What's better? Auto or manual

[geoffandcolleen]

Hi all,

getting a Delica at the end of Sept, early October.I may have three to choose from. My question is this: What gets better fuel economy, the 5 speed manual-or the 4 speed automatic? I have heard rumours that the auto gets better milage.
Hope to hear some replies.

[BCDelica]

I myself I'm glad for the RHD drive auto tranny. I test drove a manual Landcruiser and it didn't feel natural shifting with the left hand, where everything else feels OK. Picking up the first van from Mark and driving through downtown Vancouver for the first time scared me be pretty good, a minute later I was enjoying it.

[Breadman]

i don't know about fuel economy so much but a friend here on the island has a 5 speed and loves it. he has a tow bar and pulls boats with it. he was bragging yesterday about how well it pulled his boats. it seems his runs at higher rpm on the highway than my two automatics. it could be that he has larger tires. we lived in england for 5 years and got used to the left hand shifting quite quickly.
paul

[geoffandcolleen]

Hey all, yeah I loved in New Zealand for 6 months and got used to shifting a Pulsar GT, MAN that's a fast car. Surprisingly enough, it gets faster when the grinding stops. However, fuel economy really is that question as I will be travelling coast to coast. BC to NS baby! WOo hoo!!

[Breadman]

i think we should start a new section for all those that have loved in new zealand
paul

[BCDelica]

I can only be loved in Canada, by law.

Kev

[hutch]

More important than shifting with which hand, you should consider the durability of the two transmission types. I've been reading the OZ site and have corresponded with friends in Japan and they definitely said there have been some issues with the 5-speed. The problem is in the bearings slopping out before their time. Maybe others can weigh in on this for what it's worth.
Shifting hand isn't an issue with me. You adapt quite quickly like you would when you hop on a forklift, motobike or other such vehicle. I ground 5th down to 4th three times accidently going into reverse when I first started a couple of years ago (on another vehicle) but haven't done it since. My daughter who use to shift for me in my old LHD vehicle can now shift the RHD vehicle when she drives on her own now.
Cheers