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[JamesV6CDX]

I'm looking at a manual Meega. I've always had auto's before, can anyone tell me, what the meega manual boxes are like? The clutch and box would have to be mega smooth for me to drive a manual

[tunnie]

Cold they can be sticky, especially 1st to Second on a a cold morning is not nice.....

However like the lump at the front, its much better when warm, smooth box. Although quite large but being a tall chap not a problem.

James - Your welcome to feel the power of my 2.2  () linked to a manual box any time m8  

[tunnie]

I should add i still have more fun in a manual 2.2 down the lanes than the 3.0 24v Senny... although this is revered when on larger roads and motorways...

The box is generally very good imo

[JamesV6CDX]

Cheers Tunnie....

It's only a 2.0 project car I'm looking at, so won't be a problem

[JasonH]

They're not the slickest of gearboxes, but they're fine. Quite solid. With the dual mass flywheel and the power of the V6 they're pretty hard to stall as well.

[Paul M]

Yep it's a nice enough feeling box, mine is at 168k and still works perfectly with very little slop. I don't find it particularly different when cold, it's possible the oil in mine has been changed for better stuff like Synchromax but not to my knowledge. The clutch is plenty light too, there was a big improvement in mine when the clutch was replaced and new fluid put in about 1000 miles ago, so if it feels heavy a clutch fluid change may be in order.

The biggest issue for me (which affects 99% of non-sports cars) is the huge lever throw. I have no idea why manufacturers feel it's necessary to have such a long throw, but I rectified mine with the help of a hacksaw Not the ideal solution (which involves raising the pivot point rather than just shortening the lever) but it's made a big difference; it's much more satisfying now. You also lose the reverse lift, which for me is a good thing as it's little more than a nuisance - even from someone who's second car is a 6-speeder I haven't yet tried to put it into reverse when moving. It would just baulk anyway at any reasonable speed.

[tunnie]

interesting mod that Paul, sounds good.

It is stupidly long throw from 1st to 2nd. My Mondeo had a much smaller box which had a very quick noticy change...

[Paul M]

Yeah I like it, it makes the box feel "tighter" too as any slop is amplified by the length of the throw. Very little slop to start with but it's even better now.

And we all know that tighter is better

[Chopsdad]

Manual gearbox feels decidedly industrial compared to Corsa box, change isn't smooth but it's more fun than an auto, especially powering off one of those silly painted roundabouts - gloss paint is great

[Paul M]

Manual gearbox feels decidedly industrial compared to Corsa box, change isn't smooth but it's more fun than an auto, especially powering off one of those silly painted roundabouts - gloss paint is great

I haven't driven a recent Corsa, but older ones had horrid gearshifts. Same with the Astra, positioning of the lever was really weird too. When my dad had a 2001 Vectra 2.2 DTI CDX I wasn't overly impressed with that either, felt it was over-sprung (the springs that return the box to the centre) and had a somewhat wooden feel. The Omega box is easily the best of the Vauxhalls I've driven, although remember mine is an R28 which was only fitted to the 3.0, no idea if the others feel any different.

BTW Here's some pics of my gearstick to show the reduced height and throw:

[TheBoy]

Astra/Corsa boxes are decidely notchy.  Omega one does feel better imho, though some say the notchy boxes feel more sporty  :-/

[hotel21]

To me, the manual Omega box is one of the easiest cars to drive smoothly.  No snatch on the clutch and the gears slip in nicely if you make a point of getting the revs right.  

Even if you press on a bit...

[MaxV6]

Just to upset dear young tunnie...

IMHO  Sennie Manual boxes were a joy.... reliable, fairly neat, reasonably positive feel to the shift... and utterly bullet proof....   could be driven "smoother than a baby's arse" or very VERY quickly and aggressively  indeed........  all with equal aplomb...

shame you've got an Auto  


let me put it like this.....

you know the road from Wooton (by Woodstock) across to  Bletchingdon, then thru Islip , along to Forest Hill, then joining the A40 just before Wheatley???

that was a brilliant route to stretch the Sennies sprinting legs with a manual box......     not nearly as much fun with a auto box....

Likewise, the Old A40 , along from Milton Common, all the way to West Wycombe...   top 3 gears only....   fantastic...



The Roads around Kirtlington, The Heyfords, and from Hopcrofts holt , thru Middle Barton and Enstone to Charlbury.... ... our out across the back roads from The Tews to Chipping Norton...

Manual Senators around there bring the meaning of "driver involvement" right home.,...

and As for North Wales..


well................  

it's like a giant adventure playground......  although Summer, is a bit dicey due to the number of tourists.....  and harvest time is even dicier....  a tractor with a lowered bale-ing spike is not a welcome sight as you exit a fast right hander on a single track road..!

good job mine had the Brakes and rubber to match their grunt !

  

[hotel21]

MaxV6 - sounds like you have similar roads round your way as I have near me!

Enjoy.  

[tunnie]

I am loving the Senator at the moment, because its an auto, its not my daily drive so its more fun. Some punk in a Saxo thought he could beat me   God i love that thing mid range.....

Never driven a Manual Senny so can't compare, driven a 3.0 Omega although the box was knackered... felt similar in size and throw.


Agreed with others on smoothness of driving with Omega boxes, I took a uni m8 to campus last week. He had a rush dead line for assignment, driving there he said "This is THE smoothest car i have ever been in!!"

Nice comment and also mentioned the smoothness of my driving....

Once warm, the Omega manual box is the the best i have driven. VW ones just have no feel, ford ones are a close second to Omega, Pug ones are "ok" and my mums Nissan Almera is like stirring porridge  

[TheBoy]

ford ones are a close second to Omega

Having had (either own or comapny vehicles) a Focus, Fiesta, Escort and a couple of Trannies, none of them I would say I like at all. I reckon the Trannie diesel one was the best of the Ford ones...

[The Barge Captain]

The 2.0 and 2.5 share the same manual box iirc. Never noticed any concern about the lever throw on mine.  Nice box, not heavy although not as light as the one in our Galaxy.  Clutch is not overly heavy either.

[Paul M]

MaxV6 - sounds like you have similar roads round your way as I have near me!

Enjoy.  

Me too... one of the good things about living in Scotland is you're seldom far from a twisty B-road, which is why I consider driving involvement to be such an important attribute. The Omega may have been primary conceived as a motorway muncher, but a manual MV6 is still plenty fun round the twisties