Have driven/drove a couple on odd days over the years but now have one full time.
The only advantage of driving one (imo) is that it makes it easier to roll a ciggie on the move.
Are there any other plus points?
Depends on the box, the volvo i shift is widely accepted as one of the best around.
But even an autobox needs some manual control from time to time, look at how it reacts under heavy loaded conditions and over time you will get the most out the motor, Cause you can just slam it in auto and forget about it but little things like using the engine / exhaust brake and letting the auto change down to reduce speed thus prolonging brake life is worth a try. Admittedly not as essential as the old days but still a good technique to develop.
Perhaps even switching to manual and holding a gear for a little bit longer or if the auto is trying to change up to quick based on road conditions dont be afraid of knocking her down manually or holding that gear.
A lot of autos only react to what is happening whereas the driver can react to what is about to happen.
Jumping from motor to motor may make this more tricky but once you have your own motor for a while you will become familiar with its quirks… i.e mine for example loves to jump from 12 to 10 on a semi steep gradient when fully loaded however this can be a PITA as 10 is to low if the slope isn’t to long so I drop her to 11 and the auto agrees and doesn’t bother trying for 10.
Course dropping mine a gear at the same time as the auto computer decides too can lead to a 2 gear drop and me thinking I should have just left her to it… 
Suedehead:
Have driven/drove a couple on odd days over the years but now have one full time.
The only advantage of driving one (imo) is that it makes it easier to roll a ciggie on the move.
Are there any other plus points?
nope.
what motor is it in and how many will be driving it as some you can train where they remember when You would rather them to change within a particular rev band
Its in a Merc antos 2530.12 speed.
Must be set up for economy because it never seems to stray out of the green on the rev counter.
Not a bad thing i suppose but frec me,it makes pulling onto roundabouts interesting to say the least.
Bring back the ole EPS . . . . not!!
One of the major advantages of an automatic gearbox is that your left shoe doesn’t wear out as quick today as your right,this allows you to visit
your High street retailer and to steal an identical right shoe thereby reducing your annual expenditure on shoes.
At my last job I drove an 18 tonne Merc Antos auto 8 speed.
Very often screamed its ■■■■ off when it got confused and tried to drop too many gears,or as you correctly say,just managed to ■■■■ everyone off at roundabouts when you pull out and it takes forever to get going.
Piece of German [zb].
Suedehead:
Its in a Merc antos 2530.12 speed.
Must be set up for economy because it never seems to stray out of the green on the rev counter.
Not a bad thing i suppose but frec me,it makes pulling onto roundabouts interesting to say the least.
Bring back the ole EPS . . . . not!!
My actros has a ‘Power’ button on the dash that will hold the gear for longer and a manual overide switch which helps, also should kick down if you put the pedal to the metal.
Roundabouts can be tricky as mine throws a neutral now and again but could be a fault (with me or the truck).
Armagedon:
One of the major advantages of an automatic gearbox is that your left shoe doesn’t wear out as quick today as your right,this allows you to visit
your High street retailer and to steal an identical right shoe thereby reducing your annual expenditure on shoes.
Do they do size 11 slingbacks?
Armagedon:
One of the major advantages of an automatic gearbox is that your left shoe doesn’t wear out as quick today as your right,this allows you to visit
your High street retailer and to steal an identical right shoe thereby reducing your annual expenditure on shoes.
+1
However the extra wear on my right boot throws my tracking out to give the appearence of an agency driver carrying the usual limp, albeit without the permanent hi-viz and bluetooth earpiece setup.
Suedehead:
Armagedon:
One of the major advantages of an automatic gearbox is that your left shoe doesn’t wear out as quick today as your right,this allows you to visit
your High street retailer and to steal an identical right shoe thereby reducing your annual expenditure on shoes.
Do they do size 11 slingbacks?
Yes- even size 12
Dave. Re; agency worker.
You forgot the Lidl carrier bag.
Suedehead:
Have driven/drove a couple on odd days over the years but now have one full time.
The only advantage of driving one (imo) is that it makes it easier to roll a ciggie on the move.
Are there any other plus points?
None just a standard gearbox and clutch but a thick “processor” decides when to change gear.
Just replaced a human moron(driver) with an electric moron (processor)
My Renault is auto and I love it.
Suedehead:
Have driven/drove a couple on odd days over the years but now have one full time.
The only advantage of driving one (imo) is that it makes it easier to roll a ciggie on the move.
Are there any other plus points?
Depends if you just want to stick it in gear and go or whether you actually want to take the time and learn how to drive them?
Coffeeholic:
Depends if you just want to stick it in gear and go or whether you actually want to take the time and learn how to drive them?
Having served my time on crash boxes and eaton twin splitters, selecting D and pressing the throttle has its appeal. The DAFs we drive go even further with hill descent speed control so they’ll automatically brake on downhills. Quite impressive as it’ll hold 44 tonnes coming down off Stainmore.
Radar19:
My Renault is auto and I love it.
Does it have the 2 stage throttle , normal and power ? Our 18 tonner has this but the artic doesn’t.
Coffeeholic:
Suedehead:
Have driven/drove a couple on odd days over the years but now have one full time.
The only advantage of driving one (imo) is that it makes it easier to roll a ciggie on the move.
Are there any other plus points?Depends if you just want to stick it in gear and go or whether you actually want to take the time and learn how to drive them?
Seeing as i was given the keys ,by a rather smartly dressed sales rep,then loaded up and went about my buisness(spolling) and had a days work ahead of me,i thought it best to crack on.
Been driving lorries for 32 years and was never given time out how to drive them.
Some better than others, apart from Volvo’s offering which is very good the rest are so so IMO.
Worth learning the ratios and idiocyncracies if you have a ZF (MAN< DAF< Iveco) or Scania, for all of them drive much better in manual than they do in auto, especially when using the exhaust brake.
So in summary, the only good thing about them is the satisfaction of taking over, driving it in manual and beating the computer in fuel consumption and progress made, other than that they’re horrible things utterly useless for close manoeuvering (Volvo excepted)…and no i’m not talking about putting a supermarket trailer on a bay in a 40 acre level yard with a 3 ton load of bog rolls on board, i’m talking about serious almost jack knife work in steep confined places fully loaded.
Gillberry:
Radar19:
My Renault is auto and I love it.Does it have the 2 stage throttle , normal and power ? Our 18 tonner has this but the artic doesn’t.
Oh yes. Its great when I’m empty and I just floor it, leaves most cars behind.
Gillberry:
Radar19:
My Renault is auto and I love it.Does it have the 2 stage throttle , normal and power ? Our 18 tonner has this but the artic doesn’t.
Our artic premiums have them, but the DAF artics don’t have a kick down…
Saying that we have no Renault rigids (2 DAF 18t, 1 LF 12t and an MAN 7.5t)