Manual Gearbox - what is the point?

[Welly]

even if it does change gear 6 times in 100 yards and way to early, but when you get to a hill it stays in 12th gear until it nearly stalls, then drops to 10th ( nearly stalls.. ) then to 6th gear and will either stall or then drop to 2nd gear and lurch forward, then immediately change up to 6th, and then stall.....

Sounds great* that

[Doggy]

Your vehicle is fitted with a ZF-ASTronic automatic shift
system.

Oh.

When in automatic mode, the shift system avoids shifts
which result in the engine over-revving or stalling.

Oh Oh.

We would like to wish you pleasant driving with your
ZF-ASTronic

Ho Ho

Arse-Tronic

[FarmerPug]

I used to think of autos as very weird but after a week with the 305 i now think they are great.

my uncle has a chrysler voyager currently as a stop gap while his previa gets another engine, the chrysler is a manual and feels like a horrible like a van, a few years back he had a v6 automatic one which was completkey different car lovely thing to waft about in.

[waue1978]

even if it does change gear 6 times in 100 yards and way to early, but when you get to a hill it stays in 12th gear until it nearly stalls, then drops to 10th ( nearly stalls.. ) then to 6th gear and will either stall or then drop to 2nd gear and lurch forward, then immediately change up to 6th, and then stall.....

Sounds great* that

Think most LGV autos are the same now. The Merc Axors I use are supposed to be "learning" gearboxes, but they aren't too good at it. With 30t to pull it pulls away in 3rd (of 12), but when it's empty it keeps using 1st. In theory it sounds sporty, but the reality is that you pull away slower as it just about gets going & grinds to a halt almost while it decides what gear to use next. I just end up using the paddles to choose my own gear most of the time.

As far as low speed manoeuvres go, I usually use the air brake to slow progress when I would have used a clutch.

[steve_earwig]

Fine, if you're not paying for the brakes to be replaced all the time...

With 30t to pull it pulls away in 3rd (of 12), but when it's empty it keeps using 1st

But that's counter-intuitive/mad

[waue1978]

Doesn't mess the brakes up at all. You just stick it in gear & use the air brake in the same way as you would a handbrake on a hill start - you just do a few of them!

[Doggy]

But that's counter-intuitive/mad

Agreed. The word you're looking for is "automatic"