Reviews of cars with auto transmission

[RayS]

Most of the car reviews seem to be of the manual gearbox versions with sometimes only a passing reference that auto is available.
Many of us not-as-young-as we used-to-be and of course others now prefer to drive and tow with automatics but are aware that there may sometimes be important differences between auto and manual relating to towing capability.
Perhaps it would be possible to put in a little more about this in future reviews ?

 

[Martin24]

A very valid point. We have no choice but to tow with an auto as I need hand controls

 

[LizziePope]

Duly noted and thanks for posting.

The trouble is that we can't stick a tow bar on anything to test it, so we're often limited by what car manufacturers have on their test fleet with a towball fitted. Where possible we try to test auto and manual, and a range of engines, but, as I said, getting cars with towballs on them can be difficult.

 

[Raywood]

From other threads most people with automatics seem happy with their towing ability but checking on what the manufacturer allows is needed. The tests do give you most other information you need like stability and capacity so all is not lost. Given the limited numbers of people who would need a tow bar on a test vehicle I can understand why manufacturers do not fit many. Unless I have missed something there are only two club magazines and three commercial ones who would need a tow bar compared with the mass of motoring magazines and newspapers who do not need a tow bar.

 

[ProfJohnL]

With the ever increasing pressures to make cars more environmentally friendly, there are bound to be more compromises on the way.

Most internal combustion engines will have a relatively narrow band or RPM where the engine is capable of running at peak efficiency, and the only way to maximise the time the engine spends at the optimum RPM at different road speeds will be to introduce more gear ratios.

There are already 8 speed autos (BMW) and there are 9 speed autos in the offing (FIAT). As more ratios are added the chore of changing gear manually will take up more of the driver time and concentration and could become an increasing hazardous process. So the natural way to get more ratio's is to go down the automatic route. The ultimate gear box is a CVT type with continually variable ratios, but that is an auto box.

 

[Mogwyth]

Land Rover / Jaguar already offer a 9 speed auto.

 

[Parksy]

With the ever increasing pressures to make cars more environmentally friendly, there are bound to be more compromises on the way.

Most internal combustion engines will have a relatively narrow band or RPM where the engine is capable of running at peak efficiency, and the only way to maximise the time the engine spends at the optimum RPM at different road speeds will be to introduce more gear ratios.

There are already 8 speed autos (BMW) and there are 9 speed autos in the offing (FIAT). As more ratios are added the chore of changing gear manually will take up more of the driver time and concentration and could become an increasing hazardous process. So the natural way to get more ratio's is to go down the automatic route. The ultimate gear box is a CVT type with continually variable ratios, but that is an auto box.

I used to drive a Cummins diesel powered Foden 38 tonnne artic truck which was fitted with a Fuller 12 speed constant mesh (crash) gearbox. (4 over 4 over 4) I only really used 8 of the 12 gears, the lowest 4 would have taken my load across the Himalayas, but the 8 gears were easy enough to manage.
The non synchromesh gears meant that after I was moving I rarely needed to use the clutch to change gear. The clutch-less technique was known to those of us who could do it as 'torque breaking' because we managed the engine revs to make the gear change. Of course the old style technique was only ever used by proper drivers
:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[MichaelE]

The 9 speed auto that Land Rover and Jaguar is made by ZF and is the same unit used is by Honda , Fiat and Chrysler.
This has just had a recall in the last couple of months a faulty crimp causing a sensor to move resulting in the car shifting into neutral at any speed , over half a million units affected worldwide.

Ford and Gm do a 10 speed auto box in the US and Honda are working on a 11 speed with 3 clutches !!!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Parksy,

It had slipped my mind that many HGVs already have many more gear ratios than most cars, but the circumstances are a bit different. Cars are much lighter and therefore will accelerate more quickly requiring the driver to have to act more quickly. I'm not saying its more difficult just that things tend happen faster in cars, and the engine if tuned for economy won't have such a wide power band as the old diesels.

The clutchless gear change is something I still sometimes do today in my manual Espace. Generally moving up the box, between 3rd 4th and 5th, I find it's quite easy and satisfying to move to neutral and just wait fro the revs to drop and then drop into the next gear cleanly with out crunches or drama. Its nice to know the clutch thrust bearing isn't being worn out!

 

[Parksy]

It became a point of honour to use torque breaking gear changes when I drove for a living Prof
I could start from Southampton early on a Saturday morning and not use the clutch after I'd started to roll until I was turning back into the transport yard.
My old Trundle Truck caravan tug is an auto gearbox which is relaxing but it takes some of the satisfaction from longer trips.
On a separate and completely unconnected note, congratulations on overtaking the lamented Lord Braykewynde to become the most prolific forum contributor according to the stats at the bottom of the web page. :cheer:

 

[ProfJohnL]

How did I manage that hmy:

I actually take more pride in the number of "thank you's" received

I suppose now I'll have to start being as cantankerous as he was in his hay day. Now where can I start, Oh I know NOSE WEIGHTS!!!!

 

[Parksy]

Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

 

[Gafferbill]

Now where can I start, Oh I know NOSE WEIGHTS!!!!

.........send him to the naughty corner

Rules are rules and must not be broken .......so no shouting :silly: :silly:

BTW .......I can no longer see the Forum Etiquette rules listed anywhere on the website.....they seem to have disappeared?

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

BTW .......I can no longer see the Forum Etiquette rules listed anywhere on the website.....they seem to have disappeared?

See here

 

[Parksy]

Now where can I start, Oh I know NOSE WEIGHTS!!!!

.........send him to the naughty corner

Rules are rules and must not be broken .......so no shouting :silly: :silly:

BTW .......I can no longer see the Forum Etiquette rules listed anywhere on the website.....they seem to have disappeared?

Oh No They Haven't!!!!! (It's panto season :silly: )
Forum Etiquette is among the sticky posts on the Our Website message board.

 

[Hutch]

They are not in the blue Forum Etiquette, box, that Newbies, would probably go to after being barracked for shouting like the Prof did.

Whats this about Nose weights ???. I'll go to the Naughty step. :huh:

 

[Gafferbill]

They are not in the blue Forum Etiquette, box, that Newbies, would probably go to ..........

Yes that was what I was meaning.......they have disappeared during the tweeks hmy:

........but thanks Parksy for pointing out they are a sticky in the New Members and Our Website sections of the index.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

[
........but thanks Parksy for pointing out they are a sticky in the New Members and Our Website sections of the index.

I stated this fact in the post before Parksy's (8 hours before in fact).
Don't know if I'll bother to help next time. :S

 

[Gafferbill]

Sorry Graham .....I missed that.

 

[Jeff_Lon]

Hi Prof. Talking about clutchless gearchanges.I once had to drive my Split Screen VW campervan back from the Lakes with a failed clutch (would not disengage) After starting the engine in 1st. gear I managed to get it back to my local VW dealer without a single crunch----took a bit of advance planning to approach traffic lights on green. I think we probably learned to drive on crash boxes? My present towcar is a new Sportage 2.0 crdi Auto. Now that I have turned 80 I find it much kinder to hips and knees---especially in stop-go traffic.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Jef,

Yes I agree,
I don't live in a city area, but I have to travel through Birmingham to see one of my daughters, and my current Passat has DSG auto box, auto hand brake when the car stops, auto head lights for the underpasses, and auto windscreen wipers. So much more relaxing in heavy traffic.

The beauty of the auto hand brake, is that I dont sit with my foot on the brake dazzling the driver behind with the top central led strip.

On one occasion I was collecting one of my daughters from a St Johns Ambulance brigade meeting. It over ran by several minutes and i was held up in a que behind an Mercedes ML. We were stopped for at least 2 min when the driver ahead of the ML got out and walked back to the ML and started talking to the driver.
All this time the ML's engine was running, the drivers foot on the brake, blinding me with the brake lights. I got out and went to speak to the ML driver who seemed to be oblivious to the power of her lights. When I asked her if she'd mind taking her foot off the brake, I watched put the car into neutral (Auto box) , and put the hand brake on! :S

I do wish other drivers were more considerate and actually use their hand brakes for what they'r designed for.

 

[Hutch]

On my Sante Fe, with the auto hand/footbrake, unfortunatley my brake lights stay on, I only noticed this when I had the caravan, hitched up and saw the brake lights reflected in the caravan window. I don't like the glareing lights either.

 

[DrZhivago]

my current Passat has DSG auto box, auto hand brake when the car stops, auto head lights for the underpasses, and auto windscreen wipers. So much more relaxing in heavy traffic.

I prefer to make those decisions myself

The beauty of the auto hand brake, is that I dont sit with my foot on the brake dazzling the driver behind with the top central led strip.

In a car without an auto hand brake, why not just put the handbrake on yourself?

The guy in front of me in a motorway hold up the other day, in the dark and drizzle, had his brake lights on for about 15 minutes (and he was not the only one). His leg must have been killing him, it would me. I had not only put my handbrake on but switched engine and headlights off too. We could all see if and when the traffic ahead was going to move again.

Oh, the up-to-date cars switch engines off automatically too. I don't like that decision being taken out of my hands either.

 

[otherclive]

In auto stop-start mode my car starts the engine again when I put the handbrake on! But I normally drive with the auto stop-start turned off anyway. Re auto headlamps I also have that turned off as there was an accident close to where we live when a car pulled out of a left hand junction when the on coming cars headlights came on. Fortunately no one was hurt although the cars were written off. I know its bad practice to pull out in front of an oncoming vehicle until you are certain that they are letting you out, to turning into your junction. My police tutor always told me that headlights and horn are to warn of your presence. Re the accident in question it happened on a sunny autumn day at a junction which is very over shadowed by large trees.

Back to automatic gearboxes the Op should read up on the various types as some cars sold as automatic are in fact automated clutches not a true automatic gearbox. Ive had conventional torque convertor autos and now have a CVT and for and now wouldn't have anything else for towing.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

I'm on my 4th. Freelander, the current one (SD4) and the previous one (TD4) have been automatics, they maybe a little more thirsty, but so easy to tow and drive with, far more relaxing and less tiring than manuals, wouldn't go back to a manual. For many years thought 'autos' were for 'non drivers' never dreamt of getting one.- that was until my Freelander was in for servicing and the courtesy LR was automatic, first auto I'd driven, (once I'd learnt to keep my left peg out of the way!) - completely sold on it and loved the auto - that was my conversion to auto, got one and never looked back (That's figuratively speaking! - the mirrors do work)