Hypothetical question re comfortmatic.

[WESTY66]

Right, as I’m starting my 2-3 year prep for retirement, one thing is niggling me. My head tells me to get a NON comfortmatic sub 3.5t moho for retirement, for obvious reasons regarding go box’s and tolls in the east of Europe etc.
Now on the other hand my van is great as it is, it’s used regularly and everything works and it’s got all the toys on it and is great for off grid use, back to my question, we will be doing Morocco and Türkiye on alternate years to combat the 90/180 and my worry is that there is no one out there to sort out the comfortmatic should I have a problem and I really wouldn’t want to leave it there on its own waiting repatriation to U.K. which would probably take forever. Does anyone KNOW for certain if they’re capable and equipped to repair such a specialised gearbox in either country?

 

[Landy Andy]

Just go for it. The knowledge of how your van drives is important, and if it currently feels ok, go for it. Anything can fail, but you can kill all the fun worrying about it.

The best thing you can do to assure a good time and a successful trip is to have money in the bank in case it all goes tits up. That way you can always sort it.

 

[WESTY66]

Just go for it. The knowledge of how your van drives is important, and if it currently feels ok, go for it. Anything can fail, but you can kill all the fun worrying about it.

The best thing you can do to assure a good time and a successful trip is to have money in the bank in case it all goes tits up. That way you can always sort it.

Thanks Andy, that’s exactly my thoughts. Re my van, I’d set off tomorrow there, there’s nothing at all wrong with it and I do have 99.5% confidence in it but reading Tea Bag post regarding his (one minute perfect, next minute it’s broke) it just has me (over) thinking perhaps

 

[Nanniemate]

Right, as I’m starting my 2-3 year prep for retirement, one thing is niggling me. My head tells me to get a NON comfortmatic sub 3.5t moho for retirement, for obvious reasons regarding go box’s and tolls in the east of Europe etc.
Now on the other hand my van is great as it is, it’s used regularly and everything works and it’s got all the toys on it and is great for off grid use, back to my question, we will be doing Morocco and Türkiye on alternate years to combat the 90/180 and my worry is that there is no one out there to sort out the comfortmatic should I have a problem and I really wouldn’t want to leave it there on its own waiting repatriation to U.K. which would probably take forever. Does anyone KNOW for certain if they’re capable and equipped to repair such a specialised gearbox in either country?

If your happy with what you have and it will do what you want why change it? Everytime I find myself looking at an upgrade I end up thinking and how much fuel and jollies will a prettier van cost me

 

[PeterCarole29]

I have only read the posts on the conformatics but if you havent had it serviced by the guy they all recomend then you should and then have peace of mind

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[Landy Andy]

Thanks Andy, that’s exactly my thoughts. Re my van, I’d set off tomorrow there, there’s nothing at all wrong with it and I do have 99.5% confidence in it but reading Tea Bag post regarding his (one minute perfect, next minute it’s broke) it just has me (over) thinking perhaps

I do see where you are coming from, and understand. But when you buy a second hand van you have to ask why did the previous get rid of it? Issues? Buy new. That seems far from perfect from what I read and understand. ,

Buying new, or second hand doesn’t guarantee reliability. And will take massive amounts of your money.

Massive amounts of money, can guarantee you will succeed in having a great holiday/experience.

 

[WESTY66]

I have only read the posts on the conformatics but if you havent had it serviced by the guy they all recomend then you should and then have peace of mind

Mr Adams and Mr Morey have had their hands on the comfortmatic and will do so again before I set off

 

[WESTY66]

I do see where you are coming from, and understand. But when you buy a second hand van you have to ask why did the previous get rid of it? Issues? Buy new. That seems far from perfect from what I read and understand. ,

Buying new, or second hand doesn’t guarantee reliability. And will take massive amounts of your money.

Massive amounts of money, can guarantee you will succeed in having a great holiday/experience.

Yeah Andy, I really hit the jackpot with this van, a very sad and genuine reason the only previous owner had to sell!
Everything just works, serviced regular albeit first time for comfortmatic last November, it’s now 8 yrs old and coming up 52k.
It does help when you drive it sympathetically

 

[carolyn]

A lot can happen in the next 2-3 years. Why worry about the van you might need then. Enjoy the van you clearly love now and for the next 2-3 years.

Fiat is no longer doing the 9 speed Auto on the 3.5T new vans , only the 4T.

Wait and see.

 

[WESTY66]

A lot can happen in the next 2-3 years. Why worry about the van you might need then. Enjoy the van you clearly love now and for the next 2-3 years.

Fiat is no longer doing the 9 speed Auto on the 3.5T new vans , only the 4T.

Wait and see.

I know, I know, but I am a planner

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[Nanniemate]

I know, I know, but I am a planner

Plans and targets are good as they are flexible. You have 3 years to browse
In that time who knows what may be available
My father enjoyed the planning process the older he got the less impulsive he became
The only real plan that my parents completed successfully was spending the kids inheritance

 

[PaulW2]

Right, as I’m starting my 2-3 year prep for retirement, one thing is niggling me. My head tells me to get a NON comfortmatic sub 3.5t moho for retirement, for obvious reasons regarding go box’s and tolls in the east of Europe etc.
Now on the other hand my van is great as it is, it’s used regularly and everything works and it’s got all the toys on it and is great for off grid use, back to my question, we will be doing Morocco and Türkiye on alternate years to combat the 90/180 and my worry is that there is no one out there to sort out the comfortmatic should I have a problem and I really wouldn’t want to leave it there on its own waiting repatriation to U.K. which would probably take forever. Does anyone KNOW for certain if they’re capable and equipped to repair such a specialised gearbox in either country?

Maybe think of the cost of change as an insurance premium.

Say it costs you, for argument's sake, £ 20k to make the change. That's the premium.

The risk you're insuring is that of the Comfortmatic gearbox going wrong during your travels in either country.

How many Comfortmatics fail? Say 20%? Then it costs £ 20k to insure against a 20% non-catastrophic risk. It would seem quite expensive given those parameters.

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

Man plan's God laff's.

 

[Brize]

You are thinking yourself into a problem.

We had an A Class Laika with comfortmatic for nearly six years and went all over Europe. Never a problem.

If you are happy with your vehicle, and used to how it drives (and let's be honest, there is a technique to driving and managing a comfortmatic), then stick with it. Just keep to the service schedule and get a thorough check done before Morocco (Turkey, I think, would be less of an issue).

Good luck.

 

[dunnah01]

A registered copy of MES and the proper leads and you'll sleep well wherever you park up the Comfortmatic

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[WESTY66]

A registered copy of MES and the proper leads and you'll sleep well wherever you park up the Comfortmatic

What’s the best pc to run it on? I have a Mac

 

[Spriddler]

My head tells me to get a NON comfortmatic sub 3.5t moho for retirement,................my van is great as it is, it’s used regularly and everything works and it’s got all the toys on it and is great for off grid use

Better the Devil you know.

for obvious reasons regarding go box’s and tolls in the east of Europe etc.

If you had a breakdown in another van the saving on tolls wouldn't feature

we will be doing Morocco and Türkiye on alternate years to combat the 90/180 and my worry is that there is no one out there to sort out the comfortmatic should I have a problem . Does anyone KNOW for certain if they’re capable and equipped to repair such a specialised gearbox in either country?

I doubt it as from posts on here it seems there aren't many in this country who can sort 'em .

 

[stuartholmes]

A registered copy of MES and the proper leads and you'll sleep well wherever you park up the Comfortmatic

'MES'..... what's that?

 

[WESTY66]

'MES'..... what's that?

Multieuscan it’s the fiat diagnostic program that lets you do stuff to your fiat!

That’s if you know what you are doing

 

[stuartholmes]

... (and let's be honest, there is a technique to driving and managing a comfortmatic),

I've had Comfortmatic for a couple of years & don't think I do anything unusual apart from remembering to turn the engine off when it's in gear & move to neutral before opening the door.

Is there something else??

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[dunnah01]

What’s the best pc to run it on? I have a Mac

I'm a Windows styler but I think Gendan have developed an Mac version so would be worth a call

 

[dunnah01]

'MES'..... what's that?

MultiECUScan software that gives you access to dealer level software functions. It's pretty much essential nowadays for Fiat group stuff unless you want to empty your wallet at a dealers

 

[stuartholmes]

MultiECUScan software that gives you access to dealer level software functions. It's pretty much essential nowadays for Fiat group stuff unless you want to empty your wallet at a dealers

So you buy a copy from somebody (Fiat?) & loan it to your random foreign garage?

 

[stevewagner]

If you decide to move away from a comfortmatic to eliminate the worry I have a feeling that you will find something else to worry about. The way I see it is that if you maintain the drivetrain and all its component’s as stipulated by the manufacturers, then by design you have eliminated the worry. If after that you do breakdown it’s just bad luck just like an accident would be. As long as you have good breakdown/recovery insurance then that’s all bases covered.

 

[DerryW]

If your happy with what you have and it will do what you want why change it? Everytime I find myself looking at an upgrade I end up thinking and how much fuel and jollies will a prettier van cost me

Right, as I’m starting my 2-3 year prep for retirement, one thing is niggling me. My head tells me to get a NON comfortmatic sub 3.5t moho for retirement, for obvious reasons regarding go box’s and tolls in the east of Europe etc.
Now on the other hand my van is great as it is, it’s used regularly and everything works and it’s got all the toys on it and is great for off grid use, back to my question, we will be doing Morocco and Türkiye on alternate years to combat the 90/180 and my worry is that there is no one out there to sort out the comfortmatic should I have a problem and I really wouldn’t want to leave it there on its own waiting repatriation to U.K. which would probably take forever. Does anyone KNOW for certain if they’re capable and equipped to repair such a specialised gearbox in either country?

WESTY
2/3 years is quite a way off just yet and unless you have a crystal ball who knows what might happen between now and then.
On the other hand, absolutely no arm in prepping yourself.

I think you’re right in considering all the possible eventualities, but at the end of the day you must do what you and Mrs WESTY are comfortable with. You never know, you might be lucky and those 6 numbers come up, then you can buy the MH of your dreams with an armoured plated warranty.

I often think of poor Chas (chaser) and is recent escapes, and how it all turned out right in the end.

I suppose the important thing is to make sure you have a few bob squirrelled away for a rainy day, just in case.

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[Lenny HB]

What’s the best pc to run it on? I have a Mac

Deepest condolences.

 

[Lenny HB]

Adi you and Val would never survive in a 3.5t van.
If your Comfomatic did throw a wobbly fixing it would be cheaper than changing vans.

What's this 2 to 3 years I thought you had made up your mind to retire next year.

 

[dunnah01]

So you buy a copy from somebody (Fiat?) & loan it to your random foreign garage?

No - you buy a copy yourself online for about £150 with all the necessary leads to connect a laptop to the OBD port of your Moho and then have really good play about. You have to be really determined to break something and there's lots of warnings to stop you being really really daft.

 

[WESTY66]

Adi you and Val would never survive in a 3.5t van.
If your Comfomatic did throw a wobbly fixing it would be cheaper than changing vans.

What's this 2 to 3 years I thought you had made up your mind to retire next year.

2 years on Wednesday

 

[the1andonly]

I'm a Windows styler but I think Gendan have developed an Mac version so would be worth a call

I think a windows laptop is still the best way for most people. I have only heard of one guy connecting to a Mac and that was with a VM and a WiFi obd connection (his last response was dont ask me how it was a lot of tinkering about I dont think i could do it again). The new Vlinker obd device connects to IOS devices such as Iphones and Ipads (not Macs to my knowledge). the price now includes 24months of connection before reverting to "apple tax" $50pa. The windows version is for 1 year of updates and "life connection" upto 10 instalations on a different PC.