Vehicle & Technical > Discovery

Do you run a TD5 Auto???

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Benji:
hey all,

finally decided its time to upgrade the car.  Was going to go for a manual but have just found out that the TD5's use the R380 gearboxes from the 300 series, which as we all know....are pants!

So am thinking about an auto instead.  I tow all day, everyday and need a bit of feedback as to what the auto boxes are like for towing.  Apart from the obvious drop in fuel economy, what are they like?

My main worries are constant changing looking for the correct gear,
dropping to a lower gear and over-revving (instead of using the torque),
lack of engine braking (other than changing manually).

This will be my first auto car so any advice, hints, tips, warnings etc would be very welcome.

Thanks guys and girls  :wink:

Ben

Xtremeteam:
get a td5 in a manual as you will find the auto painfully slow & not much fun to drive,even with a remap & in sport mode it doesnt improve much,

working on the td5 regularly they dont have that many problems,some crunchiness that can be helped/cured with an oil upgrade,


IMHO dotn buy an auto TD5 disco,but a manual instead as it gives more go & better MPG

Benji:
Thanks Mike,

Well, I drive painfully slow at the moment anyway!  Max is no more than 60mph, 55 with a strong head wind, so the extra power and torque can only help!  (this is with the trailer!!!)

I had my gearbox changed last March and its already whining in 5th. They won't replace it under warranty as its over 12 months old so my confidence in the R380 gearboxes is pretty low!

Im not worried about speed, just driveability really.  When I have to do hill starts I quite often have to go into low box or ride the clutch for about 5 seconds!  Even a normal standing start, i have to ride the clutch for about a second or rev the engine up first!  I figure that an auto wouldn't have these problems???

waveydavey:
My old man has a TD5 auto about 5 years old, he tows a big caravan with it and has always been happy.

Xtremeteam:
when ever there is a td5 auto to be serviced or driven i dont normally volunteer,
on the td5 auto the lockup happens at a higher speed than the normal autos so if you donder along at 55 mph it will be running through the gbox rather than the over drive aection,thus burning more fuel etc,also you have to rev them more than normal to actually get any go out of them,personally i wouldnt bother & get a manual as they also keep there price where as the autos arnt that saught after

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