Old automatic cars

[KneesUp]

I had a 13 year old Mondeo automatic that had less than 30k miles on it from new. I doubled the mileage in two years and sold it on as we no longer needed two cars - it's still running though - I saw it the other week.

Prior to my ownership it had had already had a new catalytic converter, and I had to get another fitted - presumably because it had never warmed up properly prior to my owning it. Apart from that it cost me an annual service and two lightbulbs.

It wasn't very economical, but it was nice to drive in traffic.

 

[screenman]

Having driven a lot of Honda automatics I can honestly say I have never driven a bad one.

 

[gottogetfit]

I hope it turns out better than my 2009 civic auto which has to be the only car I can't wait to get rid of. The pillars are so large it blocks out a lot of the road, it could have a bit more go & 30mpg av (a shock as my beloved Mini Cooper got av 52).

 

[swee'pea99]

I was once told that accountants spend as much as they can on a house and as little as possible on a car.

That's a depressing thought. My approach to a T.

 

[DCLane]

I used to drive £50-500 cars for years; some lasted 4-5 years without major issue.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

[QUOTE 3788865, member: 9609"]If you had a choice between two 5 year old cars that were both the same price, make, model etc; Car (a) had made a 1 mile journey twice every day and had never been properly warmed up and had 3500 mile on the clock - or car (b) that had made a 25 mile journey twice very day with 90,000 mile on the clock; which would you choose ?

the thing is, car (b) would have also made a 1 mile journey twice every day whilst not fully warmed up. - I would go for (a)[/QUOTE]
But b would have burned off the condensation that forms while the engine is running cold. A wouldn't, contaminating the oil and torturing the moving contact surfaces in the engine and gearbox. I'd go for b every time.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I hope it turns out better than my 2009 civic auto which has to be the only car I can't wait to get rid of. The pillars are so large it blocks out a lot of the road, it could have a bit more go & 30mpg av (a shock as my beloved Mini Cooper got av 52).

I average 46mpg in a 2009 manual civic, with a mix of city centre and motorway

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I've just gone auto with a new Passat with DSG and I'm absolutely blown away by it;

I would have no qualms about buying a '98 Honda either manual or auto, but comparing a DSG with a '98 slush box is like comparing a Halfords tricycle with a bike used by a professional in the Tour de France

 

[Profpointy]

[QUOTE 3788865, member: 9609"]If you had a choice between two 5 year old cars that were both the same price, make, model etc; Car (a) had made a 1 mile journey twice every day and had never been properly warmed up and had 3500 mile on the clock - or car (b) that had made a 25 mile journey twice very day with 90,000 mile on the clock; which would you choose ?

the thing is, car (b) would have also made a 1 mile journey twice every day whilst not fully warmed up. - I would go for (a)[/QUOTE]

But b would have burned off the condensation that forms while the engine is running cold. A wouldn't, contaminating the oil and torturing the moving contact surfaces in the engine and gearbox. I'd go for b every time.

A more realistic choice is high mileage newer versus low mileage older. This is where the newer one is the better bet - within reason obviosuly

 

[PhilDawson8270]

[QUOTE 3788981, member: 9609"]that is poor these days - i'm getting a long term average of just under 70 in my berlingo van[/QUOTE]

It's far better than what I get from my motorcycles

 

[MarkF]

About 8 years ago I bought a 1988 Volvo 740GL Auto from ebay whilst in drink , I'd always liked the shape "Volvo — they're boxy but they're good.". I caught the train to Spalding from Leeds and handed over £215. I loved that car, my wife was horrified and if it hadn't drove the neighbours crackers then I'd still own it. I'd like another auto old Volvo.

 

[Globalti]

[QUOTE 3788904, member: 9609"]In what way does a DSG differ in driving experience to a traditional auto ? I was just looking at the principles of how it works and it would seem more in keeping with modern tractors than the type of auto box that you find on cars and trucks - so I am guessing the gear changes will be pretty rapid with little drop off in power whilst shifting. Some of the modern tractor boxes are just amazing, you can change up gear pulling a 7 furrow plough up hill - now if that's not the dogs bollocks in transmissions then what is...

As for never going back to manuals, I just prefer a shift stick, my wife has had autos for many many years and they are very nice to drive, but I simply just prefer driving my van, and a manual box does give much more opportunities for achieving big mpg figures. As for trucks, give me a traditional eaton fuller crash box - man and machine and all that[/QUOTE]

DSG is a fascinating tecnology. Effectively it's two gearboxes running with two concentric wet clutches. The bigger clutch operates 1st, 3rd and 5th where the torque is higher and the smaller operates 2nd, 4th and 6th. If you cook one clutch, that part of the gearbox will simply opt out and you'll get home with the other three gears. Effectively DSG learns your driving style and ensures that most of the time the next gear is engaged; it then disengages one clutch and engages the next seamlessly so that there's no jerk or lag in the power. There's no torque convertor so the transmission is more direct than a traditional auto. It really is impressively smooth and it's cleverer than a human so the fuel consumption and performance are excellent. My only small criticism is that as you brake to a stop, it goes down through the gears like a motorcycle so you get a couple of noticeable surges of deceleration, which would worry me if I was trying to brake smoothly on snow. But then I'd probably be driving it in the manual setting anyway. The gearbox has sport and eco settings which delay and advance the changes respectively. In sport it takes off like a rocket, you can easily spin the driving wheels in first or second.

 

[Globalti]

About 8 years ago I bought a 1988 Volvo 740GL Auto from ebay whilst in drink , I'd always liked the shape "Volvo — they're boxy but they're good.". I caught the train to Spalding from Leeds and handed over £215. I loved that car, my wife was horrified and if it hadn't drove the neighbours crackers then I'd still own it. I'd like another auto old Volvo.

So you think you and your family are safe in that big solid old Volvo?

Watch this:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emtLLvXrrFs

 

[MarkF]

So you think you and your family are safe in that big solid old Volvo?

Yikes! Still, I'd rather be dead in the Volvo than be seen alive in a Renault Modus.

 

[Globalti]

[QUOTE 3789074, member: 9609"]it does sound very similar to what is in modern tractors, they can have 40 gears and 7 clutches, virtually no drop off in power when changing up - I am surprised the car DSG doesn't go into neutral on the over run to save fuel - this is a big thing in lorries now, I guess it will be coming to cars soon..[/QUOTE]

DSG does go into neutral when you've got it on the Eco setting.