Interestingly designed van.

Pudsey Bear said:
Delete the dinette and the top bed, have two singles, and fit a decent kitchen, shame it's the 9 speed box.

Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with the 9 speed box, it has been one of the best for many years. Fiat cocked up the software on some recent models but that does not make it a bad box and was easily sorted.

Lots of features I don’t like on that van but one or two clever ones.
 
I googled the pros and cons of the 9 v 8 and the 8 comes out on top, I can't say more as I've not driven either, but I'd like to try both on the roads we go on, some folk never go far from a motorway and stay on sites so it's never tested, but we do, and the figures were skewed towards vans not motorhomes.
 
This is what AI came up with:-

For the Fiat Ducato and its Stellantis group siblings (e.g., Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Relay/Relay), this applies directly: there *have been both 9-speed and 8-speed automatic gearbox options, and which one you’re talking about really matters.


🆕 8-Speed Automatic (Current/Newer Ducato)​


  • 2024-onwards models (especially the “New Ducato” / Series 10) come with a new AT8 eight-speed automatic gearbox designed to replace the older 9-speed unit.
  • This gearbox is claimed to give better efficiency and smoother shifts, with around 10 % lower CO₂ emissions compared to the earlier automatic.
  • Fiat clearly markets the AT8 as an improvement for comfort, drivability and emissions.

🔙 9-Speed Automatic (Older Ducato Models)​


  • Earlier Ducato versions (especially around 2019 → mid-2020s/Series 9) did use a 9-speed automatic with torque converter as a higher-end option over manual.
  • That transmission was designed to optimise torque use and help economy, with three modes (Eco, Normal, Power).
  • However, real-world reports from owners/forums suggest some drivability and reliability quirks with the 9-speed unit on Ducatos — which is part of why Fiat appears to have moved to the newer 8-speed design.
if you’re considering an automatic Ducato as a delivery/work van, here’s how it relates to what we discussed earlier:


👉 9-Speed​


  • Found on older models (around 2019-2023).
  • Potential benefits in theory similar to any 9-speed (more gears, finer ratio spread).
  • In practice, some operators have reported shift quirks or reliability issues on heavy or frequent stop/start use.

👉 8-Speed​


  • Standard on the newer “New Ducato” range now — Fiat has largely moved away from the 9-speed in favour of this.
  • Claimed to be more refined, efficient and reliable for both everyday driving and heavier use cases.
  • Likely a better choice for full-time delivery work due to fewer reported issues and updated calibration.


📌 Bottom Line​


  • If you’re comparing a late-model Ducato with a 9-speed auto vs a newer one with an 8-speed auto, the 8-speed is generally considered the better choice for everyday commercial use now.
  • The old 9-speed was decent on paper but hasn’t been as well liked in practice by some owners.
  • For delivery vans used daily with frequent stops, the 8-speed tends to be refined, smoother and potentially more reliable in real use.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Delete the dinette and the top bed, have two singles, and fit a decent kitchen, shame it's the 9 speed box.

Click to expand...
Sounds like that will be a completely different layout then?

As far as AI is concerned, I've pretty much lost all confidence in it for some task. It actually makes up complete bollox some of the time, it's worse than fat bloke down pub.
 
a lot depends on the question and how it's couched, I asked fro pros & cons based on reviews by delivery drivers, that was ChatGPT, but Google said more or less the same, if Fiat ditched it so quick then unless it was a massive saving, they decided it was too problematic, it may be ok in a Moho, dunno, I wonder why they didn't go with Borg Warner.
 
That gas alarm is going to get trashed being right where you would get off og the double seat. And that shower? Very clever, but you would have to air it properly after use before closing, that'll peel the vinyl off the wardrobe in no time!
 
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