Fiat Comfort-matic opinions invited (1 Viewer)

[Ditcha]

We had the comfortmatic in our Dethleffs 5.5t tag axle its no auto like our new 9 speed but our new 9 speed isnt like our Audi DSG its all a driving style you get used to.
Choice between manual and comfortmatic it would be the comfortmatic all day long we used to keep ours with the up button on all the time because of the weight, anytime you felt you needed a lower or higher gear a simple nudge on the gear stick and its done and as for any roll back just use your brakes!

 

[Rex Mac]

Rex, had to look it up. Agree the A83 is smooth and fast (and in automatic). I was meaning the B842 from Campeltown to Carradale on the east coast. Mainly narrow 2-lane but we had to reverse at least once to get to a passing bay (and that was just to allow a Mercedes going to other way to pass, not something big). Nice golf course at Dunaverty.

Thanks for the clarification, yes the East side of Kintyre can be a bit tricky. I towed a tourer down to Carradale from Kennecraig one year and had to reverse back into passing places on one or two occasions to convenience some folk arriving from the Lochranza - Claonaig ferry. When I returned I headed South via Campbeltown and lost the jockey wheel in the dip at Grogport. I can't comment about the golf at Dunaverty (my Aunt used to be housekeeper at the big house) but I have enjoyed a few sea trout from Glenlussa. Happy days, thanks for the memories ;-)

 

[SpeedyDux]

Ours doesn't have Hill Hold so whether your Comfortmatic Fiat does have this feature depends on what the converter ordered from Fiat. The handbrake is necessary for our hill starts.

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[Pausim]

Ours doesn't have Hill Hold so whether your Comfortmatic Fiat does have this feature depends on what the converter ordered from Fiat. The handbrake is necessary for our hill starts.

The Hill Holder system is part of the ESP system not the Comfortmatic. Here is what the handbook says.

HILL HOLDERSYSTEM

It is integral to the ESP system. It automatically warning light activates with the following conditions:

❒uphill: vehicle stationary on a road with a gradient higher than 5%, engine running, brake pressed and gearbox in neutral or gear (other than reverse) engaged;

❒downhill: vehicle stationary on a road with a gradient higher than 5%, engine running, brake pressed and reverse gear engaged.

When setting off, the ESP system control unit will maintain braking pressure on the wheels until the torque required for starting is attained or, in any case, for a maximum of 2 seconds in order that the right foot can be moved easily from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. When 2 seconds have elapsed, without any departure having taken place, the system is automatically deactivated, gradually releasing the braking pressure. During this release stage, the typical brake disengagement noise indicating that the vehicle is going to move imminently will be heard.

 

[SpeedyDux]

The Hill Holder system is part of the ESP system not the Comfortmatic. Here is what the handbook says.

HILL HOLDERSYSTEM

It is integral to the ESP system. It automatically warning light activates with the following conditions:

❒uphill: vehicle stationary on a road with a gradient higher than 5%, engine running, brake pressed and gearbox in neutral or gear (other than reverse) engaged;

❒downhill: vehicle stationary on a road with a gradient higher than 5%, engine running, brake pressed and reverse gear engaged.

When setting off, the ESP system control unit will maintain braking pressure on the wheels until the torque required for starting is attained or, in any case, for a maximum of 2 seconds in order that the right foot can be moved easily from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. When 2 seconds have elapsed, without any departure having taken place, the system is automatically deactivated, gradually releasing the braking pressure. During this release stage, the typical brake disengagement noise indicating that the vehicle is going to move imminently will be heard.

So what you are saying is mine doesn't have ESP as a feature that every Comfortmatic should have.

 

[Pausim]

So what you are saying is mine doesn't have ESP as a feature that every Comfortmatic should have.

No, I have no idea what is on your Fiat, I have simply quoted the handbook. The details are in the general handbook but not, as far as I can see, in the separate Comfortmatic book. My hill hold cuts in so rarely it surprises me when it does.

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[DBK]

So what you are saying is mine doesn't have ESP as a feature that every Comfortmatic should have.

It is possible yours has ESP but it has a fault and the hill start isn't working. I guess a Fiat garage could interrogate the system and check.

 

[bladerunner]

Comfortmatic does not like going uphill backwards. Swift 669 smelt of clutch and at first I couldn’t understand why. Merc auto far better IMHO

 

[Ditcha]

Comfortmatic does not like going uphill backwards. Swift 669 smelt of clutch and at first I couldn’t understand why. Merc auto far better IMHO

Yeah i have had that before reversing a heavy tag uphill

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[Techno]

The hill assist is for hills and heavy loads. I suggest that almost all motorhomes are equal to a heavy load right out of the box and hill assist should be on permanently. Your clutch will thank you long term.

On the rare occasion that I select cruise control I engage manual or it with make stupid unnecessary changes 6 to 5th

 

[Gaston aires]

I agree with Mr B above, except I change gear manually without having to put it into manual. I use it manually most of the time, same with my wife’s smart.
Phil

 

[DrewE127]

I have had no problems with the Comfort matic.
It can be slow to change down on an up incline at times, you can overcome this by simply nudging the gear change and it changes down. Similarly on a long downhill stretch I may knock it down a gear. No need to enter full manual operation. In 12,000 miles I have never found the need to use manual.

On a descent if you touch the brakes it will normally shift down, if you hold the brakes for longer and slow down it will shift down again.

I like it.

Pretty much sums up my opinion too. Ours is a 2020 and does have anti-rollback. It is slow to change gear compared to a dual clutch transmission but it’s a MOTORHOME I don’t care, it makes me drive leisurely.

Our cars have DSG and paddles. Manual gearboxes are absolutely useless in my opinion

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[Tony50]

Let's get one thing completely out the way as others have said Comfortmatic is not a patch on a proper Automatic , The 2 Rapido's we had were proper Automatics back in 2007 and 2009 and were superb , we now have a 2017 Comfortmatic which does the job, I mean changes gear automatically , and you have to adjust your driving to suit ie. at Traffic lights I knock it into Neutral ,as although the clutch has disconnected from the gearbox if left in gear the clutch centre plate (that's the bit that wears out first and you then get loss of drive) is still spinning which I suggest courses wear, same as soon as the traffic lights turn Amber I put it back in Drive , I do the same in traffic holdups wait until the traffic moves ahead put it in gear Just be careful you don't put the gearlever into Reverse, yes the gearbox seems to have a mind of it's own in some ways that I think it should stay in a certain gear and the Bl***y thing changes gear , worst thing is you brake gently and it changes down, I'm use to the gearbox and as a Driver who believes that if there is something that takes away the monotony of doing something while driving I go for it !
IF I was you go for a Full Automatic Gearbox preferably Merc. not sure about the Fiat 9 speed Full Automatic sounds great but has not been out long , we are going to wait another year in case of any teething troubles the Fiat gearbox may have . Being EX garage man perhaps I am too wary !!

 

[FlowerandSausage]

I have the Fiat 9 speed automatic gearbox on my new Camper and I was the best decision I made, it's excellent!!

 

[Ditcha]

Let's get one thing completely out the way as others have said Comfortmatic is not a patch on a proper Automatic , The 2 Rapido's we had were proper Automatics back in 2007 and 2009 and were superb , we now have a 2017 Comfortmatic which does the job, I mean changes gear automatically , and you have to adjust your driving to suit ie. at Traffic lights I knock it into Neutral ,as although the clutch has disconnected from the gearbox if left in gear the clutch centre plate (that's the bit that wears out first and you then get loss of drive) is still spinning which I suggest courses wear, same as soon as the traffic lights turn Amber I put it back in Drive , I do the same in traffic holdups wait until the traffic moves ahead put it in gear Just be careful you don't put the gearlever into Reverse, yes the gearbox seems to have a mind of it's own in some ways that I think it should stay in a certain gear and the Bl***y thing changes gear , worst thing is you brake gently and it changes down, I'm use to the gearbox and as a Driver who believes that if there is something that takes away the monotony of doing something while driving I go for it !
IF I was you go for a Full Automatic Gearbox preferably Merc. not sure about the Fiat 9 speed Full Automatic sounds great but has not been out long , we are going to wait another year in case of any teething troubles the Fiat gearbox may have . Being EX garage man perhaps I am too wary !!

The new 9 speed isn't a new box it's been well proven just new to the ducato so any potential problems will be with Fiat's integration there's not.

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[Pausim]

worst thing is you brake gently and it changes down,

I like that feature.

IF I was you go for a Full Automatic Gearbox preferably Merc

Until 1 year ago I had a Merc auto and I am just as happy with the Comfortmatic (neither are as good as the DSG gearbox but I wouldn’t expect them to be).

I consider both types to be full automatics, they just achieve it in different ways. One has a clutch and the other a torque converter. They are both activated by engine signals and how they perform is down to the programming.

 

[Tony50]

The new 9 speed isn't a new box it's been well proven just new to the ducato so any potential problems will be with Fiat's integration there's not.

Yes but, it's fitted to a vehicle that is constantly running at full load and probably overloaded, and look how many Mods have been carried out on Fiats Robotic (Comfortmatic ) over the years and Robotic gearboxes have been out Donkeys years copied by others from memory the first ones I encountered were in the 1960's so ther was no excuse for Fiat to bring out theirs later ( later means as far as I know) just an opinion !

 

[Chris-n-Leeka]

We have a 3.0L V6 Mercedes on an automatic box and its a delight; the only way we now it has cvhanged gears is by looking at the rev counter, it really is so beautifully smooth,

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[two]

Fear not.

I hate the Fiat for plenty of reasons, but not its Comfortmatic gearbox. I took mine up a 28% hill with hairpins (SatNav mistake) and have lived to tell the tale. I’d choose the ‘proper’ auto if I had the chance but have never experienced that so cannot draw comparison. Better still, get Mercedes.

The Fiat speed limiter does not work properly and you may not be able to read the speedo. Mine was 2016, when speed limiter was first introduced. Newer versions might be better…

 

[Tony50]

We have a 3.0L V6 Mercedes on an automatic box and its a delight; the only way we now it has cvhanged gears is by looking at the rev counter, it really is so beautifully smooth,

A bit late now I sold my 3 Litre auto Merc. Rapido through a Dealer in Stowmarket ,Suffolk several years ago,
went down Devon way , that's the only one regret I have relating to Motorhomes and caravans

 

[Esky]

Having read just about all the comments here I don't think anyone has really touched on the economy. I've had and driven a range of auto's and motorhomes. The comfortmatic is as has been said is a robotised manual box which once you understand this I think it does an excellent job. What most people call a true or full automatic use a torque convertor, this can give smoother changes and has some advantages, but it also has disadvantages. If you look at the fuel economy of all torque convertor based automatics they are notably worse than the manual equivalent but look at the fuel economy of a comfortmatic equipped vehicle and it is generally better on paper than the manual (OK with a good driver they should be the same)

We have comfortmatic boxes on other family vehicles a Fiat Punto and a Fiat Bravo. Not so impressed with the Punto implementation but the Bravo implementation which we have had for 9 years now and done 93K miles is excellent. No problems with it at all on any of the vehicles. I don't find the motorhome version as nice as the Bravo but its a much heavier vehicle. It does change down more than I would going down hill if you tap the brakes it changes but what hasn't been emphasised is that you can easily nudge it up or down but tapping the gear lever while leaving it in Auto no need to change to Manual.

Given the choice of comfortmatic on a motorhome or a torque convertor auto I think I personally would go for the comfortmatic but can appreciate if you have plenty of free funds then the torque convertor may be your choice

One last comment is that it was mentioned that the change is not as good as a good driver. Personally I think that is purely an illusion. An experiment using the Bravo which in manual you can change gear either by nudging the gear stick or using the paddles. Passengers say its much smoother if you change gear with the gear stick. This is purely because they can see you moving your hand and are expecting the change but don't when you use the steering wheel paddles. Both methods send the same signal to the gearbox to change.

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[Rodneyplonker]

We hired a Merc based auto Motorhome in N Z in February this year... very nice. We have had two manual Fiat based Motorhomes and driving the Merc convinced us that auto was the way to go. We have since purchased a new Burstner with the 9 speed Z F auto box and can honestly say, it is brilliant! The changes are seamless both up and down and you have the choice of three settings including Eco which I find is great for Motorways but put it in normal setting for town driving. if I had to choose I would say it is better than the Mercedes but, to be fair, the Mercedes was only 7 speed so, maybe later Merc auto's would be comparable - if not possibly better than the Z F box? I have read that the Z F auto is used on lots of high grade cars and also some Morello Motorhomes?? Computer says 26.8 mpg so, only done under 1000mls due to lockdown but with tight engine I think that is quite good on a 4.25t chassis.

 

[Tony50]

Most Automatics if not all in ltta years have a facility that " locks up direct the engine to the transmission " creating 1 to 1and a solid drive ( see Wikipedia Matic transmission") yes you lose a little fuel economy until the transmission reaches its Lockup but it's minimal driven correctly

 

[Pausim]

I get the impression that some people think that the traditional torque converter auto boxes never go wrong. The clutch on a robotised auto may need replacing from time to time but when a torque converter box goes wrong the bills can be horrendous. I had the bands wear out on my Golf Cabrio and it needed a new box.

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[Tony50]

I get the impression that some people think that the traditional torque converter auto boxes never go wrong. The clutch on a robotised auto may need replacing from time to time but when a torque converter box goes wrong the bills can be horrendous. I had the bands wear out on my Golf Cabrio and it needed a new box.

My son has Passat 2002 year with 236000 miles on the clock and all he has replaced is a external sensor, to do with the automatic gearbox, and his wife drives like a Racing driver !

 

[SpeedyDux]

I get the impression that some people think that the traditional torque converter auto boxes never go wrong. The clutch on a robotised auto may need replacing from time to time but when a torque converter box goes wrong the bills can be horrendous. I had the bands wear out on my Golf Cabrio and it needed a new box.

VW will sell you a new or sometimes reconditioned autobox but you are paying a lot for a warranty period.

I had mine fully rebuilt by a specialist for £3k. The VW factory reconditioned box was £4.5k plus labour for fitting.

The specialist's opinion was that when the robotised ones go wrong it is often a failed actuator. He was scathing about the Merc torque converter, having replaced a lot of those.

OT but Honda's CVT box for the older Jazz models is extraordinarily expensive if it breaks. Quotes have been seen online in the range £9k to £14k for replacement. On an old car with a value of 2 or 3 k that is nuts.

 

[Busybees]

at Traffic lights I knock it into Neutral ,as although the clutch has disconnected from the gearbox if left in gear the clutch centre plate (that's the bit that wears out first and you then get loss of drive) is still spinning which I suggest courses wear

I always thought the clutch centre plate (friction plate) was splined onto the gearbox input shaft, so if the clutch centre plate is spinning, the gearbox input shaft would be turning, and if in gear the vehicle would be moving. If the vehicle is stationary, in gear with the clutch disconnected from the gearbox, the flywheel and pressure plate will rotate and the centre plate will not be turning.

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[jezport]

As our motorhome mainly does motorway miles it spends most its time in 6th gear I wasnt bothered for any kind of auto

 

[tonyidle]

but it also has disadvantages

That was true of earlier autos but not so much now. Most now lock the torque converter in higher gears.

 

[Alanben]

Love our comfortmatic! its so relaxing to drive, true automatics may be better, but compared to fafing with that clutch thingy and gearstick. I would never go back!

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