Vauxhall "Easytronic" Gearshift

[starrymarkb]

Bit of a long shot but I know there are a few petrol heads on here.

I'm looking at changing my car and have seen a reasonably priced Astra with low mileage and fairly high spec. But it has the Easytronic Gearbox which is a computer controlled manual. I've heard mixed things about such boxes. My old boss used to rave about the Mercedes equiviant (Sprintshift on the Sprinter Vans) but others have said about poor performance in Auto Mode and reliability issues.

Is it worth going for?

 

[Pumbaa]

I had an Astra Diesel for a bit. I always used it out of auto, as it wasn't very kind to the fuel consumption. Never had any issues for it reliability wise (I had it for 1.5 years) but the first few shifts were always sluggish, and if you were accelerating hard you'd move forward then back into your seat as the transmission tried to catch up with you! When in 3rd and above it was always fine.

I personally wouldn't have one again as I prefer fully manual, but I was doing a lot of Mway journeying at the time and the savings were decent.

 

[Oracle]

|My next door neighbour is a Vauxhall technician and he commented on the Easytronic 'box recently. I have driven the Honda equivalent, which replaced the CVT in the Jazz and I have to say that I hated it! In semi-auto mode it upshifted incredibly quickly when the clutch was depressed but in auto mode it always sounded as though the clutch was slipping ... which it was! It takes owners up to six months I was told to get used to the semi-auto 'box.

The criticism of VW's semi-auto put me off getting one in our new Golf and I am quite happy with the five-speed manual. I was mightily concerned with problems and also the cost of repairs a few years down the line. It is bad enough with a torque converter trans, so CVT and semi-autos could cost more than the car's wother in the future to repair and this must affect the depreciation.

 

[Kernowfem]

Not sure if it helps, but i have an 11 plate insignia auto that ive had about 3 months now. I'm not legally allowed to drive a manual any more after losing my leg in a car smash. I have to say its one of the best performing cars ive ever driven, and the fact its an auto does not infringe on its performance, its great off the mark.

I'm pushing around 49 to the gallon, which is excellent at the side of my landrover that drinks diesel!

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks - I might take it for a test drive tomorrow and see how I get on...

 

[strange6]

Not sure if it helps, but i have an 11 plate insignia auto that ive had about 3 months now. I'm not legally allowed to drive a manual any more after losing my leg in a car smash.

I'm very sorry to hear about that. Hope everything is ok now

 

[Kernowfem]

I'm very sorry to hear about that. Hope everything is ok now

Thanks Strange.....nice of you to say. Fully recovered and walking extremely well with my prosthesis

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks after a test drive I'm going for a manual, really didn't like the Auto shift and only got it smooth in manual!