Auto or Manual?

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Hurricane J

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HI all, looking at a Swift Bolero 712SB (2.3L/150BHP) Would normally go for a manual, but have seen a couple of nice automatics. Any thoughts on the pro's and cons of each please. Any feedback appreciated. Thanks
 
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hblewett said:
We have a Mercedes auto and wouldn't go back to a manual. Both cars are auto too. I haven't used a Comfortmatic box but know people who have and are very happy with them.

I've never heard anyone say "I wish I hadn't got this auto box, I should have had a manual"; you might hear that with a sports car but I've never heard it about a motorhome.

If auto boxes had been developed at the start of motoring would anyone have gone out and invented a manual gearbox?
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The model T Ford had an epicyclic gearbox and Ford have hardly advanced at all.
 
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Garry Walden said:
People who have Auto's love them and will say they are the best....People who have Manuals love them and say they are the best....in my experience those who have and love Auto's are of geriatric age with dodgy knees...
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Rather limited experience then on your part.
 
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Garry Walden said:
People who have Auto's love them and will say they are the best....People who have Manuals love them and say they are the best....in my experience those who have and love Auto's are of geriatric age with dodgy knees...
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I have a dodgy knee but do not consider myself to be geriatric. What should I do? What should I drive? What an impossible dilemma.

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Garry Walden said:
People who have Auto's love them and will say they are the best....People who have Manuals love them and say they are the best....in my experience those who have and love Auto's are of geriatric age with dodgy knees...
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What a ridiculous thing to say! Apart from being unkind and thoughtless!
So, in your book, all the people who drive executive type cars that quite often seem to have auto, are geriatric and have dodgy knees? I had several auto Mercedes and BMW's when I was younger and in business. I've also had various sports cars with manual gearbox...quite often both at the same time! I don't recall feeling particularly macho just because I was driving a manual car or feeling geriatric driving an auto. I think it's called "Horses for courses"!

Oh, and yes, I have just ordered an auto Motorhome - because I felt like having one for a change.... and I don't have dodgy knees, I'm also nearly 80! I might also order a manual one next time.... if I feel like having one!
 
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Garry Walden said:
People who have Auto's love them and will say they are the best....People who have Manuals love them and say they are the best....in my experience those who have and love Auto's are of geriatric age with dodgy knees...
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I could say something unpleasant to that post but I'm not going to risk a ban for such unpleasant comments. I'm not going to quote my age but my first experience of auto was 1967 in the families Vanden Plas 3l Princess, 3 speed Borg Warner. My first 2 cars manual then 1976 Chrysler 180 Torque Flite 3 speed auto. Autos ever since, Comfortmatic in motor home, torque converter in Volvo CVT in Toyota. I'm not geriatric and don't plan to be but I plan never to own a manual.
 
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Garry Walden said:
How so....just looking through all the replies on here back up what I believe..then again looking at the bites it generated does to 😂😂 no sense of humour some folks..
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No, because it simply was not funny, just derogatory. In any case how can you judge people's health by what they post?
 
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Anyone else want to chastise me for daring to have a sense of humour....good grief.....I humbly apologise to anyone who I may have demeaned with my insulting childish comments....
 
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Garry Walden said:
How so....just looking through all the replies on here back up what I believe..then again looking at the bites it generated does to 😂😂 no sense of humour some folks..
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Edit: I didn’t think you intended any harm or insult.
FWIW...
I’m 30 and I’m about to buy my first motorhome. It will be an automatic, because why do all that work on a leisure holiday? ....

I passed a manual test when I was 19, had 5 manual cars (one after the other) and then at 22 I started my first job on a grad scheme after university so I “treated myself” with an Insignia with auto box. I loved it, and then I had a manual Megane estate for the mpg really, but hated it. Since 2017 I’ve had a Skoda Superb with DSG box and don’t intend to change it for the foreseeable. It is a petrol and so ridiculously fast I could never justify going back to manual in anything.

And I’m not a geriatric! 😁
 
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andrewellis127 said:
Edit: I didn’t think you intended any harm or insult.
FWIW...
I’m 30 and I’m about to buy my first motorhome. It will be an automatic, because why do all that work on a leisure holiday? ....

I passed a manual test when I was 19, had 5 manual cars (one after the other) and then at 22 I started my first job on a grad scheme after university so I “treated myself” with an Insignia with auto box. I loved it, and then I had a manual Megane estate for the mpg really, but hated it. Since 2017 I’ve had a Skoda Superb with DSG box and don’t intend to change it for the foreseeable. It is a petrol and so ridiculously fast I could never justify going back to manual in anything.

And I’m not a geriatric! 😁
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Good for you....in all seriousness the op should be asking himself far more important questions...if he has found the ideal van, regarding layout etc....and any other more important things to consider...would he not buy it because of what gearbox it has...not really he would be crazy....if buying brand new then you can spec it as you want and then it is consideration to make....if I found a great van that fulfilled almost all my needs it wouldn't bother me at all whether it was manual or auto....I dont have a problem pushing a clutch every now and again...

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Garry Walden said:
OMG get a grip...jeez
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Sometimes if its a subtle joke it pays to put a smiley on the end :)

That way it shows that it was meant as a joke from the start , and not just after as some cynical people might think .
 
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Garry Walden said:
Good for you....in all seriousness the op should be asking himself far more important questions...if he has found the ideal van, regarding layout etc....and any other more important things to consider...would he not buy it because of what gearbox it has...not really he would be crazy....if buying brand new then you can spec it as you want and then it is consideration to make....if I found a great van that fulfilled almost all my needs it wouldn't bother me at all whether it was manual or auto....I dont have a problem pushing a clutch every now and again...
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I guess it’s each to their own as with most things 🙂
We went to Preston Caravans the other day and found a used Autotrail that suited our requirements (2 berth only, rear french bed/washroom, under 3500kg). We thought about it for a long while but I kept thinking I’d regret the manual. I keep seeing threads and YouTube vids about choosing the right MH first time round, and for me the cab luxuries are just as important.

We eventually found a Benimar 231 auto at Marquis, I think we’re off to put a deposit down today!

(This forum has massively helped me already btw, I’ve got a huge list of questions to ask that I wouldn’t have thought of 🙂 )
 
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I started working life as an apprentice motor mechanic. I’ve experienced just about every type of transmission that’s come along. Automatics used to be sneered at as being for old people but in fact they make perfect sense for everyone, the only reason manuals exist is because they offer a cheaper alternative. Some people like the supposed macho image of manuals and treat perfecting their clutch control as a right of passage, (it sort of was, 30 years ago) but modern autos are so good I would never go manual again. We got rid of our last one, a diesel Golf GT after getting stuck in a traffic jam, that clutch was so heavy...
 
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I'm a bit concerned about some peoples use of automatics stated on here. When stuck in traffic DO NOT just leave it in Drive with your foot on the brake - you will wear the whole thing out quicker & waste fuel. Although there is no clutch you will still need to move the lever from drive to Neutral/Park frequently in traffic jams.

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steve69 said:
I'm a bit concerned about some peoples use of automatics stated on here. When stuck in traffic DO NOT just leave it in Drive with your foot on the brake - you will wear the whole thing out quicker & waste fuel. Although there is no clutch you will still need to move the lever from drive to Neutral/Park frequently in traffic jams.
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Does this apply to the robotised ones and the newer types?
My car disengages the clutch in D if I come to a stop so it doesn’t wear out. Do van gearboxes not do this?

If not I’m surprised, and thanks for the heads up!
 
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andrewellis127 said:
Does this apply to the robotised ones and the newer types?
My car disengages the clutch in D if I come to a stop so it doesn’t wear out. Do van gearboxes not do this?

If not I’m surprised, and thanks for the heads up!
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Sorry, don't know about robotised ones :unsure: my auto is quite an old one. Are "Torque Convertors " still involved?:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
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steve69 said:
I'm a bit concerned about some peoples use of automatics stated on here. When stuck in traffic DO NOT just leave it in Drive with your foot on the brake - you will wear the whole thing out quicker & waste fuel. Although there is no clutch you will still need to move the lever from drive to Neutral/Park frequently in traffic jams.
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It is better to leave it in Drive if it has a torque converter. Watch this explanation from about 7 mins 15 sec:



I put the ComfortMatic transmission into neutral, but that's to save wear on the auto clutch actuator because in engineering terms it is otherwise similar to a manual transmission.
 
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steve69 said:
Although there is no clutch you will still need to move the lever from drive to Neutral/Park frequently in traffic jams.
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I think you will create more wear and tear doing it that way, as well as more stress. Automatics by their very nature are subject to less stress and abuse than manuals. I've never done this and have never had a problem, even after over 100,000 miles from new.
 
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Automatic on our bolero, so easy, enjoy😎

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steve69 said:
I'm a bit concerned about some peoples use of automatics stated on here. When stuck in traffic DO NOT just leave it in Drive with your foot on the brake - you will wear the whole thing out quicker & waste fuel. Although there is no clutch you will still need to move the lever from drive to Neutral/Park frequently in traffic jams.
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I often leave the car in drive when stuck in traffic. No wear and tear, and no fuel used, the stop/start system takes care of that. :giggle:
 
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Another consideration for autos, when it changes down or up a gear, it doesn't come out of cruise control, a manual does.
 
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thebriars said:
I often leave the car in drive when stuck in traffic. No wear and tear, and no fuel used, the stop/start system takes care of that. :giggle:
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Years ago they used to say the torque converter could overheat and be damged if left in Drive with foot on the brake for too long. I guess things must have changed.
 
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Tony50 said:
The Automatics you are looking at are they new ? and even if they are make sure what type of Automatics they are, ask the question is it a Robotic Auto Gearbox ? ( Called Comfortmatic) ( that's a Normal manual gearbox with a clutch but using mainly Electronics to operate changing the gears for you ).
The latest Fiat's have a proper Automatic gearboxes, which should be better, but are fairly new to the market.
So although the vehicle may be not Registered/ licenced it may be old Stock and a Comfortmatic.
I have a 2017 180 bhp engine with a Auto ,but Comfortmatic , it's OK, but my next Motorhome will be a Proper Automatic.
I say why change gear yourself when there's something that will do it for you? and it's lovely when in a queue or at a stop junction, no putting in and out of gear , although being Ex. Garage Owner on our Comfortmatic as it has a Clutch at a stop I always put in Neutral as the Clutch centre plate is spinning all the time and possibly wearing.
I would never go back to Manual gears
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HI Not totally sure what auto box is in it. Its a 2013 Swift Bolero 712SB (150hp) Are you able to help me with the type and advise if you think it is acceptable please. Apologies, just noticed you had responded, much appreciated

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thebriars said:
Another consideration for autos, when it changes down or up a gear, it doesn't come out of cruise control, a manual does.
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Not sure about vans but some new manual cars with cruise control let you depress the clutch to change gear without pausing the cruise control - this might only apply to cars from VAG group though, as I’ve only experienced this in a 2019 Skoda Karoq and a 2019 VW Golf
 
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