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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:	Cars in the UK
Notice:	Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:	COMICS::SHELLEYELD

Created:	Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2584
Total number of notes:	63384

1156.0. "Will an automatic tow well?" by CHEST::WHITTINGTON (White Rhino) Thu Jul 19 1990 19:28

    Has anyone out ther any experience of towing with an automatic?
    
    I am considering buying a Volvo 240 estate, which will have no
    problem in its weight ratio, but it is an automatic gearbox, which I
    have never experienced before.
    
    Sally and I have towed for years, (many things with many cars for many
    miles), so we are well and truly familiar with most aspects of towing.
    
    
    But how does an automatic gearbox fare?  
    I would like to know before I buy as this is a major consideration in
    our choice of car.
    
    Please reply soon if you have ANY experience or advice or tales to
    relate....
    
    
    
    Andrew

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1156.1		FORTY2::QUICK	Trust me, I know what I'm doing.	`Thu Jul 19 1990 20:06`	7
	I've done lots of towing over long and short distances with automatic Range Rovers (both 3 & 4 speed versions), and I think autos are great for towing except - they do seem to get a little on the warm side... Jonathan.
1156.2	look at a cooler	OASS::BURDEN_D	No! Your other right!	`Thu Jul 19 1990 20:31`	5
	Here in the US if you buy any car or van with a towing package it wil probably require an automatic tranny. For heavier towing packages (3000lbs up) they usually include or suggest an aux tranny cooler. Dave
1156.3		GVA01::STIFF	Paul Stiff, EHQIM-OIS DTN:821 4167	`Fri Jul 20 1990 08:27`	5
	I have towed a few times with a Jaguar XJ6 (automatic), and also with a Range Rover (manual). I found the automatic to be the easiest and most confortable option. Paul
1156.4	That was a nice car	AYOV27::ISMITH	Think 4th dimensionally!	`Fri Jul 20 1990 10:04`	10
	My family used to go on holidays to France and Italy in a caravan. The car was (for the first 14 years of my life) a Mk10 Jaguar which was an automatic with the 4.2 engine. I think my dad found it pretty good for towing, but then he has only ever had automatic Jags and so doesn't know any different. During the 14 years that he had that car he had the engine replaced (at around 10 years) but it was always the original automatic gearbox. Ian.
1156.5	carlton auto	MARVIN::RUSLING	Hastings Upper Layers	`Fri Jul 20 1990 10:52`	5
	My father in law tows with a Carlton automatic, which was the main reason for his buying it. He had to fit an extra cooling fan, though. Also, my mother in law thinks that his gearchanges are much smoother with this car...
1156.6		IOSG::BROGAN	Mike Brogan	`Mon Jul 23 1990 17:49`	12
	I used to tow a caravan with a Carlton automatic. I don't know whether it had extra cooling fitted - it was a lease car and I ordered it with a tow bar so I assumed that it would have had the necessary cooling fitted. I did have one time where the gearbox overheated and blew oil out through the breather. It was a very hot day though and the car and caravan were heavily loaded. After that incident I was always careful not to leave the gearbox straining in top on hills. If I thought that was happening I would manually change down. I never had any more problems. Mike
1156.7		HAMPS::NICHOLLS	I'm now SWISS too!	`Wed Jul 25 1990 15:02`	5
	My father-in-law tows with a Volvol 240 estate that is automatic - and I've never heard him complain! Regards ALEX