Citroen is missing out?

[Chris]

I'm keen to change our ageing Volvo XC90 for something smaller and cheaper to run. It has to be able to seat five and do everything from school runs to European trips, loaded up to the gunwales. A new Berlingo would be perfect you'd think?

No. One of the "must-haves" is an automatic gearbox (I have long given up trying to convince Mrs C why it is preferable to do the gear changing and clutch yourself, rather than just putting it in "D") which rules out a Berlingo

If the Renault Kangoo, Fiat Doblo, Skoda Yeti, and Vauxhall Meriva are all available as automatics, then why not a Berlingo? I can't believe that Citroen still believe that automatic gearboxes are only for big, luxury cars

[pk7478]

Chris. PSA do not have reliable and good automatic gearbox.
It has only AL4. It's very difficult to say that it's gearbox
This is the problem.....

[3rensho]

Interesting, if PSA can't handle the design then why not out source it to a specialty company. I think they're missing a bet.

[pk7478]

AL4. it's a Zahnradfabrik's gearbox. 4HPxx-series.
It was feeble attempt

[Chris]

Citroen are miles behind with auto gearboxes. The latest C4 for example is available with either a 4 speed auto (4 speed autos were common 20+ years ago). Compare this to VW/Skoda which offers a 7 speed, DSG on a Polo/Fabia) Even the top spec C4, can only boast a "6 speed Electronic Gearbox System" which appears to be a conventional, old-fashioned auto.

Modern DSG gearboxes don't sap power in the way that a traditional autobox does, so the argument that small engined cars have to be manual is totally out of date.

[jamesf]

All of which answers my curiosity as to what the letters EGS stand for in the adverts, and also why so many seem to be for sale!!