Do you run a TD5 Auto???

[Benji]

hey all,

finally decided its time to upgrade the car.  Was going to go for a manual but have just found out that the TD5's use the R380 gearboxes from the 300 series, which as we all know....are pants!

So am thinking about an auto instead.  I tow all day, everyday and need a bit of feedback as to what the auto boxes are like for towing.  Apart from the obvious drop in fuel economy, what are they like?

My main worries are constant changing looking for the correct gear,
dropping to a lower gear and over-revving (instead of using the torque),
lack of engine braking (other than changing manually).

This will be my first auto car so any advice, hints, tips, warnings etc would be very welcome.

Thanks guys and girls  

Ben

[Xtremeteam]

get a td5 in a manual as you will find the auto painfully slow & not much fun to drive,even with a remap & in sport mode it doesnt improve much,

working on the td5 regularly they dont have that many problems,some crunchiness that can be helped/cured with an oil upgrade,


IMHO dotn buy an auto TD5 disco,but a manual instead as it gives more go & better MPG

[Benji]

Thanks Mike,

Well, I drive painfully slow at the moment anyway!  Max is no more than 60mph, 55 with a strong head wind, so the extra power and torque can only help!  (this is with the trailer!!!)

I had my gearbox changed last March and its already whining in 5th. They won't replace it under warranty as its over 12 months old so my confidence in the R380 gearboxes is pretty low!

Im not worried about speed, just driveability really.  When I have to do hill starts I quite often have to go into low box or ride the clutch for about 5 seconds!  Even a normal standing start, i have to ride the clutch for about a second or rev the engine up first!  I figure that an auto wouldn't have these problems???

[waveydavey]

My old man has a TD5 auto about 5 years old, he tows a big caravan with it and has always been happy.

[Xtremeteam]

when ever there is a td5 auto to be serviced or driven i dont normally volunteer,
on the td5 auto the lockup happens at a higher speed than the normal autos so if you donder along at 55 mph it will be running through the gbox rather than the over drive aection,thus burning more fuel etc,also you have to rev them more than normal to actually get any go out of them,personally i wouldnt bother & get a manual as they also keep there price where as the autos arnt that saught after

[beast5680]

I know a man with an auto and he has said he definitly would not have another for the reasons listed above :?

[Xtremeteam]

I know a man with an auto and he has said he definitly would not have another for the reasons listed above :?

that made me feel better  :lol:

[Jimbo]

Yep, I'd agree with the above - I have a Td5 auto, and it's painfully slow. Although I've towed a variety of trailers all over the place and haven't had a problem - at least on hill starts you don't risk cooking the clutch !

The torque converter locks up in 4th at about 52mph, and on long hills it can be a problem, with the box hunting down and back up - I just flick the lever to '3' and it's fine. Once the road levels out or conditions allow more speed, I knock it back into 'D'.

So, as a tow-car I'd definitely buy another, but if you're after a 'quick-off-the-mark' racer, don't bother !

Jim

[Benji]

Thanks Jim,  thats the sort of info i'm after.  It did worry me that an auto might struggle to find the right gear.

Im certainly not after a quick vehicle.......if I was, I wouldn't buy a Land Rover!

Test drove an auto today and LOVED it!  My mind is pretty much made up and im happy to lose a few MPG....just have to increase my prices a bit!  :lol:

[robbie]

not got a TD5 auto but a 300TDi Auto and it runs fine. I pulled a Volvo tractotr unit off the A1 earlier this year, no problems and as afar as economy goes, it does around 28 mpg, which I dont think is at all bad.

If they TD5 uses the same box, then it should be a nice motor, even if it is a bit slow off the mark.

[Range Rover Blues]

I don't know which auto the TD5 uses but I've both a RRC 3.9 Auto and manual, and I have to say it's by far the best auto I've ever driven.  I don't know what it's like for towing yet but I've bought it for this purpose, it's going to be my sister's motor for the new 'van simply to make things easier and smoother.  That said, when I tow the Sankey I like to use the manual and I stick it in low box, that's what it's for after all and I find the manual much easier to do ratio changes on the move, MUCH easier.  When in low box on the auto you really need to manually select the gear as the changes come quite harsh and it'l be in 4th at about 7mph which is ridiculous.  BTW the Sankey can weigh in at nearly 2 tonnes and in the builder's yard it take some shifting.

[bushy]

hi i have a TD5 auto and used to have a manual td5 i don't have any problems with it yes it is slower than the manual was off of the mark and the fuel consumption is much worse than the manual but its so easy to drive i like it i think i am going to try a Jeremy j fern chip when the warranty runs out to try to improve mpg and give it more bite ,i also tow a caravan sometimes and its just as the other guy says i knock it into 3 for the steep bits and just knock it back into drive on the flat bits .my friend who works at simmonites says that the j.f chip will stop me having to change into 3 whilst towing up hills and also said it will give it much better pulling power from standstill