[phill_colne]

Hi all, I am very keen on becoming a member of your club and am currently looking at buying an SE Nav 2.2 184 Makes sense to do the top spec one as its still 0%
I am struggling to work out if its worth getting Auto or not. I am coming from an a long line of manuals and my previous vehicle was an automatic (Merc C class) I like the auto for when I am stuck in traffic jams (I work away A LOT! and always get stuck on the dredded M6 car park

)

On paper the auto is £1300 more to buy, has 10Mpg less and is an extra £100 a year to tax. Is it worth it for this vehicle? Has anyone faced the same dilemma if so what did you do? Is the vehicle comfy for long journeys, obviously on a test drive you cant get a feel for that.

Help is greatly appreciated

Thanks,

Phill

 

[Grumps]

It depends if you think the extra fuel cost out weights the benefit of having the auto for sitting in traffic. To be honest I have a manual and think its okay but I must admit if I was doing a lot of stop start driving I would go Auto. The manual is not the best car to drive for long periods of stop start. Stuff it gets a bit sore on the foot after a while.

As for long distance driving the Antara is great. Very relaxing to drive. It might not be a smooth and relaxing as a Merc but good none the less.

 

[phill_colne]

Thanks Grumps. That's what I am trying to work out, I think if I got the manual I think I would miss the Auto.
The merc is nice but its not very practical for my job as I carry a lot of equipment about. I am hoping the Antara is just as comfy to be honest, I quite like the interior built around you feel as opposed to an interior bolted in like a jeep for instance.

 

[Dilligaf]

Hi Phill and welcome to the forum. I drive a 184 manual the same as Grumps and drive and automatic at work. Automatics are definitely a lot better in traffic. I only average 36 mpg and the automatic would be a lot less. A few of the guys have gone down the race chip and re-map route, the latter using Thorney as they say they guarantee your warranty.
Personally I'd love an automatic, but if I was buying then I would go for the 163 saving over a grand and get a Thorney re-map as that would take it upto 208 and improve mpg.

 

[phill_colne]

Thanks Dilligaf, that definitely sounds like a good option. I have never heard of Thorney are they similar to superchips? How much are remaps usually?

 

[Grumps]

Have a read and search through the forum you will find loads of info on chip boxes and remaps and bluefin.

 

[phill_colne]

ahhhh yes the age old RTFM 'read the F*&in manual'. Sorry

Bluefin seems like a good option as they have the ability to put it back to how it was "in the event of it going wrong"

I think I will go down that route then, I think I would miss the auto too much so saving money and then getting a better Bhp and MPG sounds a good idea

Now to decide on colour....... smoke grey and with the money left over I can get a good looking spoiler.

 

[Inchindown]

I have the Auto 184 AWD and I'm very happy withall aspects of the car. I get about 31 MPG from mostly short trips of around 5 miles with a few longer trips thrown in from time to time.
I did a 170 mile round trip this morning and I can definitely say the car is comfortable on that sort of distance. As a disable person, that distance is near to the maximum I can drive in one go, and I would be the first to say if the car was not a comfortable ride.

Only you can tell if the extra money for the Auto box is worth it. I've had an automatic since 1995 and would never go back to a manual. From what I've read, the start stop thingy is a pain in the backside, and you don't have that with the auto.

So good luck with your choice and welcome to the forum.

 

[phill_colne]

Thank you, I am testing an Auto tomorrow so will let you know how it goes

Anyone know what the current delivery times are?

 

[Sgian Dhu]

It took about 3 weeks for mine although another colleague got a black one just short of 2 weeks. We both used Evans Halshaw and I can't praise them enough. Kept me fully informed all along.

 

[wilma08]

Mine took 6 months 18th December 2012 until 9th May 2013 Antara SEANAV auto 184 Reilly good car to drive I would recommend the auto it good

 

[Spantara]

I love my Antara but the one thing which spoils it a little for me is the gearing. Before I got the Antara, I had not stalled a vehicle for years but due to the Antara's gear ratios I have managed to stall in first a few times before I got used to it. I still don't like it nor do I like the change from 1st to 2nd gear. The 6th gear also sem to be slightly to high.
One other point is that the clutch is quite heavy.

I am thinking of changing Spantara I for Spantara II next autumn and, if I do decide to go doown that line, I will definately get an automatic.

Whatever version you choose, I am sure you will enjoy your Antara.

 

[phill_colne]

That's it the auto was great to drive, with a very high seating position. SE NAV 2.2 184 Auto (in black)on order now Hopefully will arrive in the next week or two.

 

[wilma08]

I love my Antara but the one thing which spoils it a little for me is the gearing. Before I got the Antara, I had not stalled a vehicle for years but due to the Antara's gear ratios I have managed to stall in first a few times before I got used to it. I still don't like it nor do I like the change from 1st to 2nd gear. The 6th gear also sem to be slightly to high.
One other point is that the clutch is quite heavy.
 
I am thinking of changing Spantara I for Spantara II next autumn and, if I do decide to go doown that line, I will definately get an automatic.
 
Whatever version you choose, I am sure you will enjoy your Antara.

How are you today Spantara, I think once you change from Spantara1 to Spantara 2 next Autum you will see a more enjoyable drive in the Antara
Allistair and I have for the last 15/16 yrs have always had one of our cars automatic due to my chronic back problems that have now reached a higher level of degeneration which is now thoracic,lumber and both my hips so it was hard for me to use the clutch without being in loads of pain, I no some people think that automatic is the lazy mans drive but why not, as I honestly feel it is more enjoyable drive as you do not have to change gears ride the clutch as I used to do it was a very bad habit of mine

both us now drive automatic's and to be honest Allistair would always say when we had our sports cars in our younger days that he loved changing the gears and would never drive automatic as it takes the driving experience away, but now he admits he would never go back to a stick shift again because automatic is just as good.
As for our daughter Alysha she will start lessons next April 2014 when she is 17yrs but will learn in stick shift then she will have the choice.
So what I am trying to say is you learn by experience may it be gear shift or automatic whatever your choice may be but enjoy it whatever your choice is because everyone has different experiences. Just enjoy your car because it is a really good car to drive.

and is the second biggest purchase you will make in your life apart from the house

Edited by: wilma08

 

[wilma08]

That's it the auto was great to drive, with a very high seating position. SE NAV 2.2 184 Auto (in black) on order now Hopefully will arrive in the next week or two.

Good luck with that did they give you an estimated time for delivery what colour of leather did you pick I have charcoal as I have a big manky dog and husband plus a stroppy teenager I would have liked the lighter colour but I thought against it for they reasons

 

[♠ChumBucket♠]

I love my Antara but the one thing which spoils it a little for me is the gearing. Before I got the Antara, I had not stalled a vehicle for years but due to the Antara's gear ratios I have managed to stall in first a few times before I got used to it. I still don't like it nor do I like the change from 1st to 2nd gear. The 6th gear also sem to be slightly to high.
One other point is that the clutch is quite heavy.

I am thinking of changing Spantara I for Spantara II next autumn and, if I do decide to go doown that line, I will definately get an automatic.

Whatever version you choose, I am sure you will enjoy your Antara.

Never stalled ours & don't have any bother with 1st to 2nd but........ who ever selected the 6th ratio in the R&D dept' needs shooting!! It's WAY too tall!! It's ok at 80+ mph, below that it's only ok on flat & descents but any incline will have you almost flooring the pedal to get the turbo spinning, destroying economy. I think this is why motorway driving seems to clog up the DPF more than rural driving for me as it's only ticking over at 2k constantly on the M/way if you use 6th.

 

[Spantara]

I think this is why motorway driving seems to clog up the DPF more than rural driving for me as it's only ticking over at 2k constantly on the M/way if you use 6th.

True. Most of my driving is motorway stuff but I tend to keep about 2,200 revs (Spanish cops being a bit more tollerant than the UK versions) or I will drop down to fifth if the speed is lower.

Never had problems with regens either but you do need a heavy right foot!

 

[phill_colne]

Good luck with that did they give you an estimated time for delivery what colour of leather did you pick I have charcoal as I have a big manky dog and husband plus a stroppy teenager I would have liked the lighter colour but I thought against it for they reasons

Thanks Wilma08 I got the charcoal too as I like it to look like a coal pit

I think I would very easily ruin anything lighter coloured. They said estimated delivery 20th so hopefully they wont be far from that date

If they had to order it they said 4 months, I think I would have gone stir crazy if that was the case

 

[Sgian Dhu]

If you're anything like me you'll spend the waiting time reading everything you can get your hands on about the car and oogling at all the pictures!!

 

[phill_colne]

If you're anything like me you'll spend the waiting time reading everything you can get your hands on about the car and oogling at all the pictures!!

Too Late

Im already looking for a replacement sat nav for if the 5" screen is too small. Anyone ever used the Parrot Asteroid Smart before?

In the SE NAV models how do the steering wheel controls work?