to get your head around them if you've you only driven manuals for many a year but I used to drive my Dad's autos when I was a teenager. 2 pedals are the future 😉0 -
I doubt it ..... things have moved on a bit over the years. At one time you were doing well if you had 4 speeds, nowadays 9 isn't uncommon. And the popularity of automated manuals is that there is no slip in between gears hence improved mpg over a slush box auto.
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Hmm. To me, it doesn’t really matter how many gears there are, when it comes down to available BHP at the wheels. My own feeling, based on (very limited) comparisons, is that quite a bit is lost through the transmission with an auto. Just thinking out loud really...🙂
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Not as much as is lost by a left foot in my experience, Freddy.
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The adoption of the 8 and 9 gears of the more modern automatics as opposed to the typical 5 or 6 of a manual facilitates running more frequently at an optimised engine speed vs load point.
With this brings the potential for better fuel consumption and pollution reduction, both having either a direct or indirect impact on operating costs via fuel needed and taxation.
Even with the "slush" type, those featuring a fluid based torque converter, these modern boxes will feature "lock-up" across the converter throughout almost all gears, so minimise that traditional loss.
I am not convinced they are the "future", with the demise of the IC engines replaced by electric motors with full torque from zero rpm, gone will be the need.
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Every time you depress that clutch you disconnect the drive from the wheels. An auto will do it more efficiently as described very succinctly by Ocsid.
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How much gear changing is actually required when touring? Autos come into their own trundling through towns in heavy traffic, not on the open road.
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Since I had to give up useing the 3pedal type of drive i have found when towing a much more relaxed with our modern auto,I had autos in the past "Borg warner?"boxes ,but this athough just 6speed give a decent mpg return even when towing it is usualy about 29mpg average, and when slowing down I can feel the auto changing down without the need for braking as in the old type boxes, and when accelerating with the van on the hook it is more than capable of keeping up with most other traffic, if I use sport mode its like a rocket when over taking if needed
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Perhaps once the technology can use forward facing camera to analyse road conditions, and perhaps GPS to identify the geography of the road ahead, will it be possible for an auto-gearbox to fullfill its destiny. I find I frequently have to use the override controls to shift to the gear that is required, or to stay in a selected gear.
Might as well be a manual under some conditions, and I could then also manoeuvre at "dead slow" speed, lower than auto on tickover.
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I believe that technology is already in use for HGVs
Sounds to me you've bought the wrong car as I never have those problems ..... occasionally I might knock it down a gear going down hill with a flappy paddle. If you want slower speed than tick over you're allowed to use the big pedal on the left (with which ever foot 😉)
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slower speed than tick over you're allowed to use the big pedal on the left (with which ever foot
It is all to do with muscle memory and the heavy pressure needed to work a clutch. I do find I am sometimes using "heel-and-toe" as I learned that as well a long time ago.
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Not that I drive a manual very much these days, (the 4 cars at our house are all automatic of some flavour), I very occasionally drive my daughter's manual, though I do left foot brake in an auto, pressing the clutch in a manual doesn't present any problem. There was a time when I frequently swapped between the 2 and again, you very quickly adapt.
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I think it's laziness that makes me knock it down a gear as it's easier to flip a flappy paddle than it is to press the brake pedal ....
but there are times when you see signs that suggest you should select a lower gear when towing down long/step hills
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In the years that I had my 2.0L Kuga, I covered 24000 miles, of which 8600 were towing. Fuel consumption over ownership was a whisker over 40mpg.
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As a club member for 45 years I'm with the X5 man. I have a X1 automatic. These vehicles are fitted an 8 speed automatic box made by ZF. This company has been making auto boxes for decades. I have paddles behind the steering wheel that allows me to change gear if I wish, Also I can turn it into a manual gear box by moving the selector and using the paddles.
It is a totally different type of box to the DSG but works very well, I have had the car 5 years and towed in the UK and the continent .I also make great use of the cruise control function, this together with the auto box makes for relaxed towing, less fatigue and aides safe arrival.
It works very well when towing by leaving it in drive and letting it short which gear is best. However if you wish for more speed to overtake kick down is instant. Gear selection is smooth without jerks.
I would recommend an auto box and ZF in particular. Previous to this have towed with manuals except in the early 1970's, but those gear boxes have no relevance to today's.
Why is this now in fancy writing?????
My advice - go for auto!!!!
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What sort of auto box is it, Pete? TC rather than CVT?
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