Automatic Vs Manual - Is the Auto a "Drivers" car?

[Mack Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mack]

I had previously only had manual Landcruiser's prior to buying an auto Prado. I was one of those that thought that manual was the only way to go for a 4wd. However, now I will not go back. The 150 auto transmission is smooth and allows for driving style. It will down shift when going down hill (when you brake) and has minimal lag when you put your foot down to overtake. I tow a 1 1/2 tonne boat around without a problem. As for the engine braking, the sports shift allows you to drive it like a manual when needed. I have been told that the DAC will work in reverse (but I have never tried it). I can not fault the auto and can't see what benefits a manual now has over the auto. The other plus is that you can also hold your brew mug while driving!

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I can not fault the auto and can't see what benefits a manual now has over the auto.

If you have a manual you have a good excuse to drive around all day with one hand on your knob

The only place the auto is lacking is in the engine braking department on extremely steep decents, although I am working on a possible solution to that problem.

Cheers Andrew

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

If you have a manual you have a good excuse to drive around all day with one hand on your knob

The only place the auto is lacking is in the engine braking department on extremely steep decents, although I am working on a possible solution to that problem.

Cheers Andrew

The 150 GXL has downhill assist which works well down steep decents.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

The 150 GXL has downhill assist which works well down steep decents.

Until you have no brakes at the end of a descent? The sounds make me unable to use it, it sounds horrific; like a train wreck.

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

Until you have no brakes at the end of a descent? The sounds make me unable to use it, it sounds horrific; like a train wreck.

Why would you have no brakes at the end of a decent, it isn't extremely hard braking that the DAC is performing. It's a bit like saying you wouldn't use ABS!

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Depending on the length of the decent. If its extremely long and the steeper it is the harder the down hill assist has to work. It works off your ABS system and on long steep decents can heat the system up to the point of getting an alarm on the dash indicating that the system is overheating and will deactivate the down hill assist automatically till the system cools down, so at this point would be advisable to stop and let the system cool as your normal braking would also be affected....I have seen happen on a 120 grande alarm and cant remember which light was flashing on the dashboard, cant say I have seen a 150 doing the same thing. As far as ABS if you hammered your brakes enough continuously they would also fade in the end leaving you with little braking. This would be more the disc pads and rotors heating up where as DAC control is heating the fluid up from pulsating for so long. Big difference between a emergency stop for a few seconds compared to possibly a 3 minute or longer continuous decent........... Cheers Steve

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

My experience of DAC in my 120 is that even with the car locked in L low it is too fast to be taken seriously. It works fine on slopes where you don't need it but it is way too fast when you do.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Yes I found that too, also the 150 is the same. Maybe the kakadu is better as I think like the 200 series you can control the speed (3 settings) ?? I was in one (GXL T/D 150 auto) when we went out for a day trip last year with PP and went shotgun with a member on here and yes he still had to apply the brakes as it was way to fast for the decent we were doing. Cheers Steve

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

A friend who has a series III Disco was using his version of DAC when it decided it didn't want to play anymore. Sadly he was doing a 'feet off' demo and the car took off for the last 20m or so of a fairly steep descent. He now disables that function and drives it like a manual. Apparently it was very lucky that it had a brown leather interior. He has heard of similar instances from other Disco drivers.

It pays to keep your feet near the pedals when using the electronic aids.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I still laugh every time I read the title of this thread... "Is the Auto a "Drivers" car"

[barryswanson Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barryswanson]

^^^^^^^^same

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I still laugh every time I read the title of this thread... "Is the Auto a "Drivers" car"

I thought we were talking about the lightened twin turbo V10 SMG rally version. With fluffy dice and nodding dog.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Good point mjrandom. I still have my foot close by when using cruise control incase I need to jump on the brakes.........Cheers Steve

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

I still laugh every time I read the title of this thread... "Is the Auto a "Drivers" car"

"Vin Diesel voice on" I live my life quarter mile at a time.....for that 16 seconds theres nothing but me and my auto prado.....lifted with chunky treads.....for that 16 seconds I'm free



yeah aarrrr no...Auto prados are not drivers cars especially when I just sold a highly modded VE HSV manual the prado in comparison is like being stuck in a slow lift with Kenny G playing.

[KAKADAZ Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close KAKADAZ]

The Kakadu DAC (Crawl... has five speeds) it is good at slowing the car down to a snails pace but is very very noisy.