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?

 

[enark]

But unfortunately that's what they fit in motorhomes

Only older ones. Since 2021 torque converters - ZF in Fiat, Daimler for Merc, Ford i think make their own?

 

[andyelbac]

Automatics are lazy ...and I think if you drive one constantly its easy to forget after a while how to drive manual.


That said , if I could afford a motorhome that had everything I wanted layout wise and had a proven reliable hassle free autobox I would have one..

But the horror stories I've read and heard regarding the expense of replacing one puts me off. If my manual gearbox failed I'd be sourcing a second hand unit from a scrap delivery van there will be hundreds to chose from ... a good second hand auto box wouldn't be so easy to get so that's a deciding factor for me.
Of course IF you can afford a new van and can afford possible big repair bills if it fails then you're in a better position than me.


So in summary I'd quite like the lazy drive of one .. sometimes I get tired of going up and down the gears on windy mountain roads etc .

But the possible chance of paying half the price I paid for the van to have an auto box fixed puts me off.


I went out my way to find a manual 125 scooter too

Imagine..... a manual scooter! You are hard core Sir! But I can't agree with you on your point about forgetting how to drive a manual. Having driven an auto car for the last 20 years and with an auto MH, I recently hired a manual car in Portugal (auto too expensive) and it felt like old times, easy to pick up and I didn't crash once!

 

[Northernraider]

Only older ones. Since 2021 torque converters - ZF in Fiat, Daimler for Merc, Ford i think make their own?

But I wouldn't buy a new motorhome

 

[GBM]

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?

I would argue the answer is a bit age related. Auto boxes in modern Fiat / Mercedes chassis are so good and make slow speed manoeuvring so much easier, they're a no-brainer. They improve performance and efficiency as they have nine ratios as opposed to six with a manual. They're proper torque converter gearboxes too. I wouldn't want a robotised manual and the older autos have less ratios, so don't have quite the same advantage. It wouldn't surprise me if an auto held its value better either, that being the case you'd recoup the extra outlay. If I was buying new it would have to be an auto.

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[dunnah01]

I would argue the answer is a bit age related. Auto boxes in modern Fiat / Mercedes chassis are so good and make slow speed manoeuvring so much easier, they're a no-brainer. They improve performance and efficiency as they have nine ratios as opposed to six with a manual. They're proper torque converter gearboxes too. I wouldn't want a robotised manual and the older autos have less ratios, so don't have quite the same advantage. It wouldn't surprise me if an auto held its value better either, that being the case you'd recoup the extra outlay. If I was buying new it would have to be an auto.

Modern torque converter autos have so many gears in an effort to make them as efficient as a robotised or actual manual gearbox.

 

[GBM]

Modern torque converter autos have so many gears in an effort to make them as efficient as a robotised or actual manual gearbox.

Perhaps! But the biggest advantages are ease of use and smoothness.

 

[dunnah01]

Perhaps! But the biggest advantages are ease of use and smoothness.

Robotised manuals tick those boxes

 

[enark]

Robotised manuals tick those boxes

Had both, and the fiat 9 speed is ultra slick and smooth, comformatic worked just fine, but gear changes were not as slick. Also no park or creep function, which is a bonus.

 

[VXman]

I suspect you are in the minority on this. I love my auto moho and auto car. I dislike my other car, a manual.

I think it's a bit of an age thing. The majority of the members on here are of a certain vintage so prefer the simplicity of a auto.

I still enjoy having full control of my vehicles. Had an auto some years back but not since.

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[CustomBuild]

Windscreen wipers were manual at one time. Windows were manual at one time. Indicators had to be turned off manually at one time. All the doors had to be locked manually back in the day. You even had to crank the engine over manually to start at one time. Even now, some vehicles still need a key inserting in a lock to get in or to start the engine; truly fascinating times. Gradually though, over the years, people have found that automation tends to improve their daily lives.

Just sayin’.

 

[GBM]

I think it's a bit of an age thing. The majority of the members on here are of a certain vintage so prefer the simplicity of a auto.

I still enjoy having full control of my vehicles. Had an auto some years back but not since.

I disagree about it being an age thing. Pragmatically in a motorhome, a good torque converter auto is simply better more of the time. Creep function is a godsend in stop start traffic, hill starts are easy and mechanically more sympathetic than frying a clutch, six speeds is realistically the max you can handle yourself but an auto can have more, so the engine is worked more effectively more of the time, as you get both lower ratios for town work and higher ones for cruising. Most motorhomes are pushing the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle and that's how it feels to me when driving a manual (which I currently have btw) with only 5 or 6 speeds.

 

[GBM]

Had both, and the fiat 9 speed is ultra slick and smooth, comformatic worked just fine, but gear changes were not as slick. Also no park or creep function, which is a bonus.

That's kinda my point

 

[GBM]

Robotised manuals tick those boxes

Nope. They retain the one part you want to dispense with!

 

[dunnah01]

Nope. They retain the one part you want to dispense with!

? Which part ?

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[VXman]

I disagree about it being an age thing. Pragmatically in a motorhome, a good torque converter auto is simply better more of the time. Creep function is a godsend in stop start traffic, hill starts are easy and mechanically more sympathetic than frying a clutch, six speeds is realistically the max you can handle yourself but an auto can have more, so the engine is worked more effectively more of the time, as you get both lower ratios for town work and higher ones for cruising. Most motorhomes are pushing the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle and that's how it feels to me when driving a manual (which I currently have btw) with only 5 or 6 speeds.

I think its a personal choice. I love a manual in whatever vehicle. I enjoy driving and the actual pleasure of a smooth and well executed manual gear change. I drove my broken VX220 100 miles to the garage with no clutch just by matching revs and sensitive gear changes. Hill starts are easy in a vehicle with hill start assist.

My comment about age was that this thread seems to suggest a preference for autos but I reckon the majority of responders are are in the older age bracket - just because the majority of motorhomers tend to be.

 

[dunnah01]

I enjoy having more control at low speeds with a manual but don't often enjoy the clog dancing involved.

 

[nabsim]

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 .

My sprintshift is fine, why would you not have one? It’s fairly bullet proof system and although MB dropped it VW still used it.
You only hear reports when things go wrong so you only see people say bad things usually. I have no choice having only auto license but in almost 50 years of driving different automatics I have never had a failure of the gearbox. Years ago it used to be getting kick down cables re-adjusted but not heard anything on newer semi-autos.

 

[nabsim]

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.

No way of telling what gear my sprintshift is in when you use auto mode, it just what it needs to do, you never notice it change up or down either, smoothest auto box I have ever had. Ok, semi-auto

 

[nabsim]

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.

I was always taught never to use two feet on an auto, it used to say as much in the vehicle manuals as well. I believe it was to prevent damage to the torque converter but that may not be the case

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[1090alex]

I was always taught never to use two feet on an auto, it used to say as much in the vehicle manuals as well. I believe it was to prevent damage to the torque converter but that may not be the case

Hi,
I've driven hundreds of autos as my job entailed a lot of driving. I always use my left foot to brake. Only when parking are you likely to be pressing both brake and accelerator at the same time.
When parking I put very gentle pressure on the brake as and when required as I'm using the accelerator.

 

[Orion]

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

The ZF 8HP auto box in my previous VW Amarok 4x4 pickup is what turned me back on to modern autos. The ZF 9HP as fitted to Ducatos since 2020 is nearly as well proven though, it’s been around in other manufacturers transverse engined vehicles, (two and four wheel drive), since 2014.

It would be interesting if those who are adamant that they wouldn’t consider a modern auto in a moho would say if they have actually driven one - especially the current ZF 9 in the Ducato.

 

[Pausim]

The ZF 8HP auto box in my previous VW Amarok 4x4 pickup is what turned me back on to modern autos. The ZF 9HP as fitted to Ducatos since 2020 is nearly as well proven though, it’s been around in other manufacturers transverse engined vehicles, (two and four wheel drive), since 2014.

It would be interesting if those who are adamant that they wouldn’t consider a modern auto in a moho would say if they have actually driven one - especially the current ZF 9 in the Ducato.

I have the 9 speed auto and before buying I took a manual one for a test drive. I didn’t like the manual one at all.

 

[David and Sally]

I think it's a bit of an age thing. The majority of the members on here are of a certain vintage so prefer the simplicity of a auto.

I still enjoy having full control of my vehicles. Had an auto some years back but not since.

I have full control if I want it. I can shift gears with paddles. So I get the best of both worlds

 

[dunnah01]

I have full control if I want it. I can shift gears with paddles. So I get the best of both worlds

My 90yr old mum has a flappy paddle Toyota something or other - well done salesman for convincing her she needed those

My Smart Roadster is a waste of time in Auto mode but great when using the paddles

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[Mart 63]

Had both, and the fiat 9 speed is ultra slick and smooth, comformatic worked just fine, but gear changes were not as slick. Also no park or creep function, which is a bonus.

May I ask, what's a creep function?

 

[enark]

May I ask, what's a creep function?

When your in slow traffic, it crawls forward as you release the brake, no accelerator needed.

Ps looks like we enjoy the same van?

 

[Mart 63]

When your in slow traffic, it crawls forward as you release the brake, no accelerator needed.

Ps looks like we enjoy the same van?

Thanks for the reply. I don't pick it up till next Tuesday, can't wait. How long have you had yours, anything to look out for?

 

[VXman]

I have full control if I want it. I can shift gears with paddles. So I get the best of both worlds

What gearbox? Comformtic or proper torque converter one? The only flappy paddle/auto gearbox I think I would want would be a double clutch one like on Audi/Lamborghini. They are the only ones with decent quick changes like you can do on manual. Nothing like that available on motorhomes sadly.

 

[enark]

Thanks for the reply. I don't pick it up till next Tuesday, can't wait. How long have you had yours, anything to look out for?

Just 12 months.

Removed bedroom doors and triangular cushions.

Up plated as 3650 was about weight with little in. Had to have semi air fitted on rears for that, but wheels tyres and front shocks were already capable to go to 4000kg.

Other than that, really love it. Its in for a hab service soon, did oil change myself. They will hopefully fix the auto door lock not recognising the hab door been opened - its common with many makes on Fiat chassis.

The engine/9 speed is a joy. Did NC 500 in Sept, no probs at all..

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[VXman]

My 90yr old mum has a flappy paddle Toyota something or other - well done salesman for convincing her she needed those

My Smart Roadster is a waste of time in Auto mode but great when using the paddles

I don't know if the roadster is better but my memories of smart cars are 5 second gear changes!