Considering N&B Arto 69G for motorhoming in UK and Europe

[obmij77t]

Hi All, newbie here. I have seen some N&B ‘views’ on here…but to put simply:

• New to motorhoming
• Just myself, wife and dog
• See ourselves getting used to the lifestyle for year in uk (holidays, long weekends etc)
• Then 6-12 months in Europe next year
• Looking at A class as we like the rear bed size mainly
• N&B Arto 69G 2002 fairly local has been viewed / we like it…
• Are N&B a good purchase generally?
• My wife will have to gain her C1 as only I have it on my licence but we think this is worth pursuing as the A-Class will be far better for a long tour next year

Any advice on N&B and things to look out for would be much appreciated.

 

[jongood]

I would suggest LHD if you are considering a longer stay in Europe .

Definitely, so much easier.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Also do not believe people who tell you that their re-map will give better performance and better mpg.

Things have changed a lot in 10 years, had my 3.0 Iveco remapped with Quantum and it definitely does a few mpg more and pulls a lot better.
Best part is it holds the gears more so not hunting up and down as much.

 

[obmij77t]

Definitely, so much easier.

We‘d like to use in uk first as well though so it’s a bit of a toss up?

 

[Sidders]

Excellent advice. Yes I’ll be having a drive for sure….thanks for the advice.

Keep us posted and let us know how you get on, we’re looking at one local to us too although our set up is slightly different - we’ve got twins we’re hoping will fit in the large single at the back.

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[Sidders]

I wrote a longer reply this a.m. but lost it.

I think you have enough info but I will just add that we have a N&B ArtoGL (2003) (L is for L-shaped sofa) with 2.8jtd engine.

Like OP it was our first MH bought 14 years ago now coming up 21 years-old. Been Poland-Greece and back twice in last 3 years. No problems.

I endorse opinion that build quality of that era was v.g.

The 2.8jtd does need re-mapping to get better performance in the high ratio 5th gear.

Buy it and enjoy - we have.

We’re also looking at one, it’s an auto though - are the auto boxes any good?
Thanks

 

[nicholsong]

We’re also looking at one, it’s an auto though - are the auto boxes any good?
Thanks

You quote my post, but we have a manual gearbox.

 

[Sidders]

You quote my post, but we have a manual gearbox.

Ahh apologies, thanks for explaining what the ‘L’ means (it’s an L we’re looking at)

 

[EuroTrotters]

We’re also looking at one, it’s an auto though - are the auto boxes any good?
Thanks

what year ?

 

[jongood]

We’re also looking at one, it’s an auto though - are the auto boxes any good?
Thanks

I'm not sure Fiat offered an auto for the X244 range. Asfaik it wasnt until
The comfortmatic that a sort of auto came along. Before you buy one try googling " comfortmatic problems"

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[bigtwin]

Things have changed a lot in 10 years, had my 3.0 Iveco remapped with Quantum and it definitely does a few mpg more and pulls a lot better.
Best part is it holds the gears more so not hunting up and down as much.

What were your power/torque figures before/after?

Ian

 

[dunnah01]

Things have changed a lot in 10 years, had my 3.0 Iveco remapped with Quantum and it definitely does a few mpg more and pulls a lot better.
Best part is it holds the gears more so not hunting up and down as much.

The standard map limits the torque to 400Nm to protect the gearbox. If you have the F40/Comfortmatic box (rated max torque 400Nm) and the engine has been remapped by a decent amount I wouldn't be using all the extra torque very often.

 

[BDM]

I'm not sure Fiat offered an auto for the X244 range. Asfaik it wasnt until
The comfortmatic that a sort of auto came along. Before you buy one try googling " comfortmatic problems"

auto box was available on X244

 

[CazPaul]

I'm not sure Fiat offered an auto for the X244 range. Asfaik it wasnt until
The comfortmatic that a sort of auto came along. Before you buy one try googling " comfortmatic problems"

I’m sure there was an auto of that era, before the Comfortmatic came along. In fact I’ve been in one, on an Arto it was too.

 

[funflair]

The standard map limits the torque to 400Nm to protect the gearbox. If you have the F40/Comfortmatic box (rated max torque 400Nm) and the engine has been remapped by a decent amount I wouldn't be using all the extra torque very often.

Coastal Cruiser has the 3 litre IVECO mated to 8 speed ZF upgrade from the factory is 470nm and 207bhp Quantum uplift by a claimed 16% on torque and 19% on power., so 560 and 240.

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[EuroTrotters]

I'm not sure Fiat offered an auto for the X244 range. Asfaik it wasnt until
The comfortmatic that a sort of auto came along. Before you buy one try googling " comfortmatic problems"

X244 Was available with an automatic gearbox.

But only in left hand drive

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Coastal Cruiser has the 3 litre IVECO mated to 8 speed ZF upgrade from the factory is 470nm and 207bhp Quantum uplift by a claimed 16% on torque and 19% on power., so 560 and 240.

Yep thought that

 

[jongood]

X244 Was available with an automatic gearbox.

But only in left hand drive

Every days a shool day

 

[EuroTrotters]

Every days a shool day

I posted some photos of the different gearsticks last year

 

[Sidders]

X244 Was available with an automatic gearbox.

But only in left hand drive

Yup, it’s a left hand drive registered late 2004. Would that be a comformatic or just regular auto?
Only bummer is it doesn’t have an oven so I’d be looking at getting one fitted. Also noticed the plugs are still the eu 2 pin type

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[CazPaul]

Yup, it’s a left hand drive registered late 2004. Would that be a comformatic or just regular auto?
Only bummer is it doesn’t have an oven so I’d be looking at getting one fitted. Also noticed the plugs are still the eu 2 pin type

Definitely not Comfortmatic, too early, sure it’s a torque converter regular automatic.

 

[Sidders]

Definitely not Comfortmatic, too early, sure it’s a torque converter regular automatic.

Thanks Paul, sounds like that’s a good thing

 

[CazPaul]

Thanks Paul, sounds like that’s a good thing

Yes but like any older vehicle everything depends on how it’s been looked after throughout its life, regular maintenance etc is key.

 

[Flairy]

Don’t let the fact that it has no oven put you off ,most oven seem to be very poor ,ours warms the motorhome rather than the oven.