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Topic: Newbie advice needed please.
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23/8/2016 at 7:47pm
Location: East Herts Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Personally I wouldn't consider towing with a manual. Automatic is so much easier and smoother. I gave up on manual gearboxes back in the early 1980s.
There should be plenty of decent cars and caravans around at that budget. I would also probably spend a bit more on the car and a bit less on the caravan. When I bought my caravan 3 years ago I found that there was very little difference between a £2,000 van and a £1,000 van. In fact some we saw at over £1,500 were actually in worse condition than the one we bought for £500.
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
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23/8/2016 at 7:53pm
Location: south Coast Outfit: AutoSleeper Kingham
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Hi Mark,on that budget I'd get a Ford Mondeo ( Standard fayre for driving and mechanics etc) and a cheap trade in caravan from a reputable dealer. If you've a mind to, The Netherlands is awash with older reliable caravans. The Dutch don't care about having new models with all the bells and whistles. Obviously make sure about towing weights etc etc..
Why do you need a 5 berth with 4 of you, or am I missing something ?? What are you studying ??
Good luck with it all
Rob
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23/8/2016 at 8:07pm
Location: Suffolk Outfit: Adria Sportline 532 UP
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As a driving instructor, I thought that bit about killing two birds with one stone did not sound right. So I asked a fellow instructor who does B+E tuition and he says that "she is not entitled to take the test in a manual as her B license is only for an auto. The +E is an add on to the B licence so if you passed your test in a B auto that's all you can drive for the B+E classification" So if you want her to drive manual towing, she will need to do the normal test in manual first. Thought it best to give you the heads up before you get too far down the road. Anyway, we tow with an auto now, having thought we never would, and find it great. No problems at all.
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
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23/8/2016 at 9:57pm
Location: Northern Ireland Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
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I would always use a manual!
Those instant/quick decisions, which an auto does not necessarily make ... e.g. overtaking an artic, going uphill, and a quick change from 5 to 4 does the job more efficiently, where an auto might keep you in 5 'cause it's theoretically OK ... 4 gives more acceleration.
Just an example.
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24/8/2016 at 8:18am
Location: Suffolk Outfit: Adria Sportline 532 UP
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Quote: Originally posted by mjl7972 on 23/8/2016
Quote: Originally posted by Alan Chilestone on 23/8/2016
As a driving instructor, I thought that bit about killing two birds with one stone did not sound right. So I asked a fellow instructor who does B+E tuition and he says that "she is not entitled to take the test in a manual as her B license is only for an auto. The +E is an add on to the B licence so if you passed your test in a B auto that's all you can drive for the B+E classification" So if you want her to drive manual towing, she will need to do the normal test in manual first. Thought it best to give you the heads up before you get too far down the road. Anyway, we tow with an auto now, having thought we never would, and find it great. No problems at all.
Thanks for the reply, I had received different advice and in fact the .Gov website states that this is possible.
https://www.gov.uk/car-trailer-driving-test/car-rules
If you look at the table towards the bottom of the page it states that this will convert her auto licence to a manual one. I am still sceptical about this and will contact DVLA for clarification as the accuracy of the site may be a little wayward.
Interesting. Yes the site is not known for its accuracy (Caravan length debate) It might be worth contacting DVSA (as opposed to DVLA) as they are the Agency who conduct the tests, and they may refuse to take test out if licence is B Auto and Car is manual, and that is a big test fee to lose. (Two Agencies, different roles, similar initials, how to confuse the public!)
------------- Alan
2016
February C&CC Theobalds Park
March C&CC Salisbury
May C&CC Adgestone IOW
July Le Clos Auroy, Auvergne France
August C&CC Polstead
August C&CC Oxford
October C&CC Lauder
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24/8/2016 at 8:19pm
Location: West country Outfit: Mondeo
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I had the Mondeo 2.0TDCI with the tiptronic 5 speed auto box. It was fine for towing the caravan but only if I used the manual changes system. Very easy to change gear and the box was bullet proof with no dual mass flywheel.
However, fuel consumption really suffered on round town driving and this made it £250 or so road tax.
I can see some logic in converting the auto to manual licence in a B+E test. If she can manage the stick and the clutch with the van on the back she should be safe to do so without it as well. Having to take the whole driving test again seems a lot for what is only a very small part of the skills required.
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25/8/2016 at 7:57am
Location: East Herts Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 23/8/2016
I would always use a manual!
Those instant/quick decisions, which an auto does not necessarily make ... e.g. overtaking an artic, going uphill, and a quick change from 5 to 4 does the job more efficiently, where an auto might keep you in 5 'cause it's theoretically OK ... 4 gives more acceleration.
Just an example.
Just personal choices, I think Kelper.
If I want to make the manouevre you describe with my Volvo automatic, I just use kick-down. Makes the change down instantly, certainly much quicker than I could do it, and I was for many years a professional driver. With an auto, power delivery is instant and gear changes seamless, making them ideal for towing, in my opinion. I also detest all the clutch work in traffic. Auto is just so much more relaxing. You still have the option to use the gears in an auto if you want to, and with a torque converter auto like mine, you have a wide range of gear ratios not just 4/5/6 fixed ratios.
Still, as I said, just a matter of personal preference really.
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
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25/8/2016 at 1:23pm
Location: None Entered Outfit: None Entered
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once you get used to auto driving having to do it manually soon gets to be a pain.. least i recon it does..
nothing is easier than pressing one pedal to go and the other to stop.. :)
trog
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25/8/2016 at 9:01pm
Location: None Entered Outfit: None Entered
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I think a proper auto is nice but a double clutch thingy is not a proper auto ,we had a passat dsg box and it was not good problems galore.but we also had an old merc with a proper auto and it was brilliant
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26/8/2016 at 2:20pm
Location: East Herts Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Yes, I am a bit wary of the DSG gearboxes yrret. I like my old Volvo, with a conventional torque-converter auto. A 4-speed auto with a torque-converter gives the effect of having at least 8 gears, due to the controlled-slip effect. Great for pulling away uphill with a load on or a caravan/trailer in tow.
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
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26/8/2016 at 8:22pm
Location: East Herts Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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You are welcome, mjl7972. This is a great forum, and I have learnt a great deal from others on here. Ask just about anything, and someone will know the answer. A lot of very helpful folks on here.
Just a little tip. If you post the area where you live (just the county will do) you may find someone who can help nearby. They will have local knowledge of suppliers at least.
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
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