switching from manual to automatic

balky12 · 1 Jun 2017 at 11:02

Vern1961 said:
Just wish manufacturers of cars for the UK market would start offering it as an option on more makes or models.

Maybe it's just the cars I have been looking at / had. But I am struggling to find ones that do not have an automatic option.

I have had automatic fiesta, focus, saab, evoque. Now looking at BMW 3/5 series, Jag XE, Ford Kuga, Merc C-Class or a Golf R. All automatics.

Yea.. I know... weird set of cars to all be considering.

Lustral · 1 Jun 2017 at 11:11

balky12 said:
Maybe it's just the cars I have been looking at / had. But I am struggling to find ones that do not have an automatic option.

I have had automatic fiesta, focus, saab, evoque. Now looking at BMW 3/5 series, Jag XE, Ford Kuga, Merc C-Class or a Golf R. All automatics.

Yea.. I know... weird set of cars to all be considering.

The DSG on the Golf R is alright , it almost suits it , but there is times that you can confuse the box though , i have the older 6 speed , but the FL - Rs have the new 7 speeds

balky12 · 1 Jun 2017 at 11:24

Lustral said:
The DSG on the Golf R is alright , it almost suits it , but there is times that you can confuse the box though , i have the older 6 speed , but the FL - Rs have the new 7 speeds

Thanks, hopefully i can test drive everything before I purchase.

Still don't know what to chose though.

Golf R - the pace appeals to me, and it's a VW, well built, residuals probably be fairly nice.

BMW - Well they are BMW, I do however quite like the new 4 series grand coups.

Kuga - Bit of an anomaly.. girlfriend likes these, I have ford privilege also so can pick up one of these for fairly cheap, however not as cheap as you would expect. However she also feels that a SUV might be too big for her.

Jag XE - I just really like the looks of these, however gf insists I have to be over 50 to get one.... I'm not even 30 yet!

Merc C Class - Deals on these atm are ridiculous, however I do prefer the BMW and the golf I think... but yea.. you can get like 20% off brand new using carwow whilst financing it.

Lustral · 1 Jun 2017 at 11:43

balky12 said:
Thanks, hopefully i can test drive everything before I purchase.

Still don't know what to chose though.

Golf R - the pace appeals to me, and it's a VW, well built, residuals probably be fairly nice.

BMW - Well they are BMW, I do however quite like the new 4 series grand coups.

Kuga - Bit of an anomaly.. girlfriend likes these, I have ford privilege also so can pick up one of these for fairly cheap, however not as cheap as you would expect. However she also feels that a SUV might be too big for her.

Jag XE - I just really like the looks of these, however gf insists I have to be over 50 to get one.... I'm not even 30 yet!

Merc C Class - Deals on these atm are ridiculous, however I do prefer the BMW and the golf I think... but yea.. you can get like 20% off brand new using carwow whilst financing it.

Golf R - The wolf in sheep clothing mentality , it can be a family car , and then with a few options switched over , it can be a quick B road warrior. I wouldnt say the residuals are that good as a lot of them are coming to the end of their leases and the market is flooded with pov spec ones , however if you do get one , least spec it well enough.

BMW - Only been in a 116d of recent and it seems ok, but the auto gear manual override is the wrong (or right) way up

Kuga - Again been in a 2.0 diesel manual , nothing really to say about them really , just high riding , seems ok.

Jag XE - not been in one , arent they just Mazda 6s in a Jag form , however i have been in a XF S Diesel and it is pretty quick and comfortable.

Merc C - my boss has one C220CDI remapped and it is pretty comfortable and nice place to be in.

ttaskmaster · 1 Jun 2017 at 13:54

Nasher said:
But EVs don't even have gears, which is why you can't tow with them.

Which is great, because caravans will finally die... but what about farmers, vehicle trailers, U-Hauler type people and the like?

ChrisD. · 1 Jun 2017 at 14:08

I have an auto and a manual, I prefer both for different reasons. If it were a daily car then I'd get an auto provided it has a decent box in. For a weekend/fun car then a manual all the way.

Liquidfox · 1 Jun 2017 at 14:14

Just switched from a manual to a ZF 8-speed, not a chance I'd go back now. Normal driving is great, then switch it to Sport and use the paddles for more enthusiastic driving. Just Sport mode on it's own isn't great as it changes up when you let off meaning you get a surge of power when you put your foot down next as it drops a couple of gears, leaving it in Sport-Manual makes the drive much more predictable and enjoyable.

ChrisD. · 1 Jun 2017 at 14:18

Liquidfox said:
Just switched from a manual to a ZF 8-speed, not a chance I'd go back now. Normal driving is great, then switch it to Sport and use the paddles for more enthusiastic driving. Just Sport mode on it's own isn't great as it changes up when you let off meaning you get a surge of power when you put your foot down next as it drops a couple of gears, leaving it in Sport-Manual makes the drive much more predictable and enjoyable.

Can't say I've had that issue using sport mode in my F10.

Jonnycoupe · 1 Jun 2017 at 15:05

Nasher said:
Sad times

But EVs don't even have gears, which is why you can't tow with them.

Except you can. Most the weedy cars with single axle concentric motors cant, just like weedy hatchbacks plus they don't want the extract mass of the towing body structure.

Electric trains will never catch on..... oh wait.

The Model X has a tow rating.

[TW]Fox · 1 Jun 2017 at 17:35

In this thread: People going on about how amazing modern DCT and 7-8 speed autoboxes are.

The OP has £2500. Nothing he is looking at will be fitted with a modern DCT box or a ZF8HP. He will be finding old school autos and CVT's of questionable reliability. Personally I'd avoid an auto at this end of the market unless there is no real choice - they are not brilliant and will be a liability on a cheap car that will write it off when they go wrong.

Begbie · 1 Jun 2017 at 18:06

My little Pajero has 260k+ km on the clock, autobox still works a treat. It cost £1300~.

Kaka · 1 Jun 2017 at 18:23

Depends on your expectations really. My first experience driving an auto was in a first gen Perodua Myvi while on holiday and I was pleasantly surprised.

HoneyBadger · 1 Jun 2017 at 19:09

All my life my wife and I have had manuals and this changed when the father in law gave us a 12 year old SUV which is now our primary (and only car - we got rid of a 2014 VW Amarok with 6 speed manual) and despite the gearbox being old (merc 5 speed auto) we both admit we wouldn't go back to manual. The only crap bit about it is it's a bit dimwited, especially off the mark.

adolf hamster · 1 Jun 2017 at 19:18

Kaka said:
Depends on your expectations really. My first experience driving an auto was in a first gen Perodua Myvi while on holiday and I was pleasantly surprised.

pleasantly surprised that the feeling of nausea clears up a treat once you get in and don't have to look at it?

wesley · 1 Jun 2017 at 19:19

is ZF 8HP a dual clutch or slushbox? got bmw F30 320d auto, its great auto but not smooth as the DSG in fabia mk2 VRS i had. i dont know if its cos DSG is a dual clutch or the engine is a petrol hence the smoother change

chaparral · 1 Jun 2017 at 19:30

Lustral said:
Once you go to a decent autobox, you will never go back to a manual box for 'normal' driving , made the switch like 8 years ago and once you discover the quirks of what you can and cant do with the box you will think why you never made the switch earlier.

Are the autoboxes in a Honda jazz decent ?
(Am guessing the year would be somewhere around 2006)

As my 70 year old mother been looking at buying one...

Lustral · 1 Jun 2017 at 19:53

chaparral said:
Are the autoboxes in a Honda jazz decent ?
(Am guessing the year would be somewhere around 2006)

As my 70 year old mother been looking at buying one...

If it is circa 2006 im guessing they have the conventional 4 gear auto box which will do the job. You need to check if it 'kicksdown' when asked. On later ones circa 2011 they had the CVT 7 speed/step box which was very similar to my previous car .

update :- they had CVT-7 a lot earlier than the Toyotas so yeah even better

[TW]Fox · 1 Jun 2017 at 20:46

wesley said:
is ZF 8HP a dual clutch or slushbox? got bmw F30 320d auto, its great auto but not smooth as the DSG in fabia mk2 VRS i had. i dont know if its cos DSG is a dual clutch or the engine is a petrol hence the smoother change

It's an 8 speed torque converter auto. It must be broken as torque converters are inherently smoother than DSG boxes and the ZF8HP is arguably the finest torque converter auto out there..

I suspect it's the 2 litre diesel engine thats not refined, not the box.

Kaka · 1 Jun 2017 at 21:03

adolf hamster said:
pleasantly surprised that the feeling of nausea clears up a treat once you get in and don't have to look at it?

It was on loan for free so couldn't complain. :cool:

chaparral · 1 Jun 2017 at 21:10

Lustral said:
If it is circa 2006 im guessing they have the conventional 4 gear auto box which will do the job. You need to check if it 'kicksdown' when asked. On later ones circa 2011 they had the CVT 7 speed/step box which was very similar to my previous car .

update :- they had CVT-7 a lot earlier than the Toyotas so yeah even better

Thanks Lustral

Maybe a stupid question

but is there an easy way to tell if a jazz has the 7 speed auto without driving it ?

Is it only the CVT Jazz that has a 7 speed ?