Who makes the best automatics

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Thu 9 Sep 2010 22:17
Who makes the best automatics - bigmennie

Hi iam just wondering who makes the best automatic cars, iam looking at the mercedes e class, bmw 5 series and audi a6 mainly.

I want to know how reliable any of them are and how good they are.

Thanks

jason

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 9 Sep 2010 22:23
Who makes the best automatics - OldSkoOL

the auto on my 335d is pretty decent but i have to say my dads merc is a little better

The new BMW dual clutch (i think it is) is very very good

Not sure about audi's, never been keen on the chasis set up in manual form and the VAG DSG was good but nothing to shout about.

Merc

Bmw

Audi

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 10 Sep 2010 09:38
Who makes the best automatics - daveyjp
There are only a few manufacturers of torque convertor auto boxes.

The ZF box in Jaguar six cylinder diesels is a peach, also used in Peugeots and Citroen V6 diesels.

The tiptronic box (IIRC Aisin Warner) in my X type is also very good and is shared with BMW 4 cylinder diesels and other vehicles.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 10 Sep 2010 11:45
Who makes the best automatics - Pondlife

I've had experience of three auto boxes on recent cars (post 2000):

2000 Mercedes C Class W202

2001 Jaguar S-Type

2007 Honda CR-V

All were traditional autos with 5-speed gearbox. The Mercedes was by far the best out of the three.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 10 Sep 2010 19:35
Who makes the best automatics - peg

Have had quite afew autos over the years:

Hillman Minx, Ford Ganada,Honda600.Honda Civic,Honda Accord,Ausin Mini,Metro,Ambasador. Hyundai Getz.

Range Rover,XJ40,X300.S-type, All been without problems in my ownership most used cars except Civic, Accord ,Mini,&Getz. Just purchased new Hyundai Santa Fe auto 6speed,very good box, Push lever to left sport setting & change sequentialy when you stop reverts to 1st.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 12 Sep 2010 19:24
Who makes the best automatics - fredthefifth

What exactly is the measure for 'best'?

Reliability, speed, efficiency, smoothness, performance ....... ??

FTF

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 14 Sep 2010 00:08
Who makes the best automatics - bigmennie

Hi i want everything really speed isen't a problem but i would like my auto to be smooth and reliable mainly and economical as possible, iam a taxi driver and iam sick of changeing gear all the time so i need a reliable automatic.

Thanks

Jason

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 12 Sep 2010 20:22
Who makes the best automatics - SteveLee
Small/low torque cars aside most big cars use the same ZF gearboxes, i.e Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes. The only difference is in programming, Jaguar are generally considered to be the best in this area. Peugeot/Citroën generally use 1 or 2 generation old ZFs in their high end cars.

Lexus now use their own gearboxes in high torque applications.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 12 Sep 2010 21:15
Who makes the best automatics - fredthefifth

Programming?

Cost?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 13 Sep 2010 07:57
Who makes the best automatics - Chris79

I've just been driving a C Class auto and an A4 auto with a view to buying a new car. I think it all depend on the engine / gearbox combination. The C Class i drove was a C180K and I did not think that the auto box suited it at all. i tseemed to be constantly changing gears, due to what seemed to be a lack of in gear flexibility?.

The A4 however (2.0TDI) with a DSG box seemed excellent.

I guess though it will be different depending on what engine you choose, Also I think (?) some one the gearboxes have more rations than others - but I stand to be corrected on this.

Happy Hunting

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 13 Sep 2010 22:57
Who makes the best automatics - LikedDrivingOnce

Chris, when you say that you have been driving a new Audi A4 2.0 TDi, do you mean "new" as in "a different car for you", or "new" as in "brand new"?

The reason I ask is that Audi's website states that the automatic gearbox on the 2.0 TDi is the Multitronic type rather than the DSG type.

Googling "Multitronic Gearbox Problems" yields some very interesting results. It appears that the owners of cars with this gearbox love it when it is working, but are very peeved at its unreliability over the long-term.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 14 Sep 2010 11:30
Who makes the best automatics - TheOilBurner

Just to put a couple of points right on this thread....

PSA have been using (since 2005) the 6 speed Aisin TF80SC (PSA call it AM6) for all medium and high end engines, with a more recent low torque version for smaller engines.

The old ZF 4 speed autoboxes have been edged out and now not used at all AFAIK.

This is the same 6 speed auto as used by Mazda, Ford, Fiat, Saab, Volvo and Vauxhall. It's variously called AF40-6, AWF21, TF80, etc. Same internals, sometimes different casings.

I've driven/owned several cars with this box, and it's a fine box when it works. However, when it plays up it can be expensive to put right...

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 14 Sep 2010 21:44
Who makes the best automatics - Matt1952

Owned several autos over the years. My wife's Honda Jazz (2004) with the CVT auto is excellent.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 15 Sep 2010 10:14
Who makes the best automatics - Chris79

My mistake , it weas a multitronic box, Must have had DSG on the brain for some reason.

It was however, in my opinion a very good auto.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 15 Sep 2010 10:15
Who makes the best automatics - Chris79

Although if it was inherently unreliable then I may feel differently.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link