Automatic-manual - Page 3

75driver · 29th October 2018, 22:03

Auto is nice, more relaxing, but the box dictates how the car should be driven.
Manual - clutch can be a pain on the left leg, but at least YOU are in control, and able to drop down a gear when YOU want, ie going into the corners.
Even shifting manually through the gears on an auto doesn’t come close for driver control.
I like em both for different reasons.
(Get two &#128580

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coolguy · 29th October 2018, 23:36

I always smile when people say that they would love an automatic in stop/start town conditions, but prefer a manual otherwise. Out of heavy traffic you never need to change gear , so automatic every time for me. It is no coincidence that all luxury car makers have only made automatics for the past 20 years, and F1 cars are effectively automatic as well these days.

AndyN01 · 30th October 2018, 05:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolguy

........ F1 cars are effectively automatic as well these days.

Erm, I don't think they are

Doesn't the driver choose the precise, split second, when to change gear and how many gears to change (in sequence)?

My understanding is that "flappy paddle" gearboxes remove the manual clutch, replacing it with super fast electronics and hydraulics which makes the change much, much quicker than is possible with your left foot and does all the blipping for down changes as well. Manual changes "lose" about 1/2 second or so per change so lap times are increased and a missed change would regularly put a car off the track.

To me that's the evolution of a manual box and a world away from selecting "Drive" and leaving the auto box to get on with it.

Happy to be further enlightened.

Andy.

Mike Noc · 30th October 2018, 05:53

Well I must be getting old as these days I prefer the auto box.

As mentioned, go for a test drive - the way the box handles cruise control is pretty dire, but if you can put up with that it is fine.

Costs a bit more in fuel and tax too, but then again you don't have to worry about changing slave cylinders.

Each to their own.

roverbarmy · 30th October 2018, 07:56

If it was a ZT I would have a manual but a Rover 75 is best with an automatic IMHO.

Terryf · 30th October 2018, 08:04

With the auto box can we not drop a gear manually if we want to?

Sonic ZS · 30th October 2018, 18:57

I've previously owned a 2.5 V6, CDTi and V8 all with a manual box (out of choice), so my heart sank when I looked in the window of X702 in the scrapyard and saw it was automatic.

But upon finally driving the car, I have to say I would now take an auto over a manual any time, they are smooth and suit the nature of the 75 very well.

But whatever you decide, either box is pretty good so neither can really be the wrong choice.

bl52krz · 30th October 2018, 19:26

Now getting a bit long in the tooth, and my left ankle is suffering from arthritis, caused by an industrial accident I had in 1971/2. All I will say is that if I could find an auto diesel in as good condition as my manual is, I would find it hard to turn down. As an aside, when I took my son his Mercedes 320 SLK over to Germany, an auto, I found it great driving it. I like the box on the Mercedes. If you are in drive, when in slow moving traffic, like I was while driving through Belgium on the m/way you could just tap the gearstick to the left and it would change up to the next gear, even at little more than tickover. Good for the mpg.

Comfortably Numb · 30th October 2018, 23:11

A good autobox is pretty much as predictable as a manual, a bad one (or poorly maintained/serviced) can be an unpredictable and unpleasant experience. My wife's SLK tiptronic box is very predictable, and as said above, you can use it as a clutchless manual, just by tapping the lever one way or the other. My Mitsubishi Delica is likewise totally predictable and very smooth. My son's old Hyundai Accent was harsh, and seemed to have a mind of it's own when I drove it in Australia. He said it was transformed by replacing the ATF. Not so the immaculate, 100,000mile Mk1 A4 I owned briefly before the 75. Even after changing the ATF (tricky, as the box was supposedly "sealed for life") it too would change up sometimes when you put your foot down, and change down when you lifted off! And sometimes, it seemed to just stick in second gear, and then suddenly change up with a kick! So you might want to try a few MGR autos until you find one that behaves the way you want. I certainly get a tired left leg in stop start traffic in my manual. Glad I don't have to , for most of the time.

Dorset Bob · 31st October 2018, 09:59

I suppose there are automatic gearboxes and automatics gearboxes.

The OP is referring to the Rover 75 diesel automatic.
I have one of those together with a manual V6 (which is more pleasant to drive IMHO).

I have nothing against automatic gearboxes, but I dislike the way that the Rover 75 diesel auto "coasts" when slowing down.
When SWMBO drove it first, she said that there is something wrong with it, as it keeps dropping into neutral when slowing down.

A fairly good description of how it feels.

You get used to it and have to manually select the gears more often.
I suppose it was meant to be a fuel saving feature - The V6 autos don't do it.

29th October 2018, 22:03	#21
75driver Posted a thing or two Rover 75 saloon, manual. Rover 75 Tourer, Auto. Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Newry Posts: 1,781 Thanks: 574 Thanked 443 Times in 371 Posts	Auto is nice, more relaxing, but the box dictates how the car should be driven. Manual - clutch can be a pain on the left leg, but at least YOU are in control, and able to drop down a gear when YOU want, ie going into the corners. Even shifting manually through the gears on an auto doesn’t come close for driver control. I like em both for different reasons. (Get two &#128580 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 2006 75 Contemporary SE diesel manual (#1) 2003 75T Connoisseur SE diesel auto (For Comfort) 2005 75 Connoisseur SE diesel auto (Marmite duotone ) 2006 75 Connoisseur SE diesel auto (The last one?) 2009 E220 (For a change) 2018 L200 (For Big & Heavy Things) 1976 W114 250 Manual (For Sundays)

30th October 2018, 07:56	#25
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,050 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	If it was a ZT I would have a manual but a Rover 75 is best with an automatic IMHO. __________________ Oil in my veins!

30th October 2018, 18:57	#27
Sonic ZS Posted a thing or two 75 Conn CDT Tourer, 75 Conn SE V6, 75 Conn V6, 75 Conn CDTi Tourer, ZS 180 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Devon Posts: 1,986 Thanks: 1,287 Thanked 963 Times in 534 Posts	I've previously owned a 2.5 V6, CDTi and V8 all with a manual box (out of choice), so my heart sank when I looked in the window of X702 in the scrapyard and saw it was automatic. But upon finally driving the car, I have to say I would now take an auto over a manual any time, they are smooth and suit the nature of the 75 very well. But whatever you decide, either box is pretty good so neither can really be the wrong choice. __________________

30th October 2018, 19:26	#28
bl52krz This is my second home Rover 75 cdt club + Rover 2.5 KV6 Conni SE Join Date: May 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 11,394 Thanks: 6,587 Thanked 2,262 Times in 1,729 Posts	Now getting a bit long in the tooth, and my left ankle is suffering from arthritis, caused by an industrial accident I had in 1971/2. All I will say is that if I could find an auto diesel in as good condition as my manual is, I would find it hard to turn down. As an aside, when I took my son his Mercedes 320 SLK over to Germany, an auto, I found it great driving it. I like the box on the Mercedes. If you are in drive, when in slow moving traffic, like I was while driving through Belgium on the m/way you could just tap the gearstick to the left and it would change up to the next gear, even at little more than tickover. Good for the mpg. __________________ Great Barr, Birmingham.

31st October 2018, 09:59	#30
Dorset Bob Senior Citizen Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur SE,Chrysler 300C,124 Spider, Daytona 955i,Honda XL250 & Royal Enfield 650GT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Kingdom of Wessex Posts: 6,976 Thanks: 2,391 Thanked 2,685 Times in 1,686 Posts	I suppose there are automatic gearboxes and automatics gearboxes. The OP is referring to the Rover 75 diesel automatic. I have one of those together with a manual V6 (which is more pleasant to drive IMHO). I have nothing against automatic gearboxes, but I dislike the way that the Rover 75 diesel auto "coasts" when slowing down. When SWMBO drove it first, she said that there is something wrong with it, as it keeps dropping into neutral when slowing down. A fairly good description of how it feels. You get used to it and have to manually select the gears more often. I suppose it was meant to be a fuel saving feature - The V6 autos don't do it. __________________ Let the good times roll............

29th October 2018, 23:36	#22
coolguy Coolguy Rover 75 CDT Tourer Auto, Rover 75 2.0 Connoisseur Auto, MG ZT 2.5 Auto and MG ZT Cdti Auto (Monogra Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Finedon Posts: 1,897 Thanks: 933 Thanked 638 Times in 430 Posts	I always smile when people say that they would love an automatic in stop/start town conditions, but prefer a manual otherwise. Out of heavy traffic you never need to change gear , so automatic every time for me. It is no coincidence that all luxury car makers have only made automatics for the past 20 years, and F1 cars are effectively automatic as well these days.

30th October 2018, 05:53	#24
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,550 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Well I must be getting old as these days I prefer the auto box. As mentioned, go for a test drive - the way the box handles cruise control is pretty dire, but if you can put up with that it is fine. Costs a bit more in fuel and tax too, but then again you don't have to worry about changing slave cylinders. Each to their own.

30th October 2018, 08:04	#26
Terryf Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon BRG Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Retford Posts: 573 Thanks: 119 Thanked 142 Times in 69 Posts	With the auto box can we not drop a gear manually if we want to?

30th October 2018, 23:11	#29
Comfortably Numb Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Penrith Posts: 1,336 Thanks: 165 Thanked 303 Times in 241 Posts	A good autobox is pretty much as predictable as a manual, a bad one (or poorly maintained/serviced) can be an unpredictable and unpleasant experience. My wife's SLK tiptronic box is very predictable, and as said above, you can use it as a clutchless manual, just by tapping the lever one way or the other. My Mitsubishi Delica is likewise totally predictable and very smooth. My son's old Hyundai Accent was harsh, and seemed to have a mind of it's own when I drove it in Australia. He said it was transformed by replacing the ATF. Not so the immaculate, 100,000mile Mk1 A4 I owned briefly before the 75. Even after changing the ATF (tricky, as the box was supposedly "sealed for life") it too would change up sometimes when you put your foot down, and change down when you lifted off! And sometimes, it seemed to just stick in second gear, and then suddenly change up with a kick! So you might want to try a few MGR autos until you find one that behaves the way you want. I certainly get a tired left leg in stop start traffic in my manual. Glad I don't have to , for most of the time.