Manual or auto? What's your preferred gearbox off-road?

[slammedvanman]

I'm looking for a Land Rover @ the minute as a daily commuter and weekend play thing (would love a Defender but with a £5k max budget and 70 mile daily round trip I think a Disco is more appropriate, I'd considered a P38 RR too but am worried there's too much to go wrong). I've never been a fan of auto gearboxes for road cars but for a daily commute I could be tempted. What I'm unsure of is what they are like when you get off the black stuff? Anyone got a preference?

[pugwash4x4]

auto everytime for offroad for me

easy climbing, easier crawling, smoother power delivery.

only downside is that you just don't get the engine braking you do with a manual- but as long as you can learn to cadence brake then you're fine!

[agent006]

pugwash4x4 said:

only downside is that you just don't get the engine braking you do with a manual- but as long as you can learn to cadence brake then you're fine!

RR autobox gives full engine braking in 2 and 1 in high and all gears in low. Not had a problem with it offroad, although the changes in low range can be quite violent.

[bluespanner]

What pisses me off is where you spin, and it changes UP!, thus losing all momentum.

[agent006]

True, having it in full manual in low avoids that though. Can pretty much do the same in high but not quite.

[Liszt]

Have a 91 RRC with an auto which I use every day to commute and offroad at weekends.

Just did a 360 mile round trip to Exmoor for weekend. Friend in 90 manual rattled to bits and cold. I wafted along listening to radio and chatting on handsfree phone, then got it muddy!

Can't be bothered with all that porridge stirring

[GKP]

Auto, every time. They're especially good for when you start to get bogged down and need to change down a gear or two. With a manual, you have to dip the clutch to select a lower gear, thus losing drive to the wheels. With an auto, you just boot it and let the kickdown do its' thing!

[pugwash4x4]

agent006 said:

RR autobox gives full engine braking in 2 and 1 in high and all gears in low.

You are technically correct that the clutches in the auto box are providing full engine braking, however the torque converter will allow a considerable amount of play before it is slowed by an engine, which is why you don't get the same engine braking. Similarly the gearratio for low first on an auto is 50% higher than on an LT77 (for example), being 2.48 v 3.3 or 3.6 which is why you get even better engine braking with a manual.

[gruffalo]

I have been mud plugging LR's product on a regular basis now for some 25 years and it has to be auto every time, the engine braking isn't such an issue these days as the ABS system LR fit does a very good job and if you combine this with cadance braking you really do not need to worry about the engine braking difference at all. The control at slow speed with the auto is so much better than with a manual and the smooth power delivery make the auto a more competent off roader less likely to brake traction.

[slammedvanman]

Thanks people, that's certainly widened the search criteria now. I guess the next step is to get out and test drive a few and try to decide between the V8 and TDI, heart says petrol head says diesel? All the advice is much appreciated.