Freeway RPM Auto vs Manual ?

Thanks for all the replies.
I am leaning towards the auto, but it’s the four speed transmission that’s got me second guessing. I drove an auto today and didn’t think it was that bad at freeway speeds. Unfortunately wasn’t able to test it out on any decent inclines though. Is there a reason why Suzuki didn’t choose a more modern gearbox??

I'm guessing cost and reliability. Traditional slush boxes have less to go wrong than more advanced autos and are cheaper to produce. I drove both the manual and auto before deciding what to buy. If the manual had been a 6 speed I'd have got that, but being a 5 speed it doesn't offer any cruising advantage over the auto, both sit at about 3000 at 60mph.

My auto pulls about 2800rpm at 60mph which is my usual cruising speed - possibly due to tyres with a slightly larger circumference than stock. It's nice and relaxed for 95% of the time, but hitting an incline while in cruise control can make it kick down and then it GETS VERY NOISY 

Oh also worth mentioning that the auto box won't lock up into top gear when cold, so in winter (in the UK) it can take 5 mins of driving before it warms enough to shift into 4th. Not a problem if the start of your journey is slower roads, but if you're straight onto a fast A road, lots of revs for the first couple of miles!

Manual is slightly faster than the auto, but in the real world that translates to about a car length over 1/4 mile drag - watch this from 15m00s to see the difference: 

The manual pulls a car length in about 20 yds! The gap then stays the same as the cars continue to accelerate. That extra response in the first second or 2 of acceleration would make a massive difference in day to day driving.

You would think so but it really doesn't, and round town the change into second is so seamless, even on part throttle that it is only proper hotboi cars that are difficult to keep up with to 30mph. I was half expecting Temeraire to be a slug on the road that I would accept as the compromise for being superior off road but it just isn't the case. Maybe in absolute terms at Santa Pod a manual might have an advantage but in Harrogate town centre not so much.

Also a manual transmission requires you to balance the clutch and throttle to get a good start off the line, as well as quick gear changes to get the best acceleration.
With an auto you just stamp on the gas and steer, well in a Jimny you do, maybe not so in a high powered vehicle.

Although you could in my Porsche 928S4 and that had 310bhp
 

wrote:

The manual pulls a car length in about 20 yds! The gap then stays the same as the cars continue to accelerate. That extra response in the first second or 2 of acceleration would make a massive difference in day to day driving.

That's just the slushbox getting spun up, doesn't have the same impact when in motion, if anything the wider gear ratios and easier shifting of the auto is an advantage,

wrote:

Also a manual transmission requires you to balance the clutch and throttle to get a good start off the line, as well as quick gear changes to get the best acceleration.
With an auto you just stamp on the gas and steer, well in a Jimny you do, maybe not so in a high powered vehicle.

Although you could in my Porsche 928S4 and that had 310bhp


 

Exactly this. 0-60 times assume a decent driver, in practice most people suck at the traffic light grand prix and either get loads of wheelspin, bog down, or both. I've only owned a few autos, but standard launch when feeling racy (tongue in cheek, it's still a Jimny) is left foot on brake, pre-load TC with a bit of throttle, when lights change lift left and plant right.