When I was told my new truck would be automatic, I was a little sceptical about them on liquid, however after two laps of the yard, my mind was made up and I wouldn’t want any manual shift lorry now, on any job, there is too much congestion to be creeping along with a clutch pedal for 20 miles every day.
It wasn’t my first experience of one. I drove an Iveco with an auto box which I loved, my first one though was a Scania 112 in 1984, that was total crap. The world moves on, yet nothing changes 
one problem with an auto, you jump in your car at the end of the week and stall at the first junction 
(does not apply if you drive an auto car 
)
dave75:
bowser:
and when i was bus driving years ago i had the urge to stop at bus stops in the car whenever anyone put a hand out .Ha ha what a nightmare!
Yep, also done that myself, actually stopped in my works uniform in the car with a bus behind beeping, flashing and the ■■■■ taking lasted weeks, kirb crawling jokes etc…
bubsy06:
p.s. what does the e/p button and the button on the back do on a volvo gearstick?
P = Performance (lol) and it’ll hold gears longer and things, E = Economy.
But, in all honesty, it just changes the symbol on the dash and the numbers next to the mpg fiction.
auto for me
I’m still not sure.
I was given the keys to a brand new, full auto Merc Actros 480 at the beginning of this year.
The wagon I had before it was a 'telligent with a clutch pedal.but otherwise the same.
I liked the clutch pedal version and I like this full auto.
Are either of them better than a manual ? I’m still not sure.
The full auto is simpler to drive though.
By now I think most of us have figured out that a truck hasn’t got eyes.
You have eyes and in most auto’s you can change gears as you want. If you leave an auto truck to change gears as it has to, you aren’t a driver any more, your a passenger with a steering wheel.
If you claim to be a driver, drive the thing.
Busby, E/P button is economy or power. If your in hilly country if you press the button , it comes up as P on the dash and changes quicker and stays higher up the rev range.
@ bubsy06
The E/P button is Economy or Performance mode. The button on the back of the I-shift box is a limp home function which reduces engine and road speed.
when driving along at 56 pressing the power button on the volvo means it changes down at about 55 or 54 instead of 50 when on economy. makes a big difference if you press it at the foot of a hill. i found the renault gearbox to be a lot better than the i shift. truck was a couple of years newer tho.
p.s. auto every time if theres a danger of slow traffic.
bowser:
cliffton 27:
after driving a scani with opti cruse all day i have got back in my car an tried to put it in gear the same way only to set the wipers offi have the habbit of waggling my left leg looking for exhaust brake when i get in my car …
and when i was bus driving years ago i had the urge to stop at bus stops in the car whenever anyone put a hand out .
must have taken u hrs to get home i also can have a habit of stroking the dash in my car looking for a handbrake that is not there 
I keep putting the wipers on in the car looking for the exhaust brake on a Merc
bubsy06:
semi-auto for me
daf is crap but the volvo ishift is slightly better, they will always suffer from the fact that they cant see upcoming hills etc at least as they are semi-auto you can change gear before the box decides to.
p.s. what does the e/p button and the button on the back do on a volvo gearstick?
do you mean the power button on the back of the box 
manual for me too dont like any auto but some are better than others 
bubsy06:
semi-auto for me
daf is crap but the volvo ishift is slightly better, they will always suffer from the fact that they cant see upcoming hills etc at least as they are semi-auto you can change gear before the box decides to.
p.s. what does the e/p button and the button on the back do on a volvo gearstick?
If you look behind the back of the I-Shift box you’ll also see an “L” button, which is Limp Home mode.
Richard
Currently a bus driver so fully automatics all day for me, but also driven manual buses and coaches. Ironically I always asked for a manual bus or coach when doing an early shift (if possible) because me and early mornings don’t have a very good relationship - the manual 'box always kept me alert for the whole journey as I couldn’t switch off for too long, saved many a dose off!!
Richard
rare to find a new truck with a manual nowadays ! Although rob wookey wasnt impressed when Scania said a new R730 was auto only
for me now it auto is the way forward , i’m on farm delivery & if i can use it in tight confined areas i cant see a negative argument for them on any other application, the old ‘ah but i have more controll with a manual’ is redundant auto boxes are getting better all the time , if you dont fight it , you’ll get it .
Unfortunately i’ve gone from an I-Shift to a 3 pedal opticruse which for me is a step backwards & that harks back to the days of scania not wanting to ailienate older drivers feeling their age & blind belief that manual is best .
Rob K:
Manual every time. Proper gearbox for proper drivers. Autos are for steering wheel attendants that have no interest in the job.
funny i was talking to a proper driver the other day , done the M/E thing back in the 70’s & euro up till the 90’s on uk work since 2003 now in semi retirement driving 3-4 days a week, & wishing he had an auto all those years back , that way he wouldn’t of had his hips replaced from all that gearchanging , he loves the merc auto he drives now & wouldn’t entertain a manual box now as he said ‘thats old news & good ridance. It made an easy job hard work’
cant argue with that
Whatever I get paid to drive
I like the volvo, or an allison.
Not so much the other automated manuals they use, but if you pay me…I will drive.
If I get a manual scania, I will start it and let it idle for a few minutes in the morning, as they are really slow,notchy and grumpy when cold (like me) 
I driven foden 12 speed, erf with twin split,these were the best but I now drive volvo I shift , to go back to a gear stick it would be like fitting wooden wheels.
Saaamon:
Its hardly a skill using gears…
That sounds like an invite to start another ‘Twin Splitter’ thread!
Luv my auto No more stiff left arm & leg
limeyphil:
bristolron:
Manual for me. Spent 2 years with a MAN.but now he’s single, so that’s why he’s had to go to manual.
LOLOLOLOL