Manual or Automatic ?

[Steve1962]

Not even worth a debate, Auto hands down. Not sure you can get a Tucson or Sportage in manual, but please, I could be wrong. 👍

I have a manual Sportage(KX4 2017) which is fine, however I have never driven an automatic so can’t compare- I just have a mate with the same age Sportage which is automatic and he won’t tow with a manual so I guess it’s down to personal preference and advice from experienced folk.

Steve

 

[Mr Plodd]

Having towed with both manual, and automatic versions of exactly the same make and model of cars (Mazda not Hyundai) there is no way on the planet I will ever revert to manual.
Having said that my auto's have all been what I term "proper" automatics, those with a torque converter and epicyclic gearboxes rather than multiple dual clutch ones.
Once you have driven an auto for a few days you get to realise how much better they are than a manual, and thats from someone who drove manual police patrol cars for the best part of 30 years, so I have a fair bit of experience.
For a performance car then its manual every time, but for everyday use (inc towing) it has to be an auto.
Those who dismiss automatics have rarely, if ever, driven one for very long.

 

[RogerL]

Having towed with both manual, and automatic versions of exactly the same make and model of cars (Mazda not Hyundai) there is no way on the planet I will ever revert to manual.
Having said that my auto's have all been what I term "proper" automatics, those with a torque converter and epicyclic gearboxes rather than multiple dual clutch ones.
Once you have driven an auto for a few days you get to realise how much better they are than a manual, and thats from someone who drove manual police patrol cars for the best part of 30 years, so I have a fair bit of experience.
For a performance car then its manual every time, but for everyday use (inc towing) it has to be an auto.
Those who dismiss automatics have rarely, if ever, driven one for very long.

These days, even high performance cars have mostly switched to automatics - although usually the dual clutch type.

 

[otherclive]

Having towed with both manual, and automatic versions of exactly the same make and model of cars (Mazda not Hyundai) there is no way on the planet I will ever revert to manual.
Having said that my auto's have all been what I term "proper" automatics, those with a torque converter and epicyclic gearboxes rather than multiple dual clutch ones.
Once you have driven an auto for a few days you get to realise how much better they are than a manual, and thats from someone who drove manual police patrol cars for the best part of 30 years, so I have a fair bit of experience.
For a performance car then its manual every time, but for everyday use (inc towing) it has to be an auto.
Those who dismiss automatics have rarely, if ever, driven one for very long.

Years ago the Swedish police moved their SAAB manual fleet to automatic SAABS. There was an outcry from the force drivers on the grounds it would negative affect their ability in pursuit as the autos had a slower acceleration time. The outcome was that overall fleet maintenance costs sharply reduced and average driver acceleration times reduced. After a short while the force drivers were fans of the autos.

 

[RogerL]

Years ago the Swedish police moved their SAAB manual fleet to automatic SAABS. There was an outcry from the force drivers on the grounds it would negative affect their ability in pursuit as the autos had a slower acceleration time. The outcome was that overall fleet maintenance costs sharply reduced and average driver acceleration times reduced. After a short while the force drivers were fans of the autos.

The same happened in many UK police forces - the use of automatics also frees up the driver's left hand to operate the plethora of electronics in modern police cars.