Manual or Auto

**richyv** · 2015/09/21, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Jeep Fan

If you want to buy a 4x4, buy the manual like Albert. For anything else the auto.

That's my exact reasoning for the question. For now it will be my 4x4. My colt was manual and the 120 prado was auto. I enjoyed both, on and off road. The lack of low range is my one dislike on the auto. Consumption difference is no concern having driven 3000km a month with the prado v6.

**clubbie** · 2015/09/21, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by richyv

That's my exact reasoning for the question. For now it will be my 4x4. My colt was manual and the 120 prado was auto. I enjoyed both, on and off road. The lack of low range is my one dislike on the auto. Consumption difference is no concern having driven 3000km a month with the prado v6.

Buy a low range 4x4 toy with the money saved

**Alxrow001** · 2015/09/21, 10:04 PM

I posted a full review way back. A search should bring it up.

If you intend using it for 4x4 purposes there is no comparisons and you need to go Manual. The Auto is not very good off road compared to the manual.

**Jaco D** · 2015/09/21, 10:09 PM

Alxrow, you are the only expert I came across that regards the Auto as "not very good off road".

**Fluffy** · 2015/09/21, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by Jaco D

Alxrow, you are the only expert I came across that regards the Auto as "not very good off road".

It all depends what you consider "Offroad" to be.

If you regularly go playing in level 4/5 stuff, then the auto is not good.

Having said that, if you play at that level, get a Rubicon.

**Alxrow001** · 2015/09/21, 10:23 PM

Problem with Auto is lack of centre difflock and also reverse gear ratio. Lack of low range not such a big problem, however I did manage to overheat the torque converter at Boegoeberg.

Also, the lack of being able to lock the gearbox in a gear is another problem in my opinion, especially when driving sand.

That being said, the Mnaual was very good offroad for a Bakkie as it overcame these problems

**Alxrow001** · 2015/09/21, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by Jaco D

Alxrow, you are the only expert I came across that regards the Auto as "not very good off road".

Jaco, I am by no means an expert but I have used them both offroad extensively

**Jaco D** · 2015/09/21, 10:42 PM

Sorry Alex, still a bit irritated after the weekend

I did a lot of reading test reviews of the Auto - SA and Aus, before I decided to buy one. I also spoke to a few owners in Polokwane that do a lot of overlanding with the Autos and all of them are happy with the Autos off-road ability. So for my purposes the Auto is perfect. So I agree with Fluffy - depends on what you consider off-road. I'm not doing 4x4 trails - so for your purposes the Auto is probably not ideal..

**MariusFourie** · 2015/09/22, 08:25 AM

who cares about resale anyway

dive both and buy the one you like. I bet it will be the auto.

**Festus** · 2015/09/22, 08:59 AM

For most not having a low range transfer box is probably the same hesitancy as some experienced when buying the 2.0bitdi as it was unproven so to say. I for one will likely buy the auto next (if I have the Bucks!) because it is nice to drive and seems to be a very capable 4x4 (for what a lot of people need). But as Marius and others have said - go test drive both. My BIL has gone from an auto to a manual (other makes) and wishes he has got another auto because he spends a lot of time in traffic. It has in his case nothing to do with the vehicle but it's sometimes the small things that can make a difference.

**The TRANSPORTER** · 2015/09/22, 09:17 AM

+1 im spending lotsa time in traffic ( Gauteng ) for me a no brainer as im not so much as i wish in the veld or on trails.

And im not doing 4/5 rated stuff.

**Snyks** · 2015/09/22, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Jeep Fan

If you want to buy a 4x4, buy the manual like Albert. For anything else the auto.

Nah....don't agree at all. Buy the Auto...very capable 4x4!

If you want to do extreme 4x4, don't buy any bakkie!

**Trebla** · 2015/09/22, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Snyks

Nah....don't agree at all. Buy the Auto...very capable 4x4!

Yes, the Auto is a very capable 4x4 but when you get stuck in the sand going forward, you cannot use reverse to free the vehicle.

**Snyks** · 2015/09/22, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Trebla

Yes, the Auto is a very capable 4x4 but when you get stuck in the sand going forward, you cannot use reverse to free the vehicle.

Albert..I've been all over with my Auto. If you take into consideration how many times one would get stuck in sand and the only option would be to reverse out, then the argument does not hold water. There should be more than enough Rok owners here, who has done trails with both Auto and manual and I'm prepared to put money on the Auto doing 99.9% of the obstacles as good if not better than the manual. The manual will get my vote on 3rd low range for sand and maybe rock crawling in 1st low but then as Fluffy said...some left foot braking will go a long way to even out that score.

**Bogaards** · 2015/09/22, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Snyks

Albert..I've been all over with my Auto. If you take into consideration how many times one would get stuck in sand and the only option would be to reverse out, then the argument does not hold water. There should be more than enough Rok owners here, who has done trails with both Auto and manual and I'm prepared to put money on the Auto doing 99.9% of the obstacles as good if not better than the manual. The manual will get my vote on 3rd low range for sand and maybe rock crawling in 1st low but then as Fluffy said...some left foot braking will go a long way to even out that score.

The Auto can do everything I was able to do in my manual (for my application). I just found that with the manual you can put it in 1L and idle through the obstacle. This is handy where you do have small steps (poles like at Kungwini and a Rockbed like at sandwani). You don't have to give any input, it just crawls. The Auto you need to give a bit of throttle.

Also with the auto you sometimes have to "rev" it a bit more whereas the Manual has a more direct coupling/response.

I must also say that thus far I did not have any issues with the reverse gear. So so far this is not a problem for me.

Here is a video of a Amarok Auto and Manual. Note that the manual only had a difflock for the first obstacle. Thereafter it was TC only...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTTtRk61yCI

You will also obviously change your driving style changing between the two. I think once you know your vehicle well you will go very far with both.

**Alxrow001** · 2015/09/22, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Snyks

Nah....don't agree at all. Buy the Auto...very capable 4x4!

If you want to do extreme 4x4, don't buy any bakkie!

Besides the fact that you wont be able to do a grade 5 in a bakkie you certainly don't have to do a 4/5 to expose the Auto's short comings.

**richyv** · 2015/09/22, 03:16 PM

So I picked up the loan auto 4 motion this morning. The first 20 km I was convinced that I hated the auto and manual it will be. however having done nearly 150km and spent 4 hours in it this morning im starting to enjoy it. Its not as good as the S tronic in the q5, i have to stop comparing apples and peaches. Its heavier than the manual, but not my main concern. Hoping i get to drive one offroad shortly as a decidsion needs to be made. The option is not if its an amarok, simple which one. im leaning towards the auto, swambo will have her say tonight and hopefully a white one will be ready for collection in the next few days.

**Bogaards** · 2015/09/22, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by richyv

So I picked up the loan auto 4 motion this morning. The first 20 km I was convinced that I hated the auto and manual it will be. however having done nearly 150km and spent 4 hours in it this morning im starting to enjoy it. Its not as good as the S tronic in the q5, i have to stop comparing apples and peaches. Its heavier than the manual, but not my main concern. Hoping i get to drive one offroad shortly as a decidsion needs to be made. The option is not if its an amarok, simple which one. im leaning towards the auto, swambo will have her say tonight and hopefully a white one will be ready for collection in the next few days.

I see you live in my valley...

Try spending 12 hours in it, then you really appreciate the Amarok and Auto box...

**clubbie** · 2015/09/22, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by richyv

So I picked up the loan auto 4 motion this morning. The first 20 km I was convinced that I hated the auto and manual it will be. however having done nearly 150km and spent 4 hours in it this morning im starting to enjoy it. Its not as good as the S tronic in the q5, i have to stop comparing apples and peaches. Its heavier than the manual, but not my main concern. Hoping i get to drive one offroad shortly as a decidsion needs to be made. The option is not if its an amarok, simple which one. im leaning towards the auto, swambo will have her say tonight and hopefully a white one will be ready for collection in the next few days.

S tronic is basically a manual box, same as DSG

You cannot compare the two. When my wife had the Caravelle DSG, I immediately picked up the difference every time I drove it.

But, compared to the Touareg's auto box, the Amarok's is better. Shifts quicker, and is more intuitive.