Automatic Gearboxes

[GWAYGWAY]

I have decided that I would like to have an auto gearbox on my next MH as I suffered from not being able to stand on my left leg after two hours in stop start traffic. The thing is I would love to have a Mercedes Benz base one with the 7G box but they tend to be very pricey and probably a bit heavy for a couple of years time when I need the go to 3500kgs. So I am also looking at a FIAT based van with the comformatic box.
Thing is I have never driven one and I wonder if they are actually very good or do they wear the clutches at a fast rate and have clunky changes?
I can't ask for a test drive as there are not many about and I am not that close to committing to buy one yet.
Do you like yours, if you have one, compared to the manuals?
would you buy another one?
Am I worrying about it too much and stick with a new manual for cost?
Are there any other auto's apart from Sevals and Mercs.?
Should I hold on for a Mercedes one?

 

[Martin P]

We have a Renault Master based van with the Quickshift semi auto gearbox and its been absolutely great. No problems and a pleasure to drive . Can recommend.

 

[sasquatch]

You could also consider having an autoclutch fitted,which can be transferred to an other vehicle,and the vehicle can also be driven as a normal manual vehicle.
Autoclutch

 

[Polar Bear]

Before we had the Hymer we had a Rimor with a Merc engine and auto box which was fine.

Fiat do a standard auto box. Lots to give you an idea here - Used Vehicle Results | Lincoln | Camper Uk

I'm having a TKR in three weeks so I may be looking for an auto?

 

[maingate]

Before we had the Hymer we had a Rimor with a Merc engine and auto box which was fine.

Fiat do a standard auto box. Lots to give you an idea here - Used Vehicle Results | Lincoln | Camper Uk

I'm having a TKR in three weeks so I may be looking for an auto?

A GTI is better than a TKR but I don't know if you can get an Auto box.

 

[jagmanx]

Renault master

We have a Renault Master based van with the Quickshift semi auto gearbox and its been absolutely great. No problems and a pleasure to drive . Can recommend.

Hi I have a Renault Master based MH.
Fully Manual
Can I get a semi-automatic fitted.
Not need just curious for the future

 

[mark61]

Merc 5 speed auto is worth looking at too, the 7G is fantastic, but hasn't been around long in the Sprinter. Since 2006 Merc have conventional auto box, others are automated manuals. Merc dumped their auto manual box in 2006 in favour of conventional auto.

 

[Martin P]

Hi I have a Renault Master based MH.
Fully Manual
Can I get a semi-automatic fitted.
Not need just curious for the future

Am afraid I dont know, but , someone will!!
Some changes would be needed to the instrument cluster

 

[El Veterano]

First you need to make the distinction between and normal auto box and an electronic box. I have owned every model of Smart car (ie Mercedes) with electronic boxes, and they were really good but sometimes a little clunky going from first to second (6 speed), the Roadster, although the same setup seemed fine though. I have owned a Citroen C4 with electronic box (6 speed), and that was fantastic, and if I could find another I would buy it. I currently have a Citroen C4 with an auto box (3 speed) and it is bloody dreadful, can't wait to get rid of it. I have driven the latest Fiat Ducato based MH with the Comfort-Matic (ie electronic) shift, and really enjoyed driving that, and quite likely when we buy our next MH it will have that box on it. It's about £1,500 extra if I remember correctly. I have also driven a Ferrari with an electronic box (paddle shift) and that was superb, but if I was buying one, I think in that sort of car, I would want a manual shift. But that's another story.

 

[Martin P]

Yes, the quickshift 6 gearbox on our master is a " robotised" manual gearbox.

 

[UKBiker]

This our first MH (Hymer), it is automatic but found it hung onto the revs too long before it went up a gear so now use it as a manual but without the need of a clutch.

Jim

 

[jake]

auto trail comanchie with the fiat auto box, absolutely superb, would not go back to a manual ,merc. to me was a bit clunky! auto box & cruise control the way to go !!

 

[trevskoda]

In n/ireland you could not give a auto car/van away as no one wants them,this is because no one here can fix them and every one here is a boy racer and a auto is classed as a old duffers thing.
A car with a auto box at auction will go for at least half the normal price as they are only ever sold to folk with disabilitys or they have been knee capped.:scared:
The other thing how do you tow or bump start them with a low battery.

 

[Deleted member 775]

ever thought of having a sevo assisted system fitted ,looks like its similer principle to a brake servo

i just thourght i would add ,mabey the resale value of an auto boxed motorhome would be far less than its manual counterpart we all know auto cars have a lower resale value than manual ,so i would assume that that would be the same if not worse for a motor home most owners want manual boxes . i saw a program on the fitting of the servo clutch system for a disabled chap ,and the hardest part was the locating of the servo unit ,of course this system depends on a hydraulic /fluid clutch ,but i do belive you can get a convertion system for a cable system .

 

[flyinghigh]

We have a Renault Master based van with the Quickshift semi auto gearbox and its been absolutely great. No problems and a pleasure to drive . Can recommend.

I also have the same gearbox and likewise highly recommended, works a treat and more! economical than the manual equivalent, but you can still work the gears manually if you want without! using your left foot,
IMO it's a win win situation,

 

[jagmanx]

Renault master

We have a Renault Master based van with the Quickshift semi auto gearbox and its been absolutely great. No problems and a pleasure to drive . Can recommend.

Hi Martin,

Did it come ready installed or is it a "Retro Fit"

 

[flyinghigh]

Hi Martin,

Did it come ready installed or is it a "Retro Fit"

No it's a factory fit only, but quite a few out there if you look, Fiat also do there comfortmatic similar to the Renault and having driven both I prefer the Renault,

 

[Deleted member 8468]

We have the comfortmatic gearbox in our 2015 Ducato. From a user point of view, it takes a bit of learning but I wouldn't go back to a manual now. The gear change from first to second is rather leisurely so no quick getaways at junctions, etc but then I'm rarely in a hurry. And it's brilliant for stop/start traffic.

 

[RichardHelen262]

Our sprinter is auto and find the gear change is seamless,and having cruise control too makes driving effortless

 

[PopesOnTour]

It's driving style.

The main thing to note is the difference between Auto and Semi-auto. My car is a VW with DSG automatic, and with the radio turned up and the rev counter covered you do not feel the gear change. Apparently it's sub 0.2s per change. Our motorhome is a Fiat comfortmatic so semi-auto. This means it depresses clutch and auto moves the gear lever. So the gear change is leisurely at best. Whilst it may only be a couple of seconds, feels like an age compared to the car.

The result of this is that the driving styles need to be changed to suit the gearbox. To increase speed in the car you just depress the clutch as quick as you feel and off it goes. In the van it all has to be much gentler. If you floor the pedal the comfortmatic will change down 2 gears, going into the intermediate gear, the net result is that flooring the pedal will reduce the speed of the motorhome followed by an uncomfortable jerk as it re-engages the clutch. A gentle push on the pedal till it changes down one gear gives smooth acceleration. Similarly, if the revs are a bit high, lifting your foot right off the pedal will generally cause it to change up.

Personally, love automatics and think all vehicles should be auto. Very few people can beat a VW DSG auto off the line when using launch control! just don't mention the emissions.