Why are most Surfs automatics?

[Kiwi]

Still looking to buy - just waiting for my baby. While on the hunt, I have noticed that most Surfs are autos - any ideas on why?

Cheers

Kiwi

[RobD]

Still looking to buy - just waiting for my baby. While on the hunt, I have noticed that most Surfs are autos - any ideas on why?

Cheers

Kiwi

Have no clue,I managed to obtain a manual Surf,but it took my dealer 6 weeks to track one down!

[SparX]

It must be something for the Jap market , Took me 3 months to find a Manual Prelude Vtec , as they were all Auto's , but plumped for the auto on the Surf for ease of use really !

Someone mentioned on the 4x4 day at devils pit , ( not one of the surf owners ) that I was at a disadvantage on off road with an auto box ?

Is this true ? Surely I have near enough as much control over the gears if I use it correctly ?

[Pete]

Still looking to buy - just waiting for my baby. While on the hunt, I have noticed that most Surfs are autos - any ideas on why?

Cheers

Kiwi

It's not just Surfs. Most vehicles in the Japanese domestic market are auto's.
Pete

[hormygollop]

It must be something for the Jap market , Took me 3 months to find a Manual Prelude Vtec , as they were all Auto's , but plumped for the auto on the Surf for ease of use really !

Someone mentioned on the 4x4 day at devils pit , ( not one of the surf owners ) that I was at a disadvantage on off road with an auto box ?

Is this true ? Surely I have near enough as much control over the gears if I use it correctly ?

That would be some rubbish from a Lamerover owner, autos are by far better on off road.
If you doubt it come and smell my clutch big boy
Keith

[Gamedawn]

Presumably this "disadvantage" is why most military off-roaders are automatic? Not having to mess with gears gives you more time to concentrate on where you are pointing it. (the truck - stupid).

[SparX]

Come to think of it , it was that Lamerover guy , with 7 kids and the sign that said " please turn me over " on the bottom of it.

Ahhh well , I can now sleep safe in the knowledge that my surf will out perform his lame thing !

[crusty]

The main advantage with an auto (in general I hate autos, but my surf is auto) is for off road use. In sand/snow/mud you don't lose any forward momentum as you would when you dipped the clutch to change gears. I thought I wouldn't like the Surf on the beach as I was use to
a 280hp V8 4 speed landcruiser. I was very wrong. So smooth from hard sand to chopped up soft stuff, changing to 4wd "on the fly" was great and in some very challenging soft sand, rutted & quite steep exits from the beach, the Surf never felt like it was going to bog.

[Guest]

The main advantage with an auto (in general I hate autos, but my surf is auto) is for off road use. In sand/snow/mud you don't lose any forward momentum as you would when you dipped the clutch to change gears. I thought I wouldn't like the Surf on the beach as I was use to
a 280hp V8 4 speed landcruiser. I was very wrong. So smooth from hard sand to chopped up soft stuff, changing to 4wd "on the fly" was great and in some very challenging soft sand, rutted & quite steep exits from the beach, the Surf never felt like it was going to bog.

Plus with an auto you actually increase the Torque available to the wheels across the range due to the way a Torque converter works.

Plus it give you more time to work on taking a good line and looking cool!!!.

Cheers

[wibblywobbly]

Icelandic Glacier Cruising....

I recall seeing that Top Gear thing ages ago about the lunatics in Iceland who ride up glaciers in 4x4's for a laugh. They ran their tyres at 1-2 psi and also pointed out that they always chose automatics.

The reason?

You will always find traction with an auto box, and if it is good enough for a 5 mile drive up a glacier, then it is good enough for me!!

Cheers

Rob G

[Robster]

Never really fancied an auto before, having driven family auto's in the past, but now I've got an auto Surf, I really do think it's the dogs danglies! I drove to Edinburgh (from London) last week, which I've done a hundred times before in many different vehicles, and it was by far the most comfortable and effortless journey of them all. There's just nothing to do!

I haven't given it the "full-welly" offroad yet, but I reckon the less you have to think about and the more you can keep your hands on the wheel in those kind of conditions the better.

Vive l'auto!

[sumo]

Still looking to buy - just waiting for my baby. While on the hunt, I have noticed that most Surfs are autos - any ideas on why?

Cheers

Kiwi

Hi Kiwi dont know where abouts in suffolk you are but if you come to Felixstowe there are 3 surfs for sale and if I can drag my lazy bum down to the end of the road I could check out if they were autos or manuals. (I do know that they are 2nd gens but not what year).

sumo.

[kitesurf_phil]

OK, I'll add my two penn'orth. I have not yet found a hill, that I don't feel in total control ascending, since I have had my auto Surf. Never use the brakes, just select Low-Low 4WD and go for it. Even that day when it was muddy. Remember them..........ahhhhhhh muddy days!

[Kiwi]

Hi ya Sumo, I'm hiddin away here in deepest Bungay. Could you check out if those trucks are manuals or not - it would be most appreciated. Drove about 100 miles today Surf shopping for nothing but autos and hillbillies!! My time will come

Kiwi

[Andy Dawson]

The right answer to both questions is.....

Most Imports are autos 'cause that's what the people want.

Autos are technically better off road 'cause you never stop applying power to the wheels whilst changing gear, but if you drive properly and start off in the right gear.....where is the problem?

If I ever find a glacier in this country then may-be I'll look for an Auto box equipped motor!

Andy D. stirring it up