Manual or Auto

what's a Manual.

what's a loyal Nissan 3lt owner..................

Why would I want to be a paid member on this site when the "members" give answers like that?
PS. I don't own a nissan. Just don't understant this waste of space & time
Rant over ....

Sorry I can,t help you Munji,wish I could. Ross and John, the poor guy asks a perfectly legitimate question and gets no help at all from you 2 Turkey's!!! What a waste of time!

John,

I'm not a Nissan owner but can say that an auto box is better in sand because you don't loose momentum after changing down a gear.

Skull

Gday,
Im not a Nissan or an Auto owner but...........
Although I prefer manuals the autos these days are probably better in a lot of circumstances as Skulldug has pointed out.
In saying that a mate of mine had an auto 3.0lt Nissan and said he would never buy another auto unless it had a bigger motor than the 3.0lt........
I assume you know the history of the 3.0lts?

Cheers

Now I'm having fun !!!!

I've been a Nissan 3lt owner and suffered every single mechanical indignity that could be thrust upon me. While I now drive a Toyota, I still love that car. If it hadn't been for the need to carry heavier and heavier loads to accommodate the remote trips I do, I'd still be driving it.

From my experience (mine was manual but I've driven the auto's in 4x4 situations), I'd go the auto for your everyday 4x4 through to what I do. If I was towing a heavy van around the highways consistently, I'd go a manual.

Given a choice, and not knowing just what age the vehicle is you intend buying, if an opportunity to but the 4.2 presents, take it. The 4.2 provides one of the most capable off road vehicles available. The auto will only enhance that.

Cheers Mick

Hi Munji
I have 98 patrol Manuel and I love to drive the vehicle!
If you are contending with heavy city traffic the the auto is definitely better.
After all most 4 WDs spend most of their time in the cities/towns.
The negative I have about autos is when driving I n the scorching tempetures of our deserts and the auto heats up your cooling circuit adding extra pressure on it.
Cheers
Pete

I have a 2010 3L auto. Have driven the manual version and it had two characteristics I found unpleasant - higher revs at highway speed and because of the lowish torque of the engine, lots of gear changes around town. The Auto loses out in heavy towing and downhill braking. As our camper is about 1700kg fully loaded and we don't do much extreme off road anymore, neither is an issue.

The auto's very basic compared with modern boxes but gets the job done..

I used to have a GU 3L manual and my BIL had the GU 3L auto. We camped together often and there was always a noticeable difference in performance and fuel economy. Most times the difference wasn't that big, but once on sand the auto would really struggle in the soft stuff.

While one could live with either, I personally wouldn't want an auto with a 3L engine, simply not enough power in the soft sand - but is OK in most other areas.

After having a 200 TTD auto for some time now, would definitely prefer an auto over a manual, BUT only if there was enough power to drive the auto and IMHO the GU 3L comes up a bit short occasionally when behind an auto.

Cheers

Captain

Also note the auto is only good for 2500kgs towing while the manual is 3300kgs towing thats why I now have a 100 series td auto wanted an auto but the van is 2600kgs

Cheers steve

Autos are great until you fry it towing or up to the axles in sand! A manual clutch and fitting could be as low as $1200 but an auto rebuild could be $10,000 plus depending on the vehicle. Some new autos are 8 speed so they won't be cheap to fix! Michael

It depends on your plans and where you will go with the Patrol Munji. I love our auto, and it has proved good for towing a heavy caravan, and copes well in city traffic in contrast to other four wheel drives we have had. We have not done any hard core four wheel driving with it. Modern autos are great, but not so good if the battery goes flat, as we can't roll start it. I can't compare fuel consumption to a manual Patrol.

Motherhen

its just up to the individual. There is no one better than the other> They both have their for and against. I don't know why some people HAVE to know it all. If you are a realist you sit down weigh it all up and come up with what suits you. They will both do the job, it might come down to your driving skills as well. Maybe the auto lovers only ever learnt in an auto and have never driven a manual .( Maybe they still wet the bed) Anyway there is bugger all difference, explain to me why the auto is so much better? I drive an auto semi and love it as I'm older and lazier but in hilly terrain id prefer the manual as it gives you more control. But thats just me.

Having a muscle wasting disease in my left leg, I find the manual helps to exercise what muscle I have left. The heavier the clutch, the better. Can't walk much, but able to push in the clutch.

Nissan must be due to bring out a v8diesel or turbo 6 wishful thinking? Clearly the 3ltr has done its dash

I would go the manual but I am bias. Autos have become popular because their owners have NO skill in driving a manual off road. Obviously don't know how to coordinate the clutch and gear stick.
Personally I will NEVER EVER own an auto 4wd.
If you want an auto go for it ...its your money.

I had 2 x 3L Patrols and many preceding Patrols, all manual, and found that the Manuals with the Dual Mass Flywheels had an inherent problem. The last one from new only lasted 29,000km before it needed changing, and was not covered by warranty, as I didn't know how to drive a manual, their words.

Since found out they are designed to "slip" in order to make the ride more comfortable and reduce vibration. I would go the automatic or budget to change the clutch asap with a heavy duty with solid flywheel - costs about $3K.

cheers

Hi Munji

There are two excellent reasons to get an automatic for both the high country and the deserts. The smooth very easily controlled starting and the smooth no traction breaking gear changes. Makes it so easy to crawl over a rock and change gears on sand.

And as a few others have also said. Try and get a 4.2TD. Not for speed and charging through hazards but just to offset the weights that we all seem to accumulate. GVM = What's that!

Phil