Towing with an Automatic

After years of towing with manual gearbox cars, medical problems "forced" a change to an auto box last year, (kia sportage) and the diference in modern autos compared to years ago, makes me wish I had changed before even in cruise control the auto box is far superior  to a manual ,the higher road fund tax band is well worth it 

Ford's Powershift is an automated manual and is similar to VAGs DSG ... if you Google it, you'll see it's not without its problems. Mercs use a conventional slushbox torque converter auto. You need to drive both to get a feel of how they driver differently from each other.

Torque converter slushbox every time for me ..... I've only been driving for 40 yrs and about 30 of them have been with an auto. 2 feet ... 2 pedals 

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Can't comment on the cars you mentions but in support of the idea of towing with an automatic my last two towcars, before changing to a motorhome, were automatics. Initially I was reluctant because of previous bad experience with a Vauxhall auto but the two Kia Sorento's were spot on. We towed all over Europe with them and they never missed a beat. Encountered all sorts of roads, even up in the mountains and the auto box coped really well.

David

Curious as to the problems with your Vauxhall  .... I had a couple of 3.0 Senators & a 3.0 Omega, all autos & had no problems at all with them (only towed with the 24v Senny & Omega) despite their  4 speed gearboxes being fairly antiquated by modern auto standards.

Hi, my current tow vehicle is a 2016 Ford Edge Sport 210 with Fords Powershift auto box,for me this is a huge improvement over the 6 speed manual box I had in my 2011 Ford S-Max.

I find it best to tow in Sport mode as this doesn't seem to hang on to the gears as long.

 

Dean.

I've towed in both the UK and all over France with a Powershift  automatic Mondeo for the last 8 years (two different cars) with absolutely no problem. They have both been a dream to drive and, in my opinion, excellent towcars. Average mpg solo = 48  average towing = 31.(1350kg caravan).

I've towed all across the UK with a 7 speed Mercedes torque converter auto (two different cars) with absolutely no problem. Excellent towcars ..... 😉

I'm just relating what the Interweb says & have never driven one (though I wasn't keen on a VW DSG)  

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/64745/ford-powershift-gearbox-fault---unacceptable-issue- and there seem to be many in the States that are unhappy. But each to their own.

Just ensuring that Sandgroper realises that comparing the two cars mentioned is like comparing apples with oranges .... they're the same, but different.

I have been towing with VAG 'automatics' (ie there are only 2 pedals!) for the past 10 years - a Passatt and 2 x Tiguans.  Over at least 60k miles towing with them, over the Alps down to Croatia etc,  I have never had any problems.  Both your options seem to be excellent tow cars so give them a good trial and make your choice.  Autos are excellent tow cars.

The latest Ford powershifts are TC boxes from about 2016. I have driven and towed with 2 cars with VAG  DSG well over 100k miles. If serviced properly there isnt a problem with the wet clutch versions however best to avoid the dry clutch types.