Hi Yah All Been mulling over this one for a while. Currently have an auto in the Prado (A343F) And just got a 5 speed with transfer-case as a backup plan if the auto goes pop.
But would like opinions on why you like or not like your manuals over auto's... Don't hold back....
I must hit someone up and take their manual Prado for a spin around the block....
I like my manual is because it gives me something to do while driving as opposed to having an auto were it does it all for you, but an Auto does have it's advantages and disadvantages so does a manual. I find that having an auto is taking the easy way.
Cos I descend a very steep track called The Horror Stretch. Has a 1000 ft & more drop off the side, is narrow in places and I drive it in deep snow just prior to the ski season starting. Gives me more confidence than overdriving the brakes. In slippery going, (2 to 3 ft powder snow) I go down in 1st lo, very slowly. Going up I have the power to spin all 4 chains in 3rd lo, once under way. Yes, a strong clutch would be useful under these conditions.
I used to occasionally drive a 50 edition 90 series auto Prado on this track in the same conditions. Had all the traction control bells & whistles and I much prefer my manual. It used to get all hot and bothered and start beeping a warning at me. Likely I would have broken its transmission, if I had used it a lot.
An auto box setup for on road use (as in from factory) will definitely have some big compromises when it comes time to bush bash. A auto with selectable gears and torque converter lock up switch would be the best off road IMHO, cant stall it and gives you an extra foot for brakes. for decents engage lock up and then you wont free wheel to the bottom. Easy to do with electronically controlled boxes
I have had both an auto and a manual of the same truck (Terrano) so got a good feel for what I like.
The manual was good offroad and had a lower first gear which was helpful, but I found it a pain in the ass when towing on the road and just in general. 5th gear was a waste of time and it reved it tits off at 100kph and 1st was still to high in high range. It would drop boost between gearshifts so I would have to wait for it spool again after each shift.
The Auto box was great on the road for towing and general running. Makes for a much more enjoyable drive if you just want to relax and cruise along (which is what I like doing given that I go speeds nearing 300kph for a part time job!) The Terrano auto was a shitter of a box though, rough shifts and liked to drop gears when you put the foot down and make more noise instead of making you go forward. To be fair it was in need of a good service.
I now have a Pajero and the auto is a dream! Seems to predict the moment I would like it to shift gear almost all the time. Super smooth too.
For me it would be a auto with selectable gears and lockup switch for serious offroading, for a dual purpose, then a manual and for road use towing - auto all the way
I am with sketchy racer on this one, he pretty much nailed it.
Auto's
ups -are good in tricky rocky stuff as you can just creep over stuff while loading the torque converter. saves slipping/wearing out the clutch. can have as slow a crawl speed as you want by using the brakes. also when the convertor is slipping it is creating more torque than the engine actually produces. - great for hill starts. -easier on the drive train (no dropping the clutch sort of antics) -If electronic can be manually selected and locked up. -alot stronger due to running planetary gear sets. -All Serious modern military vehicles now are running autos for all the above reasons.
downs. -Suck power from your engine more than a manual(open road driving.) -guzzel the gas -Expensive to fix. -Boring as f&@k when doing trips -never shift when you want them to.(unless electronic with modification or triptronic)
Manuals
Ups
-lighter -regular servicing and getting oil in water is not as big a deal as an auto. -everyone likes shifting gears when they want and need to. -keeps you awake on long trips. -Cheaper on fuel. -Cheaper to rebuild (can do at home if you have a press)
downs
-Clutch can wear quickly if abused. -Can loose drive if water and muck gets in between the flywheel and clutch -Dropping the clutch to get over that rock sooooo easy to do untill bang goes something else further down the drivetrain.
If you have a rig that has dubious power avaialble (read some of the more gutless 4cyl and early 6cyl drizzles) then an auto is going to genrally suck the life out of it. On rigs with more snot it is obviously a different story. I reckon a tricked auto is the shizzle. You can lock it up so it is efectively a manual (with an inbuilt clutch) or leave it full auto for road use. The torque multiplication you can achieve through an auto is never to be forgotten in the equation either.
Ugly is a state of mind..... and the state of my truck!
have an auto with Manual shift , could also lock up converter great, you have enough to think about, stop on a hill and winch with a manual. if your clutch does not slip you must have a real fast winch.
no Auto equivalent is putting your foot hard on the brake and then stalling the converter out, when you want to go just let go of the brake. At stall the torque converter is multiplying roughly 2 x the amount of torque the engine is producing. but it still has a bit of give in the take up so even when doing the above is not shockloading like dumping the clutch on a manual does.
this is why cheaper (I mean not topfuel with controlled take up clutches) Drag cars use Autos cause the launch is miles better than a manual.
The amount of power you have is a consideration. I had an auto on my GU (diesel snail) and didn't like it.
Have an auto in my v8 Zuki And absolutely love it. Only thing would be time to select reverse gear. And not as low gearing. Pain if you are following a manual truck down steep tracks because of the speed difference. And no ability to drop clutch. So on some obsticals need to plant bot a little earlier.
But have a manual in my jeep jk and wouldnt concider an auto
So I think you rig and driver style has a lot to do with you choice
Also auto are a lot softer on you drive train.
Latest mod, pin stripes, hit the same branch I did on the way in on the way out.
)ski field rds.
