Automatic - good or bad?

[deltic]

Well, 1986cc is a 2.0 engine, so you were correct there!

Around town there's not much problem, but then a 2CV is probably quick enough around town. My BX 16 auto (early mk1) struggled once you got out of town. There was a million rpm drop between each gear shift, and it was always inbetween them, especially on the motorway. Can't remember if it was smooth or not (I think it was) but IMO the 1.6 engine just isn't flexible enough. I had to cain it to overtake anybody on the motorway, or make progress up hills, and that just ruined the economy. I expect a 1.9 would be much, much better, and a TD would probably be an ideal combo. Just a shame they never made them.

Around town there's not much problem Isn't that anywhere in the UK nowadays?! It's not until you go somewhere like France that you realise just how bad our roads are nowadays.

a 2CV is probably quick enough around town Easier to park and, in London, you can get places you can't squeeze through in anything wider. And, to illustrate a point re. 'slow' cars: From home to the centre of Bristol is exactly 60 miles. The quickest I've ever done it is in - a 2CV! I've tried to beat my time several times, caning it down the M4, never managed it......

Agreed when I had my Dyane in the late 80s and early 90s journeys didn't seem any longer, but then it could easily cruise at 70-75. Perhaps there were fewer cars or better lane discipline.

My GTi auto is a real point and shoot car, so easy to drive around town but plenty fast enough when it needs to be. For the most part gear changes seemed right to me and this was for one who hated automatics up to this point. That said after the kick down cable was repaired it just hangs on to gears for way, way too long now and is a bit of a pain at times. Not many GTi autos around though...

[Defender110]

That said after the kick down cable was repaired it just hangs on to gears for way, way too long now and is a bit of a pain at times. Not many GTi autos around though...

So why don't you just adjust the kick down cable, only a 2 minute job?

[deltic]

That said after the kick down cable was repaired it just hangs on to gears for way, way too long now and is a bit of a pain at times. Not many GTi autos around though...

So why don't you just adjust the kick down cable, only a 2 minute job?

Never thought of that... A couple of garages have looked at it and seem unable to do anything further with it, so I'm just living with it for now.

[rutter123]

That's because garages nowadays can't be bothered with older cars, cos it means actually getting their hands dirty not just plugging it into a computer, as Defender110 says it's a quick job you can d.i.y with a few basic tools.

[xantia_v6]

I have not seen the official procedure for a BX, but usually it relates to leaving a certain amount of slack on the cable or lining up marks on the cable. This works fine if everything is new and original, but if a different cable has been fitted, or something is misaligned, the procedure will never give the correct result.

You should be able to get it right by trial and error, the tighter the cable, the higher the gear shifts will be, so it sounds like you cable just needs to be slackened off a bit.

[Tim Leech]

Ive had a few BX's, a 1.6 is a little pedestrian, a 1,9D makes the best of the torque, the car I have now is a 19i auto which is lovely.

The gearbox is smooth and durable if the oil is changed correctly and uses the right fluid.

A GTI auto clocked up over 250000 miles before it got scrapped, and not because of the box failing...

[deltic]

That's because garages nowadays can't be bothered with older cars, cos it means actually getting their hands dirty not just plugging it into a computer, as Defender110 says it's a quick job you can d.i.y with a few basic tools.

Not quite, one of the garages is well respected in these parts! Both garages seemed happy with the way it was working. To a degree I think it's slightly subjective, I prefer the box to change up sooner, and rarely thrash the car. Others might find the performance "enhanced" by it hanging on to the gears...

[deltic]

I have not seen the official procedure for a BX, but usually it relates to leaving a certain amount of slack on the cable or lining up marks on the cable. This works fine if everything is new and original, but if a different cable has been fitted, or something is misaligned, the procedure will never give the correct result.

You should be able to get it right by trial and error, the tighter the cable, the higher the gear shifts will be, so it sounds like you cable just needs to be slackened off a bit.

Good advice thanks, I'll try to investigate further when the weather improves.