Soon to buy 855 T5 - auto or manual?

I am a newbie and have read nearly all the posts on the 850 forum. You guys are real nice, and as yet I have seen none of the puerile bickering that most other BBs that I have looked at seem to be plagued by.

Anyway, I am really excited about very soon going out to buy my first T5 and my first Volvo. Budget means I will likely go down the ex-police route. Now I have read all your comments on this topic and taken them all on board, but my question is....which is better - the auto or manual. I have had several people say that a manual box on a T5 would have taken more of a bashing than an auto. But is the auto option gonna give me the best out of the T5, apart from the cruise control?

Also, did the plods ever use auto boxes on the T5s?

Any comments would be eagerly and gratefully received. The wife doesn't understand my little-boy-like anticipation of owning one of these, and for that I will probably not let her drive it!

get an auto the novelty will soon were off if you do get a manual.

[sholtby]

Unless you do a lot of city driving I'd go for a manual.

Simon

[Simon Linton]

As you can see, both types of box have their fans and I think rightly.

The earlier auto boxes are quite as much fun as the manuals since you can use them as clutchless changers and get plenty of acceleration in sport - or hooligan - mode.

However the manual box does give you that extra edge, so if you want the ultimate in performance, manual is the way to go.

Parking and town driving is of course much easier with an auto box and the trade likes them too, upping the car's resale value.

The latest Rs make the choice very easy - the auto box even with Tiptronic removes all the urge and fun - manual is the only shifter worth having there in my opinion.

dont let the tail wag the dog! manual every time you know it makes sense, save the auto for when your arthritic knees give you no choice.

[judgeman]

I'm with Simon on this one. Having owned Volvo's for 10 years, my first a 340, and all manual, I was adamant that my next car would be an auto. I hate being stuck in a traffic jam in town having to mess about with a clutch.

Back in July I'd decided I was going to change my very reliable 440SE, and an 850 T5 was the goal. My local independant garage had one come up so I took it for a test drive.

It's an 'S' version - part leather, electric everything, air con (albeit knackered!), and manual. Ah, not what I wanted. But the thing was the garage offered me a good PX on the 440, and the T5 was a good price. So I bought it anyway, a white T5 virtually mint condition (especially now I've T-cut it!), though with 123,000miles on the clock - only just run in really.

If I'm honest, I would still have gone for an auto. But that's not to say I don't want the manual. It's an easy car to drive (once you get used to the turning circle after a small car like a 440!) and even being stuck in traffic I have not found it tiresome or a bother being a manual. Weighed up against some reports I'd heard about traction issues with the auto 'box, and the versatility I have being a manual, I would definitely say don't let the gear box put you off. It's robably more important to have a reliable car.

I'm currently taking lessons for my advanced driving test, my instructor a Police driver who is used to T5s. Although I have not driven an auto T5, I certainly find the manual box excellent at controlling the car and making good progress through the traffic.

So there you are. The choice - as they say - is yours!

Whochever you decide to go for, I hope you end up with a T5 you've dreamt of, and have as much fun as I do owning and driving it.

[Philip Fisher]

In answer to your question, the police use both Manuals and Autos.

I have an ex-police manual and wouldn't go for an auto. They sap power and will be more expensive to maintain in the long run. I always feel that you lose the edge and the total control with an Auto. I do drive round town and never find the manual a pain. But hey, I am 28, and maybe I will think differently when I am 48.....

[burchi]

I'm with you Phillip on this one. I'm in the middle of Phillip's stated age bands (38) and when I bought my V70 R AWD I looked long and hard until I got a manual. I like the fact that I am in control of what gear I'm in and not dictated to my a power robbing torque convertor! Then, if it's wrong, I've only got myself to blame.

By subscribing to this excellent forum, you are already halfway there to being a T5 addict!! The rest will follow when you get your car of choice and you have got the smile off your face long enough to post a report. Choose carefully, there are some rough ones around and a bad one can be a costly one. Most of all, whatever you choose, I hope you have as much fun and enjoyment as I have with my "old man's car"!!!!!

Let us know how you go!

Guys, thanks so much for your thoughts. I am going to probably hope for a manual, but if the right car comes up on an auto then I won't ignore it. I have driven an auto, but sadly, the guy who took me out in it must have thought I was a time waster and we stayed in town traffic. Well, his loss.

I smile every time I see an 850 on the road, and if it happens to be a T5, I almost want to stop the car and say, "cool car!". Soon....

Hi there
I have an S70 T5 auto and I too looked lonk and hard at both boxes. I found that with the manual box most cars were very high milage and some you could tell that the turbo was on its way out. Dont get me wrong, not all manuals are this way just the ones I looked at (and I looked at a few) but in the end I found a nice 97 S70 T5 SE Auto with 74000 miles on the clock. Yes the lock up on the auto box is a pain and steels the show (only just) but if your clutch control isnt up to scratch you will just spin the wheels in a manual taking longer to accelerate away than an auto.....;)

Anyway the choice is yours. Either version wont dissapoint

Cheers

Matt

97 S70 T5 SE Auto