Driving Landys after Hip replacements, Manual/Auto advice

[lightweight-love]

After a long wait I'm going in for Bilinear Hip replacements TOMORROW!!!
I have a s3 lightweight That I have had sat up waiting till I can drive her again.
I'm already planning a few major mods such as an r380 and Toyota locker axles (made to fit the leafs) to match up behind the 200tdi Iv already put in.
But Now I'm thinking of putting an Auto box in as must lower wear on the Hips?
Also the upright sitting position is that ok post Op?
Any advice or to hear from anyone that has had a similar op would be great
Cheers
Duncan

[dxmedia]

Still have my original hips, but from having driven a number of autos id say go for it and don't look back, especially in an off roader

[Disco-Ron]

I would strongly advise simply asking the doctor/surgeon...


And, good luck!!

[Yoshi]

A friend of mine is just going in for his 2nd hip replacement.

He was driving a manual 110 and now a 130 without any problems whatsoever.

[Disco Matt]

Surely the replacement hips will be stronger than the originals anyway? There's not much point in replacing with weaker components!  :lol:

[lightweight-love]

Well its all done and went well! now on the slow(ish) road to recovery, 6 weeks till can drive 
Not ruling out a manual box yet as I do get bored with Auto's and a few less mpg.
Still want to hear from anyone whose had done and offroading!

[Saffy]

happy new hip - hope the road to recovery isn't too painful.

[Range Rover Blues]

I used to hate autos 'till I bought a RRC auto, sort of by accident 9I didn't ask if it was auto or not before I agreed to buy it).  the power delivery is very smooth and the gearchanges very good.  I like driving mine especially when the cruise is working because I have dodgy knees and the LT77 in Blue gets a bit waring after a couple of hours.

the flipside is that when things go wrong an auto is a PITA.  No bump starts with a flat battery and if the gearbox goes you are left starnded in the road (or 1 PC power like mine was) and I've bust 2 auto boxs this year :'(

If you can make it fit then go auto, you'll love it.  Off road the only big issue is engine breaking and truct me, the ZH HP-22 was modified for LR to gove a lock-up in 1st so you get plenty of engine braking.  Other than that you get seemless shifts which is great for climbing, wading etc and there is far less transmission backlash than manual plus you can left foot brake to smooth your progress over rutted tracks.

I plan to convert Blue to auto (and buy some jump-leads).