Do you prefer auto or manual?
Poll: Do you prefer auto or manual?
Total Members Polled: 65
Discussion
Simple poll this.
It's been a while since I've been given a manual, and I'm missing them.
Almost without exception, auto boxes are slow to react, rarely get the right gear, and completely remove control from the driver.
For me, the most noticeable occasions, are when approaching a slope, and you want to hold onto a gear for whatever reason, and pulling away from roundabouts.
The latter drives me nuts. You're sitting there waiting for a gap, see your chance, and press the pedal. The gearbox takes a second or two to realise that you actually want to go somewhere, then spends an age opening the throttle, and then finally decides to deliver some torque to the gearbox.
If you're lucky, the gap you had is still open. If not, the rig shifts forward six feet, and repeats the same process to get you into a more fuel efficient gear, which is always too low, so it can do the whole thing again.
I f
king hate them!
Don't get me started on using them when shunting, even with crawler engaged.
It's been a while since I've been given a manual, and I'm missing them.
Almost without exception, auto boxes are slow to react, rarely get the right gear, and completely remove control from the driver.
For me, the most noticeable occasions, are when approaching a slope, and you want to hold onto a gear for whatever reason, and pulling away from roundabouts.
The latter drives me nuts. You're sitting there waiting for a gap, see your chance, and press the pedal. The gearbox takes a second or two to realise that you actually want to go somewhere, then spends an age opening the throttle, and then finally decides to deliver some torque to the gearbox.
If you're lucky, the gap you had is still open. If not, the rig shifts forward six feet, and repeats the same process to get you into a more fuel efficient gear, which is always too low, so it can do the whole thing again.
I f
king hate them!Don't get me started on using them when shunting, even with crawler engaged.
Weve got auto scanias and volvos with clutches. Ive got a full auto renault with a kickdown in the pedal and i can control gears from a stalk. Can change up and down by 1 or 2 gears depending on the flick and hold them, change is instant but i hardly have to prompt it more than using the kickdown occasionaly. Autos have come a long way, couldnt think of going back to manual now 
OP out of interest what sort of truck to you drive?
I have driven some really really bad automatics, the worst being a 55plate DAF CF 8 wheeled hook lift, it was terrible, the clutch often would not depress in traffic, and once caused an embarrassing accident, however, it was checked and updated but there was no improvement to it. That truck would put anyone off automatics forever.
However where there is bad there is also good, the current 3 pedal Scania opticruise I sampled last year was great, it never failed to pick the correct gear, manual override was handy and the clutch pedal gave me full control when shunting etc. highly rated it
I recently drove the new Actros and I was very impressed with the gearbox in that too, quick, smooth changes, quick to react, great clutch control, I was very impressed
Current truck is a 2004 Scania R470 Manual and I do like it, however if I had the choice my next truck would be auto with a proper gearbox retarder fitted
I have driven some really really bad automatics, the worst being a 55plate DAF CF 8 wheeled hook lift, it was terrible, the clutch often would not depress in traffic, and once caused an embarrassing accident, however, it was checked and updated but there was no improvement to it. That truck would put anyone off automatics forever.
However where there is bad there is also good, the current 3 pedal Scania opticruise I sampled last year was great, it never failed to pick the correct gear, manual override was handy and the clutch pedal gave me full control when shunting etc. highly rated it
I recently drove the new Actros and I was very impressed with the gearbox in that too, quick, smooth changes, quick to react, great clutch control, I was very impressed
Current truck is a 2004 Scania R470 Manual and I do like it, however if I had the choice my next truck would be auto with a proper gearbox retarder fitted
Class 2 wise, I don't mind the MAN 26 ton auto we have at work, because it has a 400 bhp engine.It's also great in semi-auto.I swear that thing would do 150 mph with the limiter removed! The newer Iveco 310 26 tonner we have is just about the 'wooliest' thing I have driven.With a bit of weight on (and even without tbh) you just hear the engine speed increase, then you read a book, then it changes up a gear, then some more engine noise, read another book...listen to this four or five times and you are traveling at around 15 mph.It feels hardly any different if you use semi-auto.
I mostly drive a manual, 8 wheel, 32 ton flat bed.She's a bit agricultural (not even a powered seat or air shocks etc), but I can chuck all 30 odd foot of her through the lanes like a mini and do a quick u-turn and be on my way in seconds.The number of red lights I have been stuck at, roundabouts I struggle with, u-turns that have caused large queues and banksman I have had diving out of the way due to automatic boxes, increases monthly
I do prefer an auto in traffic, but I miss the clutch control with a passion when delivering to tight areas or when traversing rough building sites etc, so I would have to say manual wins for me.That said, I would probably enjoy auto more if the places we delivered to were larger/flatter areas, as apposed to some of the horrible places I have to squeeze my vehicle into.
I mostly drive a manual, 8 wheel, 32 ton flat bed.She's a bit agricultural (not even a powered seat or air shocks etc), but I can chuck all 30 odd foot of her through the lanes like a mini and do a quick u-turn and be on my way in seconds.The number of red lights I have been stuck at, roundabouts I struggle with, u-turns that have caused large queues and banksman I have had diving out of the way due to automatic boxes, increases monthly
I do prefer an auto in traffic, but I miss the clutch control with a passion when delivering to tight areas or when traversing rough building sites etc, so I would have to say manual wins for me.That said, I would probably enjoy auto more if the places we delivered to were larger/flatter areas, as apposed to some of the horrible places I have to squeeze my vehicle into.
Edited by Digby on Tuesday 24th July 23:51
Currently, I'm jumping from an 18 tonner into an artic for the last half of my shift. I'm sat in the 18 tonner MAN now. This has a pretty good power/weight ratio, so isn't so bad. The artics are usually MAN, or DAF, with the occasional Volvo chucked in. Had a Volvo FM last night, which was better than most, but still not as good as a manual.
I think that for me, the problem is control. I back into a bay down in Saltash, that is pretty tight, and the way every auto so far has handled it, hasn't been anywhere near as delicate as a manual can be.
The worst tractor we have currently, is a 10 plate MAN. That thing is fking useless! It is up and down the box for a pastime. We have a ratty old 55 plate, which I take in preference to it.
Not driven a Scanny for a while thank god, spent several years tramping in the awful things [shudder].
I think that for me, the problem is control. I back into a bay down in Saltash, that is pretty tight, and the way every auto so far has handled it, hasn't been anywhere near as delicate as a manual can be.
The worst tractor we have currently, is a 10 plate MAN. That thing is f
king useless! It is up and down the box for a pastime. We have a ratty old 55 plate, which I take in preference to it.Not driven a Scanny for a while thank god, spent several years tramping in the awful things [shudder].
From the op's description I said MAN straight away, definitely the worst auto ive ever driven. Never once had a problem on Volvos or Iveco autos, but the MAN can be a nightmare at times. Though in fairness I do prefer an auto, cos im a lazy bugger! For about 90% of the time im driving id hate to go back to a gearstick but the other 10% I pray for a clutch pedal.
8potdave said:
It depends on the car. My new car is an auto and the 2nd one ive had. In this car i wouldnt want a manual its not that type of car, but in my last car an auto would have ruined it. Cant choose, sorry.
Not cars, trucks. Very very different experience in a truck. For a start, it's got at least twice as many gears. That said, we used my wifes automatic Mitsubishi to tow a caravan, and that went up and down the box like the MANs do.
Auto auto auto auto auto..
I've driven some ste autos though, 55reg MAN, 55reg DAF CF.
58reg Axor not great but a lot better than above.
Volvo I shift is perfect! So are the Renault Premiums, but it's a Volvo box.
Anyone who doesn't like autos go drive the Ishift you'll probably be suprised.
I've driven some s
te autos though, 55reg MAN, 55reg DAF CF.58reg Axor not great but a lot better than above.
Volvo I shift is perfect! So are the Renault Premiums, but it's a Volvo box.
Anyone who doesn't like autos go drive the Ishift you'll probably be suprised.
philthy said:
I'm also wondering why the hell they are the norm nowadays?
The cynic in me suggests that removing control from the driver, will tempt the bean counters that the driver can't damage it?
The cynic in me suggests that removing control from the driver, will tempt the bean counters that the driver can't damage it?
As stated they are standard because they are proven to be more economical than a manual equivalent, as it does take some of the control away from the driver, however on the flip side it also takes the lack of self control from other drivers' heavy right foot, not allowing the vehicles to be thrashed and in turn use more fuel.
Company I worked for previously had ran DAF 95s onto the 95XF and then the XF95, all of these trucks bar two were manual, cared for by the imhouse mechanic, they were meticulously looked after (wheels removed every 6 weeks for inspections) and the most reliable of them all since the first 95 came home in the 80s was the two automatic XF95s, they never had a spanner near the engine or gearbox in the 4 years we kept them, which was a record as each of the previous DAFs needed some form of work to either the engine or gearbox. It was a harsh environment they worked in too.
So based on my (limited) knowledge I would say that they are standard fit as they help bring the life cost of the vehicle down.
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