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Question: Towng with an Automatic Car
alan Myland
 
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Posted on 12 May 2013 16:25

Last month we sold “Kitty” our faithful Nissan X-Trail and bought a new automatic VW Passat Estate (“Muffin”) as the family car.. I know that these are a very popular tow car but we did not have a tow bracket fitted as we do all our towing with our campervan (“The RoadRunner”).

Last Friday night I was stuck in heavy traffic that was crawling along at a speed varying between that which is suitable for 1st and 2nd gear, so it kept changing up and down. To prevent it changing up into second I put it into the Tip-Tronic setting and selected first gear.

As I was idly looking around the car I noticed the Sport mode, a function that I don’t use as I like to drive economically. However it occurred to me that by using this setting the gearbox would retain each gear for a higher rev range. To cut a long story short I selected sport mode and it worked as it hung onto first gear longer and therefore reduced the number of gear changes considerably.

After a few more minutes in traffic it occurred to me that the car would probably be a better tow car if you used the sports mode when towing as it would hold onto each gear for a higher speed before changing up. In other words don’t necessarily use the sports function to rev the nuts of it in between the gear changes for fast acceleration, but drive it a little more leisurely and benefit from the apparent increase in torque by it changing up later.

I cannot try it out personally as we do not tow with this car, but it’s a suggestion for similar type car owners. Anyway you are probably all aware of this already and tow with it in sports mode anyway?

Am I trying to teach my granny to suck eggs?

Regards

Alan
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Posted on 06 Jun 2013
With diesels the torque is at much lower revs than petrol so the sport mode on auto boxes basically just increases the revs before changing gear. Its therefore more economical to drive in economy when towing.
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Brian Lockyer
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#2
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Posted on 24 Aug 2013
Hi Alan I am a massive fan of automatic cars. Years ago I did a USA road trip in a Auto. After that I just could not see the point of a manual. All my cars since then have been autos. My tow car is and all my company cars where up until I retire. I have had 3 Passat autos. Must admit to be being a lazy driver I just stick it in D and drive towing or solo. Never had a problem never really use spot unless I want a bit of fun. Regards MikePosted by Mike Hawker today at 15:52
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Posted on 12 May 2013
Hi Alan, I drive a VW Touareg 2.5Tdi Automatic. Seems like a good idea, I'll give it a go next time we go touring, which will be in July. I'll keep my eye on this posting to see what other people come up with.

Regards
Ray
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Hi Alan
I am a massive fan of automatic cars. Years ago I did a USA road trip in a Auto. After that I just could not see the point of a manual. All my cars since then have been autos. My tow car is and all my company cars where up until I retire. I have had 3 Passat autos.
Must admit to be being a lazy driver I just stick it in D and drive towing or solo. Never had a problem never really use spot unless I want a bit of fun.
Regards
Mike Posted by Mike Hawker on 24 Aug 2013
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Posted on 17 May 2013
Hi
I tow with a 3.0l diesel Jaguar XF automatic. Don't bother with sports mode - it uses more fuel and the engine copes admirably in conventional drive.
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Hello Chris Thanks for your comment. You are obviously right your 3 litre Jag is powerful enough not to need to use sports mode for normal towing. Sports mode may assist those with smaller engines though. Regards. Alan
Posted by alan Myland on 18 May 2013
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I used to tow with a 2.5 X type petrol auto before that - 18mpg - didn't use sports mode then either. Posted by Chris Orme on 18 May 2013
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Posted on 18 Jul 2013
Hi
I use my car in sports mode mercedes c class petrol, i have tried comfort vs sport mode and the fuel usage is Negligible.however s mode seemed to give me better acceleration.


Stuart.
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