I’m looking to replace two of our 10t vehicles with Iveco Cargo 100E18’s, I’ve got the choice between manual or semi-auto and they are for multi-drop deliveries.
Does the semi-auto box provide any significant benefits, or is it just another thing to go wrong?
This is only my opinion as a driver, of heavy stuff mainly, for many years, and user of autos since about 92 when i had an FL10 with geartronic.
I’ve driven almost every gearbox there is and, with one notable exception, i find the auto gearboxes just about useless, carp for making decent smooth progressive progress, dire when manoeuvering and for traffic/junctions, and i reckon to beat the usual autos fuel consumption by overriding the autos at junctions and in traffic…you only have my word for that but from fuel consumption comparisons from identical fleet vehicles over years of use i know it works, if nothing else by keeping the revs correct at and after junctions and maintaining momentum which is my biggest bugbear with the things.
The only exception i’ve found over the years is Volvo, their boxes without fail will be in the correct gear every single time and good continual progess is made with them.
I wouldn’t consider buying an auto unless it was a Volvo box at present, the interminable wait for satans box to serve up reverse especially is little short of a joke.
As i say its only my opinion, and please feel free to disregard it as i’ sure you already have… 
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Course you do need a proper driver to get the best sympathetically from a manual box, especially regarding clutch control and correct use of revs and gears, the good thing about auto’s is that less competent or caring staff can’t abuse them so easily.
Got to agree the Volvo is superb, never used the Iveco but have heard they’re a bit slow which for multi-drop would be frustrating.
Manual, every time. Better fuel economy and less expensive to fix.
KCS:
I’m looking to replace two of our 10t vehicles with Iveco Cargo 100E18’s, I’ve got the choice between manual or semi-auto and they are for multi-drop deliveries.Does the semi-auto box provide any significant benefits, or is it just another thing to go wrong?
Ask a bus driver which he would prefer, manual or semi-automatic, they are the masters at multi-drop.
I would probably opt for the ZF auto if it is all drops within a reasonable distance apart, as mentioned there are some drivers around who can save fuel with a manual, but there are many more who will save you money with an automatic!
Many thanks gents. My thoughts over reliability were also a concern - after speaking to our maintenace provider they already know of one that’s been off the road for 4 weeks for a difficult to trace fault.
Having driver feedback is great and much appreciated, my own drivers were unable to give anything useful as they’ve not driven anything other than manuals. We don’t have a problem with driver abuse of the drivetrain at the moment, so I’ll be sticking with the trusty manuals.
KCS:
Many thanks gents. My thoughts over reliability were also a concern - after speaking to our maintenace provider they already know of one that’s been off the road for 4 weeks for a difficult to trace fault.Having driver feedback is great and much appreciated, my own drivers were unable to give anything useful as they’ve not driven anything other than manuals. We don’t have a problem with driver abuse of the drivetrain at the moment, so I’ll be sticking with the trusty manuals.
Definitely the way to go…the Astronics give huge trouble as they get older…I know of one fleet which is having trailer kingpins issues due to Astronics reversing too quickly. The I-shift is still the daddy of them…by a longshot…but that too can land a multi thousand pound bill when it does go wrong.