Manual versus automatic transmission gear boxes

DUTR

vikingaero wrote: »

James Ruppert who writes the Bangernomics Column in Autocar Magazine interviewed an automatic transmission repair specialist based in Sussex for advice on automatic gearboxes.

The specialist said that you should buy an autobox on the following criteria for reliability:

(1) Best = 4 or 5 speed Japanese/Korean
(2) Next best = 4 or 5 speed European

Avoid:

(1) Anything with a 6/7/8 speed gearbox
(2) Anything DSG/Powershift
(3) Anything automated manual

Anything DSG/automated manual will go pop sooner than a traditional 4 speed auto. There are countless horror stories of automated manuals and Selespeeds being pants and are horrific to repair and get just right again.

Toyota and Honda make good CVT gearboxes. The previous generation Jazz CVT is well regarded and the CVT in the Prius is very good, as attested by the large number running as minicabs.

Which means avoid the devices the specialist is unable to work on and earn some money?

bartelbe

Well this is a how long is a piece of string argument.

If you can drive a manual then it really depends on the quality of the box.

Driving a manual takes no effort, at least for me, I can do it almost, well, automatically.

A manual gearbox with a poor shift, a heavy clutch or too widely spaced gears will be a pain to use.

Similarily an automatic wrongly setup, usually to pass fuel economy tests, will constantly be in the wrong gear and be annoying.

So the answer, like so many things, depends on make and model.

robatwork

If you do lots of urban driving then the auto box really saves your clutch leg.

The last 2 I had (Passat and V40) have been really smooth, hardly feeling the change up or down, and had the "sport" mode should you want to cane it round some lanes.

Iceweasel

I'll probably never buy another manual-box car again.

In the last 10 year I've probably driven 300K in autos and 100K in manuals.

With a good auto - it's faster, it's more economical, I have more control, and it's more fun.

And it's much less hassle in heavy traffic.

I don't like the horrible kick-down feature.

I used it once and never again.

In fact everything that the dyed in the wool manual enthusiast say about the manual-boxes I think about auto-boxes.

Funny that.

rev_henry

vikingaero wrote: »

James Ruppert who writes the Bangernomics Column in Autocar Magazine interviewed an automatic transmission repair specialist based in Sussex for advice on automatic gearboxes.

The specialist said that you should buy an autobox on the following criteria for reliability:

(1) Best = 4 or 5 speed Japanese/Korean
(2) Next best = 4 or 5 speed European

Avoid:

(1) Anything with a 6/7/8 speed gearbox
(2) Anything DSG/Powershift
(3) Anything automated manual

Anything DSG/automated manual will go pop sooner than a traditional 4 speed auto. There are countless horror stories of automated manuals and Selespeeds being pants and are horrific to repair and get just right again.

Toyota and Honda make good CVT gearboxes. The previous generation Jazz CVT is well regarded and the CVT in the Prius is very good, as attested by the large number running as minicabs.

I guess I win then. Whilst old hat the 4 speed box in my Sonata works perfectly and hopefully won't break.

hgotsparkle

How do you find out what kind of autobox a car has?
Eg, what does a mk4 Astra auto have?

Exams_Expert

I've driven all types of auto boxes for over 25 years and I'm about to collect my latest auto car today through choice. It's a 6 speed torque convertor on a 2.0 diesel.
My favourites were the 3.2V6 DSG Audi TT's - and in sport mode on a twisty road are unbeatable - you can't event THINK about changing gear in the time the box has done it for you. I even have a dyed in the wool petrol head Porsche driving mate who has changed to an auto in his latest Cayman S.
True DSG boxes fail - mainly the computers inside them in fact but in the right car are truly amazing. If you don't like what i't doing use the paddles to override it - much faster than a foot clutch and a stick shift. These are what F1 cars have.
As for cost of servicing being higher, my 2.0 Focus auto has done 88k on the same transmission oil which doesn't need changing, ever.
What I wouldn't buy is a CVT e.g. Merc B class or an EGC from Citroen/Peugeot as they are shockingly bad to drive. I'd rather have a manual than one of them.

Iceweasel

wildincrawley wrote: »

I prefer a manual gearbox.

No logical reason, just enjoyment of driving, for me!

So that means that you wouldn't enjoy driving a new Ferrari then.

They don't offer manual boxes any more - the last time they did the take up was around 2% I believe.

On the BMW forums you get the buyers of 2nd hand ones bemoaning the fact that the new car buyers don't buy enough manuals.

I wonder why?

Exams_Expert

Similarly with Mercedes - even though for most models, auto is an extra cost option over 80% are sold that way new.

In a recent study it was found that manually changing gear uses up to 50% of your brain's capacity, why not use that to make you a better and safer driver and enjoy the experience.

Herzlos

I don't believe it takes that much thought to change a gear manually. It's almost a reflex action when you've been driving for a while. I'm only really conscious of the gearing when I'm doing something unusual (steep hills, preparing for overtaking, etc) and my left foot/arm takes care of it the rest of the time.