Manual or Auto? (1 Viewer)

[PaulV]

Hi, My wife and I are about to buy a new Burstner Ixeo 680g, we are happy with our vehicle choice, but now debating engine and gearbox. We've opted for weight upgrade to 3850kgs, but can't make our minds up whether to go for 2.3 130bhp manual, or the high cost option of 2.3 150bhp Auto box. Any and all advice gratefully received, thank you!

 

[Clarky]

With that weight I would think the 150bhp will give you better performance and definitely go for the auto box.
Went for auto in our latest van after having two with manual and wouldn't want to go back to manual.

Oh, and welcome to Fun.

Richard.

 

[DiggerJon]

No contest - auto everytime! I wish it was a more frequent option on MHs as I would definitely have had one on mine.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[CWH]

Auto, every time.
Welcome to the Fun

 

[Forestboy]

No contest
Auto and upgraded engine everytime.

Oh and

 

[WynandJean]

Hello and welcome from West Midlands.
I don't think the motorhome side of it is particularly relevant. It's a matter of personal preference. Either you and your wife like auto or manual. I suppose you might want to consider that with an auto gearbox there is a cost implication if anything goes wrong and there is more that can go wrong but otherwise simply a personal choice. I would say that I find cruise control particularly useful. I hardly use it on the car but for the motorhome really appreciate it. Did not have it originally but had it installed at surprisingly reasonable cost, and very thankful for it.




Wyn

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Auto makes a far more relaxing drive and if like us you get stuck in hill top towns & medieval villages changing gear is one less thing to worry about.
Current van is 150hp with Comformatic box the new one is going to be also. Although the 130hp engines are good I wouldn't go back to one.

As you are over 3.5t would worth going for the Maxi chassis at either 4250 kg or 4500 kg. with a lot of vans at 3500kg you don't gain a lot going to 3850kg due to limit on the rear axle, we only gained 150kg of the additional 350kg so we have gone for 4500kg on the next van.

 

[jemhorn]

150 & Auto don't think twice about it

 

[wigster]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Teuchter]

150 & Auto definitely!!

 

[TheCaller]

I would agree with all the above.

We have the 150bhp + Comfortmatic with cruise control on a 6.34m LWB Maxi 3500kg PVC. Very relaxing to drive, especially on the continent.

If you've never driven one, bear in mind that they are not the same as a conventional torque converter auto box. It is a manual box with automated gear changes. It does a very good job, but there are two things that need getting used to. Firstly, you can't rush the changes, which requires a slightly different approach when pulling away at junctions & roundabouts. Secondly, it is more difficult to do fine control than either a manual clutch (in the right hands!!) or a conventional auto when you want to inch forward or back in a tight place - particularly on a slope. You have to accept more revs & more clutch slip than you would use if you were doing it yourself with a manual box. So a bit of extra care is needed in those situations.

Would I have another? - absolutely.

 

[CWH]

Comfortmatic ... it is more difficult to do fine control than either a manual clutch (in the right hands!!) or a conventional auto when you want to inch forward or back in a tight place - particularly on a slope. You have to accept more revs & more clutch slip than you would use if you were doing it yourself with a manual box. So a bit of extra care is needed in those situations.

But you can always knock it into manual. For example, I'd ALWAYS use manual on a site or in a car park, for exactly the reason @TheCaller mentions.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Larrynwin]

150 on auto , we tow a Kia Rio 3 on a frame , pulls it comfortably.

 

[MillieMoocher]

I'd go auto every time...we do most of our travelling in unknown areas and it's a real boon not to have to worry about being in the right gear while looking for a turning/roundabout exit . It's once less thing to think about!

NB no experience of the comfortmatic gearbox, ours is a conventional auto but if we ever change the van and it's a choice of manual or comfortmatic, (as opposed to full auto) it would be CM without a second thought.

 

[Nirvanauk]

Auto every time for us and the wife loves it when she drives.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Floydster]

Hi And welcome to Fun.
You've made a great choice of van. We've had ours since May (ordered in Oct last year). We went for the 3litre (no longer an option) on the maxi chassis uprated to 4250kg with the comfortmatic box and we love it. We would never go back to a manual it's so easy to drive. We didn't want payload issues or a lack of power so went for the most we could get.

As an aside did you go for Alde heating? we did and it's great.

 

[TheCaller]

But you can always knock it into manual. For example, I'd ALWAYS use manual on a site or in a car park, for exactly the reason @TheCaller mentions.

But all putting it into manual does is stop it changing up into 2nd gear unless you want it to. Unless I've missed something, it doesn't alter the take-up of drive in either first gear or reverse.

I am only referring to relatively extreme situations. For example, we live on a hill & to get into the alleyway behind the house, I have to reverse up a slope, rounding a corner & crossing a kerb all at the same time, with about 3" clearance. That requires very precise, very slow speed manoeuvring. Having done the same exercise with both manual clutch & torque converter gearboxes, both are easier than with the Comfortmatic. But it's a small price to pay for the overall benefit & not everyone has to squeeze into tight spots on a hill on a regular basis.

 

[CWH]

Unless I've missed something, it doesn't alter the take-up of drive in either first gear or reverse.

Too technical for me I just know it's easier to go slowly in a controlled manner when I have the gearbox in manual

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Dotties]

Virtually all buses/coaches and except for specialist chassis, such as tippers, all HGV up to the max 44t now come supplied with roboticised gearboxes.

Wouldn't want to go back to manual, ever.

Definite fan of cruise control, and if you have the option of variable speed limiter go for that as well.

Slight envy creeping in, and although I've been a really good boy all year I don't santa is going to oblige this year!

 

[simsy56]

Auto.........

Craig

 

[two]

If you're short of cash, I'd spend it on the 150bhp upgrade first. You'll be able to progress confidently and have more weight where the traction is. You'll need more weight at the front to balance your load. Every kg behind the rear axle will reduce the weight on the front, so you are more likely to exceed the rear axle load before you're at maximum payload. Front axles are overloaded much less often.
Go for the auto, also, if you can possibly afford it. One less thing to think about & opportunity to enjoy the scenery more.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[PaulV]

Thank you to everyone for your responses to date and thank you also for the warm welcome to the group. We were already sure we prefer auto in a car, but not sure if it was a preferred option in a Fiat based MH. We have two vehicles to choose from, an auto and a manual and needed to make a decision, thanks again everyone, we're going for the auto and 150bhp upgrade. I'm sure I'll be back soon in need of advice, now to read up the variou articles and opinions posted on Fun, about MH alarms and general vehicle security. Getting excited, looking forward to taking delivery next February!

 

[Kingham]

Thank you to everyone for your responses to date and thank you also for the warm welcome to the group. We were already sure we prefer auto in a car, but not sure if it was a preferred option in a Fiat based MH. We have two vehicles to choose from, an auto and a manual and needed to make a decision, thanks again everyone, we're going for the auto and 150bhp upgrade. I'm sure I'll be back soon in need of advice, now to read up the variou articles and opinions posted on Fun, about MH alarms and general vehicle security. Getting excited, looking forward to taking delivery next February!

Against the tide of opinion so far, please try to test drive the Comfortmatic if that's the 'auto' option you are looking at. I did and I didn't like it one little bit, thus I've gone for manual on my new order.

I like true automatic gearboxes on cars, but just couldn't get away with the massive difference of the Fiat Comfortmatic.
I had my heart set on the Comfortmatic before test driving it and prior to placing my order, I had loads of advice from owners of it, that it takes some getting used to and I will end up loving it.

In the relatively short time I drove it, I had to make a decision and it wasn't for me unfortunately, but do try to test drive one, as it's an expensive mistake if you get it wrong.

 

[Jo662]

I would go for auto everytime!

We have had two manuals,and changed last year to an auto,and its so easy to drive!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[suavecarve]

I would always choose a manual gearbox. I drive the vehicle and it does what i ask not what some preset has determined . (I am not poo pooing the automatic drivers just stating what i would do)

 

[G7UXG]

I've had a 130 manual, a 3 litre 180 auto and a 3 litre 180 manual (current van).
Give me an auto every time, and the most powerful engine you can afford.

 

[musson]

180 auto

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheCaller]

Against the tide of opinion so far, please try to test drive the Comfortmatic if that's the 'auto' option you are looking at. I did and I didn't like it one little bit, thus I've gone for manual on my new order.

I like true automatic gearboxes on cars, but just couldn't get away with the massive difference of the Fiat Comfortmatic.
I had my heart set on the Comfortmatic before test driving it and prior to placing my order, I had loads of advice from owners of it, that it takes some getting used to and I will end up loving it.

In the relatively short time I drove it, I had to make a decision and it wasn't for me unfortunately, but do try to test drive one, as it's an expensive mistake if you get it wrong.

They are very different, that's true.

@PaulV If you do test drive one, make sure you get a chance to go for a decent drive. If anything, it's more like driving a manual than like a torque converter automatic. It's also true that if you want to drive it like a sports car, then it's not for you. It has some clever tricks up it's sleeve - the engine braking is surprisingly good & intelligently planned. But inevitably, there will be times when it chooses a different time to change gear than you would - usually because it can't see what you can see. And even if you drive it in manual, where the clutch operation is still done for you, but you chose the change point, you still can't make it rush the change. So you have no choice but to adopt a relatively relaxed driving style (or constantly curse it).

Having said that, the 150bhp version can be hustled along quite effectively at 3.5tn when the need arises.

But it will feel a little strange at first. I test drove it & liked it almost straight away, but I'd gone from an automatic Saab to a manual VW T4 campervan before the Comfortmatic. So I was already in van mode. If you are coming straight from a car, you may have a different reaction.

 

[PaulV]

Thank you again to everyone, I'm really impressed by all of these helpful contributions.
We've currently got an Autocruise Gleneagle 7.8 m 3litre manual 2009, Alko chassis plated at 4250kgs. So hopefully it should be a relatively easy transition to the Ixeo 150bhp auto.

 

[Puddleduck]

We have auto on both the car and the motorhome. They are both the robotic type and did get some getting used to.

I've driven manual and true auto - the robot type of auto does take a bit of adjustment.

I've yet to be fully convinced of the use of cruise control - I know most people love it and maybe when my licence business is all sorted out I will be able to get out onto public roads where it will be of use.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}