Whats better 3.2 Manual or Auto

[Sean-2012]

In my search for a 3.2 fronty i was wondering whats the best transmition to get manual or auto iv always driven manuals apart from a 2.5 pajero that was auto and was pants kept downshifting all over the place. & does the 3.2 auto have a sports button if so whats the diffrence with it off and on thanks

[Hound Dog]

In answer to the question does the 3.2 auto have a sports button the one I had did have the sports button.
Hardly used it in sports mode
And it did down shift very quickly in both normal and sports mode.

[vauxsqueeks]

Hi,

Basically, depends on what you prefer ( from a driving perspective), the 3.2 has more power and will still be quick with an auto.

However, from a repair and spares point if view, the auto boxes are becoming rare and difficult to Source so costs would go up of a replacement if you can find one.

[AskDean]

the auto box i have in mine so far has been bullet proof even though i have had my trucked remapped up a few different times and im currently running around the 265bhp on petrol and 251on lpg and the auto box copes with the extra power well and pulls like a dream. it will spin the wheels if you want and pulls well even when towing huge weight.

mine pulls like a train from a stand still to 60 in 7 and the tonne in 17 and the auto is actually faster than the manual according to parkers at 116mph when running the standard 205bhp they leave the factory with and a fair bit more with the extra power i have.

obliviously you get slightly poorer economy if your thrashing it compared to a manual and especially when towing but not that you would notice i move a 2 tonne mobile office regular and i can get the computer to read 18mpg when towing it at 50 on a dual carriage way and it will pull a lot strong. i get 18-20mpg around town and 25-30 on a motorway run. on lpg so i get between 50-75 to £10 of lpg depending how well i am behaving

the main issue with the auto is to change the fluid which is recommended ever 8-12k depending on the amount of towing or abuse is that there is no dip stick so you have to do it underneath but the auto is defo worth a try as it makes it so easy even when off road as you just put your foot down a few inch and let the truck sort it out. if you get a chance then try in both i find off the lights the auto is better as you dont have to change gear and means you get to 40 a lot faster when you need to

the auto box normally changes at 2000-2500 revs when the pedal is press gently and in sports it holds it to 3200 to 3500 to give you that little extra so it does not change up to early this is help full for in hilly areas it also give you some mild engine braking in lower gears by keeping the pressure up in the torque convertor. if you want engine breaking when off road then you simply stick it in 1 on the box. it also has a winter button so that you can in snowy weather have the gearbox not used 1 and 2 ratios and so mean you get more torque and less spinning without having to put it into 4wd.

[ghosthunter]

Mines a manual, but in all honesty I,d prefer an auto.......it's just a case that it's just so much smoother to drive. And if you got a big engine you just want it to be as smooth as possible .....no snatching or jerking from less than perfect changes which we all make from time to time........more often if you've got two frontys with different engine sizes, two different bite points on the clutch and both used daily. So for smoothness I'd have the auto, and if looked after are pretty much bulletproof.......it's a very strong box.

[Drift]

I echo vauxsqueeks post.
My preference having driven other 4x4 auto's off road is for a manual box, but its horses for courses and you will get hundreds of reasons for one or the other, the only true answer is if possible try both and see what one suits your off road driving preference.

[Munfred]

Differences I have noticed.
Better economy with manual. About 17mpg instead of the 13mpg I got with the auto.
Auto easier going uphill. (less likely to stall if wrong gear selected)
Manual easier going downhill (better engine braking)

[AskDean]

Munfred like me you must have a lead foot if your only getting 13mpg i would get it serviced i get 16-18 round town when im being silly and 20-22 when i am behaving in the auto on sports and that is on gas i get 20-22 on petrol and 25-27 when like a vicar on petrol.

on a run i can get 75 miles to a tenner behaving at 50-60 and 65-70 when sitting at 70-80. and 50 when sitting at 3 points lol