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?

 

[lorger]

If you read posts on here over the last few weeks you’ll find quite a few regarding breakdowns, if memory serves me correctly only 1 is a comfortmatic, it really doesn’t matter what you have as everything can break just do your best to look after it.

 

[yorkiebar]

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.

They are still offering auto on 5.99m and 5.4m 3.5T vans, also it's an 8spd auto now.

 

[carolyn]

They are still offering auto on 5.99m and 5.4m 3.5T vans, also it's an 8spd auto now.

ah yes you’re right. I was thinking of the 6.36.

 

[Badknee]

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

We will be there next Thursday

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[Ukbandit]

Sell it and get motorbike Aidy, best touring bike you can get, no need for much luggage, won’t need solar, or Lithium so less worry if it all goes wrong.

 

[WESTY66]

Sell it and get motorbike Aidy, best touring bike you can get, no need for much luggage, won’t need solar, or Lithium so less worry if it all goes wrong.

It’s been mooted

But it was a no from Val

 

[lorger]

It’s been mooted

But it was a no from Val

When did you start doing what you’re told, wimp

 

[Bessy765]

You will always find more posts on whats gone wrong compared to whats gone right. Given the amount of comformatics on the road (us being one of them) just drive. We had a 2008 3 litre Fiat manual on a Bessacar 765P sat nav took us down a steep hill with a low bridge nowhere to turn around burnt the clutch out getting back up at 21 miles from new. Fiat replaced under warranty, went again at 21,000 miles engineers report stated debris from first replacement left in the housing contaminated the friction plate (Dual mass set up) fiat replaced under warranty. Been motorhoming for over 50 years never burnt a clutch out before. There was lots of discussion about reverse being too high but many had no problems,

 

[Speve]

Been motorhoming for over 50 years never burnt a clutch out before. There was lots of discussion about reverse being too high but many had no problems

I tend to agree about reverse being to high I tow a car trailer and when reversing with that in tow always get a bit of slippage I’m much the same as you regarding years driving never burnt out a clutch but always concerned I might with our comformatic but as far as going back to a manual I would always have an auto or comformatic as they make life so much better when driving

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[Sheddy]

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??

Also put it in Neutral when stopped in a slow moving traffic jam, 90 minutes on an Autobahn blockage brought up the clutch overheat warning so I always select neutral now when stopped.

 

[Just smiffy]

My comformatic has done over 135k Adi and still drives like new, I’ll be going over next week then into Morocco in January, did the visit to A&M last spring.
I will be away for over 6 months and if the gearbox goes I’ll have to abandon it because I won’t be able to afford to get it fixed….

Will I worry… I have some faith in my abilities and the way I’ve looked after the van but I can’t do nothing about mechanical breakdowns unless there are a reasonable costs to get fixed…

You’ve gotta do these things to get some adventure in your life and keep the adrenaline running…

 

[The Coops]

You can't plan for what may never happen or just appears out of the blue, just make sure that you have either an insurance for breakdowns or cash in the bank to cover repairs. If we all knew what and when things were going to break, need repair or affect health, we would never venture out of the front door! Go for it, life is not an exercise in hindsight!

 

[Badknee]

Also put it in Neutral when stopped in a slow moving traffic jam, 90 minutes on an Autobahn blockage brought up the clutch overheat warning so I always select neutral now when stopped.

#MeToo always.

 

[Smithster]

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

Then you will have nothing to worry about. I had my comformatic serviced there and it has worked perfectly ever since.

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[herdy2024]

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

 

[herdy2024]

New to this thread but what’s the issues with the comformatic gearboxes as I have recently purchased a Rapido and that has said gearbox?

 

[Puddleduck]

The only real plan that my parents completed successfully was spending the kids inheritance

I wish my parents had done the same.

 

[WESTY66]

New to this thread but what’s the issues with the comformatic gearboxes as I have recently purchased a Rapido and that has said gearbox?

Follow the instructions in the manual, put in neutral when stood, and before you do anything else, if it’s not been to adams Morey Portsmouth for the fluid change and kiss point relearn, book it in asap £147 ish oh and drive it sympathetically

Oh and pay your £20 subs to access a world of knowledge

 

[Millcourt]

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?

Adi, wish I was looking forward to retiring in 2 or 3 years time then I could perhaps re-experience all the fun, travel and adventures we have been lucky to have enjoyed in the last 23 years since I retired!

In your position, I would put off any decision about replacing your MoHo for a couple of years and focus on planning to garner sufficient funds for the future lifestyle you are seeking. You can then decide, knowing better how your current MoHo (which will then be 10 years old) is performing, whether to change or keep a pot of cash to bail yourself out should things go seriously wrong.

Before sailing back to our last base in Spain, we had our sailboat in Turkey for some 7 months each year for over 10 years….2 or 3 months sailing in Turkish/Greek waters and over-wintering in Turkey. I was always amazed at the way Turkish mechanics could repair almost anything, even fabricating replica parts when needed…… but the older engine/mechanical parts on our boat were not especially complicated. I would have real doubts about the local know how to handle issues with the Comfortmatic. I imagine it would be much the same in Morocco.

Whatever you decide….. best wishes, I am sure you will have a great time.

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[Dan L]

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?

I agree with the 'try not to worry' advice from others in the thread, 3 years is a long time. Yes, drive it sympathetically and as you have done let the experts (AM) check it over regularly, you can do no more. just try not to anticipate problems but I know that is easier said than done.
My 2009 3.0l PVC with its Comformatic box has just passed 72K and has already been to AM and will shortly be going again for its regular check.
I love it and would not hesitate to get it repaired or replaced when/if the need arises. I would be very reluctant to switch to a manual box. I hope you enjoy retirement.

 

[stuartholmes]

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.

My first car had a starting handle and semaphore signals but I managed to blow a fuse fitting a parking light.
I don't understand why I'd want to play about in the computery stuff.

 

[stuartholmes]

Also put it in Neutral when stopped in a slow moving traffic jam, 90 minutes on an Autobahn blockage brought up the clutch overheat warning so I always select neutral now when stopped.

Thanks, I did think of mentioning that but it's part of what I'd do in a manual.

Never heard of clutch overheat warning though so thanks! Must be a light somewhere I suppose but sounds like something that should sound an alarm as well.

Hope yours recovered with no harm done.

 

[Colin McCourt]

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

That’s what happens when anything breaks. One minute it’s working, the next minute it isn’t.

 

[Colin McCourt]

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??

First time I have had that. I thought the handbook says to leave it in gear, full stop. It says never to leave it in neutral.

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[stuartholmes]

First time I have had that. I thought the handbook says to leave it in gear, full stop. It says never to leave it in neutral.

Correct. I meant before opening door if left on tickover while I look around for small children under the wheels and also after the engine is turned off I move the lever to 'neutral' (to be ready for re-starting) but gearbox will actually be still in gear until I turn the key on again.
As I understand it anyway

 

[Fish’s Mrs]

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?

From my experience with my Fiat comfortmatic when it broke down in Italy, the Fiat main dealer that eventually looked at basically said take it back to the UK to the people who fitted she new clutch. Fortunately we had excellent insurance cover so vehicle was repatriated to UK thank God, my advice would be to check if these countries are covered by your insurance. We had to use Axa and they were brilliant, best of luck safe travels

 

[haganap]

whatever you spend on whatever breakdown you may or may not have...
whatever needs replacing, being a complete engine with the 9 speed boc (which I have)
will
never
ever

cost you as much as replacing your motorhome.

I too have 24 months left as i have decided to hit the road and travel... don't know where as we are making loose plans, keep your money in your pocket until you need it.

 

[AlanHPPG]

We have the comformatic on a tag axle Chieftain autotrail and I personally love it and I have had a problem with it but with £30,000 worth of extras on the van it was a no brainer to keep it the comformatic is so much nicer to drive than the manual.

 

[WESTY66]

We have the comformatic on a tag axle Chieftain autotrail and I personally love it and I have had a problem with it but with £30,000 worth of extras on the van it was a no brainer to keep it the comformatic is so much nicer to drive than the manual.



View attachment 971144

See that’s the thing isn’t it, change vans and spend thousands to get it how you want it!
2k for alarm
£5-600 moho wifi
£6k levellers
£5k for lithium and victron (again)
Refillable gas

Then there’s the stuff on it factory fit
Full rear air
Alde with engine heat exchanger
LHD

Then there’s stuff you can’t get anymore on new vans
3.0L engine
NO adblu
I think I’ll run it till either it drops or I do, and just keep a bit away for just in case.

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[AlanHPPG]

I'm with you Westy