Automatic V Manual on Motorhome (1 Viewer)

Auyomatic or Manual

  • Automatic

    Votes: 101 78.3%
  • Manual

    Votes: 28 21.7%

  • Total voters
    129
R

Robert Clark

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Which do you guys prefer?

How does an automatic cope on very steep ferry ramps or other places where high revs and low speed is required.

How does MPG compare ?

Can you use Comfotmatic and cruise control together?

On steep downhills I can use my engine to slow down by changing down a gear - what happens on an automatic?

Would appreciate your exprience


EDIT; To be clear, I'm asking about the Comfortmatic robotised gearbox


Thanks
Robert
 
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funflair

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Morning Robert

I think for a discussion between Automatic's and manual the Automatic group has to be split into true torque converter auto and the more recent robotised auto's which still have a clutch.

We have a manual and have only driven one motorhome with Auto and it was a 8 speed toeque converter jobbie.

I believe that the old MPG penalty with Auto's only applies to older torque converter models with say only 4 speeds compared to a manuals 5 or 6, the new breed of 8 speed or even 9 speed auto's are very good at keeping the diesel engine "on song" in a very short maximum torque band.

Martin

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Jul 5, 2013
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Robert, as you know we have the Comformatic gearbox and I like it. I will never go back to manual again. But then I have driven automatic cars for the last 20 years.

Works fine on steep ramps. The only place I have had a problem is the same place you did, getting out of the campsite in Sorrento. And the comformatic works well with the cruise.

Difficult to compare mpg. Our previous C class motorhome was a 3.5t 2.3l manual and it averaged 26mpg. Our new one one is a 4.5t A class with a 3l engine and auto and it is averaging 24.5mpg. How much of that extra fuel is down to the gearbox rather than the bigger engine and heavier weight I do not know.
 

mikebeaches

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Until about 5 years ago I had spent a lifetime favouring manual gearboxes on my vehicles, even though I'd run an automatic car for a couple of years in the mid-90s.

However, in 2013 I changed our car over to an automatic and from then on wanted an automatic gearbox on the van. Finally managed to make the change last year - Comfortmatic robotised clutch. In a word 'excellent'! No regrets whatsoever, and makes travelling so much more relaxing.

My wife has always preferred automatics and, as an aside, she had a Citroen C3 back in 2006 with a similar gearbox to the Fiat Comfortmatic. It was fine, and our son still drives the car today!

Oh and no problems using the cruise control. CC is not really any different on manual or automatic cars or vans in my experience. Had it fitted on my cars since 1993 and wouldn't be without it.
 
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I have had a variety of manual vans - 2.0/2.3/2.5/2.8 Fiats, 2.0 Peugeot and 2.8 Iveco as well as the current 3.0 Fiat with Comfortmatic. Personally the best by far is this one - much more relaxing drive - fuel economy comparable to the others pulling the same weight on the 2.3. Cruise Control works with the Auto. My choice would be the same combination if we change vans if it was available.

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Kingham

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After owning a couple of VW Touaregs with auto boxes and my employer providing us with 3 and 5 Series BMWs, along with my favourite job car, a Landrover Discovery, all on autos, I was convinced that the Comfortmatic was going to be the option for my new van.

I took one out for a decent test drive and I hated the experience, especially when pulling away on busy roundabouts. It wasn't a smooth transition, even when pulling away gently, it was as if the engine had dropped fully to tick over revs, before coming back to life again.

I appreciate that a lot of owners love them and I'm constantly being told that a test drive doesn't do the gearbox justice as it learns your driving style over 100s or 1000s of miles, but that was too much of an uncertainty for me and I ordered one with a manual box.
 

Lenny HB

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Love our Comformatic, no problems with steep hills and ramps, doesn't creep like a full auto so you adjust your driving style and when descending hills it tends to hold a too lower gear but a flick of the wrist on the selector curers that.
Mpg better than a manual. Cruise control it at its best with an auto box
 
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Lenny HB

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I took one out for a decent test drive and I hated the experience, especially when pulling away on busy roundabouts. It wasn't a smooth transition, even when pulling away gently, it was as if the engine had dropped fully to tick over revs, before coming back to life again..
The gearbox software it set up for a fully run in engine (15,000 miles) gets noticeability better after about 12-14k.
You can get over it by being gentler on the throttle on the initial pull away, or you can flick it into 2nd directly you have pulled away or flicking it into manual as you approach the roundabout.
Only appears to only happen on roundabouts not on normal junctions, must be driving style, we see a gap and floor it.
Can't really blame the software for trying to protect the engine from our bad driving styles.

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Apr 29, 2009
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......especially when pulling away on busy roundabouts. It wasn't a smooth transition, even when pulling away gently, it was as if the engine had dropped fully to tick over revs, before coming back to life again.
I found roundabouts could be tricky to start with particularly if I accelerated just as the box was changing down so I have adopted a more leisurely approach and actually let it change down into first before pulling away. Apparently its how I should be treating roundabouts anyway......
 
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I'm surprised that no one has touched on what I feel is far and away the best quality of an auto box of any kind, namely that they make you a better driver. Freed from the concern of changing up or down gears your brain has more capacity to deal with the vast number of decisions needed on every trip. You can concentrate just that bit better, and yes, I am aware that most people think they change gear automatically themselves without any direct thought being put into the manoeuvre. Fact is a part of your brain is being used to work the controls, so why not put it to better use by doing away with the need? Most people say that driving an auto is more 'relaxing', but I think what they really mean is that they have less decisions to make therefore their mind is free to concentrate on the road better. At least I hope that's what they mean, heaven help us if people really did relax when piloting a 3.5 tonne lump of metal through heavy traffic!
 

Forestboy

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Automatic everytime haven't owned a manual car for 20 years and wouldn't buy one, would love a auto box in my motorhome but not intending to change anytime soon.

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grumps147

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This is my experience only, there will be alternative views, they are included after each question below.


Which do you guys prefer?

How does an automatic cope on very steep ferry ramps or other places where high revs and low speed is required........ Not tried it on very steep ramps yet, the normal ramps at Dover, Calais, Dunkirk are no problem even in wet.

How does MPG compare ?...... We had a 2.2 manual previously, the 3 litre auto seems to be giving about 3mpg better, but this is not a scientific result.

Can you use Comfotmatic and cruise control together? ... Yes .. You have to watch down hills if not in hill descent mode, it can build up speed before it slows down.

On steep downhills I can use my engine to slow down by changing down a gear - what happens on an automatic? ........Never used it on very, very steep hills such as mountain roads. Ours has an electronic hill descent mode, engage this, which you can on the move, and it changes earlier uphill, and assists downhill in a similar way.

Would appreciate your experience. ..... Only major difference is greater care needed on wacky races roundabouts when pulling away from stationary, the shift from 1 to 2 has a slight lag, just take extra care.


EDIT; To be clear, I'm asking about the Comfortmatic robotised gearbox


Thanks
Robert
 

Kingham

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....Fact is a part of your brain is being used to work the controls, so why not put it to better use by doing away with the need....!

Because generally the machine doesn't have all round awareness and therefore no sense of anticipation, so cannot guarantee being in the correct gear for a given situation.

Such a minuscule amount of brain power is needed for gear changing that it is negligible and for me personally, an automatic makes my drive more relaxing, it doesn't make me a safer driver.

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musson

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I have had about 5 auto cars and last MH change to auto Comformatic with 180 bhp engine would
not go back to manual again makes driving the MH so much easier Fuel around 26ish overall
 

Kingham

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Over 75% so far have opted for automatics, which speaks volumes for their popularity on MHFun (y)

It would be interesting to see if general motorhome sales figures per year could be broken down in to the two camps.
 
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Being my first motorhome and at 8m lets me concentrate more on driving it,I bought it second hand so didn't have a choice of manual or automatic.Very happy with auto and would never have a manual in a van.

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Robert Clark

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I was also wondering whether its worth spending £3,000 to upgrade from a 130bhp to a 180bhp engine.
Seems a lot of money for the same size engine.

Thoughts anyone ?
 

Popeye

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I watched the showroom manager attempt to reverse a Large Frankia comformatic back up on ramps and it was a far more jerky manoeuvre than when he attempted the same with a torque converter Auto.

If I manually drop a gear for engine breaking on my Mercedes Auto it assumes that I am attempting to do exactly that and stops the vehicle from exceeding that speed, just like driving a manual. I still have a manual car at home and we pick up a new Automatic on March 1st and I have reached that age where I really do prefer the automatic.

If it does reduce the fuel consumption a little then I'm still happy. If I downsize from this enormous van when I'm seventy then I will almost certainly stay with Auto now.
 

DBK

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For the Comfortmatic:

How does an automatic cope on very steep ferry ramps or other places where high revs and low speed is required.
You have to make sure the clutch isn't slipping. The first time I tried reversing up a steep drive there was a strong smell of clutch afterwards. The trick is to avoid having to do this or be bold and go up at a reasonable speed. The hill start feature (I think it may still be an extra) is brilliant on hills. You hold the vehicle on the main brakes then simply move your foot across to the throttle and press down. No need for the handbrake and you move away smoothly while keeping both hands on the wheel.

How does MPG compare ? There should in theory be no difference as there are no torque converter losses but driving style will play a part.

Can you use Comfortmatic and cruise control together? Yes.

On steep downhills I can use my engine to slow down by changing down a gear - what happens on an automatic? On steep hills, both going up and going down I generally knock it into manual (quick flick of the lever to the left) and it will then stay in the gear you select*, so you can use engine braking on descents. If going up say a pass with lots of hairpin bends selecting manual will prevent it changing up on the short straights and so avoid you arriving at a sharp bend in too high a gear. If the 'box has any weakness it is changing down, particularly from 2 to 1, under load. This can be a bit jerky so it pays to anticipate this and change down in advance of reaching the bend.

*Not quite true, it is cleverer than that. If you are in a high gear and you slow down it will change down gears as you slow, even though manual mode has been selected. This is to avoid you coming to a halt in a high gear.
 
Jul 5, 2013
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Over 75% so far have opted for automatics, which speaks volumes for their popularity on MHFun (y)

It would be interesting to see if general motorhome sales figures per year could be broken down in to the two camps.
From what I have seen there seem to be more manuals than autos about on the dealers' forecourts, which is the same with cars in the UK. It may just be that us oldies on this site prefer autos more that the younger generation.
 

Steve N Tracy

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My first 21 years in the motor trade was working as automatic transmission specialist, and providing it had a torque converter I would go for a auto every time, however the Fiat robotized gearbox has all the problems that a manual has plus the potential issues that can occur with the hydraulic add on's.
If there is a issue abroad just about any garage will sling a clutch in a manual, but they might be slightly more apprehensive if it's a auto.

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Jul 5, 2013
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I was also wondering whether its worth spending £3,000 to upgrade from a 130bhp to a 180bhp engine.
Seems a lot of money for the same size engine.

Thoughts anyone ?
Can't help you on that one Robert. We have what was probably one of the last 3l engines and it is very good, and has a timing chain so no timing belt changes needed.

Not thinking of changing the Carthago are you? If so what are you looking at?

On another matter with regards to cruise control, I do find that when going up hill in 6th gear and cruise on it slows down, and if the hill is too steep for 6th it just drops out of cruise control rather than change down. It seems it does not want to change gear automatically when in cruise. That is different to all the previous auto cars I have had, which have include torque converters, robotised gear changes and CVT.

Does anybody else with the comformatic have this problem or has mine got a bug?
 
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Robert Clark

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Not thinking of changing the Carthago are you? If so what are you looking at?
The Carthago is two years old this summer, so considering my options.

The point you make about the Comfortmatic not changing from 6th gear on a hill is something that I am wondering about too, as the cruise control always disengages when the clutch or brake are pressed (on a manual).
 

Lenny HB

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I was also wondering whether its worth spending £3,000 to upgrade from a 130bhp to a 180bhp engine.
Seems a lot of money for the same size engine.

Thoughts anyone ?
The 150hp is a good compromise (about €1600) that is what we have at the moment, the new Euro 6 one has more torque and at lower revs, 380nm for the 150 compared to 400nm for the 180.

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From what I have seen there seem to be more manuals than autos about on the dealers' forecourts, which is the same with cars in the UK. It may just be that us oldies on this site prefer autos more that the younger generation.
If you look on Mobile.de majority of the new stock A Class vans at German dealers appear to be auto.

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