Isuzu Dmax - auto or manual?

[FE35]

I'm looking for some opinions on the Dmax auto or manual gearboxes please? I've been offered either at same spec/price. I've driven auto's & liked them but never actually owned one! Work load is general running about to work etc, being a farm wheel barrow & some towing altho we tend to use the landrover for that. Which would you go for & why please?

 

[hobbsy]

I have an auto, love it, easy to tow with, good in traffic, just been to Carlisle and back with work, non towing and have averaged 35.6mpg I was doing 70 on my sat nav speed so not pushing on hard but I was impressed, at 40,000 miles it's opened up nicely

 

[Mursal]

Welsh Sheep Isuzu Club:
Apparently first gear in the manual box is to high for trailer work, so you have to slip the clutch.

 

[jhorr30]

I had an auto Dmax. Great for towing. Now have a ranger 3.2 auto and that is in a different league to the Isuzu. Feels planted to the road and unstressed. Have done about 300 miles of towing the last couple of days. 220 of them yesterday. Got out afterwards and felt fresh and relaxed.
After having 3 manual 4x4s and double cab pickups over the years and autos for the last 4 years I can safely say I don't think I will buy another manual 4x4 or pickup.

 

[Sparrow]

Borrowed a auto Dmax from our JD Dealer after leaving a tractor with them, it had done 103000 miles, what a lovely thing to drive we have a manual Isuzu rodeo, when it comes to change I will be looking at a auto!!!!!

 

[milkloss]

How do you get on off road with the auto? Always thought autos a bit numb when feeling for the wheel slip as you're never sure when you lose grip, usually end up like some mad amateur spinning wheels all over the shop and making things worse!

 

[Blue.]

Dmax auto in high range off road are great because of traction control.

I've had autos for 8 years now,no way I'd look at a manual.

 

[FE35]

Thanks all, looks like the auto is going to be the one then - sort of glad as the manual is white & looks a bit gypo! I've tried the Ranger & whilst a nice motor it felt huge & the deal was crap[emoji53]

 

[davidroberts30]

I got a denver auto
Auto all the way

 

[Elpresidente]

I used to have a manual Isuzu Rodeo had it for 5 faultless years and loved it. I've now got an automatic D Max and it's simply in a different league it's an amazingly comfortable vehicle with a smooth ride (didn't like the blade version with wide low profile tyres which made it very fidgety on crap Welsh roads) Fuel economy on local roads is around 30mpg but I have easily achieved 40mpg on dual carriageway/motorway with speed between 60 and 70 mph.

 

[FE35]

I used to have a manual Isuzu Rodeo had it for 5 faultless years and loved it. I've now got an automatic D Max and it's simply in a different league it's an amazingly comfortable vehicle with a smooth ride (didn't like the blade version with wide low profile tyres which made it very fidgety on crap Welsh roads) Fuel economy on local roads is around 30mpg but I have easily achieved 40mpg on dual carriageway/motorway with speed between 60 and 70 mph.

Interesting about the ride in the blade - the 2 I've been offered are blades. The spec/deal is what got me interested in them as I wasn't really looking for top of the range! I'm going for another test drive this afternoon so I'll try a Utah as well. Cheers

 

[Mursal]

Sort of glad as the manual is white & looks a bit gypo! [emoji53]

.....................

 

[hally]

Depends on how tight you are, auto uses more fuel but we thought the manual box was rubbish so went with the auto. No regrets

 

[Elpresidente]

Depends on how tight you are, auto uses more fuel but we thought the manual box was rubbish so went with the auto. No regrets

One thing I forgot to mention which swung the decision towards an auto was the fact that I'm six foot three and when I test drove a manual the gear lever was knocking against my knee like an old fourtrak. Don't know why or what Isuzu have done as the gear-lever in my old rodeo missed my knee completely

 

[Mursal]

You getting taller ............

 

[Elpresidente]

You getting taller ............

Haha

 

[gjm]

A friend of mine had a D-Max Auto and it was brilliant off road.

 

[jhorr30]

A friend of mine had a D-Max Auto and it was brilliant off road.

Maybe it was just the driver! (And a decent set of tyres)

 

[Sheep shifter]

Sorry to bring this one up again but how do the autos handle hill what are they like going up and more to the point going down? Do they want to run away.

 

[tractorbob]

TBH I didn't like the Dmax auto at all and went manual. I found it to feel very old fashioned after driving more modern auto gearboxes?