advice required (1 Viewer)

[Evocat1]

Hi I am a new member and I am thinking about buying an automatic motorhome 2.5 litre 4 berth
to travel around Europe, will an automatic be reliable and usable or should I stick to a manual transmission. regards Evocat1

 

[Badknee]

Welcome, there's plenty with autos on here so you will get some good advice shortly.

 

[Evocat1]

Thanks Badknee

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[gasman2008]

Hi
I have a Ford Transit auto, it is a bit strange, its a manual 5 speed box that changes automatically. It can be a bit clumpy around town, but this year we went to Devon, the box was fantastic up and down the hills, even when towing. I now love it, and if I can be bothered it can be driven as a manual.

 

[Evocat1]

Thanks gasman2008, very helpful thank you, it was up and down hills that concerned me most, as there's a lot of them in Europe

 

[Al-Di]

Welcome,
Alan + Diane,

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[scousebird]

Hello

 

[DBK]

Automatic boxes are very common and well proven but there are different sorts. Merc based chassis will have traditional torque converter automatic without a clutch. The others will generally have what is in effect a manual box but which is operated by servos. My fiat has one of these and it works fine. It also has a hill start feature which makes starting on hills very easy. Sometimes it pays to knock it out of auto and select the gears manually, but this is not essential.

 

[old-mo]

I have the Fiat comformatic 6 speed manual/auto..

Most of the time I use the manual side of things,,,, I find I like to be in control and use it for braking,, where as the Auto you seem to have to use the brake pedal a lot more..

But on open roads I flick it into Auto..

Lovely to drive whatever you select..

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[g8ysn]

same here comformatic

 

[gus-lopez]

Hi & welcome.

 

[CWH]

We also have Comfortmatic - wouldn't be without it - our first trip out with our MH was 3 months touring mostly Scotland, they have a few hills there too[!], it copes magnificently - saves a lot of hassle both rural and urban, motorway & single-track roads... we only use the manual to keep control of low speed eg when on sites or tricky manoeuvres, and knocking it into manual & back to automatic is seamless. I had to really put my foot down [pardon the pun] to insist on an automatic when we bought, but Him Indoors now tells EVERYBODY that's it's the best thing we did.
Having said that, we do both drive quite steadily, we manage never to be in a hurry.

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[Evocat1]

I have the Fiat comformatic 6 speed manual/auto..

Most of the time I use the manual side of things,,,, I find I like to be in control and use it for braking,, where as the Auto you seem to have to use the brake pedal a lot more..

But on open roads I flick it into Auto..

Lovely to drive whatever you select..

Thanks for that much appreciated

 

[Evocat1]

Hello

Hello, thanks

 

[Evocat1]

Hi
I have a Ford Transit auto, it is a bit strange, its a manual 5 speed box that changes automatically. It can be a bit clumpy around town, but this year we went to Devon, the box was fantastic up and down the hills, even when towing. I now love it, and if I can be bothered it can be driven as a manual.

Thanks very much

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[Puddleduck]

First van was a "true" automatic and was great. The next van and the one we have now both manual. I can't say which I prefer. The comformatic sounds like the bees knees as it combines both. Something to think about when we change van in a few years.

 

[Evocat1]

We also have Comfortmatic - wouldn't be without it - our first trip out with our MH was 3 months touring mostly Scotland, they have a few hills there too[!], it copes magnificently - saves a lot of hassle both rural and urban, motorway & single-track roads... we only use the manual to keep control of low speed eg when on sites or tricky manoeuvres, and knocking it into manual & back to automatic is seamless. I had to really put my foot down [pardon the pun] to insist on an automatic when we bought, but Him Indoors now tells EVERYBODY that's it's the best thing we did.
Having said that, we do both drive quite steadily, we manage never to be in a hurry.

Thanks so much, never being in a hurry is great isn't it

 

[Evocat1]

First van was a "true" automatic and was great. The next van and the one we have now both manual. I can't say which I prefer. The comformatic sounds like the bees knees as it combines both. Something to think about when we change van in a few years.

Thanks for that, the comformatic does sound good doesn't it

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[Evocat1]

We also have Comfortmatic - wouldn't be without it - our first trip out with our MH was 3 months touring mostly Scotland, they have a few hills there too[!], it copes magnificently - saves a lot of hassle both rural and urban, motorway & single-track roads... we only use the manual to keep control of low speed eg when on sites or tricky manoeuvres, and knocking it into manual & back to automatic is seamless. I had to really put my foot down [pardon the pun] to insist on an automatic when we bought, but Him Indoors now tells EVERYBODY that's it's the best thing we did.
Having said that, we do both drive quite steadily, we manage never to be in a hurry.

Hi & welcome.

Thank you

 

[Puddleduck]

It does and I think it can be retrofitted - someone will tell us I'm sure.

I wouldn't have it done on the van we have now but now the technology is so well proven it is something to add onto the "desirable" list when the time comes.

 

[davanne]

I have a Ford Transit automatic..... really easy to drive

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[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Your welcome to come and try the real thing with us, only got one at the moment as they tend to be a bit thin on the ground most of the time, there is a link below

Peter

Auto-Trail Savannah Automatic

 

[RandallC]

Quick note to add my vote to a Comfortmatic. Bought our first MH with it fitted and after a trip to France in it changed my car for a DSG.

The No torque converter means no engine noises like a slipping clutch. Decent engine braking and the option to row if felt necessary.

Really it's all about what your happy with. Quite enjoy driving firms manuals but am relieved to let an auto box row instead.

Have you thought of hiring an auto and seeing how it suits?

 

[Shazrick]

Hello

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[Momo]

Hi Evocat1 and welcome to the Fun!