Auto or Manual for light off road duties?
Discussion
For various reasons I am needing a small 4x4 and after lots of looking and trying have settled on a swb 2.8tdi pajero.
I have found 2 above average condition models within my price range, similar miles, similar history and similar tax/mot - but I have a problem...
1 - nicer colour, better spec but its automatic (1995),
2 - not as nice colour, slightly lower spec but its manual and slightly cheaper(1994).
Both run well and everything works and both come with a 3 month warranty.
I would prefer no1 to get the better spec and nicer colour - but am worried about having an Auto and also that there is more to go wrong.
It will be used for light road towing, crossing farmers fields, not getting us stuck this winter... and eventually some green laning.
I have found 2 above average condition models within my price range, similar miles, similar history and similar tax/mot - but I have a problem...
1 - nicer colour, better spec but its automatic (1995),
2 - not as nice colour, slightly lower spec but its manual and slightly cheaper(1994).
Both run well and everything works and both come with a 3 month warranty.
I would prefer no1 to get the better spec and nicer colour - but am worried about having an Auto and also that there is more to go wrong.
It will be used for light road towing, crossing farmers fields, not getting us stuck this winter... and eventually some green laning.
Quinny said:
normalbloke said:
Quinny said:
Auto all the way for me
I use a Jeep 4.7 V8 and its a piece of cake offroad.. Just select Low range stick it in drive and let it do its thing.... Lovely
Ah, you only have the small engined Jeep then??I use a Jeep 4.7 V8 and its a piece of cake offroad.. Just select Low range stick it in drive and let it do its thing.... Lovely
and 2 cylinders short..Blakeatron said:
For various reasons I am needing a small 4x4 and after lots of looking and trying have settled on a swb 2.8tdi pajero.
I have found 2 above average condition models within my price range, similar miles, similar history and similar tax/mot - but I have a problem...
1 - nicer colour, better spec but its automatic (1995),
2 - not as nice colour, slightly lower spec but its manual and slightly cheaper(1994).
Both run well and everything works and both come with a 3 month warranty.
I would prefer no1 to get the better spec and nicer colour - but am worried about having an Auto and also that there is more to go wrong.
It will be used for light road towing, crossing farmers fields, not getting us stuck this winter... and eventually some green laning.
Don't really know how good or bad the auto is in these.I have found 2 above average condition models within my price range, similar miles, similar history and similar tax/mot - but I have a problem...
1 - nicer colour, better spec but its automatic (1995),
2 - not as nice colour, slightly lower spec but its manual and slightly cheaper(1994).
Both run well and everything works and both come with a 3 month warranty.
I would prefer no1 to get the better spec and nicer colour - but am worried about having an Auto and also that there is more to go wrong.
It will be used for light road towing, crossing farmers fields, not getting us stuck this winter... and eventually some green laning.
In terms of off road use though - either will be fine. Some prefer one over the other and both work very well. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but with light off road use, neither will be better or worse.
As a preference I prefer the fun of a manual and the same for road use. But an auto wouldn't be the end of the world.
When it comes to on the road, then it has to be auto every time.
No 4x4 is going to be great fun on tarmac, but combining an auto box with the high seating position (especially if you've lifted it) does mean that it's about the least unpleasant place in which to spend Monday mornings on the M25.
For off road, when I first tried an auto, I was somewhat worried about how it would cope. My first thought was that I'd take my feet off the pedals going down a slope, and the auto box would promptly start to change up because I'd started to go faster!
In reality, it's amazingly competent. I'm sure that if I ever got to be a real expert then I'd probably miss the subtlety of control that a manual can give, but at present my own ability/nerve as a driver runs out long before the capabilities of the gearbox becomes an issue, and that being the case, I'd go for an auto off-road as well, simply because it's more relaxed.
My auto experience, btw, is on a 1999 3.0 petrol Shogun. Not sure if it's the same box as the one on the diesels you're looking at, but I doubt there would be all that much difference in capabilities.
No 4x4 is going to be great fun on tarmac, but combining an auto box with the high seating position (especially if you've lifted it) does mean that it's about the least unpleasant place in which to spend Monday mornings on the M25.
For off road, when I first tried an auto, I was somewhat worried about how it would cope. My first thought was that I'd take my feet off the pedals going down a slope, and the auto box would promptly start to change up because I'd started to go faster!
In reality, it's amazingly competent. I'm sure that if I ever got to be a real expert then I'd probably miss the subtlety of control that a manual can give, but at present my own ability/nerve as a driver runs out long before the capabilities of the gearbox becomes an issue, and that being the case, I'd go for an auto off-road as well, simply because it's more relaxed.
My auto experience, btw, is on a 1999 3.0 petrol Shogun. Not sure if it's the same box as the one on the diesels you're looking at, but I doubt there would be all that much difference in capabilities.
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