Hi - I would also go for a manual. I did an overland trip in a 4.2 TD auto and don't regret the choice of vehicle but DO wish it had been manual. Why? Mainly because I prefer manual anyway, but I also found the auto would overheat in desert conditions especially when on sand. And yes, you can fit an oil cooler, but that's extra expense.
There are also situations where you need to be able to give it a bit of extra power when you're pulling away eg when you're stuck. In a manual, this is easily done by giving it a bit of extra welly just before/as you let the clutch in. But with an auto, if you have the engine going any faster than idle speed when you put it into drive you get a nasty jolt and risk shock-loading bits of the transmission into oblivion..
overlandcruiser.net
Last edited by ilesmark; 3 Apr 2010 at 00:09.
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