On 26/05/2021 13:03, R D S wrote:
I'm looking for a car, XC60 2.0 D4 if anyone has any opinions on those.

I've never owned an automatic and never wanted one but I test drove one
yesterday and while i'm not going to be buying that particular one
having driven it i'm wondering if i'd actually prefer an auto. It
certainly wasn't like autos of old that i've driven.

But if I come back to the idea i'd prefer a manual I can save a couple
of grand.

Looking for opinions from anyone who's changed sides.

I am more or less 'all auto' since about 2008 and 50 50 since 2000
largely because manual Jaguars disappeared completely.

First of all one is not 'better' than the other. That's binary Boolean
ArtStudent„¢ thinking.

There are pros and cons. Some of which can be addressed by a different
driving style.

The great plus of a manual is that you can *put* it in the right gear
for what you are doing, and then there is no downshift lag.

The great plus of an automatic is that for people who haven't a clue
what the correct gear is, it makes a reasonable guess.

Another great plus of an automatic, is that power assisted clutch pedals
never caught on, and in heavy traffic or urban streets, you are not
wanking your left leg off operating a heavy clutch

What this boils down to is that you have better control in a manual, but
its a darned sight more relaxing to drive an auto. They also protect
your engine from being overrevved in low gears.

And in the limit they have manual override these days if you are in a
tearing rush

A friend of mine - getting on - smashed his auto while reversing it up a
steep slope - no clutch control available. I told him that I use the
brake as a clutch for that. It works. Change of style is indicated and
left foot braking

Each auto needs a slighhtl;y diferent technique to get it to do what YOU
want it todo rather wthan what it thinks it should be doing. I am still
working on te top strategy ffor my XF. My old means of hgetting a speedy
getaway - revving with foot on brake - is not good, as it leads to
hiccups in the engine management system and warning lights on te dash if
you do too much brake and accelerator

Manual mode seems a bit better



--
"The great thing about Glasgow is that if there's a nuclear attack it'll
look exactly the same afterwards."

Billy Connolly