Buying an Auto - What to look for

Atlantic Dawn

I'm looking at getting an automatic car (my first) but having only driven a couple in my time and all just temporarily for a couple of days I have no idea how to know if the gearbox is on the way out or not. Any advise on what I should be looking for in a test drive? I'm thinking myself, try it at slow speed, forward reverse and give it some big acceleration to see it shifts smoothly in to gear both accelerating and slowing down, any other tips?

sanbrafyffe

your nickname is the name of a super trawler lol

Matt Simis

What car?
In addition to what you mentioned, listen for weird noises (well, any noise) from the box, try accelerate hard, brake then punch it again (might want to mention this plan first) also try feather the throttle around 40mph, as if you are trying move from 38 to 42mph continuously.
Drive at 60mph and let off the Accelerator immediately and suddenly and note if anything unusual happens.
Try drive up a steep hill gentley, aggressively and finally stop completely on the hill and pull away, (again gentley and then aggressively).

If you feel any "slams" in the drivetrain, the transmission has problems.
Excessive time between gear changes (or to Reverse) also a problem.
"Hunting", where the Auto cannot determine the correct gear to be in is a problem.

None of the above should be any issue for a working Auto tranny. Do not however try "burnoffs" by holding the brake with the left foot while pressing the accelerator at the same time.
Its normal for an Auto to have way less Engine Braking, it should coast and maintain speed with no Accelerator for a silly amount of time (compared to manuals).


PS: Aggressively really should be broken down to "pedal to the floor" and/or 3/4 throttle, sometimes firm aggressive driving hides problems, other times reveals them.

bryaner

Also look for a service history to see if the transmission oil was changed at the correct service intervals..

Atlantic Dawn

sanbrafyffe wrote: »

your nickname is the name of a super trawler lol

Yes our finest but now bought by the Dutch and called Annelies Ilena

Atlantic Dawn

Matt Simis wrote: »

What car?
In addition to what you mentioned, listen for weird noises (well, any noise) from the box, try accelerate hard, brake then punch it again (might want to mention this plan first) also try feather the throttle around 40mph, as if you are trying move from 38 to 42mph continuously.
Drive at 60mph and let off the Accelerator immediately and suddenly and note if anything unusual happens.
Try drive up a steep hill gentley, aggressively and finally stop completely on the hill and pull away, (again gentley and then aggressively).

If you feel any "slams" in the drivetrain, the transmission has problems.
Excessive time between gear changes (or to Reverse) also a problem.
"Hunting", where the Auto cannot determine the correct gear to be in is a problem.

None of the above should be any issue for a working Auto tranny. Do not however try "burnoffs" by holding the brake with the left foot while pressing the accelerator at the same time.
Its normal for an Auto to have way less Engine Braking, it should coast and maintain speed with no Accelerator for a silly amount of time (compared to manuals).


PS: Aggressively really should be broken down to "pedal to the floor" and/or 3/4 throttle, sometimes firm aggressive driving hides problems, other times reveals them.

Cheers, great tips there to check. I'm looking at something around the 2 litre mark, either a Lexus IS200 (I know a big fuel burner) or Nissan Maxima at the minute. Speed it not important to me, just want something that's not strugling and is nice and smooth.

Matt Simis

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Lexus IS200 (I know a big fuel burner

Heh, I think of all people Im the last one that would mention fuel economy..
Whats it get mpg-wise anyhow, cant be that bad?

Atlantic Dawn

Matt Simis wrote: »

Heh, I think of all people Im the last one that would mention fuel economy..
Whats it get mpg-wise anyhow, cant be that bad?

I'm hearing mid 20's, couple of posts about them here and people thought it was excessive for a 2 litre.

Matt Simis

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'm hearing mid 20's, couple of posts about them here and people thought it was excessive for a 2 litre.

For what I assume is 150-170bhp, thats not very good no. Chassis designed for larger, torquer engines possibly? The Auto will like make that car feel smooth but gutless.
For reference, a BMW 530i Touring (estate) Audi was getting us 28-30mpg and is 235bhp and IMO, the Auto also made that a bit weak sauce feeling (note: my perceptions maybe warped).

Atlantic Dawn

Matt Simis wrote: »

For what I assume is 150-170bhp, thats not very good no. Chassis designed for larger, torquer engines possibly?

Yes it's 160bhp, don't think it would be as heavy as the European equivalents but 160bhp in an auto on a car that size should be ok I am thinking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_G_engine#1G-FE

As well as the excellent advice above check the S mode if the car has one, in S mode when you floor it at even 20mph she should throw back into first and scream away to the red line.

The 2.0 Maxima would be substantially lighter on the go go juice than the Lexus, also more common and cheaper to buy so much more chance of getting a minty lovely one. Personally I reckon the Maxima is a nicer bus too.

Atlantic Dawn

RoverJames wrote: »

The 2.0 Maxima would be substantially lighter on the go go juice than the Lexus, also more common and cheaper to buy so much more chance of getting a minty lovely one. Personally I reckon the Maxima is a nicer bus too.

Yes Maxima is lovely spec if you can get it in leather, problem is finding a decent one, not many around that are not end of life taxis, the 9 year rule thing has stopped them flooding the market for me to pick one up cheap

sanbrafyffe

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Yes our finest but now bought by the Dutch and called Annelies Ilena

so do the mchughs not own her any more.do you fish on her

Atlantic Dawn

sanbrafyffe wrote: »

so do the mchughs not own her any more.do you fish on her

No it was sold in 2007. I don't fish on her, just a fan .

sanbrafyffe

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

No it was sold in 2007. I don't fish on her, just a fan .

ah right i nearly ended up on her in 2001.ive been through her when she was in killybegs.fine ship

unkel

sanbrafyffe wrote: »

so do the mchughs not own her any more

McHugh died (of CJD :eek:) and his estate sold the ship

Delancey

unkel wrote: »

McHugh died (of CJD :eek:) and his estate sold the ship

Yeah but am I right in saying that the even bigger Altantic ?? that was used to fish off Africa is still owned by the McHugh family.
(Biggest trawler flagged anywhere in the EU )

unkel

Delancey wrote: »

Yeah but am I right in saying that the even bigger Altantic ?? that was used to fish off Africa is still owned by the McHugh family.
(Biggest trawler flagged anywhere in the EU )

Altantic? Haven't heard of that one. The Atlantic Dawn was sold as posters said here and see the new name of the ship

Atlantic Dawn

Delancey wrote: »

Yeah but am I right in saying that the even bigger Altantic ?? that was used to fish off Africa is still owned by the McHugh family.
(Biggest trawler flagged anywhere in the EU on earth)

FYP

rabbitinlights

Matt Simis wrote: »

What car?
In addition to what you mentioned, listen for weird noises (well, any noise) from the box, try accelerate hard, brake then punch it again (might want to mention this plan first) also try feather the throttle around 40mph, as if you are trying move from 38 to 42mph continuously.
Drive at 60mph and let off the Accelerator immediately and suddenly and note if anything unusual happens.
Try drive up a steep hill gentley, aggressively and finally stop completely on the hill and pull away, (again gentley and then aggressively).

If you feel any "slams" in the drivetrain, the transmission has problems.
Excessive time between gear changes (or to Reverse) also a problem.
"Hunting", where the Auto cannot determine the correct gear to be in is a problem.

None of the above should be any issue for a working Auto tranny. Do not however try "burnoffs" by holding the brake with the left foot while pressing the accelerator at the same time.
Its normal for an Auto to have way less Engine Braking, it should coast and maintain speed with no Accelerator for a silly amount of time (compared to manuals).


PS: Aggressively really should be broken down to "pedal to the floor" and/or 3/4 throttle, sometimes firm aggressive driving hides problems, other times reveals them.

That's spot on, auto boxes should be smooooooooth.........

Just out of interest, what would happen if you held the brake down with your left foot and floored the throttle and then released the brake at say 5k rpm???

S.

Matt Simis

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Just out of interest, what would happen if you held the brake down with your left foot and floored the throttle and then released the brake at say 5k rpm???

It would burn off but at the cost of high wear on the box.
On a manual you do a burn off with the clutch disengaged (pedal in then out to go) but on an auto (without a proper launch control) you are actually in Drive mode already.

If you want to to do this Ive read is the better approach is to hold it to the Torque Convertor lockup point, usually much lower, around 2k rpm.

Esel

Something fishy about this thread.... :pac:

OP, check the transmission fluid (if there is a dipstick). It should be red. If it's brown/dark, or smells burnt, walk away.