VR4 - Gearbox Preference

[Stezie]

I'm looking about for a VR4, My ideal version would (if such a version exists!)be a 2001, saloon, silver, manual gearbox!

Alot of VR4's are estates and then out of the saloons alot of them are still automatics. I never have been a fan of auto's due to them being slower for starters.

Is there a good points/bad points on auto versus manual boxes in the VR4??

[enigma]

I suggest you do a search!

This topic more than any has been done to death!

Autos are better, faster, period!

[BraindG]

Autos are better, faster, period!

/commence panto mode...

OH, no their not!

[d3x]

are too....

[bernmc]

Not many manuals about unfortunately, and they may be lower spec (no AYC etc), so be careful. The VR4's autobox is better than most, but it's still an auto.

[valmes]

I suggest you do a search!

This topic more than any has been done to death!

Autos are better, faster, period!

Hey C'mon Dave... each to their own taste! I would go with manual if I had to choose again. I guess we just don't have any N2O powered auto-VR4s around here, so manuals are faster (at least from 5 VR-4 - "test group" that we have in our "garage"... 2 of them are manuals, 3 autos), period!

[Kieran]

Having had a Manual Galant and two autos, nothing beats the immediate acceleration and feel of control that a manual provides. Rifle-bolting through the gears is something I do occasionally miss. That said, nothing beats the smoothness and accessability of the auto. Sit back, engage 'D' and waft along in total serenity and peace

As you've probably guessed, my personal preference is Automatic, but that's not for any performance reason. I just like to Reeeeeeeeelaxxxxxxxxxx as I cruise along.

If I won the lottery, then a manual and an automatic VR-4 would get a place in the KieranCorp garage. The Auto would be the most used. The manual would be the car that got the brunt of it at Santa Pod and Castle Combe, when I wanted to get the most from the car without all that extra weight and the worries over toasting the ATF!!

Stezie.... I suggest you try and find both to test drive. Reading through all the arguments over Manual VS Auto on here and you'll be asleep!

As for problems, the Manual VR-4 box seems pretty good - Barry, Nick F1 and Michaeli know more than I, but there have been no early failure reports.

As for the auto, the biggest problem is the leak from the torque converter seal. (a £10 seal that takes £400/500 of labour to get to - What's that about!!!)
Other than that and it being fussy over the fluid you use in it, that's all there is to it. Both boxes seem able to take almost inhuman amounts of abuse with no real detrimental effects.

[zentac]

The FTO uses the same gearboxes as the VR4, however they are FWD and the manuals consistantly prove to be 1sec quicker over the 1/4 mile.

[paulmc]

Got to agree manual for power/speed. In the auto you are around 20bhp down due to its losses before you start. Then there is the extra fuel consumption with the auto

But for ease of use and good fun in tip mode, I did like my auto

[bradc]

I like my auto heaps, I always drive it in tiptronic mode as well, and I do like having manual levels of gear control, but without a clutch!

[You See]

Manual...Manual...Manual!!!!! ...Tiptronic just isn't the same.

[Wodjno]

I've never been a fan of Auto's, and still to this day wouldn't have a normal autobox.. But the 1 in the VR4 is far as far can be from a standard auto.. The speed it changes up or down, the smoothness, the way it handles what ever power you give it in any gear at any rev's.. It ain't no normal auto, as we know it was designed by PORSCHE and takes residence in many Top Spec Porsches.. If it's good enough for Porsche, then it's good enough for me .. I know now that there are much better Auto/TIP BOXES out there, but they are in cars costing upto and above 100k. If i am driving my car like a heathen then it is always in tip mode (so nearly all the time then).. I reckon if this had been a manual i would have been through several clutches by now and possibly a gearbox or 2.. For me it's gonna be the Tip as you have the best of both worlds.. Drive it like a hooligan in Tip or sit back and cruise in Auto

[Stezie]

Its a 50/50 argument then so!! I never have been a fan of the auto. Before I bought my 2.0 sport, i took the auto,trip tronic version for a test drive, and even using the trip it made me feel as if I wasn't driving the car! I could even get the thing to go over 95mph and it was the elegence model with 15"wheels.
The manual version I have now can get close to 130 and thats with 17" and a long road!

I just thought I'd ask you guys for your perference, I prob will end up buying the manual, depending on availability and spec.

Does the manual get any less spec stuff, ie; missing AYC or what ever??

[Stezie]

Does anyone know of a 2001, Saloon, Manual VR4 for sale. I'm over in Ireland but would travel if is a good one!