Manual EGS dilemma

[Martin R]

Hello, this is my first post.   I am a near to being Berlingo owner.

Have for a long time been thinking of getting a Berlingo mainly for its versatility and load carrying properties. Actively started looking for an XTR, 90 HP manual 5 seats low miles in Nocciola. Circa 2012 with a budget of around £7750

Then checked at specs and discovered a couple of great options.
 My hobby is bee keeping that involves travelling along some uneven sometimes muddy slippery farm tracks...
.Grip Control / ESP looks just the job..
Then found Cruise control - just right for speed limited road works and motorways....

So added these requirements to shopping list.

Find now that my I have made it near impossible to find a car!

Yesterday.

Driving by a garage forecourt noticed an airdream automatic EGS - with cruise and ESP

Took it for a short test drive - loved it, ok it will take me £1000  over budget - but it's got all I want on board plus the luxury of auto. Fantastic.

Then bubble burst,  and this is where I would appreciate the input of the forum

Spoke to the mechanic that looks after my cars about the EGS
 " Don't get one unless it's new and under warranty as unreliable and expensive to repair."
Then spoke to an independant dealer who is helping with my search,
   " I won't touch them unreliable expensive to repair, don't go there won't last you over 60k miles "
Citroen dealer.
  " No problems really good, been fitted to C4 for 10 years"

Here’s my dilemma What to do ?

I liked the auto, the options I am after are more readily available on an Airdream EGS6, even found a 2013 one with £30 road tax and 60mpg! just the job,  However tend to keep cars a long time and do demand reliable motoring.

Should I for a manual version as I originally had in mind? Any guidance from the forum appreciated.

Martin R

[manuk]

Hello, this is my first post.   I am a near to being Berlingo owner.

Have for a long time been thinking of getting a Berlingo mainly for its versatility and load carrying properties. Actively started looking for an XTR, 90 HP manual 5 seats low miles in Nocciola. Circa 2012 with a budget of around £7750

Then checked at specs and discovered a couple of great options.
 My hobby is bee keeping that involves travelling along some uneven sometimes muddy slippery farm tracks...
.Grip Control / ESP looks just the job..
Then found Cruise control - just right for speed limited road works and motorways....

So added these requirements to shopping list.

Find now that my I have made it near impossible to find a car!

Yesterday.

Driving by a garage forecourt noticed an airdream automatic EGS - with cruise and ESP

Took it for a short test drive - loved it, ok it will take me £1000  over budget - but it's got all I want on board plus the luxury of auto. Fantastic.

Then bubble burst,  and this is where I would appreciate the input of the forum

Spoke to the mechanic that looks after my cars about the EGS
 " Don't get one unless it's new and under warranty as unreliable and expensive to repair."
Then spoke to an independant dealer who is helping with my search,
   " I won't touch them unreliable expensive to repair, don't go there won't last you over 60k miles "
Citroen dealer.
  " No problems really good, been fitted to C4 for 10 years"

Here’s my dilemma What to do ?

I liked the auto, the options I am after are more readily available on an Airdream EGS6, even found a 2013 one with £30 road tax and 60mpg! just the job,  However tend to keep cars a long time and do demand reliable motoring.

Should I for a manual version as I originally had in mind? Any guidance from the forum appreciated.

Martin R

Hi

Mine is a manual so will leave other members with an auto box to comment on your question re gearbox

Re your spec have you considered to look at an XTR trim which has a higher horsepower (110) given the rough terrain you are considering also comes with aircon (for the comfort of the bees......) and parking sensors

Also you don't mention if you are considering a petrol or diesel, if you are looking at a diesel maybe you should get an older version pre 2012 (i believe this is when they started to incorporate DPF filter) if you are going to be using it for short journeys 

HTH

[malgpz900]

Also you don't mention if you are considering a petrol or diesel, if you are looking at a diesel maybe you should get an older version pre 2012 (i believe this is when they started to incorporate DPF filter) if you are going to be using it for short journeys 

HTH


Thought DPF's are more to do with engine spec than age.
My 2005 407 2.0 HDi has a DPF, but some of the newer, lower spec engines don't.
Malcolm.

[Martin R]

Hello Guys

Its a diesel I'm after, the spec for that vintage has aircon standard, yes just right for the bees

[polar]

Hi Martin, i would not take much notice of the Citroen dealer as they dont tend to see vehicles after they are over 3 years old.

I have no experience of this auto box but it would worry me with two independents saying dont touch. I would always go for a manual box as autos usually require more maintenance and if they do go wrong can be far more expensive to repair than a manual.

On a big luxury car it may be different but in a berlingo seems OTT to me but thats just my opinion.

[Tree]

The EGS box isn't a real auto box. It's a 6 speed manual operated by solenoids. You can drive it like a manual if you wish. I assume the berlingo has flappy paddles like the C4 Picasso? If you look on auto trader for a C4 Picasso, I'd say at least 80% have the EGS box.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tree]

Also, Citroen do make a fully automatic box like you might be thinking along the lines of. I know it's fitted in the C5 but I'm not aware what other models it's in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Martin R]

Hi Martin, i would not take much notice of the Citroen dealer as they dont tend to see vehicles after they are over 3 years old.

I have no experience of this auto box but it would worry me with two independents saying dont touch. I would always go for a manual box as autos usually require more maintenance and if they do go wrong can be far more expensive to repair than a manual.

On a big luxury car it may be different but in a berlingo seems OTT to me but thats just my opinion.

Thanks polar for your thoughts ... was rather a luxury to drive even those few miles

[Martin R]

Mechanics usually suck through their teeth at anything new.  I don't believe there's a widespread issue with this gearbox, but google it to death if you're concerned.

I've got the later ETG6 and it's brilliant.

The only "issue" I know of is that the clutch is expensive.  So bear in mind that it does have a dry clutch, just like a manual.  If you leave it hanging on a hill then you're grinding the clutch down, so don't do it - just like you wouldn't sit there in a manual with the clutch half-pressed grinding away at it.  Well, some do but they end up buying new clutches.  It's a "manual" gearbox, with a dry clutch just like a manual, but a computer and a solenoid are doing all the work for you.

I wouldn't want to go back to a manual - this was my first ever auto and I'm a complete convert.  Many, many upmarket cars are dropping manual gearboxes altogether now - even performance cars.  It's progress.

thanks doofer, 
I can understand why you are a convert the short drive I had has almost reeled me in... there must be thousands out there so cant be a total disaster.
I am gentle on cars generally I'm sure that makes a difference to longevity /  reliability.

Martin R

[Martin R]

Also, Citroen do make a fully automatic box like you might be thinking along the lines of. I know it's fitted in the C5 but I'm not aware what other models it's in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Tree

Its the semi auto EGS6 that' being reffered to