In off-roading, auto vs. manual has been debated for ages!
Manual:
- You have to be really good at it to fully realize the potential. For example, driving in sand with a manual tranny (in low-range) is a pain in the butt! Most will stall their vehicle many times.
- However, you will be able to pick what gear you want.
- It is great at descending a steep hill. Most manual tranny have a stronger 1st gear than the automatic equivalent...therefore, manual tranny has a better crawl ratio (1st gear ratio x differential ratio x low-range ratio).
- For slow precision driving over severe terrain, manual tranny is best...ONLY if you are an experienced shifter.
Auto:
- Automatic tranny has torque converter. Because of the fluid state in the torque converter, it in itself is a torque multiplier. For example, an automatic tranny is BETTER than manual tranny in rock climbing because of this inherent torque multiplication (in addition to low-range).
- Auto tranny allows you to concentrate on other aspects of off-roading...like where to place your wheels or just looking at the great scenery. With a manual, you have to concentrate on your clutch and what gear you're in.
- Auto is bad when descending a steep hill. Because of the tendency of the auto to push you forward (that is, if you release the brake pedal, your auto-equipped car will roll forward), you can imagine that this is not desirable when going down a hill because this is when you want total control of your vehicle. With a manual, you can just crawl slowly down a hill without applying the brakes. With an auto, you most certainly have to "ride" the brakes on your way down.
- Auto also decides for you what gear you are in. With a manual, if you want to be in 2nd gear only, it's easy to do.
The current trend in off-roading nowadays is for AUTOMATIC tranny. Most (if not all) rockclimbers are now using automatic transmissions. The ONLY big problem with auto is when you descend a hill.
Hope this helps.
