Auto or Manual
Submitted: Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 21:57
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Member - Jimbo (VIC)
I know this has been done to death, but I will offer my experience.
First let me say I don't profess to be a 4wd guru. At the trip to
Robe two weeks ago we did some serious sand driving. For a novice like myself the auto was just sensational. The ability to change gear on the move is something you simply cannot do in a manual (I've driven a manual at Fraser Is).
I made a serious mistake at
Robe and headed into the soft stuff and was losing momentum faster than my hair and getting into real trouble; I simply grabbed the T Bar and selected a lower gear, gave it the berries and got out of strife. Would have got stuck in a manual.
Now I love manual performance vehicles on the road, they leave autos for dead IMO. But for a 4wd, automatic is the go. It has saved me on more than one occasion.
No need for clutch slip, torque multiplication, choice of gear is not crucial etc.
For ME, auto any time off road.
Cheers,
Jim
Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 22:10
Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 22:10
Hi Jim.. You say for 4wd's auto is the go.... yes on sand for sure (petrol and auto) what a weapon....
But i believe your phrase is only ½ right.. What about climbing down a 40degree shaley damp
hill with a drop on each side?...
I believe autos are better than manuals and visa versa depending on where you are..
AnswerID:
84166
Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 22:29
Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 22:29
Spot on Voxson (poetry is not one of my skills).
I've done some very greasy, steep downhill slopes and in the auto it is feathering the brakes all the way down. I'm sure a manual in low first would do it better.
However on balance I find the auto gets ME out of more trouble than it gets me into.
For an experienced 4wd'er such as Willem whom I did the sand with, a manual wasn't a problem (he knew which gear to choose every time). For me an auto makes life easy.
Just my (limited) experience.
Cheers,
Jim
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member Eric - Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 23:24
Friday, Nov 12, 2004 at 23:24
Not with new tech out now Voxon
New lock up system walks down slower than a manual
How you been anyway , long time no speak
FollowupID:
343022
Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 20:03
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 20:03
I have been good thanks Eric.. Yes.,, long time no speak...
And yes you are right about your Auto comment... For some reason i cant think past 1997... I gotta get with the times....
Having said that,, i was struggling up a major
hill on the way home tonight,, chugging up at about 50kmh in 4th (in a 90 zone) and a GU 4.8 blasted past me like i was standing still..... Sometimes who cares about the fuel economy....
FollowupID:
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Reply By: paj - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 00:38
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 00:38
When I bought my first 4by I asked the tech guys at NRMA about auto on steep down slopes. They suggested putting it in reverse (engine running) and letting the drag of the torque converter substitute for manual gearbox engine braking.
Hmmm.
I have only been game enough to try it on the steep blacktop outside my driveway where it seems to work OK.
Anyone tried this where it counts?
Cheers
Pej
AnswerID:
84181
Follow Up By: Member - Camper (SA) - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 09:09
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 09:09
Oh great idea.
And you will be able to fry fsh and chips in your transmission fluid when you get to the bottom of the
hill (if you don't mind the slightly mineral taste that is).
Camper
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Reply By: Utemad - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 14:04
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 14:04
Autos are great for offroad stuff but if in a remote place you wouldn't want flat batteries. I have heard clutch starting a newer computerised manual can have disastrous consequences but better than having no choice at all.
If in sand I have found that if I choose too high a gear depending on the situaton you can change down a gear ok if you do it
well. Sometimes if you just keep your foot down and let the car shudder you will come out the other side ok. Picking the right gear takes practise and would be different for every vehicle but it is easy when you know your car. However everyone gets caught out sooner or later.
As for downhills my Rodeo needs to feather the brakes when it is really steep anyway. So I might not even notice the difference when in an auto with a lower low range than the Rodeo.
I'll be going auto next time.
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 14:47
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 14:47
I couldn't roll start the Patrol 3.0l diesel when the batt was flat. Very disappointed as this was also one of the reasons I went for a manual.
Leroy
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Follow Up By: Utemad - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 15:30
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 15:30
Do you know why it wouldn't start?
Just couldn't get it rolling fast enough? My Rodeo will clutch start in first high range when it's going barely walking pace.
Maybe difference in engine compression has something to do with it.
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Follow Up By: Leroy - Sunday, Nov 14, 2004 at 21:22
Sunday, Nov 14, 2004 at 21:22
If I was in my ol petrol Rodeo it would of started but I think there was just too much compression. I was going plenty fast enough but other factors like cold glow plugs etc prob played a part. I couldnt try again as i was going down the
boat ramp at eildon and any further and I woulda been in tha drink! Had to get the boat batt out to start her.
Leroy
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Utemad - Monday, Nov 15, 2004 at 08:07
Monday, Nov 15, 2004 at 08:07
I would have paid money to see someone trying to clutch start their vehicle on a
boat ramp LOL.
I can imagine a cold diesel would be a bugger to clutch start though.
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Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 17:50
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 17:50
Blokes drive manuals and shiela's drive autos, wanna be a real bloke buy a manual Explorer !!!!!
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Penguin (NSW) - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 18:35
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 18:35
ROTFLMAO! Still trying to sell it Baz?
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Follow Up By: navaraman - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 18:44
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 18:44
That's why I'm looking at an auto for my next 4by. So my shiela can drive me back home from the pub.
FollowupID:
343060
Reply By: Billy - Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 20:48
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004 at 20:48
Auto is like a SS prop, once you been there you never go back.
AnswerID:
84253