Don,
�
Not to knock your observation�as I like manuals as well but I think you must have been missing things back in the past.� At least good ole mudders rock crawlers on the east coast using american iron have always (decades) used autos as I have observed.� TH400s, 4L80s now, 700R4s, 727s, etc.�� In fact for low budget the 400 and 700R4 are still in demand, and sure aren't "sophisticated."� Anyway I'd bet you saw only one SM465 or SM420 to 10 autoboxes even in the day, and would say it it still about the same.� I agree with you, I think I can get better control with a stick, but a lot of offroaders dual foot an auto and can rock it as well as you rock a stick, then in addition you can't stall an autobox, which is very appealing in a lot of circumstances, get torque multiplication out of the converter, etc.� Downside is relative complexity but durability is probably a wash really.
�
I even had a couple buddies in WV who put Vanagon autoboxes with welded diffs�in their VW based sandrails as they got older and tired of shifting.� They didn't last too long with 35"+ tires and 160hp built T1s, but probably�did about 1/2 as well as unmodified 5 rib sticks which were what they usually used.� These guys were both 30+ year VW mechanics BTW, but found it cheaper/easier to just run through trannies than build one that might only last double the time.� Anyway they were always looking for the autoboxes and I sold several from parted vans.
�
John

----- Original Message -----
From: Don Hanson dhanson928@GMAIL.COM
�
� Curiously, I have noticed that many of the 4wd vehicles I have seen
around the southern California desert Off Road areas of the desert this
winter are automatic transmission rigs.� Is this because automatics have
become sophisticated enough to surpass the performance of a manual
transmission during off road and low traction operation?� Is it because
people now don't know about manual transmissions, much?
�  In my experience, it's always been advantageous to be able to slip the
clutch in very low traction operation or over especially rough sections of
terrain.� I've found it quite frustrating and sometimes downright dangerous
to have gears changing, un-asked,� at unanticipated times during cornering
at traction limits.� Being able to tow a disabled vehicle is handy and