Phill, the manual D40TD ST-X has auto locking front hubs (which is a real pain sometimes), not sure about the down-spec ST version. Prob the same on all the different makes manual up-spec model utes.Originally Posted by Lucky_Phill
Brendon
have always had manual 4xbys, up til now. Have an auto Paj. Will never go back to a manual. Unless you are into serious 4WD stuff, the auto is far superior in terms of comfort and ease of driving....especially in sand, and around ramps re launching and retrieving.
Maybe im just getting old and lazy..but i like my creature comforts these days.
Greg
I took the Auto Rodeo up to the Bunya Mts last week to try out the Auto on hills some
I have to admit it was pretty good, It changed down a gear when you hit the brake on a downhill slope and was very easy to knock back into second or first on steeper downhill runs.
I can see that once I get past my bias against Autos I may start to like driving one.
It really is personal. I have a 95 Discovery V8 auto (4 speed German ZF) and a 2002 Discovery II V8 Manual (LR 5 Speed). I enjoy the auto on weekends for a change, but really love my manual. I even love it in peak hour traffic - doesnt worry me. Then again particularly running LPG I can take off in second in the manual and change to 4th, or take off in first on a hill and change to third and the engine has no problems with that. I love the engine braking down hills (the Hill Decent Control works well on the D2 and together with the manual in low (really low on LRs) range it is a weapon in down hill runs. I also like the speed of the manual.
I have towed on deep sand from 1.5tonn camp trailers to a 2.2 tonn dual axle van, from Straddie to Fraser and never been stuck with my manual - mind you you do need the occasional lightening fast change, but generally using the torque of the right gear to start with is the way to go.
I also like the manual for towing the boat.
Perhaps as I get older I will like auto's more, and I would probably like the newer 6 speed clever boxes in the new Discovery, but I have to say that the manuals are very simple, strong enough and very cheap to overhaul or replace when the time comes. The ZF 4 speed can be replaced for 4k from ZF Australian office for $4k with a 3 year 100k warranty. Having said that the ZF untouched save for a filter and oil change at 210,000 has not done 278,000 and shifts perfectly without flaring or hesitation and engages drive/reverse quickly from neutral.
My manual has done 145,000k with a lot of towing and off roading and a lot of short trips and the clutch and gearbox show no signs at all of age.
Cheers
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