Opinions _ Tiptronic, auto, Manual

nm8r · Post by **nm8r** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:00 pm

Hi all....

To all those experienced offroaders....what transmission do u think is best....Manual, Auto or Tiptronic....we need ur opinions so us beginners know what we are in for and the limits we can take our 4WDs to.

Much appreciated.

Rangielux · Post by **Rangielux** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:07 pm

One vote for manual :!:

Robust, safe and simple. Less expensive to repair. :cry:

4WDbits · Post by **4WDbits** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:14 pm

As almost anyone will tell you both manual and auto have there respective places off road. An auto with a shift kit to make it almost manual like is pretty good, still doesn't help down hill. Ideally one of the modern manuals with electronics to make it tip-tronic would be nice, like the BMW M3 or a gearbox from a V8 supercar where you just smash it through the gears (with the help of a computer) and only use the clutch occasionally.

turoa · Post by **turoa** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:32 pm

personally I think an auto with rock crawler gears is best off road (good engine braking) but I drive a manual, I am still a learner so that is why. My dad's patrol is much nicer to drive off road and its an auto (although the chev Lt1 does help).

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:47 pm

I have always driven manuals but would consider a slush box only if the engine was of sufficient size or power to overcome any percieved power loss due to the box ineficiencies.

The beauty of a auto is not having to worry about the gear selection (river crossings, hill climb, etc), but there is always the downhill side to worry about. Still ther are ways around this (lock up torque converters, left foot braking) and it gives a really low first gear with just a little right foot unlike the clutch slipping from a manual.

Had thought a trials truck with auto would be a good truck but ...

Heath