5 speed auto vs 4 speed auto

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what's the real difference?


also, diesel or petrol, what's the difference?

[xvprado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xvprado]

!

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thank you for the diesel comments.

i would love to get the 5 speed, but it doesn't come until the 2004 model and that's just beyond my $ range, i'm looking to spend $35k on a 2003 GXL petro auto with max of 60k kms. will be test driving this weekend and then talking to auto broker to find one for me. i'm VERY excited. i've been without a vehicle since i moved to australia and i've done enough exploring of sydney by bus, train, bicycle and walking to last me a while, its time to head out of town, especially since summer is coming.

anyone been to pebble beach? its in southern NSW, about 5 hours south of sydney. very beautiful place, will have to go back to camp.

[Damacles1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Damacles1]

I have the 2004 Diesel GXL with a 4 speed auto. I have been through all the Central Deserts twice and down along the Murray Darling. So far I have had no problems with the 4 speed. Only comment is when fully loaded heading for the desert on the black top with cruise control on any slight incline drops you back into 3rd. This is fine unless you are on a long incline. A real bugger traveling Tennant Ck to Alice into a head wind. My solution is drop out of cruise control until at the top of the incline. No real problem.

Comments about Petrol and Diesel I agree. I bought Diesel as I planned to spend a lot of time in the outback which I have done so far.

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

G'day Damacles1 and welcome to the forum.

Just to add to the thread, I have the 5 speed auto and I'm very happy with it. I've been a manual man for years - better for country driving - better fuel efficiency - better performance and no ambiguity as to what gear you are in.

But then came the new 5 speed, better ADR rated fuel economy, better acceleration figures, great shift pattern. I don't understand some of the criticisms I've read on the shift pattern, I recon it's a close to a manual as you could ever want, better than sequential in my opinion.

So it changed my mind on modern autos, if they keep making them like this, I'll keep buying them. That said, I still very much enjoy driving our manual Subaru Impreza when I get the chance.

Cheers,

Drew.

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

I've been a manual man for years - better for country driving - better fuel efficiency - better performance and no ambiguity as to what gear you are in.

But then came the new 5 speed, better ADR rated fuel economy, better acceleration figures, great shift pattern. I don't understand some of the criticisms I've read on the shift pattern, I recon it's a close to a manual as you could ever want, better than sequential in my opinion.

So it changed my mind on modern autos

Too right!

This is as close to a manual as you can get with the benefit of being able to be "lazy" with the Autobox.

I don't think I'd ever want to go back to a normal manual box now... With the 5 speed auto, I now have the best of both worlds.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

I got 4 speed auto and very happy with it. As I haven't had a chance to drive a 5 speed auto, I can't compare them from practical point of view.
However on theoretical side the 1st and 2nd gear on 4speed auto
is replaced by 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear on 5 speed auto...

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Hi Guys
I have a 5 speed auto, just wondering how it is with towing, i am doing the Gibb River Road with a camper trailer in June, and a bit nervous as not towed much before.

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

Hi Guys
I have a 5 speed auto, just wondering how it is with towing, i am doing the Gibb River Road with a camper trailer in June, and a bit nervous as not towed much before.

Hi Evo,

It's great for towing, in fact some say they are better because you don't lose thrust while shifting down, go you keep rolling with the traffic.

I just arrived home last night after nine hours in the saddle towing our 1 tonne plus camper and it performed perfectly as always.

Hope this helps,

Drew.

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

That is one awesome avatar you have there, Drew!!

[Drew Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Drew]

That is one awesome avatar you have there, Drew!!

Thanks mate, I've been wanting to do something like that for ages. 8)

The frames were taken at the summit of Mount Bluerag in the Victorian Alps (trip report and photos to follow when I get time), and the images were stitched together using an GIF animator package. It could be a lot smoother but not too bad for a first attempt. Next time I need to find somewhere with no obstacles, no cliffs to fall down :!: and a fixed exposure to get rid of the varying intensity.

Cheers,

Drew.

[McBAIN Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close McBAIN]

That is one awesome avatar you have there, Drew!!

Thanks mate, I've been wanting to do something like that for ages. 8)

The frames were taken at the summit of Mount Bluerag in the Victorian Alps (trip report and photos to follow when I get time), and the images were stitched together using an GIF animator package. It could be a lot smoother but not too bad for a first attempt. Next time I need to find somewhere with no obstacles, no cliffs to fall down :!: and a fixed exposure to get rid of the varying intensity.

Cheers,

Drew.

makes me dizzy!

but looks great!

[Mike Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mike]

I have the 5 speed and am very happy with it. Like Drew I especially like the gated shift as it makes shifting manually very easy when ofroad.

Mike

[ch1533n Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ch1533n]

I've been a manual man for years - better for country driving - better fuel efficiency - better performance and no ambiguity as to what gear you are in.

But then came the new 5 speed, better ADR rated fuel economy, better acceleration figures, great shift pattern. I don't understand some of the criticisms I've read on the shift pattern, I recon it's a close to a manual as you could ever want, better than sequential in my opinion.

So it changed my mind on modern autos

Too right!

This is as close to a manual as you can get with the benefit of being able to be "lazy" with the Autobox.

I don't think I'd ever want to go back to a normal manual box now... With the 5 speed auto, I now have the best of both worlds.

Hi all !!

I guess ya all mostly prefer the new 5 speed auto gearbox huh ??
I test drove it last week and its amazingly smooth !!!
Anymore feedbacks ??

[PeteS Member Find all posts View Profile Close PeteS]

I was sceptical having an Auto in a 4WD.

Wife and I attended a 2 Day 4WD course last weekend and by the end of the weekend you couldn't wipe the smile from my face. The 5 speed auto combined the the new D4D Diesel made smooth sailing of everything.

Sand was a dream and the uphill starts were much more difficult for those with manuals. My wife prefers manual cars however with all the things to think about when you are 4WDriving in difficult situations she was happy to have the auto.

As to the shift pattern... well i'm used to it now and find no problems. Find it easy to shift sideways from 5th-4th & vica-versa.

Also like the way the auto changes back down a gear when slowing down. My prev auto cars rarely did this.

Cheers
PeteS