Auto or manual?

[Colson]

I know this has probably already been posted in the past, but….does the size of a MH mean an auto box makes life easier or is it just down to personal preferences?

 

[Lenny HB]

The consensus is that auto is much more "user friendly " in any most sizes of vehicles .This definitely goes for motor homes .
In the used market the demand is always high for autos

If you've got an auto try using your left foot for braking. It means you can "cover" the brake pedal during periods of driving when you're braking a lot ,for example in heavy stop start driving. However I'd try it in an empty car park or somewhere quiet until you get used to it

Used to do that in cars but not practical in a Ducato the brake peddle is the same as in a manual.

 

[tonyidle]

In cars perhaps but in vans certainly not what I've heard or read.


You only have to look on this thread how many have said "....not comfortmatic though "

And I've heard a few issues with newer merc boxes too.



But as I will probably never buy a brand new motorhome and the ones likely in my price range are now 15- 20 years old there's not many out there I'd risk buying , I wouldn't have a comfortmatic, and I'm not sure I'd want a sprintshift .

Neither of those gearboxes is auto though - they're manuals with a complex clutch and gear change system added.

 

[yorkiebar]

Neither of those gearboxes is auto though - they're manuals with a complex clutch and gear change system added.

Which ones ?

 

[KASPAR]

Torque of a diseasel engine, auto box. Both our diseasels a V6 3L SUV and 4pot 2L MH have the same 9g gearbox, both Mercs. The SUV has cruise, the MH Speed Limiter so feet are used in different ways. In the SUV mostly not touching pedals; in MH right foot is on the throttle mostly.

The petrol roadster has a 2.8L straight 6 petrol and manual box to use the BHP to full effect; a BMW.

Then again you don't buy a manual Merc, or an auto BMW, its an unwritten rule.

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[tonyidle]

Which ones ?

Comfortmatic and Sprintshift.

 

[Northernraider]

Neither of those gearboxes is auto though - they're manuals with a complex clutch and gear change system added.

But unfortunately that's what they fit in motorhomes

 

[funflair]

But unfortunately that's what they fit in motorhomes

Some do/did but there seems to be a move to proper torque converter autos in the last few years, (Mercedes have been for a long time now) IVECO daily have been ZF Auto for 8 years or more and Fiat have caught up in the last couple of years.

 

[Fdhadi]

Not having to change gear gives more brain time to concentrate on other things.

Maybe it’s just me, but I honestly don’t have to think or use my brain to change gear and certainly don’t lose concentration because of a gear change. It must simply mean I can drive and some others obviously struggle. Thinking about it, I must change gear automatically

 

[rod_vw]

Some do/did but there seems to be a move to proper torque converter autos in the last few years, (Mercedes have been for a long time now) IVECO daily have been ZF Auto for 8 years or more and Fiat have caught up in the last couple of years.

That's what is in the current VW Crafter / MAN TGE as we now have. It's NOT as many believe the VW DSG box.

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[Mart 63]

I had a test drive in a 9 speed automatic motorhome this morning. I found it very impressive, except for the amount of gears it went through on a roundabout.

 

[Pausim]

I had a test drive in a 9 speed automatic motorhome this morning. I found it very impressive, except for the amount of gears it went through on a roundabout.

Why does it matter how many gears it goes through on a roundabout? It pulls away quickly then changes gear so quickly and smoothly it doesn’t lose drive or momentum.

 

[1090alex]

Used to do that in cars but not practical in a Ducato the brake peddle is the same as in a manual.

I have a Liner for Two based on a Ducato and braking with the left foot is not an issue. The brake pedal is only slightly smaller than the usual one in an auto.

 

[Lenny HB]

I have a Liner for Two based on a Ducato and braking with the left foot is not an issue. The brake pedal is only slightly smaller than the usual one in an auto.

Always had very lage brake peddles in auto cars, also in the Ducato I find it too far to the left to left foot brake comfortably

 

[Lenny HB]

I had a test drive in a 9 speed automatic motorhome this morning. I found it very impressive, except for the amount of gears it went through on a roundabout.

That sounds odd hardly ever notice ours changing gear, I have to look at the dash display to see if it's changed gear.

What engine did it have? Ours is the 180bhp.

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[Lenny HB]

I had a test drive in a 9 speed automatic motorhome this morning. I found it very impressive, except for the amount of gears it went through on a roundabout.

That sounds odd hardly ever notice ours changing gear, I have to look at the dash display to see if it's changed gear.

What engine did it have? Ours is the 180bhp.

 

[jerryz]

Not all Auto boxes are good , the older Nissan Jatco torque converter boxes were BOMBPROOF but now they only use a Jatco CVT and its a mobile grenade so my next car will not be a Nissan.

VW group Auto boxes DSG etc have a lot of known issues so need a very regular service programme to remain intact.

Current Ford Auto boxes are a total disaster area and best avoided .like their stupid wet belt engines all mobile grenades .

As we know Conformatic is potluck ,,,

CVT types boxes not very good in high torque engines of any kind ,, always stick with Torque converters for high torque .

 

[andyelbac]

One of the biggest advantages in an auto for me are when you're stuck in traffic, just moving five or six feet every few seconds or so. That can happen on a motorway, single carriageway, or town or city.....the Queue God's don't care what you're driving or whether you have a manual or not. The sheer pain in the *ss of having to move that stupid stick in the middle every few seconds is almost enough to put me off driving entirely, and I love driving, hence an auto for me, car, van or bike, every time. Mind you, having only put 8,000 miles on our Ducato 9 speed since we purchased it in 2022, I'm hoping the ZF box lasts as long as my Honda Accord auto box....212,000 miles and never had a problem. Although doing the maths, at 4k a year, it will take me another 51 years to prove the comparison!!!!

 

[jerryz]

My wifes 2.8L Isuzu MUX which is only 6 years old has just hit 200,000 miles since we bought it new , it has a 6 speed slush box , her old Isuzu hit 480,000 when she sold it at 26 years old miles and is still running in new owners hands totally bombproof , like my Toyota Hilux auto they both use an AISIN torque converter auto box .Ford ranger and Nissan pickups dont use the Aisin Box and they have problems .

 

[jerryz]

One of the biggest advantages in an auto for me are when you're stuck in traffic, just moving five or six feet every few seconds or so. That can happen on a motorway, single carriageway, or town or city.....the Queue God's don't care what you're driving or whether you have a manual or not. The sheer pain in the *ss of having to move that stupid stick in the middle every few seconds is almost enough to put me off driving entirely, and I love driving, hence an auto for me, car, van or bike, every time. Mind you, having only put 8,000 miles on our Ducato 9 speed since we purchased it in 2022, I'm hoping the ZF box lasts as long as my Honda Accord auto box....212,000 miles and never had a problem. Although doing the maths, at 4k a year, it will take me another 51 years to prove the comparison!!!!

Honda use the Aisin torque converter is the accords really good auto box ,,Unfortunately newer Hondas have CVT boxes but i do like the civic ...

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[Pausim]

Honda use the Aisin torque converter is the accords really good auto box ,,Unfortunately newer Hondas have CVT boxes but i do like the civic ...

Our new Honda Jazz has electric drive up to motorway cruising speed when it drops into its single gear, seamlessly. The petrol engine is only driving a generator most of the time which means Honda can use a more economical Atkinson cycle petrol engine instead of the more usual Otto cycle engine. Normally an Atkinson cycle engine would be sluggish and boring to drive but the electric drive is very nice.

 

[cyberyacht]

Given the fairly universal aversion to the Comformatic box, unless buying almost new, the conclusion must surely be to go for a manual as there are precious few automatic motorhomes available with other auto boxes.

 

[dunnah01]

I wouldn't go near a modern auto if you're concerned about the electrics of the clunky old comfortmatic software.

 

[tonyidle]

I wouldn't go near a modern auto if you're concerned about the electrics of the clunky old comfortmatic software.

It seems that the only thing that doesn't give trouble on the Comfortmatic is the electronics.

 

[dunnah01]

It seems that the only thing that doesn't give trouble on the Comfortmatic is the electronics.

The only issues I've had have been electrical and resolved in the warm cab with a PC (except a bit of loom insulation).

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[tonyidle]

The only issues I've had have been electrical and resolved in the warm cab with a PC (except a bit of loom insulation).

I had in mind the clutch fluid issues discussed at length on here. No experience fortunately.

 

[1090alex]

Given the fairly universal aversion to the Comformatic box, unless buying almost new, the conclusion must surely be to go for a manual as there are precious few automatic motorhomes available with other auto boxes.

I was under the impression that after 2022 all fiat autos were the 9 speed non comfortmatic.

 

[Carpmart]

Manual for me… against the common thoughts on here!

I would be happy with the well proven ZF 8 speed torque converter auto as used in the BMW M5.

 

[MHF]

when you come to sell it everybody wants an automatic!

 

[funflair]

when you come to sell it everybody wants an automatic!

And as I am sure you will know if you want the 207hp upgrade from the standard 3 litre manual 175hp on the Morelo range, the 207hp only comes as part of a package with the auto box, so yes a manual would be like rocking horse poo.

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[cyberyacht]

I was under the impression that after 2022 all fiat autos were the 9 speed non comfortmatic.

Like I said "almost new". If you're in the market for something between say 2012 and 2021, it seems you'd best go for a manual