Automatic or Manual..

[SpokeyDokey]

Yebbut, whilst it's indeed "an amazing piece of technology" it doesn't, for me at least, perform a useful function. It's also a very complex and expensive thing to fix, unlike a traditional arrangment which can be fixed by any competant mechanic or keen amateur. Lots and lots more to go wrong too.

I have the same view of, say, dishwashers.

Changing gears is a pretty useful function.

 

[vickster]

Ah, I thought the Octavia was more like a VW Passat?

I think that's the Superb it might be called something else now?

Apparently the new Polo, currently Fabia sized, is going to be the same size as the current Golf...does that make the Golf obsolete? I'd consider that if buying outright rather than leasing

My Fabia is great for taking bikes ... not that this is a concern for you unless you take them for an outing like you may do your granny who doesn't get out much

 

[Mr Celine]

You can't rev an auto up at the traffic lights either!

You could in the last auto I drove (a Rover 2600 SD1).

Left foot on the brake, blip throttle with right foot. To move off, keep left foot on the brake, floor the accelerator and when the revs hit 3000 lift foot off brake pedal. No need to look in rear view mirrors as everything disappears in the fog of tyre smoke.

I should add that I was over 30 years stupider then.

 

[mustang1]

Manual gearboxes seem pretty pointless to me. A modern 'auto' is an amazing piece of technology esp' the 'self learning' ones. They change really fast and always seem to be in the right gear - unlike the 3 speed Orion Ghia I had in the early 90's which was a nightmare with its ever-hunting widely spaced ratios.

Orion. Wow there's a car I haven't heard about for a long time. I liked those Orion's, escorts, astra and the like of that era. The small Japanese coupes, golf, stuff like that.

 

[Drago]

I remember the Ford Onion. All rotted away now I guess. Fords of that era were terrible - I once did a moist fart while driving my '84 XR3i and next thing I knew it was needing welding for the MOT.

 

[potsy]

Orion. Wow there's a car I haven't heard about for a long time. I liked those Orion's, escorts, astra and the like of that era. The small Japanese coupes, golf, stuff like that.

Ford Orion Ghia was my dream car when I first passed my test, finally managed to get one when I was in my early twenties.

After 12 months or so, every time it started up a huge plume of black smoke came out of the exhaust, got rid soon after

 

[mjr]

Harumph. I was expecting stuff about the SRAM Automatix and Sturmey Duomatic but there's just a load of car waffle.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I had a golf GTi, it actually ate its DSG box (well the mechatronic bit?)....luckily quite soon after I bought it so the dealer sorted. Not an issue if buying new as it'll be under warranty

Then the car got stolen

That said...I much prefer my Skoda!

But effectively the same engine/box made in same factory (I think)
[QUOTE 5003816, member: 9609"]Volvo have recently developed a twin clutch gearbox at something like a 5K extra. I wonder if the words "Clutch" has been construed as having a manual box?

The dual clutch systems are more like the DSG boxes or more precisely like is what is being used in modern agrig tractors. They're basically state of the art automatics) They offer near instant gear changing (some tractors can now change up a gear whilst ploughing) Volvo seems to have led the rest on truck gearboxes for quite some time with the iShift thought by many as the best, and this all new twin plate job is going to be the envy of many.[/QUOTE]
When I was doing agency work about 8-9 years ago I used to go into Next at South Elmsall & they had a fleet of new Volvo's, in comparison with some of the wrecks I used to drive for other company's they were luxurious. One of the runs was up to just outside Glasgow, you could virtually get there without touching any pedals once out onto the road, you just let the cruise control & the auto gearbox do it all.

 

[vickster]

But effectively the same engine/box made in same factory (I think)

Yes but possibly the Golf wasn't properly maintained in terms of fluid changes, it was 5 years old when I got it

 

[Globalti]

Late to the thread as I'm in Africa this week but yes... if you have a dodgy left knee DEFINITELY go for an auto or a VW DSG. I had a very rickety left knee that was slowly getting worse as the traffic got worse and my journey to work involved longer queues and more gear changing. By the end of the journey it would be aching. I got a Passat with DSG and the knee has cleared up 100%, plus the Volkswagen DSG box is an absolute revelation and a joy to use. Fuel consumption isn't affected; I can hit 60 mpg if I try and acceleration is smooth and you can't feel the shifts. I traffic you can set the cruise control and sit back and steer; the car does the rest as it follows the car in front, braking and accelerating for you.

Mrs Gti was terrified to drive my Passat but by the end of the trip she said: "Amazing! I want one!" and chopped her car for an auto straight away.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Pro's: Good in traffic, probably better for your knee, some can be switched to semi-auto mode so you can still shift up and down but without the clutch.

Con's: Heavy on fuel if you're not careful. Some gearboxes (like in the Mercedes A class) are known to fail early, as my wife's did at 65k. May only apply to older ones though. Can have a mind of their own when changing up or down but it's something you can get used to.

The MPG is the only thing that would worry me. e.g. My wife's Renault Megane 1.4 Auto averaged 24mpg mostly around town. Her 1.4 Punto Manual (similar power and age) averaged 34.

 

[Tim Hall]

I think that's the Superb it might be called something else now?

The Superb Estate is still the Skoda 'large estate', in the Passat/Mondeo slot in the market.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

The MPG is the only thing that would worry me. e.g. My wife's Renault Megane 1.4 Auto averaged 24mpg mostly around town. Her 1.4 Punto Manual (similar power and age) averaged 34.

I'd be weighing her right foot, only car I've had that could get down that low was the Subaru Impreza, even the 3.0L Toyota Surf with full-on slushbox running on veg oil was better than that.

 

[mustang1]

I remember the Ford Onion. All rotted away now I guess. Fords of that era were terrible - I once did a moist fart while driving my '84 XR3i and next thing I knew it was needing welding for the MOT.

Yeah they were not good cars, rough engines on those Ford's, but I just really liked them. And my favourite two features: tilt and slide sunroof with windup handle, and the digital clock that sprouted from the rear view mirror thingie.

 

[green1]

I'd be weighing her right foot, only car I've had that could get down that low was the Subaru Impreza, even the 3.0L Toyota Surf with full-on slushbox running on veg oil was better than that.

I'd love to get 24mpg out of my other car. It might have been taken out of the garage at some point in the last 3 years if it could.