Automatics Vs manuals

[SW Boat Transport]

After getting through 2 clutches in my first Discovery in 100,000 (mainly towing) miles, I have had Autos ever since and never had a problem. The MPG is fractionally worse, but the ease of driving more than makes up for that.

[lukewhiting]

I currently drive 1.4 mg zr that's used to tow my thundercat fine but obviously won't tow the fletcher. The mg gets 41mpg & the auto astra gets 40mpg.

Thinking the amount of times I will be towing the boat compared to normal driving a manual astra sri estate diesel that gets 50mpg is the way to go.

[paintman]

Originally Posted by paddlers

Cheers for that paintman, just come in from 3 hours driving my defender shooting rabbits in low box 2nd gear. Something I've been doing as a job for the last 40 years, used Toyotas, Subarus,everything Landrover have produced, Mercedes etc etc. When you really work them most autos do start to play up at constant low speeds, I'm not talking about your 5 minutes a week launching your boat once a month............

Neither am I.

[cptsideways]

Have probably done 100k in the past five years towing 3 ton loads & double that mileage with landcruisers towing in general since I've owned one. Never never had a spot of bother with auto boxes ever.

Once locked up in gear they are generally just as economical as a manual, but that aside from reduced economy they are way better for towing in general imho.

Obviously not all 4x4's are created equal Comparing a lazy 4.2L TD to a stressed 2.5L TD they behave very differently esp behind an auto gearbox. Have driven both frequently & the difference is night & day.

[Roflhat]

Toyota Landcruiser 4.2 Diesel Auto, we use them for pulling just about everything, including two big heavy 9m RIBS. Most of the time you don't even notice you're pulling anything. We use for towing up and down the Western Isles as well, not just 5 minutes, around 200 miles at a time, easy as.
The older one has just gone 250k km, still ticking like a clock.

[Mollers]

Ahh, we've lost track of the op's question here guys. Will a smaller engined regular CAR burn more fuel in auto than manual and would an auto save him money in wear and tear. My answer would be yes and no, in that order. Argue on.

[lukewhiting]

Manual!! Will only tow the boat once or twice during the season and that's a 10 minute journey to the slip. Need the mpg for the mileage I do

[tehguy]

Auto. Land Rover obviously agree, hence the reason why they haven't been putting manual gearboxes in the Discovery for years.

[buddy]

Auto Volvo xc70 never had any problems towing or on the slipway not too bad on mpg when towing as long as I am on the main roads.