Fiat Ducato and Comfort-matic

[Mark and Mindy]

I'll start this off by saying that I've been reading all the threads on the forum about the Fiat Ducato with all the recalls etc, and also the latest thread on the Comfort-matic engine.

We're trying to get our heads straight at the moment and are just under 6 weeks away from our trip to Scotland which includes going to ENC to check out the Fifer Touring L, from what we have found out it "looks" to be exactly what we want, but we haven't actually seen it and tried it out to make sure it does meet our needs. We've been to the NEC a couple of times and in and out of various dealers, we've looked at every permutation of motorhome and PVC and finally settled on a rear lounge PVC. We like the layout of the Touring L because the beds will work for us on the lengths, the rest is all good as well even if we will lose a little storage.

We originally thought we would go for the Fiat Ducato with the Comfort-matic engine because there is no automatic option on the Citreon Relay which is the usual van they convert; however I'm starting to get a bit twitchy because of all the recalls which are currently happening on the Ducato.

I drive a manual CRV and Mark has a manual Mustang, although his previous Mustang was automatic but he had to change it and so went for manual for better control.

We thought an automatic on the van would be better as its a holiday, weekends away etc vehicle and it would make for a more relaxed drive - obviously not so relaxed that I nod off as our plan involves me as the main driver (right up until we get it when Mark will probably want to take the starring role! ).

I wanted to get a few opinions as to which way we should be going - the lead time isn't actually so important as we were thinking of a March 2019 date for collection but obviously need to know what we're ordering before we go and look at the van as our funds will be in place by then and we want to do a face to face order and not rely on phone or email for it (assuming that it is how/what we think it is).

 

[icantremember]

We have a Hymer T668SL with 3.0 (180) Fiat and Comfortmatic box .. had it 2 years now without problem and love it.
So relaxing to drive compared with manual, particularly in stop/start traffic and round Milton Keynes wit all the roundabouts.

 

[Gizmouk]

Comfortmatic refers to the gearbox not the engine.
Comfortmatic is a "robotic" gearbox - ie. it's essentially a manual gearbox using actuators to change gear.
We have the 3ltr Ducato with Comfortmatic and love it, it's a great combination. Very easy to drive, a plenty of torque for steep hills etc.

I believe the recall(s) you refer to are to do with the EGR valve on a limited production run of engines. Nowt to do with the gearbox.
All manaufacturers suffer from recalls. Just that this one seems to be badly managed by Fiat and / or the supplier of the valve.

Would I have another Ducato with Comfortmatic ? Absolutely.

 

[Larrynwin]

Our two year old Hymer B544 is on Ducato 150 comfortmatic and performs very well although not as good imo as a full auto with torque converter the option of which is not available on the Ducato.
There have been various recalls on the Ducato but none on the comfortmatic element recently as far as I know.
I would recommend it over the manual version.

 

[Lenny HB]

There have only been 2 recalls on the Euro 6 engine, the first one being the pipe on the EGR valve and it does not affect all engines mine didn't need anything doing to it.
The second one is just to replace a hose clip an easy diy job if you can't bothered to take thevan itoa dealer.
As you are not getting the van until 2019 all problems should be sorted.

On our second van with a Comformatic, not quite as good as a full auto but I certainly wouldn't want a manual box again.

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[SpeedyDux]

From your OP it sounds like you both prefer manual gearboxes and third pedals on cars, so it isn't clear why you would want a Fiat PVC with the ComfortMatic semi-autobox option. Unless you really prefer the 2 pedal style of driving, it probably isn't right for you. You should at least test drive an example before you make that decision.

The ComfortMatic is very different to drive from the type of automatic you would have had on the Mustang. You have to learn how to get the best out of the ComfortMatic and adapt your driving style to suit. It's taken me about 2k miles to do that with mine. Having trained myself to a level where I can use the ComfortMatic effortlessly and with full confidence under varied conditions, I wouldn't want to go back to a manual gearbox for the MH, and I don't enjoy driving the Duxette's car which is manual. That's just me. Hopey helpy.

 

[Clarky]

Had two new vans on Ducato base with manual gearbox’s because I always preferred manual box’s. After much driving in France with their innumerable roundabouts I decided to try Comfortmatic on our latest van.
It is brilliant and I wouldn’t go back to manual at any price. There really is very little to dislike about it and you can use it as a manual if you want. This van has done 36k miles and I’ve never felt the need to use it in manual mode.

Richard.

 

[Pekepal]

Have the Comfortmatic on 150 engine. Have toured all around France and Spain with it from new since 2015. Love it. A little slow away from junctions and roundabouts, no good as a “get away car” but once on journey is great. As Richard states, the numerous roundabouts in France would be a nightmare without this. We are also extremely pleased with the fuel consumption. Would definitely have another.

 

[mikebeaches]

Had two new vans on Ducato base with manual gearbox’s because I always preferred manual box’s. After much driving in France with their innumerable roundabouts I decided to try Comfortmatic on our latest van.
It is brilliant and I wouldn’t go back to manual at any price. There really is very little to dislike about it and you can use it as a manual if you want. This van has done 36k miles and I’ve never felt the need to use it in manual mode.

Richard.

Our experience is almost identical to Richard's (Clarky). 2 Ducatos with manual gearboxes and now changed to a comfortmatic on our third one. However, ours is a PVC and only has a standard 130hp 2.3 litre engine. All works perfectly and I wouldn't go back to a manual gearbox on the van now... and equally importantly, nor would Mrs mikebeaches!

Tackles anything we can throw at it, including plenty of adventurous stuff in the Alps and elsewhere.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Would highly recommend the comfortmatic

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[grumps147]

Gammy left knee meant using a clutch had become far from a pleasure, especially around towns and in our M6 car park journies through Cheshire.
Personally, having had the comfortmatic for three years I wouldn’t go back.

BUT, if I didn’t have knee problems I may still have a manual, if only because of the slow change between 1 and 2 on the comfortmatic at the big traffic islands, you do need to be aware of it.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

Thanks for all the replies, don't really want to do a massive multi-quote so will answer in general.

I got my terminology wrong and said engine for gearbox even though I knew what I meant... woman's logic and all that!

Mark and I were talking about the comfort-matic and he says it sounds more like the automatic on the Mustang, when I replace the CRV I will go the Automatic route on it because I have a very dodgy left ankle which periodically causes me a lot of pain and driving an automatic would make it a lot easier.

Makes me a bit happier about the whole Fiat recalls bit as well as I don't want us to end up with a van which is in and out of the garage on recalls.

 

[jezport]

I'll start this off by saying that I've been reading all the threads on the forum about the Fiat Ducato with all the recalls etc, and also the latest thread on the Comfort-matic engine.

We're trying to get our heads straight at the moment and are just under 6 weeks away from our trip to Scotland which includes going to ENC to check out the Fifer Touring L, from what we have found out it "looks" to be exactly what we want, but we haven't actually seen it and tried it out to make sure it does meet our needs. We've been to the NEC a couple of times and in and out of various dealers, we've looked at every permutation of motorhome and PVC and finally settled on a rear lounge PVC. We like the layout of the Touring L because the beds will work for us on the lengths, the rest is all good as well even if we will lose a little storage.

We originally thought we would go for the Fiat Ducato with the Comfort-matic engine because there is no automatic option on the Citreon Relay which is the usual van they convert; however I'm starting to get a bit twitchy because of all the recalls which are currently happening on the Ducato.

I drive a manual CRV and Mark has a manual Mustang, although his previous Mustang was automatic but he had to change it and so went for manual for better control.

We thought an automatic on the van would be better as its a holiday, weekends away etc vehicle and it would make for a more relaxed drive - obviously not so relaxed that I nod off as our plan involves me as the main driver (right up until we get it when Mark will probably want to take the starring role! ).

I wanted to get a few opinions as to which way we should be going - the lead time isn't actually so important as we were thinking of a March 2019 date for collection but obviously need to know what we're ordering before we go and look at the van as our funds will be in place by then and we want to do a face to face order and not rely on phone or email for it (assuming that it is how/what we think it is).

We find the 150BHP ducato can pretty much stay in 6th gear for most of the time, and the gear ratios are well spaced so not so much up and down. The clutch isnt very heavy either. I love autos but wouldnt bother on a motorhome.

Also theres a lot more to go wrong in a robotised manual / auto box.

 

[two]

I hate my Fiat but, of all the things I've had problems with so far, the Comfortmatic bit has been fine.
I went for it because it's one less thing to be thinking about when trying to negotiate unfamiliar places.

 

[Mark and Mindy]

We find the 150BHP ducato can pretty much stay in 6th gear for most of the time, and the gear ratios are well spaced so not so much up and down. The clutch isnt very heavy either. I love autos but wouldnt bother on a motorhome.

Also theres a lot more to go wrong in a robotised manual / auto box.

If we don't have the comfort-matic then we won't have the ducato either, the price is based on having the Citroen Relay 3500kg 2.0 hdi 160 bhp, the Ducato adds on £2500 and the comfortmatic another £1200.

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[Puddleduck]

Fiat and Comfortmatic box .. had it 2 years now without problem and love it.
So relaxing to drive compared with manual, particularly in stop/start traffic

We have the 3ltr Ducato with Comfortmatic and love it, it's a great combination.

Would I have another Ducato with Comfortmatic ? Absolutely.

It is brilliant and I wouldn’t go back to manual at any price. There really is very little to dislike about it and you can use it as a manual if you want. This van has done 36k miles and I’ve never felt the need to use it in manual mode.

What they said ....... also have an automatic on the car now and it's great, well the gearbox is, the car has had other issues (and it's not a FIAT). Not sure I would go back to full and proper manual now if I had a choice.

 

[musson]

We have a 180 bhp with comformatic done 18k miles would not go back to manual also tow a car behind

 

[peterc10]

Another one with a Fiat 3litre engine and Comformatic who is happy with it. But then I have been driving automatic cars (of all types) for over 20 years

 

[Wh05apk]

We have no experience of the comfortmatic but had the Peugeot 160 engine and compared to the fiat 130us in a different league, much crisper and far torquier, fuel economy was much better, I would sacrifice the auto, and take the better engine (and save the money) any day.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I would add that you say you have chosen on the basis of bed sizes amongst other things
Take your tape measure and measure, dont take the brochure or blurb as gospel

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[Mark and Mindy]

I would add that you say you have chosen on the basis of bed sizes amongst other things
Take your tape measure and measure, dont take the brochure or blurb as gospel

We'll definitely do that, its important as the shorter bed won't work for me unless I have my head jammed up tight to the door, it is partly the bed size but also that we can make it into a double with the bottom bit from "roughly" the knees down being single, means I can get into bed without too much shuffling around due to my sometimes problematic joints.

We'll be trying out everything including sitting on the toilet, pretend washing in the shower, making up the bed at the back into a big one, lying down on it, using the oven etc.

 

[Hymer 1961]

Another positive vote for the Comfort-Matic.
We have a B544 with 3.0lt engine and hill control. After driving our last B544 with a manual box I find the Comfort-Matic is much more relaxing, especially when going through congested towns or the M25 at rush hour.
Leave it in full auto for an easy life or change manually if the mood takes you.

 

[jezport]

We have no experience of the comfortmatic but had the Peugeot 160 engine and compared to the fiat 130us in a different league, much crisper and far torquier, fuel economy was much better, I would sacrifice the auto, and take the better engine (and save the money) any day.

You would be better comparing like for like. The Fiat 150bhp has a variable geometry turbo and better torque at low revs which is virtually constant from 1500rpm through to 2500rpm.

 

[TCG]

I have an Audi A5 Auto Nice to drive, we also have 3 litre ducatco motor home and the wife drives a fiat 500 auto, never had a problem they are great... would we go back to manual... nooooo

 

[grumps147]

Ok, while to date most driving of mine had been on motorways, normal roads and normal hills, for a couple of days we were acting as support to our grandson and son who were doing the Workington to Tynemouth CTC sea to sea route. What I regard as some challenging hills and passes, up and down.

The hill control that’s part of our comfortmatic package was a god send, especially on some of the downhill windy twist bits. Ok, a bit noisy from the engine, but what did I expect.

The Important thing is that I was able to go quite slowly round some really severe uphill bends, yet as soon as I pressed the accelerator despite the steep uphill the engine (3litre or very nearly) picked up immediately and there was no problem getting going.

It was dry and hot, I wonder what the response would be in a few days time when the road is wet and greasy.

The other important thing is the saving on my knees not constantly changing gear was tremendous.

Lots of concentration, but big bus that it is, I enjoyed driving it.

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[Kingham]

After driving automatic private and work cars for years, I pretty much had my mind made up 'on paper' that my new van (last year) was going to be Fiat based with the Comfortmatic.
Before ordering, I took one out for a test drive and hated the slow change when pulling away at junctions and roundabouts in busy traffic, resulting in my order going in for the manual gearbox.

 

[Lenny HB]

If it was a new one you took out for a test drive it would not have driven or changed gear anything like a well as one that has done a few thousand miles. Our last one started getting better at about 12000 miles, current one has done 7000 and starting to improve. Fiat don't consider the engine run in until 15000 and that's what the Confirmation is set up for.
Far superior to the manual with the horrible cable charge these dash mounted gear leavers give you.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

Yes ours has definitely improved it’s gear changing as it reached 10,000 miles

 

[Kingham]

If it was a new one you took out for a test drive it would not have driven or changed gear anything like a well as one that has done a few thousand miles. Our last one started getting better at about 12000 miles, current one has done 7000 and starting to improve. Fiat don't consider the engine run in until 15000 and that's what the Confirmation is set up for.
Far superior to the manual with the horrible cable charge these dash mounted gear leavers give you.

I had heard similar figures quoted when I was looking and they maybe ok for some, but that timescale or mileage isn't acceptable to me personally and with the possibility of the experience not growing on me, it wasn't a risk worth taking. Both my previous MHs were manuals, so I knew what I was letting myself in for by going for that variant.

I've recently gone through the 7000 mile mark, which may have seen an improvement just starting, as you state, but that's potentially a whole year of continuing to hate it, instead of the year of enjoyment I've just had.
It's also potentially a second year of continuing to hate it, if I'm a bit slow getting my miles on.

After seeing how close I have to reverse up my drive, to a UPVC window ledge, a friend who owns a Comfortmatic has said that the manual is the better option for that inch perfect manoeuvre, however I didn't try that on my test drive, so have no personal experience of it.

I'm not suggesting the OP should steer clear of Comfortmatics, or that they are no good, their numbers and popularity suggest otherwise, I'm saying that they're not for me.