Auto or Manual

[Range Rover Blues]

Ok as it stands Blue is a 3.9 with a pretty ropey LT77, the 2nd I've had in there.

I am going to fit a 4.6 lump next summer.  Now given that the LT77 is a bit duff and may not handle the torque I'm seriously thinking of swapping.

In the car I'm scrapping, along with the engine is the auto box for a 4.2 LSE (slightly different to the 3.9 auto) and all the bits I need to convert Blue.

Or I buy a recon R380 and leave it manual.

So I'm weighing up the pros and conns, so far it's very much on the side of the Auto, not least because of the cost.

For
Cost
Lazyness of the driver (me)
better for my dodgy knee/ankle
can fit cruise control
can handle the extra power
smooth gearchanges off-road
Park will help keep it still when winching
No clutch as I seem to kill them quite quick with big tyres on
Auto box might cope better with being over-geared due to big tyres

Against
fuel consumption (like I care)
control when descending
control in the snow
Can't bump start an auto
I've got a nice aluminium gear knob


Er stuck there really.

Now I used to hate Autos but the ZF has really grown on me, so I'm thinking of swapping but I'd hate to do all the work and then find out there's a good reason I shouldn't have, other than I like doubble de-clutching with a sports pipe on.

So let's hear your 2 penneth, especially those who think I shoud stay manual.

[mark.yellow.series.3]

you more reasons for getting an auto, so i think you have your answer there.
also its nice to have a change.

the only against i can think of is that the auto will sap some of the engines power (like that really matters with a 4.6 8) )

[v8kenny]

Oooh - auto all the way with that engine
They were made for each other - superb on road and great off road
stick it in low first and you will still have plenty of engine breaking - I reckon you will have far more control off road with an auto box

[TDi90]

manual :roll:

[beast5680]

Auto , i like manuals but am an auto convert and basically a lazy git

[bezzabsa]

would have said manual - but since having my auto - AUTO ALL THE WAY!!!

[thermidorthelobster]

Auto.  Great off-road, you can just trickle the power in when you need it.  Think of all that lovely smooth power...  mmmmmmm

[Mutz]

Got both, and defo auto.
Only minus is engine breaking, but it does break after a fraction of a second (just seems longer)

[TDi90]

seems i am the only manual guy  :roll:

[v8kenny]

seems i am the only manual guy  :roll:

I take it your not married and don't  have a girlfriend then !  :lol:

[Range Rover Blues]

seems i am the only manual guy  :roll:

Well I'm sure you have a reason.  I'd always have chosen a manual, but then I bought RRR for my sister and then found it was a not manual.  I though an auto would be better for towing a caravan anyway as that was the primary reason for buying it.  Well once it was fixed and MOT'ed, the time came to hand it over and I have to confess I was reluctant, it really grew on me.

 In the end I treat myself to an LSE, for our caravn (sore point) and as a family car, blue is now an off-road toy (happy retirement).

So do you share my old prejudice TD90 or do you have a good reason to dislike the Auto?

[discomummy]

Hi RRB,

as you know, my disco is an auto and i will never personally choose a manual again (if i have the choice) despite my year long saga with the transmission (not the disco's fault).  i believe the ONLY time a manual is better than an auto is on a steep down hill slope.  autos whop manuals bigtime for up hills and thru water, and when you have a really tricky crawl to do.  

when geoff changes out the (cough) peugeot - he is going for an auto as he prefers them for onroad driving.  

regards

ela

[Henry Webster]

I'm not generally an auto fan, but its difficult to argue against the consensus here.  4.6s are the perfect combintation with an auto box. Autos are easy on road and capable off, but as a toy, I am not sure I could face having one.  For me much of the pleasure in driving is stirring the stick.

...so I've voted auto, with my head, but the heart says stick a manual back in.

H

[V8MoneyPit]

I have always preferred manual, but our Freelander auto is unbelievable in the sloppy stuff and trickles along at a snails pace in first (even without low range) making it very controlable.

Given the grunt from the 4.6, it has to be auto.

[TDi90]

well, i have only driven an auto offroad. i have never driven one onroad, so i suppose i will always bias towards the manual. but then again, from my experience in the auto, i felt i did not have the control as i do having a manual... then again, i am a wee nipper, and am 18, and have been driving only 1 year... still like the manuals though...

[Xtremeteam]

I'm not generally an auto fan, but its difficult to argue against the consensus here.  4.6s are the perfect combintation with an auto box. Autos are easy on road and capable off, but as a toy, I am not sure I could face having one.  For me much of the pleasure in driving is stirring the stick.

...so I've voted auto, with my head, but the heart says stick a manual back in.

H

BUT an auto is softer on the transmisison than a manual when racing

[Range Rover Red]

I bought RRR for my sister and ...  the time came to hand it over and I have to confess I was reluctant, it really grew on me.  

Must admit I was surprised at how easily I got the keys, although it did live on your drive for a month or two afterwards - and had a different set of wheels every time I saw it.  Did you ever get to try it off tarmac?

Would the ally gear knob fit in your other project ?

If you do go auto in Blue, remember the next time you drive a manual how embarrassing it is the first time you forget to declutch at a junction!  Luckily there was no-one around when it happened to me :oops:

Can't advise - I think you know who I'd ask if I was in your position

[Henry Webster]

BUT an auto is softer on the transmisison than a manual when racing

But I have a viscous centre diff which already take some of the shock loadings out too.

I've been running a standard 2-pin front diff since I started and haven't broken it yet!

H

[Eeyore]

For racing I would go with a manual for a whole heap of reasons, particularly with the 4.6 (too much messing with clutch packs and boiling oil of my liking) :twisted: You'll find it's shock loading coming back from the wheel end of the drive train that grenades shafts and stuff as opposed to the power from the engine end.  

I have driven a very nice RRC with a 4.5 Dakar blueprint under the bonnet (balanced to 0.2gm with about 300 break, revving to 6750) and I disliked it's lack of engine breaking and I disliked being so reliant on the ABS off road. Having said that, it's power delivery is ace (ooooooo yeah  8) ) and on the really boggy stuff at P&P sites it's a hoot.

If you can sort it, I would heartily recommend the electronic version of the ZF box, with a seperate controller. It gives you virtual 'flappy paddle' gear shift and makes a lot of difference in more tricky o/r situations. Also if you decide to hot-up the lump, you can remap the gearbox to suit the new torque / demand requirments

4.6? RRC? Auto.  

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

[Steve ray]

with that big lumo in it, auto should be fine.

Just not an auto fan - maunal all the way I'm affraid (I like to be in charge of the gear changes)  :twisted:

[TDi90]

Just not an auto fan - maunal all the way I'm affraid (I like to be in charge of the gear changes)  :twisted:

exactly hjow i feel....

[Range Rover Blues]

4.6? RRC? Auto.  

cheers
 8)
Eeyore

I'm thinking this is the way it's going to happen, but I don't think the auto box in the '93 LSE will be the one you are talking about, shame as that sounds useaful.

As a comparison My LSE (let's not get confused, I have a nice one and a dnoor car, not that I'm greedy) has the 5.0 and a n auto that has a 'sports mode'.  Well I think it's stuck in sport TBH, the gearchanges are high up and it goes like a stabbed rat, I'd love to know how many horses it's got.

On-road I really like the auto, no question.  Not least because I like Cruise control (when mine works) because of my knee, but Blue is for laning and off-roading.

Eyore, if I stay manual, would I need the R380?


Finaly, the 4.6 should be a serpentine lump but was fitted to an older car, given that I have the bits should I put it back as a serpentine? other than the bigger alternator I can run what advantage did the revised front end bring, anyone know?  It'l probably get stripped and new gaskets before it goes in anyway, and possibly a hot cam too :twisted:

[jjsaul]

auto

but id have said the 3.9 autobox with gear driven tbox is better than the chain driven one....that was following a long chat with a bloke who runs a company rebuilding autboxes and he runs a dragster as well!

[Rich_P]

auto

Of course you would say that. :lol: But then why isn't your car an auto? :P

but id have said the 3.9 autobox with gear driven tbox is better than the chain driven one....that was following a long chat with a bloke who runs a company rebuilding autboxes and he runs a dragster as well!

 
The gear driven is LT230 while the chain is the Borg Warner Viscious unit isn't it?

[Range Rover Blues]

Yes, ideally I'd be fitting a Defender LT230 becasue of the big tyres, then when I go back to standard tyres it would be ludicrously fast :shock:

Thing is I lke the viscous diff in the Borg Warner and as I have 2 of them spare at the moment...........

Now I've bought the donor I need to make as much use of it as possible before I spend any more money.