Driving an automatic?
Hello, I am shortly to purchase a camper van (Elddis CV 20) which has an automatic gearbox. I have been driving for many years, but it has been over 20 years since I used and automatic. I am aware that technology has changed a lot. I am looking for practical advice on how to get the best out of my new vehicle, especially on hills as I intend to tour Scotland.
Is there anyone in the Teesside / Darlington area with suitable experience who can share their knowledge, please.
Best Answers
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Thanks to all who replied to my post re automatics. I have resolved the issue.
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Thank you, that's helpful.
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I’m not in that area but here’s my input. It will depend a lot on what your base vehicle is, it’s age and which auto box you’ve got.
The early Ducato Comfortmatic boxes were automated manuals and not good and I would advise avoiding them. Around 2020 Fiat swapped to torque converter boxes and they were good as are the Mercedes TC boxes. The TC boxes coped well with any terrain you’re likely to meet in the UK and beyond. Scotland - no problem👍🏻. It’s generally, in my experience, only an advantage to knock the lever into the manual position to gain engine braking when you want to hold your speed back going downhill, otherwise just hop in and drive. More recently, Fiat introduced their own TC auto box. I know nothing about that but you shouldn’t go far wrong with it.
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We have a new Fiat auto TC box and can confirm that you shouldn't have any problems at all with it. As TW mentions it's advisable to slip into manual if you feel the need when going downhill but I've found that the box will automatically reduce speed on any downhill section if you forget providing of course you don't try going faster.
We live in North Wales and I've been over some of the hilly roads on route to the west coast, skirting Snowdonia, and didn't find any undue problems.
I am similar to yourself in that I've had manuals for years but changed to automatic in 2023 having last used one in the 1990s and found I adapted quite quickly.
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Automatic gearboxes are the way to go. Been driving automatic cars for 20 years and would never consider going back to a manual. I have had two motorhomes, both with manual gearboxes (auto not an option). I would say there are some circumstances where an automatic gear box would be superior to a manual. I always found at roundabouts you had to be pretty quick to change up in order to cross at a proper speed but 1st gear is usually very low, an automatic would solve that issue. I don't recall a situation where any of manual cars have struggled on hills.
David
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How come the OP can post again this morning and his post slots in as #2 and is labelled “Best answer”? It makes nonsense of the thread and isn’t an answer at all to the original question. This system is crazy at times😵💫
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@Tinwheeler There seems to be two ways to start something new on the forum. The normal discussion where posts follow on from each other and the option to ask a question where replies by the original poster follow on from the question? All a bit odd, I agree as you would expect all posts to be in date order?
David
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Absolutely, David. Unless it’s in chronographical order it doesn’t make sense. And who decides which is the ‘best answer’? 🤯
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