Manual VS Auto???

zlcrazy · 13-12-2014, 06:59 PM

Hi all,

Considering buying a brand new car in the future an really am struggling with the small decision (Ok big decision) of what transmission id pick.

The cars im looking at are SUVs. Preference being the Kuga while also looking at the new Xtrail, Outlander etc. As i would be keeping the Escape i dont really see the need for a 4WD/AWD variant. An would probably be happy with the Base variants as it would be the daily runabout.

I have discussed the decision of Manual vs Auto with a number of people i know from car enthusiasts to soccer mums lol. The funny thing about that is i am finding my car enthusiast friends are biased towards autos while the "soccer mums" are actually saying manuals

So was hoping some here could please provide some pros and cons, good and bad points etc

Anything is appreciated

Thanks in advance

bionic2006xr6t · 13-12-2014, 07:11 PM

Test drove a turbo diesel kuga today with/for the misses, the diesel isn't available in a manual, seams allot of other diesel SUV's are going that way behind there diesel motors. Very impressed with the diesel motor and the auto trans and we hammered to **** out of it. Ahhhhh gotta love good dealer/client relation where they just throw you the keys......priceless. Anyway back on track love my manuals but enjoyed the auto very much! Wouldn't be disappointed!

Cheers

bionic2006xr6t · 13-12-2014, 07:14 PM

Depending on your budget I personally would go diesel motor (but that's my personal preference)

Cheers Ryan

Simple6 · 13-12-2014, 07:30 PM

I like the control I have with a manual, I know auto's now are very good (I have a ZF at the moment) at picking the right gear, but there's just something about picking your own gear for whatever manoeuvre you need to make.

Yellow_Festiva · 13-12-2014, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple6

I like the control I have with a manual, I know auto's now are very good (I have a ZF at the moment) at picking the right gear, but there's just something about picking your own gear for whatever manoeuvre you need to make.

Use the auto in manual mode :-) best of both worlds then!

Yellow_Festiva · 13-12-2014, 07:34 PM

Just did a deal on a diesel outlander.

6sp regular auto box. They are so good now that there is next to nothing between them for economy.

I have a sports car and that's a manual, the car I traded was a manual and it was a pain for slow reversing with a trailer or trying to not roll back onto some twat that decides riding your rear when stopped is smart.

Manual is fun and more engaging, but I'm just happy to pay the few grand more and get the self shifter.

Oh, I would suggest regular box first, then CVT followed by duel clutch in terms of buying preference.

mik · 13-12-2014, 07:40 PM

For a family hack , i would probably go auto(conventional type), if its not going to be sporty job that your going to give a bit of curry on a regular basis or a hard core 4wd, i cant see the point, autos are pretty good maintenance wise, and easy in city traffic. You get it serviced on time and look after it and it goes for ten years with bugger all problems.
buy a manual , and problems are more likely to crop up, more maintenance etc imo.

Syndrome · 13-12-2014, 07:49 PM

Manual if you like to drive
Automatic if you like to commute

nitro50th · 13-12-2014, 07:57 PM

If you want a manual, you may have to be happy with a base model.

The SUV's we looked at (X-Trail, CX5, CR-V) only had manual in the base model, move up a step and it was auto only.

Not sure about the Kuga. We didnt look at one.

zlcrazy · 13-12-2014, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitro50th

If you want a manual, you may have to be happy with a base model.

The SUV's we looked at (X-Trail, CX5, CR-V) only had manual in the base model, move up a step and it was auto only.

Not sure about the Kuga. We didnt look at one.

The Kuga is only available in base model 2WD form if i want a manual like most other SUVs.

simon varley · 13-12-2014, 08:27 PM

clutched manuals are rare as rocking horse **** here for some reason, especially if you want a high spec car. It really frustrates me that all the Ford cars have a manual option in UK spec but Ford Oz won't import them.

thehammer · 13-12-2014, 09:03 PM

Manuals are much more engaging, but if you're constantly battling stop start traffic manuals can be a real engaging pain in the ***

zlcrazy · 13-12-2014, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehammer

Manuals are much more engaging, but if you're constantly battling stop start traffic manuals can be a real engaging pain in the ***

Traffic in Tassie is well not a real big problem. If people have to wait for five minutes they call it a delay lol. Theres not many traffic jams etc here.

Windsor220 · 13-12-2014, 09:26 PM

I'd go an auto if its a daily. Only thing I would get a manual in is a sports car or an underpowered 4 cyl.

zlcrazy · 13-12-2014, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsor220

I'd go an auto if its a daily. Only thing I would get a manual in is a sports car or an underpowered 4 cyl.

Does a Ford Kuga count as a underpowered 4cyl lol?

Windsor220 · 13-12-2014, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zlcrazy

Does a Ford Kuga count as a underpowered 4cyl lol?

Haha no. I'm more referring to older cars where the engines had no torque and the autos were too high geared. These days most 4 cyls are decent and autos have improved.

Adamz Ghia · 13-12-2014, 09:45 PM

For a daily I do t think you can go past an auto. For a weekender then I'd go a manual. My better half on the other half won't touch an auto. Manual all the way. Then I have to listen to her complain when we're stuck in traffic...

zlcrazy · 13-12-2014, 10:09 PM

So for the manual minded here, what is it that makes you prefer a manual?

XR6WGN · 13-12-2014, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zlcrazy

So for the manual minded here, what is it that makes you prefer a manual?

I've been driving manuals for so long now, it's hard to imagine driving anything else.

But, I would love either the last BF Ghia or a G6E to replace my wagon as my daily. I know I can adapt but I just feel uncomfortable not using both my feet.

NTF6 · 13-12-2014, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsor220

I'd go an auto if its a daily. Only thing I would get a manual in is a sports car or an underpowered 4 cyl.

I'm with him, if you want to drive it everyday then get an auto, if you pull it out once a week or it's as gutless as all crap then get a manual.

CyberWasp · 13-12-2014, 10:42 PM

You drive a Manual Car, you only steer an Automatic Car.
I think people who drive Manuals are more balanced people as they use both sides of the brain more, whilst driving :p

mik · 13-12-2014, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

You drive a Manual Car, you only steer an Automatic Car.
I think people who drive Manuals are more balanced people as they use both sides of the brain more, whilst driving :p

yep also end up with hip displacia and a curved spine

.

bionic2006xr6t · 14-12-2014, 02:45 AM

At the end off the day you will get plenty of opinions. Drive both in the same luxury level and see what you prefer. End of story.

Cheers Ryan

bionic2006xr6t · 14-12-2014, 02:46 AM

At the end of the day it's you car and your car only. Your the one who has to live with it.

Cheers Ryan

**DJM83** · 14-12-2014, 06:41 PM

Manual for me, but heavy traffic sucks the big one.

**Polyal** · 14-12-2014, 06:43 PM

Manuals have there place, dont know if it really is in the SUV market though.

1TUFFUTE · 14-12-2014, 09:55 PM

Don't know about everyone else but I tend to find myself gravitating from manual one car....then auto the next. Then back to manual! I'm using the auto ZF atm and so far havnt even come close to feeling over it yet...or ready to go back to manual!

The only vehicles I could see myself going back too manual would be a roughish beater 4wd or a good handling powerfull small car.(focus RS or megane for eg)

Batmobile · 14-12-2014, 10:32 PM

Always drove a manual . But having sampled the ZF auto, the fun factor just goes up 10 folder , without very much effort ... Manual is fun, however , in the auto, you seem to have much more time to take in the noise, whine from the supercharger.

Franco Cozzo · 14-12-2014, 06:46 PM

I prefer manual cars, converted my EL Fairmont Ghia to manual as well.

Yeah manual can be a pain in the *** to drive in heavy traffic sometimes, but once you get used to how it drives its really no problem at all.

If you're in heavy traffic I find just hanging back rolling along at idle in 1st gear you can minimise doing the clutch in/out/in/out/in/out/in/out routine in traffic if you just sit back a little instead of accelerating up to a stop 30m later, by the time you get to that 30m in the distance they're off and moving again

**DJM83** · 14-12-2014, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

If you're in heavy traffic I find just hanging back rolling along at idle in 1st gear you can minimise doing the clutch in/out/in/out/in/out/in/out routine in traffic if you just sit back a little instead of accelerating up to a stop 30m later, by the time you get to that 30m in the distance they're off and moving again

Exactly what i do