Towing vehicle - auto or manual?

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Jingleballs

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So my shogun is knackered and I need to get a new car asap.

Been shopping around and found 2 nice Kia Sorento's I want to view tomorrow but just realised they're both automatic.

Are automatic's any good for towing? I've read stories about them over heating and not being as reliable and consuming more fuel.

Does anyone have any experience of this?
 
Babybear said:
So my shogun is knackered and I need to get a new car asap.

Been shopping around and found 2 nice Kia Sorento's I want to view tomorrow but just realised they're both automatic.

Are automatic's any good for towing? I've read stories about them over heating and not being as reliable and consuming more fuel.

Does anyone have any experience of this?
Click to expand...
slighty more fuel consumption, much
nicer to drive and tow with you will soon wonder why you didnt get one sooner, there is little more chance of overheating than a manual, modern automatics are well proven...
 
love love love my auto. however i know a gearbox specialist and he has fitted 'something' (sorry useless with car technical stuff) to stop gearbox overheating - wasnt alot of money. They overall get about 3-4mpg less than manual but SO much easier to drive generally and way smoother towing. mine is tiptronic so i can changge down/up gear myself if i think its hanging on to a gear. Will never drive manual again and cant see what the obsession is in this country with manual - i also have a little polo as day to day car - its auto too
 
Thanks guys!

After having terrible luck with my last 2 cars I'm keen to get the next one right - there seems to be a shortage of manual Sorento's in my area at the moment and I was worred that there may be more wear and tear issues with an automatic - although I've already wrecked a clutch towing so maybe auto is better for me!

What about steep hills - does the auto not struggle?
 
Babybear said:
Thanks guys!

After having terrible luck with my last 2 cars I'm keen to get the next one right - there seems to be a shortage of manual Sorento's in my area at the moment and I was worred that there may be more wear and tear issues with an automatic - although I've already wrecked a clutch towing so maybe auto is better for me!

What about steep hills - does the auto not struggle?
Click to expand...
no struggling just zoom zoom:D
 
Hi

The automatic version usually has a bigger radiator anyway and will definitely have an oil cooler for the transmission,so your concerns about overheating are unfounded:) A Sorento is a terrific car and problems are very rare.As for steep hills-put your foot down and it changes down into the appropriate gear,and if it gets steeper,it changes down again-simples!

Even better-you've got TWO to choose from:)
 
Auto all the way! I had to be converted because I preferred manual but my current Pajero was automatic. I wasnt sure at first - for nearly an hour:D. I'll never have a manual car again:D
 
Thanks all that's very reassuring!

Will hopefully have a nice new automatic in the next week or so (that's if the Shogun doesn't totally die between now and when I trade it in!:D
 
i tow with both regualrily - work truck is auto and mine is manual - in the US they were all automatic and i towed 8 horse goosenecks - over here i choose to have a manual simply because i use it for shooting too so like the extra control of manual for boggy fields etc - but for ease of use i'd go automatic - they both tow fine :)
 
I tow with an auto Toyota Landcruiser - its brilliant, definitely no over heating, smooth, powerful, easy.

I have to drive an auto beacuse of joint problems, but I still would choose auto over manual if I could drive either. :D
 
Having had a Discovery that was manual i changed it for a Range Rover auto & i must say the auto is a much smoother ride.
It never overheats & much more powerful than a manual.
I won't be going back to a manual now.

I hope you find the 'right one' this time :)

XxX
 
OK....I prefer manual- always have and always will, we use ours for shooting and off roading too and prefer the extra control of the manual, I have towed with auto - didn't really like it, the pajero constantly hunted up and down the box and cost a fortune in fuel too, not for me I'm afraid - now I'm having probs finding a decent manual tow car!!:)
 
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