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Manual or Automatic?

7.3K views 29 replies 17 participants last post by  demonseedgfx  
#1 ·
Hi guys

I have pretty much decided on the spec (Aventura) of Navara that I want to go for and fancy black or grey colours but I am unsure whether to go auto or manual. I will only use it for towing occasionally and will do mostly motorway miles.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Repsol
 
#2 ·
Better mpg from a manual. Depends how important that is to you.

I have always preferred being in control myself so have gone with manual. May change my mind in the future though.
 
#3 ·
Like the ease of an auto (especially when towing) but......................

as said better return with the manual, cheaper to repair if anything goes wrong :fingersx I had an x-trail manual for a 5wk towing holiday to Spain and I have to admit it was a much nicer experience, was fun to play with the box and greater flexibility when not towing for mileage returm imo :awesomework
 
#5 ·
I haven't heard or seen threads on here of problems with autos, but then again if you buy a manual that has had the flywheel/clutch changed then you should also get no problems.
 
#6 ·
If you are going to be towing the Auto is the way to go, especially if you can handle the slight loss of fuel economy.

Re your choice of the Aventura, don't ignore the Outlaw, just check on each individual vehicles spec. list.
 
#9 ·
cpcm69 said:
Lil'Trucker! said:
My honest opinion is that the auto is better in every department except fuel consumption.

Love the auto, and could never switch to manual
Have to say the 5 wks with the manual was a hoot - proper driving :eekout :walksmil
If i were buying a performance car, then yeah i'd go manual, but for everything else i prefer auto, far too many traffic jams nowadays for all that clutch work. The next van i buy will also be auto, nice and lazy :wink:
 
#10 ·
Lil'Trucker! said:
cpcm69 said:
[quote="Lil'Trucker!":261ul5pd]My honest opinion is that the auto is better in every department except fuel consumption.

Love the auto, and could never switch to manual
Have to say the 5 wks with the manual was a hoot - proper driving :eekout :walksmil
If i were buying a performance car, then yeah i'd go manual, but for everything else i prefer auto, far too many traffic jams nowadays for all that clutch work. The next van i buy will also be auto, nice and lazy :wink:[/quote:261ul5pd]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :wink:
 
#15 ·
cpcm69 said:
sparky750 said:
The auto for me was terrible up and down the box couldn't make it's mind up and enhanced the turbo lag manual all the way for me
Agree, the auto does seem to have a mind of its own :slaphead
Surely the answer is to use the lockdown feature of the autobox when towing or driving with verve :dance:
 
#16 ·
To some extent the auto box does have a mind of it's own otherwise it wouldn't be automatic, and yes sometimes it's not always in what feels like the right gear for the ammount of given revs.

Apparently the reason for this is because the box was originally intended for petrol engines?

Me and my auto box have learned to live with each other though, basically i hit accelerator and off we jolly well go! :lol: :wink:
 
#17 ·
I have the Avnetura D40 on an Auto box and I have to admit it is the dogs danglies.... I do love driving it and it really is good for towing the horses, nice smooth gear changes etc. As has already been stated, fuel consumption is somewhat less than you would expect from a manual box. I have had my Nav for about 2 months and I am coming to terms with the mpg. I drive with a steady foot and on a trip from Southampton to Manchester last weekend managed to get 36.4mpg staying at around 60 mph on the M'ways. This last week around town I got 21mpg.

All said and done though Auto is great....
 
#20 ·
My (auto) MPG was always around 22mpg from new, when i fitted a DTE it stayed at about 22mpg but, i have a lot more poke, always wondered what i'd get turning ther chip down? but i'm used to the power now.

Anyway, a small consolation, i had an EGR blanking plate sitting in the garage for over a year, when i did decide to fit it i was very surprised, my average is now showing 27mpg. Now it might be a fluke i don't know, but with a DTE fitted and being an auto, and taking into account my driving style, i'm very happy, a 5mpg increase in economy is a big difference imo, hope it stays that way :thumbleft:
 
#21 ·
Manual for me. Better mpg and more fun driving, specially doing uphill runs with some Evos, Subies, and Tiburons. :)
 
#22 ·
You can't beat the power sapping noise, and nothing really happening with the auto.
Auto's are for fat people really, who probably go home after work, have their Tea (dinner to those down south) then beach up like a whale on the settee (sofa to those down south) in front of the telly, watching star trek next generation. lol

Only joking, I drove an auto 4x4 for 5 years, great when you can't be ***** with driving, 15-18mpg, got rid once veggie oil went up. :faint
 
#24 ·
manual every time, can't stand the auto's revving the nuts of themselves for nothing, you be wondering where all the rpm is going as it certainly isn't going to the wheels.

auto for serious rock climbing off roading, or if you own a boat/ tow a trailer all week maybe as the clutches are ***** on the navara, but then again the auto's have their faults too and cost way more to fix than an upgrade clutch.
 
#25 ·
It's all about personal prefs, round my way there are far too many traffic jams and hold ups to worry about manual or auto, when you drive a motor around my way, you just aim it and hope you're not gonna be doing the stop/start routine.

The auto box won't be revving it's nuts off, that's the driver doing that :wink:

As i say, i've had manuals and autos for years, and imo the Nav in auto is better in every dept except fuel economy. Performs great for towing, offroad no problem, no iffy clutch to worry about, and a more relaxed drive, what more could you ask for? :wink: