[eXc450]

EDIT: Grrr I had 3 options in the poll, but only 2 have shown up.... sorta makes the poll pointless! Can a mod edit it to add in manual as a choice?

I am curious what people think is better and why. I always thought manual would be better for downhills.

From what I have seen autos would be better on the beach as you don't lose as much momentum changing gears.

Which has more maintainance?
Which costs more long term to maintain?

I am just curious for my next rig.

[jonno_racing]

mine is manual but i would LOVE to run a auto that has been set for my motor.

you get more controll etc with a auto.

[SuziBlu]

I hate autos, they are a non drivers er thing.

For true control, nothing beats the directives of a manuel.

Auto ok in a luxury car, in a 4wer, naaa.

Learn to change quick and forecast ahead what the situation is going to be and adjust to suit.

[alien]

i love manual.... its more fun for sure. However i can see the value in an auto offroad as you're never stuck in the wrong gear, dont have to clutch which leaves left foot free for braking and you can still change manually if you want.

In an idea world i think a tiptronic box would be spot on - then you get to choose auto or manual =)

[Microwire]

Quote:

EDIT: Grrr I had 3 options in the poll, but only 2 have shown up....

Poll is biased to auto's

Manual For me but Auto is easier if you just want to keep your mind on the terrain.

Also I think Auto would be not as hard on your drive train.

[SuziBlu]

alien wrote:

i love manual.... its more fun for sure. However i can see the value in an auto offroad as you're never stuck in the wrong gear, dont have to clutch which leaves left foot free for braking and you can still change manually if you want.

In an idea world i think a tiptronic box would be spot on - then you get to choose auto or manual =)

Heel n Toe dude ahahahahaaaaaaaa, just ask Jcccccccccccck

[dank]

I have 120kw motor and auto and have never broken a tranny mount or other driveline component with this setup. For crawling and technical stuff you can't beat an auto. Especially one that has been tricked up a bit. A regular slush box might not be so great but a hard shifting well geared auto will kick any manual car ass in the rocks.

For fast dirt and rally style stuff I think I would prefer a manual though, even though the auto goes pretty well.

[vermin]

I reckon an auto is aweseome, but only coz I am lazy. You certainly wouldn't be going through as many clutches!

...and less stalling.

and just adds a little refinement to the brutality of driving a lifted coil jimny.

[303zuke]

dank wrote:

I have 120kw motor and auto and have never broken a tranny mount or other driveline component with this setup. For crawling and technical stuff you can't beat an auto. Especially one that has been tricked up a bit. A regular slush box might not be so great but a hard shifting well geared auto will kick any manual car ass in the rocks.

Converting to a manual valve body in the Auto is a good step for a 4wd box, but it's the gearing that's really the problem. There aren't many Auto boxes around with a lower 1st gear than 3:1, while Manuals are common with 3, 4, or 5:1 1st gear ratios. Of course, you can lower your transfer ratios (sometimes) or fit dual transfer cases to get the reduction, or fit lower geared diffs, but it makes for a slow trip on the blacktop.

You can also resort to electronic trickery and get Electronic Hill Descent Control to rein in your downhill speeds, but don't expect to see that on too many 4wds under $60,000

The day they invent a cheap, second-hand six speed Auto with a 5:1 first gear and no electronics is the day we say goodbye to manual boxes!

[5ierra]

I have a 5speed at the moment. When i blow it up i'll be going 4speed auto and twin cases. the crawl ratio will be unbeivable. I think thats the clentcher for the auto, the crawling and technical work is so good.

[RIKSTR]

It is all depending on the kind of 4wding you do.

Lots of rocks and climbing up technical stuff, AUTO
General driving, Manual

but once you drive and Auto offroad you will never go back, with t-case gearing you can drive down a hill and the auto will hold the car back anyway so the whole its better down hills with a manual is gone.

Anyway auto is the go, eaiser on the car.

[SuziBlu]

I had an auto behind a 7.8l big block in a 4wd, hated the friggin thing, changed it to manuel, big cost, well worth it.

[303zuke]

So what ratios are out there in Auto-land?

The most easiest to fit to a Suzuki are of course the Suzuki Autos:

Jimny 3 spd (JDM): 1st 2.727, 2nd 1.536, 3rd 1.00
Jimny 4 spd: 1st 2.875, 2nd 1.568, 3rd 1.00, 4th 0.696
Vit 3 spd: 1st: 2.400, 2nd 1.479, 3rd 1.00
Vit 4 spd: 1st: 2.826, 2nd 1.493, 3rd 1.00 4th 0.730 (Vit), 0.689 (GV)
The Vit 4 speed is also known as the GM 4L30E

Toyota
A340F (Hilux/4Runner): 1st 2.80, 2nd 1.53, 3rd 1.00, 4th 0.71
A343F (late 4Runner/Prado): 1st 2.80, 2nd 1.53, 3rd 1.00 4th 0.75
A440F (60 Ser/Early 80 Ser): 1st 2.95, 2nd 1.53, 3rd 1.00, 4th 0.717
A650E (Lexus cars 98-05) 1st 3.357, 2nd 2.180, 3rd 1.424, 4th 1.00, 5th 0.753
A750F (80/100 Series): 1st 3.520, 2nd 2.042, 3rd 1.436, 4th 1.00 5th 0.716

Chev/GM
TH200R4: 1st 2.74, 2nd 1.568, 3rd 1.00, 4th 0.674
TH700R4: 1st 3.06, 2nd 1.63, 3rd 1.00, 4th 0.703
TH350: 1st 2.52, 2nd 1.52, 3rd 1.00
TH400: 1st 2.48, 2nd 1.48, 3rd 1.00
EH/EJ Hydramatic: 1st 3.640, 2nd 1.580, 3rd 1.000

Ford
C4: 1st
C6: 1st 2.46, 2nd 1.46, 3rd 1.00
AOD: 1st 2.40, 2nd 1.47, 3rd 1.00 4th 0.67

[atari4x4]

It was called Buttercup...

The auto is also handy in the sand with no real loss of drive when changing gears. It would be nice to drive a similar set up back to back with manual & auto boxes.

[303zuke]

RIKSTR wrote:

It is all depending on the kind of 4wding you do.

Lots of rocks and climbing up technical stuff, AUTO
General driving, Manual

but once you drive and Auto offroad you will never go back, with t-case gearing you can drive down a hill and the auto will hold the car back anyway so the whole its better down hills with a manual is gone.

Which Automatic transmission will hold a car back on downhill grades? None that I know of! The Torque Converter cannot transmit engine braking unless you have lockup, which generally applies only in 4th or 5th gears. I don't know of a single Automatic transmission that has lockup for 1st or 2nd gears, which were you thinking of?

[jonno_racing]

My next build (in the planning/ideas stage atm) will redundantly be auto

you also dont need as low gearing with a auto due to the slip.

[got_bar_work]

Can u elecrtronily get the vit 4 speed to lock up via a switch
That would make for nice down hill control
Also getting like a 2500rpm stall would help with the hi 1 St gear

[royce]

Decided to google 4L30E and got this, might be useful to somebody some day

http://www.transtec.com/rebuilder_news/2nd_q95r-n.pdf

[whincup]

i prefer manual, purely for the fact that it gives more precise control of the car, and you know EXACTLY how the car is going to react if you put the foot down. in an auto, theres the delay while it kicks back a gear, etc etc. yes, you can lock autos in a set gear, i know, but i still prefer the manual...

[mrw82]

MANUAL, because an auto takes the skill out of driving!

[SuziBlu]

Nothing worse than when your on your line, and you know what your doing, and the blasted gearbox says, oh gee, i better do something totally unexpected, an completely stuff up your line.

I will never have another auto 4wd.

[SuziBlu]

mrw82 wrote:

MANUAL, because an auto takes the skill out of driving!

High five, an it sux.

[NotNormal]

I chose a manual for reliability, I didn't know how strong autos were, but the thing that clinched it was the ablility to roll start the car.

I am often in isolated places alone. Its bad enough worrying about the efi or engine immobiliser failing (which it has already!) and leaving me stranded without adding to it a flat battery and no bump start.

The idea of an auto 4WD just doesn't compute maybe I am getting too old! ...I was one of those Torana guys in the 80's (no raised white lettering or mullet though)

[MacDaddy]

mrw82 wrote:

MANUAL, because an auto takes the skill out of driving!

X 2
I will always choose a Manual... Auto is the easy way, and to me, is not proper 4WDing, Manual is proper 4WDing, and, as someone stated in another thread, it takes a Man to drive a Man-ual !

[eXc450]

thanks buttercup :p I did have 3 options. Should have used preview instead of submit

[crewsy]

definitely manual all the way.
-when your out bush with a dead battery at least you can roll start.
-your always in the gear you want to be.
-you can use the engine compression for controlled hill descents much more than an auto.
-there is less drive train power loss through a manual too.
-manual boxes are stronger and last longer in most cases.
-there is less wiring to screw up how it works as well.

[Zook_Fan]

I would much prefer an auto. Manual is more fun and I would never get a 4wd that I regularly drive as an auto but something that was a weekend toy or a comp vehicle I would not bother with manual.

[crewsy]

Zook_Fan wrote:

I would much prefer an auto. Manual is more fun and I would never get a 4wd that I regularly drive as an auto but something that was a weekend toy or a comp vehicle I would not bother with manual.

I'll have to agree with you there mate. Manual is great for all normal 4x4's that are used for touring/daily driving and weekend wheeling. Auto's are definitely better for something that has a grumpy engine with large amounts of power. With the slow speeds of rock crawling for comp vehicles it's definitely a bonus having the torque convertor slip to put it in its power band at such a low speed

[lump_a_charcoal]

The Auto in the Sahara is great, it allows one to hold his champagne, or a cracker with caviar...

[MacDaddy]

lump_a_charcoal wrote:

The Auto in the Sahara is great, it allows one to hold his champagne, or a cracker with caviar...