Member Since: 07 Sep 2010
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 50
Which D3 to buy? Automatic or manual?
Hi, guys, I can't beleive how popular this forum seems to be!! Really good to read.
I am about to buy a D3, but only have £15k. I really want a D3, as I have heard bad stories about the D2 with the wheel on the back door, with 3 young kids, I don't want them getting trapped if the wind blows it shut, anyway.....
The car will mainly be used for:-
towing a 1800Kg caravan (UK holidays)
Local town driving.
It looks like I can find an 05 / 55 D3 with about 80k+ miles for my money. I like that year as it is the lower tax bracket!
I have only ever driven an auto twice in my life and was looking for users advice or which is better manual or auto, especially given what I want it to do, and the age / mileage.
Looking forward to any comments.
Thanks
9th Sep 2010 8:19 am
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Hi, welcome to the forum!
I am from peterborough-ish too, there are a few people in the local area!
I have a manual, and chose a manual after having a bad test drive in an auto, which put me off completely. Although looking back I wish I had chosen to test an auto when I was in a better mood as I think I would have bought one instead. The manual box is fine - nice change, very smooth but I think the lazy driving style of the D3 deserves the auto box. I sometimes tow a car trailer and that too makes me wish I'd bought an Auto!
Hope that is of some use!
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9th Sep 2010 8:25 am
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
the auto is great.
i always said I would neve ever, ever, ever buy a diesel or an auto. Guess what Duncan
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9th Sep 2010 8:42 am
Dexter
Member Since: 21 Sep 2007
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 1391
Just coming to the end of three years with a manual which has been fantastic, I also tow an 1800Kg tintent and the manual has been great in all conditions, no probs whatsoever.
Having said that I am looking forward to moving into an Auto very soon , in all honesty I believe the auto is the way to go for the type of car
Whatever you opt for you'll love it.
9th Sep 2010 9:03 am
bobbroom
Member Since: 14 May 2009
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 177
I've owned both an auto and a manual. The auto gearbox is pretty responsive even when you are in a hurry. The gearchange in the manual is not notchy at all. The 6 speed box is very well sutied to the car. Obviously you'll get a few more MPG out if it. All boils down personal preference. For me the older I get the lazier my left foot becomes....
Last edited by bobbroom on 9th Sep 2010 9:14 am. Edited 1 time in total
here's my tuppenceworth:
AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTO AUTONow an ex-D3 owner after 7 happy years. Miss the car but not the big bills
9th Sep 2010 9:46 am
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
I have had a manual D3 and an auto D4 and tow a large T/A caravan. I said maual all the way when I brough the D3 but after having two clutches in the D3 in 10 days and now having a D4 auto there is NO contest Auto Auto Auto all the way from here on in.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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9th Sep 2010 9:56 am
geoff.
Member Since: 24 Jan 2010
Location: West kent
Posts: 8531
i have never been a great lover of auto,s but after getting my D3 auto i dont think i could ever go back to a manual its just so nice to drive.
ps must add its the best towing car i have ever had
9th Sep 2010 10:01 am
TallPaul
Member Since: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Near Reading
Posts: 1214
Never buy any car with an auto.
Unless its a D3/4....
(we have a manual, its great, we get much better consumption, but doing it all again would go for an auto for convenience as its a big old rig...)
Automatic of course. There are more interesting things to do than shifting. And the D3's gearbox is not bad. Works very well off road too.The older I get, the better I was.
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9th Sep 2010 10:13 am
GlosBoy
Member Since: 16 Oct 2009
Location: Chandlers Ford
Posts: 2444
Drive an auto merc all week so really look forward being allowed to drive SWMBO's manual D3 at the weekends.
She test drove the Auto and was lethal especially in Waitrose car park when trying to manouvre the thing around.
It's such a light manual gear box it is a pleasure to drive.
Plus, I like the extra MPG I get. Actually get about 30MPG which is the same average as my Auto Merc
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Member Since: 12 Jul 2010
Location: USA
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Auto.....and you can use Command Shift to simulate the experience of a manual. 17 Discovery 5 HSE Si6, Fuji White on brown | 07 LR3 SE 4.4 Java Black on Alpaca
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9th Sep 2010 12:17 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
GlosBoy wrote:
really look forward being allowed to drive SWMBO's manual D3 at the weekends.
GlosBoy, had you partaken in too much acoholic beverage at the time of writting.....?
Auto for pretty much most of the population. With such a good Auto box, it's no suprise that the majority of D3 sales are Auto. Oh and just look at the D4 and can you find the 3l Manual yet.....? No, because they know what people should be driving Bodsys Brake Bible
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9th Sep 2010 12:28 pm
mik
Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Skoatland
Posts: 912
I'm a massive fan of manual boxes on performance cars, love to heel & toe smoothe shifts and and thought I'd never get an auto.
The weight / character D3 really suits it however. Shame you lose a few mpg. And since the D3 is wifeys, then technically speaking I haven't yet for an auto....
Best suggestion is to try and test drive both and see what you think......
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, in all honesty I believe the auto is the way to go for the type of car 
