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Subject Topic: automatic or manual for towing?
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Personrokki
06/3/2014 at 10:44am
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we are hoping to get a small caravan in near future and with child number 3 on the way we are looking to get a people carrier that can potentially also tow.

I would prefer an automatic rather than a manual but does this affect how the car will be able to tow? Or fuel consumption?


Personidmainian
06/3/2014 at 11:05am
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The fuel consumption is slightly higher with an automatic I have just changed from manual to auto but not had the van on the back yet and from what I have read the fuel is about 3 mph more so not that much difference we will see in time

-------------
Sandy Gulls caravan site
Mundesley
North Norfolk
1st July to 22 July


PersonST1100
06/3/2014 at 11:43am
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It can be completely dependant on the car as some have a lower towing capacity with an auto than manual and fuel consumption can be slightly higher with an auto, depending and what type of auto it is.

Others, like my Rangie, have exactly the same towing capacity as the manual (3500kg) and noseweight (150kg) with the only difference being an extra fuel comsumption of around 2-3 mpg.


PersonRob and Tina
06/3/2014 at 11:49am
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Hi, I just saw your thread about the Zafira auto. Check the towing limit of the car in question because the towing limit may be lower on the auto version and the towing limits have changed several times over the years. It would be a shame to get a new car home and find it wouldn't tow your caravan.

Towing with an auto is really nice and easy, fuel consumption is not so good as a manual but if you don't cover a high mileage there isn't much difference in final costs.

We have recently changed from a Galaxy 2.0 diesel auto and on normal use which is mainly short trips we got around 35ish per gallon but towing often came down to nearer 25 to the gallon.

Rob

PS You also have to consider the pain of trying to get 3 car seats in the car and the other bits of equipment that you need to carry. Our daughter had triplets and trying to find a car that could carry them, the buggies and shopping was an absolute nightmare.


Personrokki
06/3/2014 at 12:17pm
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thanks so much for replies, its really helpful, great advice
having had a manual for 11 years I'd really like to change to an automatic! will have to factor in the increased fuel costs although with the low mileage we do anyway hopefully it wont rule an auto out

rob - thanks for advice re car seats. its a shame that the zafira doesn't have 3 equal sized seats in the back for when we are all travelling together, luckily older two can use booster seats which aren't too bulky so hoping we'll get away with it but you've made me realise when I go looking at actual vehicles to take all our car seats with us (and a buggy for the littlest one!) to check we're happy with it - thank you.


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Personrokki
06/3/2014 at 12:17pm
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rob - are you on the moneysaving site too?


PersonRob and Tina
06/3/2014 at 12:37pm
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Rokki I'm a lurker over there but I don't join in very often, I spend most of my life here on UKCS dreaming of getting away in nice weather.

Yes it's important to check you can get the seats, boosters etc in. Our monsters have got to the size where they all fit in a Corsa but when they were young they had to use a minibus to get everything in.

We don't have the problem of buggies etc instead we have to get wheelchairs and mobility scooters in and trying to find cars that fit us and the equipment is always a problem.

We usually find we know more about the cars and their towing capabilities than the salesman do as they will say anything to get a sale and don't care if the car isn't up to what you need. I'd go for an auto but double check the practicalities of the car and towing limits. Also if you have 3 children I think you will need a large caravan so the caravan may be heavier although there are some lightweight 5/6 berths available that are probably within the Zafira's limits.

Rob


Personrokki
06/3/2014 at 2:01pm
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thanks Rob, been really helpful advice

with regards to caravans we have had a bit of a look around and think we can get one with an MTPLM of 1300 (5 berth older vans), and the zafira's we've been looking at seem to have a max towing weight of 1400 to 1500 so hoping that will be ok


Persontango55
06/3/2014 at 2:10pm
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There are often debates about manual v auto regarding towing but I prefer a manual for several reasons. As already mentioned, you get less mpg. with an auto and although it may not be much, if you work out the annual fuel consumption against a manual gearbox you will be surprised just how much extra fuel you have used especially when towing. The other is that you can change down manually to slow your vehicle and caravan down especially going down hill but with an auto you have to apply the brakes more often which then increases the amount of brake pad wear which of course then need replacing more frequently thus pushing up vehicle maintenance costs. I'm not saying that auto's are not practical for towing, in fact they probably make life much easier but everyone has there preferences one way or another but if your budget is a priority then I would certainly consider the costs before buying an auto.


PersonjamesA114
06/3/2014 at 2:35pm
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I moved to Auto and loved it, the nose weight was reduced 20kg but still enough for my needs. Not read all the thread but a better car IMO and similar size to the Zafira is the VW Touran. not as pretty but we had the 2L 140bhp version and it towed 1250kgs no problem, plus it has 3 equal seats plenty of room as a 7 seater although boot space is minimal with all seats up but fine as a 6 seater and is like a tardis!


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Personmichell8
06/3/2014 at 2:49pm
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It depends on age of car regarding fuel consumption for auto gearbox. Older cars have torque converter boxes which have poorer mpg than manual boxes but cars built in the last few yrs have direct shift type auto gearboxes which are manual boxes with electronic gear change & should be as economical as manual box.


Persontango55
06/3/2014 at 4:08pm
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I thought that auto gearboxes has one gear less than the equivalent with a manual gearbox 'michelle8' thus having higher revs and the reason for using more fuel because of higher revs in top gear. Don't know but that was my assumption anyway.


Personsunshinetours
06/3/2014 at 5:30pm
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As mentioned it does depend on the cars involved. Many of the BMW and Merc modern boxes for instance are quicker and in some case slightly more economical than their manual equivalents. The new BMW ones have 8 gears

If you have a larger engine car I would definitely say consider an auto as it suits towing very well. No lack of manual intervention as usually can select and hold gears in most modern autos and no worries about burning clutch out if reversing up hill!


Personmichell8
06/3/2014 at 7:00pm
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 06/3/2014
I thought that auto gearboxes has one gear less than the equivalent with a manual gearbox 'michelle8' thus having higher revs and the reason for using more fuel because of higher revs in top gear. Don't know but that was my assumption anyway.

Torque converter boxes are fluid drive & less energy efficient than mechanical clutch so give poorer fuel consumption compared with manual version of same car. For this reason direct shift autos with mechanical clutches are now used.



Post last edited on 06/03/2014 21:00:36


Personmisterg
06/3/2014 at 7:39pm
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Tried auto now love it for towing - well worth the small loss on mpg.

-------------
Mister G


Persontommy tess
06/3/2014 at 8:00pm
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Hi i bought an auto santa fe,still miss a manual gearbox though.Since using shell v power it has transformed the car,do not know why the auto box is so mo much better.Still miss my manual car.If i changed car would go for manual box,but thats just me.
      Tommy.



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