D2 Autos...why don't I like them?

**Hendrik** · 20th January 2010, 06:17 AM

Hi All
I've been shopping around for a new D2, and have been looking at autos just because a good manual is proving to be rarer than a Steven Segal romantic comedy.
Having taken a few for a drive, all autos, I just can't get used to them...they annoy me more than anything...but yet everyone with a D2 auto speaks keep saying how good they are. The thing that annoys me the most about them is that when you approach a hill that my old manual D2 would have cruised up in 4th holding my foot steady on the accelerator, that auto selects a gear and eventhough I hold my foot dead still, the thing still kicks back and revs its ring off

Not only does this ruin fuel economy, but its a PITA to drive. I don't know maybe I will get used to it and adapt my driving style to suit the auto, but for the moment I think I will keep looking for a manual.....UNLESS people can convince me other wise

Thanks in Advance

**Redback** · 20th January 2010, 06:31 AM

Yep I hate them too for that exact reason, why I have always driven manuals.

My view is you steer an auto, you drive a manual.

Apparently they are good off road, easier to crawl over things, but since getting my soft throttle back in low range after changing to the later ECU, (Bruce Davis chips suck

) I love my manual even more now

Baz.

**Blknight.aus** · 20th January 2010, 06:36 AM

urmmm... I could go into explaining how if you have a turbo diesel it doesnt matter what gear your in (within reason) for your fuel economy at a given speed but someone might interpret that as being pro auto....

**Hendrik** · 20th January 2010, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

urmmm... I could go into explaining how if you have a turbo diesel it doesnt matter what gear your in (within reason) for your fuel economy at a given speed but someone might interpret that as being pro auto....

Well that might be the case, but it comes down to what Baz said, you drive a manual

Plus I know your pro manual, and probably like them for mostly the same reasons as me

**mattj** · 20th January 2010, 08:32 AM

Three months ago I was in the same position... I would have rather a vasectomy than an auto. But I found a really good Dicso, in excellent condition with low Km, and listened to the girlfriend, so got the auto.

I can't say that I regret the descision. Yes sometimes its a pain, but its not as bad as I thought it would be and I can definitly live with it. It does make me wonder however... If the auto is this good... How good is the manual?

Matt

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 20th January 2010, 09:14 AM

gees you guys go on,,,

Blknight blows your fuel economy thing right out of the water,,

and the auto is smarter than you,, at least it changes gears when it should,,

you lot seem to think a manual is best yet you complain about an auto changing gears-- wtf?!?!?

**Slunnie** · 20th January 2010, 09:23 AM

Yep, I'll take the auto anyday.

Really, if you're that worried about fuel economy then you wouldn't be driving a 4WD, and the auto in sports mode goes up hills even better.

Just think... set and forget cruise control, and more control offroad so that you can actually drive the tricky bits rather than get out of control with all of that stalling, backing and trying again nonsense when you're in the trickiest bits of all.

**p38arover** · 20th January 2010, 09:38 AM

I thought the D2 used the same auto box as the P38A and I have no hunting problems with mine. Going up hills is as smooth as - you can detect gear changes as it drops down but they aren't objectionable.

Having towed with a D1 manual and a D1 auto, I know which one I prefer when towing - especially when trying to start off up a hill with a load. The auto makes it so easy.

**waz** · 20th January 2010, 09:52 AM

I wanted a manual before I got my auto. I'm now an auto man.

S&M (giggle) modes are great. Off-road I use the M mode all the time. I prefer the control.

On hills, towing a trailer, S mode is better. But, when mine kicks down under heavy throttle in D, it will go down to 2nd before I back off a bit and it changes up to third. I've just got used to it now.

I love the auto.

W

**Slunnie** · 20th January 2010, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by p38arover

I thought the D2 used the same auto box as the P38A and I have no hunting problems with mine. Going up hills is as smooth as - you can detect gear changes as it drops down but they aren't objectionable.

Having towed with a D1 manual and a D1 auto, I know which one I prefer when towing - especially when trying to start off up a hill with a load. The auto makes it so easy.

As far as I know the D2 and the 4.0 P38 use the same gearbox which is the ZF 4HP22EH (electronic control unlike the D1/RRC) and the 4.6 P38 runs the ZF 4HP24EH which is basically a 22 with bigger, better and stronger parts to handle greater outputs. The 22 is rated to about 380Nm where the 24 is rated to about 480Nm. 380Nm is a bit too marginal with the increased power from the 4.6 which produced between 380 and 407Nm

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