Thread: td5 manual vs auto that is the question

If you want better control, especially when 4WDing and sheer driving pleasure... then an auto.

If you anticipate break downs and the need for clutch starting... then a manual.

I drive a manual TD5 D2 and love the control a manual offers but really, the TD5 engine is better suited to the auto box. Yes you can chip either auto or manual and they perform much better but really it boils down to personal choice. I will always drive manuals off road but as Slunnie says, for more control off road the auto is the go.....and in sand etc.

Do a search though as there are a few threads on this very subject with lots of opinions and experiences.

Aye, Mick

And just from another perspective - compared to a lot of other vehicles, the clutch pedal in a TD5 manual is quite a long "throw" and is fairly heavy.

It doesn't bother me, but SWMBO hates it (good thing really - she generally leaves it alone).

I'm comparing to Prado manual petrol and diesel, plus many conventional cars.

Auto all the way with the Td5. The engine is more suited to the auto IMO (the opposite of the 300Tdi).

Bear in mind though that the auto can't cope with the power developed by some Td5 chips & will go into limp mode. The milder chips aren't a problem.

Well I never wanted an auto 4wd, ever....till I drove a mate's GU in the sand and had a re-think. The car I chose I picked because of everything else that was going for it - just happened to be an auto.
With a 140kw chip I've not had a problem with the trans yet...maybe I haven't booted it hard enough!
Only thing that bugs me a little is the lag on take off which on some occasions seems worse than others - just easier to build the revs in the manual prior to take off. Love the auto in the peak hour traffic though, but after 6 months I did miss changing gears, hence the arrival of the Wrangler.

My opinion, If I was to get a Td5 D2, it would definately be auto. I would also try and get something after 2001, as the auto's can deal with more torque/ chipping etc. '03 onwards is the go, better auto trans software, able to take more torque(400+Nm) without limp mode, and a much nicer shift pattern/ feel.

The manuals, as has already been stated by a few, are busy to drive, and the clutch is heaps heavier than the 300Tdi model.

Auto all the way with these, better with the later models.

Enjoy.

JC

Moving from a 300Tdi to a Td5 i did notice a stiffer clutch pedal, but i figured that the pedal can be pressed with much greater ease if only it could be bend slightly upwards. So i heated the pedal slightly and bent it upwards, and hit feels a lot lighter as you can press it with your leg now instead of just your foot.

I love my manual, but I was just lucky that one came up in my local area at the time I was looking to buy...the issue is that you'll have much greater choice in which D2 you buy if you're looking for auto as the manuals are relatively rare c.f. D1s...