Ban / Boycott Bmw!

[beet1e]

Originally posted by Siaf__csf
Beet1e if they changed to auto for longevity, it was for the longevity of the engine not the gearbox.

Ah, roger that.

So was I just lucky with my Toyota? It was a powerful car (150mph+) and I had no probs with the auto after 6½ years and 84,000 miles.

As for longevity - I had a Chev Camaro Type LT automatic when I was in the US in the early 80s. I did indeed have to  have a transmission rebuild which cost me $500, and it was guaranteed for 6 months.

However, a fellow Brit who also had a Chev Camaro, but a manual one (godawful column shift IIRC), had to have his transmission rebuilt - twice. It was $500 each time, and he only got a 1 month guarantee from Aamco. His take on it was that a manual transmission was more open to abuse than an auto - hence the shorter guarantee.

[hyena426]

However, a fellow Brit who also had a Chev Camaro, but a manual one (godawful column shift IIRC),

colum shift tranz are weak..allways have been.the linkage on column shifts allways bind up....top loaders are the tuffest and linkage ones second..autos are better for heavy traffic..but sticks get better gas milage..autos rob a little horse power

[Siaf__csf]

Well there are many variations with auto boxes as well as manual boxes. Some last some don't. Many US autos are extremely durable and cheap to repair. Most auto's used in euro cars are extremely expensive to repair which means the user should see extra care on its service.

For example a Mercedes-Benz transmission is supposed to be 'perma-lubed' meaning it doesn't need oil changes during its lifetime. Well I guess that's fine if you expect a lifetime of 200 000km max. Professional drivers change the tranny oils at 60 000 - 100 000km durations minimum.