Personally, I wouldn't drive anything else. Seems that the trend is towards automatic rather than manual cars though. Our tug is a Rodeo 4x4 Diesel Auto, and very happy with the choice. I spent a few years living in the U.S.A, and was a member of a fishing club. Everyone had a 4x4 and not one of them was manual. As a matter of fact, I cant recall ever seeing a manual car while there.
My previous vehicle was an auto. Fine for around town or light duty highway travel but when towing, either my camper trailer or boat, it used to hunt between gears and gobble up fuel as a consequence, and neither trailer weighed over a ton(ne). Was doing the occasional bit of off-roading at the time and had to use brakes on steep descents as I couldn't use the engine compression, even in low range. Took it across the Simpson and the auto overheated.
Later autos have overcome some of these issues and offer more flexibility and control to the driver than that one did, so I would consider auto for my next purchase but that's some time off as the Paj is serving me well at present (I think I shouldn't said that, who said I wasn't superstitious)
We have in the past had both types transmississions. Our preference is more for the Manual. Even in city driving for both of us we prefer manual, Ellie being more pedantic than me about it ?
Remember in the early 70's a mate was doing a job in New Jersey USA. He asked before flew over there for a compact manual car, to use commuting back and forth to the factory.
They thought they were getting a "rev head" asking for a car with a "SHIFT STICK". Causing great consternation for them trying to find one for hire.
If you think about it , an auto should be odviosly better as the changes(and travel forwards) should be smoother. The new common rail diesels with more torque and using less fuel should be perfect, but you don,t see a lot of them around. Cooling the oil in the transmission is another thing to look at. I have a manual, but would definately like to try an auto for towing. Off road, unless you can lock your auto in low gear, you will be in trouble down steep hills, as they run away on you. Engine braking is great on a man trany and helps the brake down long inclines.I have been in Petes Rodeo and it seems to be fine.
I like manual vehicles- 4-5 on the floor. I have had autos, but a vehicle with 5 or more gears is my preferred option. I feel I have more control over what I want the car to do, whether I'm towing, off-road or in the 'burbs. No. 2 gear is my favourite, if one can have a favourite gear.
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Report in The Australian today says 71 per cent of Aussies now buy auto transmission vehicles and more and more L-platers are learning auto only. Funny incident in Perth about 18 months ago: bloke filled his car with petrol, went into servo to pay, leaving keys in ignition (silly). Woman jumped in to steal his car . . . but could not drive a manual, and he did not lose the car! Manual has its uses! Cheers, Tony
__________________
If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them.
Now there,s another problem - how do you tow start an auto without damaging the auto? my old manual hilux might be a bit agricultural, but I can fix it , which I can,t do with an auto trans.Flat batterys are just apart of travelling in the bush.
just ordered a new manual Toyota LC . The model we're getting does not come in an auto , so there wasn't a choice .
Prefer the manual for towing . C&M magazine recently some pretty comprehensive test which showed manual transmission vehicles are considerably cheaper to tow with ( fuel wise ) than autos .
Anyway , very happy with manuals .
__________________
Nappies and Politicians should be changed often . For the same reason .
My Myrtle is manual and column change at that. took a bit of getting used to and now a piece of cake. Only 4 gears though, would like 5. My daughter learnt to drive in an auto and can't drive a manual nor can my sister. Which is a pity in an emergency there will always come a time they might have to. If I sell Myrtle at any time and go back to a car I will get Auto for the reason that they can at least drive my car if I can't at some time.
The pathfinder is auto but has the option to select the gears if you need. Friends of mine had a manual for him and auto for here . He got picked up by taxi early to go to the airport When she went to go to work some hours latter she found his car parked behind her, I get this phone, call could I come over and move his car out of the drive so she could go to work. There is nothing I can do with a car of big rig that my wife can't do equally as well , gives that peace of mind if something goes wrong out there in the scrub. There's more to having the total driving skill set than just the point and shoot method that most get by on .
__________________
Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
Having owned Toyota Landcruisers for the last 30 years, all were manuals until a T/D 100 series I bought in 2008. 5 speed semi auto. Was as good as driving a manual, including the fact of an auto that had engine braking. From there I would never go back to a manual. It is just so more convenient. I now have a 200 series and the chioce was very easy. They don't come in a manual so choice was solved for me. This one is a six speed. Awesome grunt.
Must admit, I don't think I can see the day I will buy a manual again. Unless of course I suffer a midlife crisis and I'm allowed to buuy the Austin healey I really really want!!
-- Edited by delatite on Tuesday 17th of May 2011 09:19:31 PM
I tow our jayco lark with our auto commadore, use to always own manuals but after work injury on left shoulder got an auto, makes travelling a lot easier. on that note i dont use cruise control when towing as it drives the motor harder hence using more petrol. I dont have any drama if i have to jump in one of the kids cars and drive a manual though, i beleave everyone should know how to drive both, should be mandatory. lyn
Now there,s another problem - how do you tow start an auto without damaging the auto? my old manual hilux might be a bit agricultural, but I can fix it , which I can,t do with an auto trans.Flat batterys are just apart of travelling in the bush.
bill your hilux isnt agricultural.... ive seen the bait box and its classic not agricutural
-- Edited by petengail on Wednesday 18th of May 2011 08:06:49 PM
__________________
If there is such a thing as a tourist season.... why cant we shoot them?
Sell Myrtle HW wash your mouth out... 
Shhh. She might hear you.. 
