Which is best Auto or Manual gearbox

[Pablo011]

I know lots of peeps have Auto and Manual disco but when going off road is it better to have an Auto box Or Manual, I mean normal driving I like auto but for off road ???

Thanks

Paul

[lambert]

My 90 is manual and has the advantage of engine braking on steep hills but everywhere else i would sooner it be auto. I may end up swapping it if this box dies.

[LandRoger]

Auto for me! You just have to look at what the rockcrawling guys use in USA/AUS  i know they have crawler transfer gears but none the less there still Auto,s , i was quite worried about useing an Auto offroad at first but my worries were unfounded ,

[Pablo011]

So I take it the auto box works well with Diff lock, and Hi and lo ranges ??


Thanks

Paul

[James.Harwood]

on the p38 no problems with diff lock as it doesn't have it. In low box you can use it as a manual by pressing the sport mode button. Do still prefer manual off road as i prefer to 'drive' off road using driver skill rather than electronics (ok on a p38 when electronics are working)....

[Saffy]

I really do not like the disco auto offroad - simple because I have no confidence in it - not sure what I am doing really but it doesn't feel right. I have fantasy of converting the defender to an auto but the offroad bit worries me.

what's the secret tips landroger?

[LandRoger]

I dont know if there is a secret to it if there is i dont know of it ,what i do know is that i was allways in the right gear for any given situation + is seems as though there is less to think about ,must admit it took me a while to get confident with it all the only thing that nagged me and still does is the recovery aspect  so i use my offroad landcraft to read the terrain and stay out of trouble, i did find my Jeep Wrangler auto box more suitable for offroad than any of the Landrover boxes that ive used buthaving said that think the Wrangler is built for it where as Landrover dont usually offer the Defender with auto and the Disco /Rangies are family cars with 4wd,

[lambert]

In that respect it will be interesting to see what l r go with box wise in the defender replacement given the epic ability of the new terrain response automatic's like the d4.

[Pablo011]

Thanks for the comments but I think I will stick to getting a manual as I think you have more control over the car so will be on the look out for that

Thanks

Paul

[LandRoger]

Thanks for the comments but I think I will stick to getting a manual as I think you have more control over the car so will be on the look out for that

Thanks

Paul

Errrm so does that mean that the Yank and Aus rockcrawlers have no control over thier trucks as they use Auto boxes also most Camel trophy Landys are auto as are the top challenge trucks here in uk ,have you ever watched a challenge/rockcrawl event? it might pay you to go to one people dont bite and most have the time to answer questions not only that its a great day out ,it might change your mind but to keep it real autos are more thirsty and cant be towed home on a bar whatever you choose  choose wisely as Landys are a minefield if you dont know them,

[lambert]

You can tow na auto if you unbolt the props from the axles.

[LandRoger]

You can tow na auto if you unbolt the props from the axle 

OOOPS yes of course you can  i once had to do that job in a foot of mud /water and failing light lost all the bolts in the mud too
 

[Saffy]

sums things up nicely:

http://www.australian4wd.com.au/4wd-training/5automatic.html

[LandRoger]

Wish i could of thought of all those advantages :rolleyes:but like i said before i really just concentrate on what the land is like ahead of me and remember where the diffs are when driving in woodland /rocky terrain ,ive smashed a front diff by hitting a tree stump in my youth ,BTW where did you find that link Saffy ?.  i can vouch for the brake wear could not belive it when i was doing a lot of Laning oop north,where the hills are steep the valleys deep ,

[lambert]

Only one problem with your link saffy, I now need a heap of money I don't have to go auto. Buga.

[Pablo011]

Well again thanks for the comments guys, and "Landroger" I havn't seen the event so cant comment, but I have had and driven lots of auto's, but  none off road, but while driving on road the car/drive was effortless of course as the car did most of the work, but I thought that off road that you would need more driver input/control of the car if your going up and down all the time and braking,stop starting actually the more I am typing this out the more I am thinking it makes sense to have an auto but still think that a manual will do for me.

 I suppose i could always try both if I get the chance and then make my mind up..


thanks

Paul

[LandRoger]

Hit the nail on the head Paul go try them both and see what suits you best!

[Saffy]

decided to sell my disco auto and get an estate car of some sort - going to look at a merc on weekend. Disco is surplus to requirements and its days have been numbered for some time - just getting around to doing something about it.  The ultimate plan was to keep it to the bitter end and when it died use it's auto box to convert my defender - but not to be.

[Pablo011]

So saffy it is for sale and how much?????


Thanks

Paul

[Saffy]

Thinking 1300 for a quick no messing around sale without offers. It's an N plate ES model

[LandRoger]

decided to sell my disco auto and get an estate car of some sort - going to look at a merc on weekend. Disco is surplus to requirements and its days have been numbered for some time - just getting around to doing something about it.  The ultimate plan was to keep it to the bitter end and when it died use it's auto box to convert my defender - but not to be.

I had a  look at some estate cars for other half a few weeks ago,found some tidy MBs also noticed a lot of them have the tin worm starting around arches,tailgates,bonnet edges, also was not impressed with the huge area of plastics that MB call a dash
but overall boring old irons,step in Jaguar Xtype great 2,0 or 2.2 d ford engines wicked leather seats a dash that shouts drive me and not known for any rust props in the trade ,also Volvo V50 worth a look,BUT when my Rangie was in garage they loaned me a Hyundai santa fe and was i surprised full of goodies super comfy 2.4 that gave around 30-35 also just nice to drive has been tow car of the year loads of times BUT ugly as sin was sorry to see it go forgot huge load area for big dogs !and soft4x4 for snowy times.

[lambert]

Must say the paint on our Benz is poor and it is only 9 years old, the 90 is better and it is 14 this time.

[Saffy]

the boss' two merc also starting to bubble around the front arch, I say starting - his older merc has hole size of fist - but he let it get that bad.

merc - jag and volvo are on the list ...... don't care really though - it's will be a dog carrier for mrs in the mornings and weekends and a commuter for me during week - that is its role. Only reason I don't get a van instead is because i have to cross the severnbridge every other weekend and the toll charge for van is silly. My 110 is king of the fleet and s1 is the toy, mrs has the KAR for commute.  Really we could live with just kar and defender with s1 as backup communter when defender breaks down 

[LandRoger]

Buyers market loads out there for reasonable money , other half liked a Volvo V40 1.9d on a 04

[Bishops Finger]

Auto here pls...

[boss]

it depends on what you want.

autos are not better than manuals and manuals are not better than autos. the manuals are stronger than the auto and like you say yo get full controle over your gears, and when you lose traction your manual doesnt think your going faster when your wheels spin and work its way up the gears......you can lock your auto in to 1 2 or 3 but thats called a manual box in my eyes. the ONLY reason why an auto is good is because there isnt a clutch to slip and if you need to bang it into reverse quickly its just a matter of pushing a leaver. there not as good on fuel and you lose a stupid ammount of power through them

[LandRoger]

Sorry M8 cant agree ! most of the best offroad vehicles on the planet are auto thats rock crawlers, challenge trucks, Dakar/Baja
type trucks etc etc,have a read of the link in Saffys post .

[Saffy]

That was painless - disco gone - little merc estate c200 on drive. The dogs both fit and so do I.

[lambert]

That was painless - disco gone - little merc estate c200 on drive. The dogs both fit and so do I.

painless and quick!

[LandRoger]

That was painless - disco gone - little merc estate c200 on drive. The dogs both fit and so do I.

Derv or Petrol ?