V6 gearbox choice.

ActivaV6uk · Post by **ActivaV6uk** » 13 Jun 2005, 01:37

Ok well now I have managed to track down a V6 box for my car I've been out in a few citroens on a track and have to say the auto box in sports mode is hard to beat. is there really any point in the manual box when the box on the V6 is so good any way?
so whats peoples opinions, should i go manual or stay auto?
Andy

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 13 Jun 2005, 02:10

This is a question that you can only answer yourself.
Personally, I cannot stand slug-o-matic boxes. I don't care if they're dual-mode, tri-mode, adaptive, learning, tiptronic, over-rideabe, ANYTHING. If it's got a slush-box torque converter, and a lever that has "D" for "DULL" then I'm not interested. Give me a friction clutch and a manual 'box any day of the week.
If you are on the fence about the choice though, you have to consider that a manual 'box is infinitely more flexible to your driving needs, will return better MPG from the same engine, and has the advantage that in breakdown situations, you can still tow the car without speed/distance restrictions, and if the battery goes flat you can bump-start it.
After all that, the only time I would say an auto is an advantage is regular driving in very heavy stop-start traffic. At that point an auto is almost essential, as you soon get very fed up with slipping the clutch.
just my $0.02 worth.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 13 Jun 2005, 04:30

Autos are good for towing because there is no clutch to overheat or wear out, they're also good for lazy driving. If you want performance and you know what you're doing a manual is a must. More gear ratios and less power (and economy) loss (i.e. no torque converter).
I'd assume that a manual was more in keeping with what you want to acheive with an Activa, i.e. driving pleasure, but since its your car do what you're happiest with.

dan.2cv · Post by **dan.2cv** » 13 Jun 2005, 04:54

I love my Xantia auto. Just point and squirt. performance is lazy around town but fine in sport mode around the lanes.
My BMW on the other hand is an absolute waste with an auto, and don't get me wrong, I'm an auto man, so I'll be swapping it for a manual before too long as I'm missing out.

Paulmi16 · Post by **Paulmi16** » 13 Jun 2005, 13:27

I love automatics with modern traffic density and traffic jams, and they are much more relaxing to drive in the urban jungle. I miss my Peugeot 405 automatic dearly, especially when it got replaced by a manual 306. If i'm in a playing mood the i've a 205 Mi16 GTi which is a manual because of the nature of the car would not be right as an automatic.
Paul.

Post by **CitroJim** » 13 Jun 2005, 16:26

I gave up on automatics when I kept on nearly bumping my head on the widscreen by mistaking the brake pedal for a clutch pedal.... I could never get out of the habit of trying to declutch on every occasion I ever tried an automatic..
And then back in a manual I'd forget to declutch....

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 14 Jun 2005, 00:42

Yes Jim, been there, done that. But if you persevere it eventually comes right.

Stempy · Post by **Stempy** » 14 Jun 2005, 04:20

I'd go for auto every time, unless you want a track day car, then that's a different matter, but for road use I don't see the point in all that stick wiggling and leg ache.

ActivaV6uk · Post by **ActivaV6uk** » 14 Jun 2005, 16:28

I'm still undesided, i may go and get the box any way that way if i want to change it i can but honestly on the track the auto box performance was startlingly good!
Andy

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 14 Jun 2005, 17:03

You can guarantee that the manual would have been ever-so-slighly faster if being driven correctly. The auto-box does remove the need for a certain level of skill in driving too.

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 15 Jun 2005, 04:46

Quote "The auto-box does remove the need for a certain level of skill in driving too."
You're right, David. So did synchromesh and automatic ignition advance and retard.

Stempy · Post by **Stempy** » 15 Jun 2005, 12:00

Well, having an auto box certainly gives you one less thing to have to think about, leaving more time to concentrate on the important aspects of driving on todays overcrowded roads.

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 15 Jun 2005, 21:23

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by FrenchLeave</i>

Quote "The auto-box does remove the need for a certain level of skill in driving too."
You're right, David. So did synchromesh and automatic ignition advance and retard.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Indeed. When driving my Landrover FC, I need the skill of double-de-clutching, as it never had synchro on 1st or 2nd, and the ones on 3rd and 4th are so worn that they might as well not be there.
Mind you, I also have to have the skill of using 3 seperate manual gearboxes all at the same time. It has a main box (no synchro's), a transfer box (no synchro's), and an overdrive gearbox (fairly worn synchro's). The combination of all these gives 16 forward gears, and 4 reverse, which when used progressively, mean I can drag some 6-7 tonnes of vehicle and trailer about with just 62HP.
Oh, and it also has drum brakes all round, so brake fade is a daily ocurrance. It takes some fairly serious skill to drive that thing!
Personally, I love it. But many (probably most) people would dispair. This is why the choice of gearbox has to be a personal one.

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 16 Jun 2005, 02:43

Sounds like masochism to me!