Turbo Auto v's Manual ?

[stu chacks]

Hey folks,
After swapping from a '89 Manual Turbo to a '94 2.0 Auto, I'm finding myself left behind by cars I used to be leaving behind!
Looking to swap to a late model Turbo but not sure whether to stick with an AUTO or go MANUAL....
Any ideas on difference in performance between the two transmissions types anyone - can't seem to find any performance figures for the T.Auto anywhere. Talking STANDARD spec, not modified.

Cheers amigos,
Stu.

[Ettore Bugatti]

Driving a car is more then racing trafficlights, If you like the automatic in terms of comfort go for an automatic. If it isn't your favourite go for manual.

Good luck with hunting!

[catgroom]

Stu!!!

You're asking the right man with me matey!!!

I went from a 92/K Black Turbo Manual,to a White ( ) Turbo Auto because it only had 34000 miles.

Okay,the first thing I noticed was that it was noisier as had no 5th,but you soon get used to that.The gearbox isnt the best in the world,BUT,if you add Lubegard to your ATF,changed every 6k its a nice smooth box.Its no BMW box though as is pretty dated,but is a ZF.....

Mine is apparently quick as Martin Holmes from here demonstrated to me once!!!!It wheel spun into 2nd!!!!!!!

I first added an MBC,then went for the cheapest rpruen mod at 85 quid giving me now 170 BHP at the flywheel.

My verdict,with the car now just turned 84k 17 months later (!!!!),I still would like her to be manual when alls said and done.Obviously in town or when you're fucked,the auto is great!!!!!

Hope this is of some use!!!!!

Oh,and the 2.0 will always be smoother.

There is the 2.0 Turbo option which Tobi and rpruen on here are in cahoots about,tee hee!!!!!Its in its early stages of getting it running right though.Read and see in Tuning and Tweaking section mate!

Good Luck!

Steve.

[martinholmesuk]

My 480 turbo auto has the Richard super mod (230bhp) or around that.

Anyways.

I feel my auto is just as quick as the manual 480 turbo. My autobox is dead right now and waiting to be sorted out (this weekend) I would say your better off with the manual if you have a supermod but your still have problems with both gearbox types.

I'm having two coolers on my autobox. 10 row and then a 16 row mocal cooler which should help cool the box + lubegard. The manual does not not need the cooler so i'm told.

[Bramdeman]

Hey Stu, if your looking to pass cars go with the manual, i find that becouse the auto only has 4 gears but still a decent top speed, the 4th gear is really long. Wich means that accelerating above say 80 mph goes much slower than in a manual.

And as catgroom said, its much noiser at those speeds even when your taking it easy becouse it revs much higher.

[sallysal]

I've noticed that quite a few of you folks with turbos have turbo autos and I've often wondered why.

Is it is because they're a better drive, or that particular car was a good buy, or some other reason?, but after reading your posts few of you are actually saying you'd prefer a manual. It interesting to know.
Sx

[martinholmesuk]

no no, I like my auto very much until the power kills my box then i but like i said, Your have the same problems with the manual just not bad quickly (with the super mod) but I accept this because I knew things would go bang.

but normal 480 then I want the automatic, I seen the 480 drivers and i'm happy with the auto

[Joolz]

personally for me one of the joys of a 480 is taking it up through the gears, wether there are other cars to overtake or not, its pure pleasure.........its all about being in control

had an auto 760 GLE for a while...beautiful car 0 to 60 in twenty mins

[martinholmesuk]

Hey folks,
After swapping from a '89 Manual Turbo to a '94 2.0 Auto, I'm finding myself left behind by cars I used to be leaving behind!

Also you went from a turbo to a 2lt.

[catgroom]

@Sal

Sally I sold my Turbo manual cos I noticed there was this 34000 mile Turbo on Autotrader at an Autos only centre near us.It was £2200 in Nov 2003 but couldnt resist it with that mileage and full Volvo history from Arnold Clark and Murrays whom you may have heard of,just might!!!!!!!

So,test drove it and hated it,the ATF hadnt been changed for yonks and needed new pring on front but was in as new condition only having covered 4000 miles a year between 1995 and 2003!!!!!Result,spoke to last owner then bought her getting a woweeey £200 haggle off the price!!!

I soon paid Dave at DBS a visit for an MBC then rpruen modded her and she flyyyyyy.

However,I'll always,until I have a manual again,be wondering what my old car would have been like with these mods!!!

Graham,you still on the forum mate???I want K966 PLF back!!!!!!!!!pleeeease!

[stu chacks]

Thanks for the comments amigos (Even Mr Bugatti for the speeding lecture, I'm not a boyracer, but I buy the 480 as it's a SPORTS coupe!).

Thought Steve and Martin would have some useful comments seeing they own T.Autos, cheers guys. Might give you a call about the Turbo mods when I get a car sorted if that's ok.

I know what you mean about the long 4th gear Bramdeman, it's probably what I miss most from the manual (I just use 1/2/3 then D on the Autobox to help initial acceleration), my 2.0auto is a right slow coach from around 70mph>, whereas my old manual 1.7T would fly upto 135mph (not that I did it often, and never in the current 2.0, 115tops) without hesitiation, amazing how solid they feel at those speeds.

I think if there were lots of 95/95 Manual turbo cars around in met black/green/flame red (sorry Steve, not to hot on white either!) I would go for a manual, but I can't wait another 3 months looking for one so I might give this Black '95 Turbo Auto with 50k miles a try....
Will let you know how I get on. Thanks again everyone. Stu.

[Big Brother]

You from Chester Stu or in North Wales? I'm from Wrexham!

Ad

[Bramdeman]

I think that if you do go for a turbo auto it might really help that long gear if you get rpruen's ecu mod. It gives the engine so much more power in lower rev's so the acceleration should be a lot better.

I have it in my turbo manual and when driving normally you hardly need the 4th gear at all. Go right from third to fifth, wich is kind of what the automatic does all the time.

[stu chacks]

Down by the Bridge. We moved from Chester last year but still work there, hence needing a faster motor to undertake all those people who like to sit in the fastlane doing 69mph on the A483 everyday (when it's not 40mph roadworks of course). The 2.0Auto I have just wont kickdown and go like my old Turbo Manual would, so it's gotta go, even the missus says she's too slow!

Did send you an email (from your site) to say hi, as I parked my 480 next to yours in Wrexham Homebase weekend but last. I did a double take when I stepped out of my 480 as yours is virtually a deadringer for mine from a distance.
Saw your www.480europe sticker and soon spotted you on here.
Only found 1 480 in a local scrappies so far when passenger window motor bust lastyear, £15 to replace - better than the £150+labour quoted from Ryebrooks!
Anyway, no doubt will have a chat on email, or if I spot you around I'll give the pop-ups a workout!
Stu.

[martinholmesuk]

ermm no kick down?

you got the cable setup right?

[stu chacks]

kickdown and shifting up when toeing the accelerator and let you know what the speeds/revs are - you can let me know if it should be different then, cheers.
Stu.

[martinholmesuk]

kickdown and shifting up when toeing the accelerator and let you know what the speeds/revs are - you can let me know if it should be different then, cheers.
Stu.

Please change the font colour so it's able to be read.

anyways I would tell you but my gearbox is on the floor and awaiting an install having killed it with over 200bhp

[Big Brother]

Down by the Bridge. We moved from Chester last year but still work there, hence needing a faster motor to undertake all those people who like to sit in the fastlane doing 69mph on the A483 everyday (when it's not 40mph roadworks of course). The 2.0Auto I have just wont kickdown and go like my old Turbo Manual would, so it's gotta go, even the missus says she's too slow!

Did send you an email (from your site) to say hi, as I parked my 480 next to yours in Wrexham Homebase weekend but last. I did a double take when I stepped out of my 480 as yours is virtually a deadringer for mine from a distance.
Saw your www.480europe sticker and soon spotted you on here.
Only found 1 480 in a local scrappies so far when passenger window motor bust lastyear, £15 to replace - better than the £150+labour quoted from Ryebrooks!
Anyway, no doubt will have a chat on email, or if I spot you around I'll give the pop-ups a workout!
Stu.

Thats great, glad to hear my stickers are doing the club justice

I work every weekend so we could meet up sometime

Ad