Shogun not available in manual?

[FonterraFarmer]

I've done some 100 miles in a six speed manual today. Skipping gears as often as not. Going up hill in a hurry I might skip from second to fourth to sixth, usually fourth to sixth or third to fifth, depending on the road. Never started in second, although sometimes do when starting off downhill.
If you have a six speed box and a good flexible diesel engine and don't skip gears, I draw my own conclusion. I love nice flexible torquey diesels with six speeds, but certainly don't change either up or down through every ratio every time I start, stop, or accelerate. Why would anyone do so? Its not a sequential gearbox which doesn't give you any other choice, and the driver's brain is usually capable of far more sophisticated shifting than even the best computer controlled automatic.


Maybe many drivers do treat their manual gearboxes as sequential units and do shift up and down every ratio through the box all the time, I don't know. It certainly isn't at all necessary in normal varied driving conditions.

Suddenly driving a Valiant sound easy

 

[Cowabunga]

It either comes naturally or it doesn't I suppose.

 

[Drillman]

I really like autos and for several years ran V8 auto discos. Not the fastest things on the planet but nice relaxed motors that could pick up the pace when needed. so when the last V8 I had was about knackered and with the price of lpg rising I got a disco td5 auto. what a useless dozy heap of shite that was.

some engines suit auto some don't.

 

[Cowabunga]

I really like autos and for several years ran V8 auto discos. Not the fastest things on the planet but nice relaxed motors that could pick up the pace when needed. so when the last V8 I had was about knackered and with the price of lpg rising I got a disco td5 auto. what a useless dozy heap of shite that was.

some engines suit auto some don't.

Its the way they are programmed. Also in the case of your RR, I had a 1986 automatic that was my first automatic car. It was fairly sluggish though.
The same transmission, but with a quieter transfer box, was fitted to later Disco 300TDi models. Still only a four speed.
My Land Cruiser is only a four speed and would benefit greatly from two extra ratios, but I get on well with it and have done for the last 17+ years.
The Ranger pickup goes well with its six speed transmission. One oddity is the fairly large gap between second and third ratios, only noticed when towing 2 to 3.5 tons up steep hills. In these circumstances it could do with an extra ratio or two. So eight or nine speed transmissions is the way forward but, as mentioned, its not a massive issue. I just drive what I've got or what is available and enjoy each for their unique abilities or character.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

It either comes naturally or it doesn't I suppose.

Yes.

 

[Mouser]

Discussion over, I did say he wanted a manual!