It's not been poorly maintained. It's not a bag of shit. Oh, and there's no replaceable filter in the box.
I wasn't complaining about a fault, or anything specific about this gearbox. I just haven't driven any auto yet that would make me say "That works well; I'll have to get one."
There's no filter as such - just a gauze over the pump intake. A half brick filter some call them. And there's no listed service interval for changing it either. Could well have lifetime ATF too - although most recommend a change at about 90,000 miles.
No reason to if a manual suits you. I enjoy driving a decent one too. But these tend to be on smaller cars.
My ideal would be a bog standard manual with clutch pedal that had an auto mode too - but I realise this would be impractical. I've yet to drive a DSG type that is as good as a TC auto, though. They're just not as smooth when driving gently.
Thanks for all the replies. So it seems that the people who criticize autos are criticising them based on preconceptions about very old autos, very much like the way people complain that all diesels are smelly and dirty and drive like tractors?
I was interested in the driving downhill question. I drive down a hill to get home each day. I always drop my manual into third gear and do not need to touch the brakes. Though passengers say I should change gear because the revs are high but I ignore them ;) OTOH I see many cars ion front of me gliding down the hill in fourth gear with their feet on the brakes all the way down. I think I am doing it the right way, aren't I?
I think it would be useful to allow the engine to help brake, whether brakes are cheap or not there is also the time factor of having to replace them or drive to someone to replace them.
Every auto I've ever had allows you to use a low gear when going down hill. Indeed mine does this for you if the car 'runs away' on a trailing throttle. The old wife's tale that they don't provide any engine braking only really applies at very low speeds - although some older designs could freewheel under some conditions.
Yes. In days gone by, there was a very real danger of brake fade if you did it on a very long/steep hill. That's why such hills sometimes have a 'use low gear' sign.
That's perfectly possible with an auto, if you use the selector.
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