Is an auto a better bet than a manual for the budget conscious motorist?

[Bobthebeard]

So...

 

'Is an auto a better bet than a manual for the budget conscious motorist?'

 

Yes. Generally. Budget conscious or otherwise.

IMHO.

[forddeliveryboy]

One of my fave autos was a 2cv with a centrifugal clutch which disengaged once the revs fell to just above idle, through traffic you could leave it in first or second and not need to operate the clutch.

 

The V70 dizzle which is in the family averages 47mpg overall which I reckon is bloody marvellous, I think it's in good order. Pre-2000 too, so cheaper Dexron fluid and tougher box, supposedly. I borrowed it over Easter when the Skoda borked itself and with all the camping gear and family aboard up and down three or four mountain passes, more pootling in low gears plus some higher than UK-recommended speeds on an empty A1/A66 there and back, it managed 44.

 

Irrelevant fact - the W124 Merc had a problem with the back axle 'beam' setting up cabin-busting reverberations and rattles with manual boxes when accelerating, something MB failed to cure even with the addition of various masses bolted to said beam. Long and short of it, their engineers engineered it down to a mass which worked (NVH-wise) ok with the hydraulically-damped vibes out of the back of an autobox, but overlooked how it would work with direct mechanical pinions.