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[Auto Addict]

An answer to your question one. If your sat in traffic for a long time & not really moving much, it's a good idea to select neutral or park (especially in hot weather). The gear oil will get too hot & this won't do it much good.
As for KW's control aspect, in slippery condition like snow for instance, auto's are better. (before some one pipes up & says blah blah. Remember JC in Iceland on the glacier with Icelander's )

Yeah with massive off road grippy truck tyres running at 4 psi.

TB said more than 20 seconds, if your going to be sat for several minutes, yes, I understand that, but to keep wanging it in and out of drive causes undue wear on the selector unit.

[Mr Skrunts]

Reading this thread with interest, I pick up my auto Miggy next Monday.
It's will be the first ever auto I've owned in 33 years of driving. And yes on the test drive made the classic mistake of using my left foot to brake, I was bearly moving though. Lets see how many times I make that mistake when I get it.

Mick

Dont make the mistake of useing your left foot to brake whilst on the move, if you do it will feel like you just threw an anchor out of the back and the chain suddenly got tight.  Its amazing how much more pressure your left foot uses for the clutch than the right foot does for the brake.   

I did it once when I was learning to drive, never again. :-/

[Mr Skrunts]

1. Is it ok to leave the car in drive all the time when you are out or should you put it in neutral at traffic lights etc.?
2. Are automatic gearboxes as reliable as manual ones?
3.Do you still have to get your clutch replaced when it wears out?
4.How is acceleration affected?
5. How is mpg affected?
6. Do you need to top up gearbox oil or anything like that?
7. If the gearbox fails is it economically viable to replace?
8. Is it expensive to replace?
9. Is it a massive job to replace?
10. Are automatics aimed at the older driver?

1) Yes, though if stood for more than 20s or so, i knock mine to N, and apply handbrake like a good little boy
2) No
3) No, it doesn't have one
4) Generally lower from standing start, but due to different gearing, may beat manual at certain other speeds
5) Generally much lower around town, often same ballpark on a motorway run
6) Ideally replace oil every 50-75k
7) With OOF, yes, viable! Otherwise, no
Breakers on OOF will sell then for £75-£120. Recon from specialist will be £500+
9) Difficult to do on your own
10) Not really.

Why?

A useful tip, if you want additional engine braking when going down slight hills, is to flick it into sports mode.

Forgot to mention that, when I come off a motorway doing 70/80 I use sport mode as a brake up the slip road, and leave it switched on just in case I want a quick pick up to grab a space on the roundabout 

[Kate]

Great advice, thanks!

[webby23]

One of the best things about an auto I think is when pulling up to a junction, or rounabout, the gearbox is immediately ready with the right gear when you press the GO pedal.....

This allows you a swifter, more controlled departure and allows you to enter into moving traffic safely too.......

Have had 2 Omegas, both autos, and wouldnt have it any other way......!!!

 

[KillerWatt]

An answer to your question one. If your sat in traffic for a long time & not really moving much, it's a good idea to select neutral or park (especially in hot weather). The gear oil will get too hot & this won't do it much good.
As for KW's control aspect, in slippery condition like snow for instance, auto's are better. (before some one pipes up & says blah blah. Remember JC in Iceland on the glacier with Icelander's )

How do you force a higher gear (to reduce wheelspin) when you don't have a winter mode on your auto box then?

As Skruntie said, the off road cars that Clarkson showed can't even be compared to real life road scenarios.

[KillerWatt]

One of the best things about an auto I think is when pulling up to a junction, or rounabout, the gearbox is immediately ready with the right gear when you press the GO pedal.....

This allows you a swifter, more controlled departure and allows you to enter into moving traffic safely too.......

Have had 2 Omegas, both autos, and wouldnt have it any other way......!!!

 

Funnily enough, our old tractor of an Isuzu always seems to be in the right gear at any given point in time....but the garage insists we have a manual gearbox.

[webby23]

One of the best things about an auto I think is when pulling up to a junction, or rounabout, the gearbox is immediately ready with the right gear when you press the GO pedal.....

This allows you a swifter, more controlled departure and allows you to enter into moving traffic safely too.......

Have had 2 Omegas, both autos, and wouldnt have it any other way......!!!

 

Funnily enough, our old tractor of an Isuzu always seems to be in the right gear at any given point in time....but the garage insists we have a manual gearbox.

lol

....but an auto is immediate KW.....dont even have to worry about missing a gap cos of being in the wrong gear.......and I know how to use a manual before ye ask.....!!!


 

[KillerWatt]

One of the best things about an auto I think is when pulling up to a junction, or rounabout, the gearbox is immediately ready with the right gear when you press the GO pedal.....

This allows you a swifter, more controlled departure and allows you to enter into moving traffic safely too.......

Have had 2 Omegas, both autos, and wouldnt have it any other way......!!!

 

Funnily enough, our old tractor of an Isuzu always seems to be in the right gear at any given point in time....but the garage insists we have a manual gearbox.

lol

....but an auto is immediate KW.....dont even have to worry about missing a gap cos of being in the wrong gear.......and I know how to use a manual before ye ask.....!!!


 

A manual box will give a better response if the driver is actually awake (which they should be anyway), if for no other reason than because there is no torque convertor to slip.

Even if you (the driver) do want slip, at least with a manual you have full control over just how much slip there is.

[Andy B]

.....
Dont make the mistake of useing your left foot to brake whilst on the move, if you do it will feel like you just threw an anchor out of the back and the chain suddenly got tight.  Its amazing how much more pressure your left foot uses for the clutch than the right foot does for the brake.   

I did it once when I was learning to drive, never again. :-/

You need more practice      In the Omega I do both, sometimes left foot brake, other times right foot brake. When driving this Smart I find it easier to always left foot brake .....  :-/ relative poistion of the pedals  :-/   :-/   

[albitz]

My 2p worth................I almost always left foot brake when driving an auto,doesnt do any harm as long as your not daft enough to be pressing the left and right pedals at the same time.
An auto is a much more relaxed drive ,but a manual is a more involved drive,better for "sporty"driving imo.
Dont worry about reliability,if the box goes badly wrong you will probably find a replacement on here for less than £100.
They are not difficult to change in any technical sense but are bloody heavy,As TB said,very difficult by yourself.
Economy will suffer with an auto compared to manual,not much on a motorway drive but quite a bit in most other conditions.
When you get used to it,you will probably like it and manual will seem like unnecassary hassle.

[Andy B]

.......and manual will seem like unnecessary hassle.

Spot on ........ 

[tunnie]

.......and manual will seem like unnecessary hassle.

Spot on ........ 

Totally wrong, autos leave me disconnected. Might as well be sat on a bus.

[Del Boy]

.......and manual will seem like unnecessary hassle.

Spot on ........ 

Totally wrong, autos leave me disconnected. Might as well be sat on a bus.

I agree, they're comfy to drive but I much prefer manual any day.

[tunnie]

.......and manual will seem like unnecessary hassle.

Spot on ........ 

Totally wrong, autos leave me disconnected. Might as well be sat on a bus.

I agree, they're comfy to drive but I much prefer manual any day.

Was handy in stop start traffic, but thats the only time! Took mother tunnies 3.0 auto to work today, if both were mine, i'd take the manual 2.2 every day.