Quote Originally Posted by aldo10 View Post
I have never driven the manual version but I am kind of glad I didn't so I don't know what I'm missing. I got an auto because it's mainly the missus wheels. I find it quite boring as I need to change gears. To get a fix I drive my high performance non turbo diesel Hilux.
You are missing one of the sweetest shifting manual gearboxes in the business, better acceleration and sharper throttle response. The only issue is that the driveline can lurch at low speeds/RPM in first if you're not careful with the clutch/throttle.

Fuel economy is much of a wash, the Honda automatics do very well for fuel economy.

Quote Originally Posted by aldo10 View Post
Seriously though I did ask Honda about the manual box when I bought it and they said you are generally up for a clutch at around 150 to 200K and they are not a cheap item. Are they pulling my leg? I thought that was a bit lowish. I sold my Landcruiser with 300K on the clock and the original clutch. I reckon it's all about driving style. My wife sold her Pulsar with 350K on the original clutch.
Seriously, getting more than 300,000 km out of a clutch is extraordinary. It all depends on how you drive it and how kind you are on the clutch, you and your wife must do a lot of highway driving or be extremely gentle on your clutches and take off driving downhill all the time If you get more than 160,000km out of a clutch, that's pretty good.

While Honda Automatic transmissions are reliable, I would still expect servicing costs for an automatic to be higher over the life of the vehicle, and when you factor in that you have to pay a $2,300 premium up front for the automatic, a cost to replace the manual clutch 10 years down the track doesn't sound so bad.

- HZ