FIAT or Ford?

MJG1959

MJG1959

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If your motorhome manufacturer offered you the choice (for the same MH in all other respects) a choice between the FIAT as a base vehicle or the Ford, which would you choose and ideally why also?

Thanks.
 
I always wanted a ford transit base m/h, but after driving our recently bought 2009 tranny for work( the old 52 plate got nicked by the gippos) I'm glad i got the fiat,,much nicer to drive.

The 52 plate tranny was nicer to drive than the newer one.
The 6th gear feels like 4th on the old one

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an old ford. I have a old Talbot express 1990 still going strong.
 
Fiat for me purely based on the 3.0 litre comfortmatic option. Also the van being Rapido is not offered on a Ford. Given that I'm now fairly familiar with all its faults it would be a waste to change to a Ford and start over :LOL:
 
Fiat by a country mile..Ford agricultural in comparison
 
We had ford on our first, although it wad an older model. had fiat on the last 2.
Fiat wins for us and the 2.8jtd engine has been brilliant in my opinion.
 
Fiat, they are just so nice to drive & Comformatic box is great, my mate who is a lifelong Merc fan latest van is a on Fiat now says he would only have a Motorhome on Fiat.

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Intersting comments about the FIATs cheers.

Am I correct in thinking the Comformatic box is a robotised 'manual', a bit like the Dualogic box on the FIAT cars??
 
Techno100 said:
Yes it is robotised
Click to expand...

OK thanks for that. I know from the FIAT forum that people generally seem happy with that set up on their cars, but the different auto box they used on the 500L in the US was a bit of a lemon apparently. It is more akin to a 'normal' autobox but has had issues over there which tarnished FIATS reputation in the US.
 
just a personal choice really but for me its a Fiat(y)
Brian & Jo
 
Always an arguable choice of any chassis but, for me, it is Fiat. Also find the Fiat engine is superior to the Peugeot model available. Much quiter and smoother.

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If it's the new Transit, then it's Ford all the way. Brilliant to drive, great gearbox, no cambelt to replace, super comfy cab, very car-like with small steering wheel and what has surprised me most, the visibility is just so much better than the Sevel with a bigger front screen and larger side windows.
 
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Bobpalt said:
If it's the new Transit, then it's Ford all the way. Brilliant to drive, great gearbox, no cambelt to replace, super comfy cab, very car-like with small steering wheel and what has surprised me most, the visibility is just so much better than the Sevel with a bigger front screen and larger side windows.
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I believe it is the latest Transit offered by the maker I am considering (Chausson).
 
having owned several of each, my preference is the FIAT but must be the ultra reliable 3.0l IVECO engine option. super smooth, powerful and as said reliable. also chain driven and good mpg
 
Fiat every time for us, 2.8JTD pulls like a train, cruising at 60 (ish) bang on 2,000rpm and gives 28mpg in a six berth Apache 700SE. Tows a 107 car on an A frame like if it's not there - nice machines.

Regards,

Trikeman. :wink:
 
One thing to consider is - where are you going to do most of your travelling. If on European mainland then there are many more Fiat dealers than Ford, especially in France, Spain and Italy.

If within UK , there will possibly be more Ford dealers.

You may need assistance at some time.

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Fiat. We have the 3Ltr with Comfortronic. Lovely to drive, and pulls like a train even on the steepest of hills.
 
I deliberately went for a Ford based (2011 MH chassis) as the last Fiat I had - a 1997 1.9 Td - was a gutless bag of unreliable nails. In four years the Transit has been faultless - yes, faultless- and it's 2.2 turbo diesel is a smooth, powerful delight returning 26 mpg over 15000 miles. My only complaint is the intrument cluster which is impossible to see in bright conditions as it is so deeply recessed no light gets to it and turning the lights on makes little difference. Satnav is used as the speedo!
 
It's hardly a like for like comparison against 18 year old technology :LOL:
I imagine an equivalent 18 yr old ford could be described the same
 
I had a brand new Fiat 2.3 Trigano Tribute in 2008 It had problems with reverse judder from day 1. It had all the recalls done to cure this and it came back from Platts garage in Stoke on Trent worse than it went in.

I next Had new Auto Roller with Ford 2.2 engine 2011 and this was a delight to drive in the next 3 years never had any problems whatsoever.

2014 Had new Auto Sleeper Broadway Peugeot 2.2 (Ford Transit engine) now done 8500 miles no problems whatsoever.

Fiat cam belt.

Ford timing chain.

John.

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Ford twin rear wheel all day long, driving in heavy snow no need for chains unlike every fiat base van at the site and on the roads.

Had a fiat and got stuck on wet grass and yes I know how to drive before the rants start

Matt
 
I'm perfectly happy with Fiat/Iveco. I have very little experience with the Ford unit.

I'd tend to buy the MH that suited my needs without a great deal of concern as to the base vehicle. They're all diesel with high torque engines. The gearbox ratios are a bit more important though as I've had some experience with (older) transits with not much up top.
 
harleyjohn said:
Fiat cam belt.

Ford timing chain.
Click to expand...
no sorry but not all Fiats have timing belts. the 3.0l and 2.2l engine are both chain driven. the others are belts
 
955matt said:
Ford twin rear wheel all day long, driving in heavy snow no need for chains unlike every fiat base van at the site and on the roads.

Had a fiat and got stuck on wet grass and yes I know how to drive before the rants start

Matt
Click to expand...

But you can specify ESP and traction + now, mine has 4 season tyres as well as standard with the traction +, never been stuck or failed to get up anything....

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