Auto or Manual Gearbox - buying advice

[M4rk]

Originally Posted by V70RMW

BTW - sounds a remarkably low mileage for a 2002 car. Do you know what it has been doing and if the mileage is real?

I don't know, wanted to have 2nd. look this morning but sadly it has been sold already... do you think the millage was to good to be true?
Will check hopefully another Volvo S60 2004 - Auto 86.000... FSH...
After my S70 problems I'm over careful right now.

[V70RMW]

6500 miles a year just seemed low to me. Could be a good reason of course but a little old lady who just went to the shops could bring its own problems due to lack of use. Could be replacement dash maybe?

Anyway, shame it's gone now but may be worth checking out MOT mileage records and service records to reassure yourself in future. Especially if mileage is surprisingly low.

[rippedoffagain]

I'm on my second 940 estate.

First one, L (93) reg 2.3 no turbo, manual

Current one, R (98) reg 2.3 turbo, automatic

Both cars were/are lovely. Both had/have accumulated similar mileage.

My current one has about 240,000 miles on the clock and drives like a new car. My last one had to go to the great autobahn in the sky because she just had too much wrong with her to justify the expense of fixing. Most of Helga's faults related to brakes and suspension, but her clutch was also failing, slipping like mad.

From my limited experience (my current car is my first automatic), it seems that there's nothing wrong with automatics. That said, and this bit is probably very relevant, mine has practically a full service history. She has been very well looked after, with ATF changes, among other things, being done religiously at the recommended intervals.

[TiredGeek]

Learn where the dipstick for the gearbox is located, when looking at a car pull it out and look at the colour of the oil and also its smell. It should be dark but not smelling burnt.
If it does smell acrid and burnt, walk away.
If it's a lovely fresh light red and no smell, walk away - chances are the oil has been changed very recently to try to eliminate a gearbox problem, and now the car is for sale while it's still running......

The slush box is good if it's been looked after, a nightmare if it's been neglected. FSH, either stealer or specialist is no guarantee as it's something they never seem to think about.
Manuals have problems all to themselves, but to be fair it's not the gearbox but the bits associated with it like DMF, slave etc.

If the car has a towbar look for proof in the records that the slushbox oil has been changed as it should be done regularly if it tows. 100k and it'll be dead if not.

[v70stu]

Originally Posted by rm955i

i'd say that the 'specialist' is talking out of his a*se.

The v70 is ideally suited to being an auto. The down side is that if the auto goes wrong it is complex and expensive to fix - the upside is that if correctly looked after the box should be good for mega mileage.

Problems generally arise from neglect, seemingly caused by the total misunderstanding of the need to replace the atf as part of the later-life service routine. People seem to think the oil is some kind of magic potion that never needs changing , whereas it normally never needs doing during the normal service life of the vehicle which is entirely different to what people assumeit is.

I suspect your 'specialist' just doesn't know how to fix the autos so steers clear of them...but then manuals needs clutches, slaves and dmfs.

+1 .

[johnjp]

I've had four autos in the last 12 years and they have all been problem free.
1st - 740 with approx 230kmiles only ever checked level and shifting.
2nd - 940 with 365kmiles (!), changed fluid @ >300kmiles, not due to fault, just felt like it could do with it!
3rd - 1966 121, same again, changed fluid as a service item - she had a basic 3 speed but was faultless - except that the indicator on the cowling was incorrect but that was easy, just move lever till it engages!
4th - V70 (present) >165kmiles, obviously checked it for changing and fluid appearance/odour when purchased.
It has CRUISE CONTROL! Cruise control engages at 20 mph so I use it all the time. The last long distance trip I did, 370 miles, half of it with my son's belongings, the car did approx. 34 mpg which I think is superb! And mostof that was at 80mph!
I don't believe a manual can offer such ease of driving in all conditions. And of course they don't have cruise control.
Oh and - not long after I bought the car we had some very heavy snow and the car was brilliant.
Mostly I drive an auto because, as we say in the modern country from which I come, Australia - I don't need to spend my time telling the car what gear it should be in, that's for girls!

[Bernard333]

Originally Posted by johnjp

I don't believe a manual can offer such ease of driving in all conditions. And of course they don't have cruise control.

John , most V70/S60/S80s etc with manual gearboxes have cruise control , I agree could not live without it even though it uses a bit more fuel , mine has just stopped working after 170000 miles , am hoping its something simple like the clutch switch or vacuum pump .

[johnjp]

Originally Posted by Bernard333

John , most V70/S60/S80s etc with manual gearboxes have cruise control

I didn't know that.
I had made my assumption that, for example, if the CC was set to 55mph in an auto, when ascending, the box would need to change down.
How does that work with a manual?

[TimS]

Originally Posted by johnjp

I had made my assumption that, for example, if the CC was set to 55mph in an auto, when ascending, the box would need to change down.
How does that work with a manual?

It can't change gear, but it will maintain speed if it can: CC works fine, providing it can manage in the current gear. I used to use my manual CC quite a bit in 30/40 limits, but had to make sure the car wasn't trying to slog up a steep hill in too high a gear etc. Nothing to stop you flicking it off, changing down & re-enabling it.

Tim.

[Bill_56]

Have to say Cruise one of the few things that makes an Auto tempting for me. Yes the manuals have Cruise too, but it disengages whenever you press the clutch, limiting its effectiveness. It's quite nice in an Auto to just press the 'resume' button (say after clearing the M6 toll booths), and let the car change up through the gears until former speed is resumed.

In every other respect, fuel economy, responsiveness 'off the line' at junctions, refinement etc, I find a manual better suited to my tastes and will continue to buy manuals.

But I do concede that Cruise, whilst still useful in a manual, is a whole lot more useful in the autos I have driven.