mickyblue:
Yeah i did,I will ask again,
If your able to select your own gears, is it an auto or a manual, or one of those semi auto jobs?
So before you type have a think Rob
LEARN TO ■■■■■■■ READ. 
WHICH ■■■■■■■ PART OF “MAN TIPMATIC AUTO IN FLEET SPEC” ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING?
Rob K:
mickyblue:
Yeah i did,I will ask again,
If your able to select your own gears, is it an auto or a manual, or one of those semi auto jobs?
So before you type have a think Rob
LEARN TO [zb] READ.
WHICH [zb] PART OF “MAN TIPMATIC AUTO IN FLEET SPEC” ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING?
LOOK YOU need to get out more and relax.
I think we have our wires crossed here,
Not your fleet spec i am talking about. I am on about the other gents box as you stated he can select his gears hence why i am asking if it is a semi auto or a manual
The woes of a ■■■■ autobox 
I really like it when you are attempting to get under a fully weighted- loaded trailer and the ■■■■ things stop dead. more revs , still not moving ,more revs still not moving, little bit more and pow off it goes - slams into the pin everything in the cab goes flying through the air and you sit there dazed and confused with rattling teeth
Gotta love MAN autos .
mickyblue:
Rob K:
mickyblue:
Yeah i did,I will ask again,
If your able to select your own gears, is it an auto or a manual, or one of those semi auto jobs?
So before you type have a think Rob
LEARN TO [zb] READ.
WHICH [zb] PART OF “MAN TIPMATIC AUTO IN FLEET SPEC” ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING?
LOOK YOU need to get out more and relax.
I think we have our wires crossed here,
Not your fleet spec i am talking about. I am on about the other gents box as you stated he can select his gears hence why i am asking if it is a semi auto or a manual
FFS will you please learn to read or stop posting on this site.
I have been driving a brand new MAN 440 Tipmatic (fleet spec) this week and I cannot believe how this passed QC and was allowed to be produced en masse. It is THE WORST auto box out there. The DAF auto was previously at the top of my ‘worst’ list for the light year it takes between gear changes, but that is now God-like in comparison to this heap of [zb].
There’s a pic of the gear selector and stuff towards the end of this video if you’re not sure which box I’m on about :
youtube.com/watch?v=Z-D3MRGZfMQ
The comments towards the end of the video are exactly the problem with it - the fleet spec version does not let you select any gear at all other than your ‘moving off’ gear. As soon as you are rolling it goes back into auto and controls every gear change for you until you come to a stop again. Nice idea in theory but in practice it is absolutely HOPELESS.
It tries to pull away from all starts on whatever terrain in 3rd gear (of 12), but it block gears and goes to 5th then 7th, 8th and up. This is reasonably fine on the flat, but on even the slightest incline with a decent amount of weight on, 5th is just too high and with the 2 second pause between changes, you’ve lost half your momentum as it changes up at 1400 revs and you’re down at 950 revs in 5th labouring the [zb] out of it so it dies and then has to change down to 4th. Meanwhile the traffic that was in front of you at the lights has now disappeared over the horizon and the lights are on red again.
And hills… it couldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding. Picture the scene: you’ve come down to Brighouse from Harsthead Moor with 25 tonne on and are at the bottom of Ainley Bank. It’s deceptively steep right where it splits into 4 lanes and you need to get a good run at it to stand any chance of going up the other side at ~40. Came down, in top (12th), stayed in top right until where it splits to 4 lanes, by this point the revs were off the bottom of the dial and it was already nearly down to 45. Changes down to 11th, now down to 40 and only just started to enter the righthand curve, but it changed down too low in the rev band, and now it’s too low in 11th and it’s labouring. Changes down to 10th and we’re down to 30mph. Got onto the straight bit where the incline eases slightly and it managed to pull itself to 32mph at 1400 revs and then changed up into 11th again, revs back down at 950 so too low for the blower to do anything, speed died AGAIN, back down in 10th and now 29mph. Seriously… IS THIS [ZB] FOR REAL?
After the first day with it I thought [zb] this [zb] and pulled out the user manual for it. There is nothing that I don’t know about that truck’s operation now, but the only ‘useful’ thing it tells you to stop it from changing down too early is to plant your loud foot and this activates kick down mode . Sounds impressive, but I knew that already from planting my foot to get the [zb] moving on the first day. Well I can tell you that it makes absolutely no noticeable difference whatsoever, as detailed above which was from day 2 and after reading the manual. (I should point out just for clarification that the Tipmatic Profi spec allows you to manually select any gear you want, but not the fleet spec).
And the truck itself . Looks really smart from the outside with the colour coded mirrors and neon-style ‘strip’ lights for the side lights, but the interior is still [zb] with the fridge in the wrong place (RIGHT in front of the middle of the bunk, like a tower sticking out and totally preventing you from sitting on the bunk) and this new design has 18 foot of dashboard in front of you so unless you have the seat at maximum height so your legs are off the ground, you can’t see the 5 cars in the queue directly in front of you. Imagine driving from the back seat of your car - well it’s akin to that. And the roll!!! FFS THE ROLL!!! It’s like driving a bouncy castle, seriously. You could drive straight across 2ft ditches at the sides of the roads and wouldn’t feel a thing, which sounds really nice, but the reality is that the cab is constantly swaying, rocking, bouncing about all over the place and corners like an oil tanker. Pulling a loaded trailer with it is horrible - there’s no feel to what’s going on behind you as everything is ultra-damped and cushioned. It really lulls you into a false sense of security, or would do if the [zb] “gearbox” would allow you to get to a speed where you could get a bit carried away.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE TRUCK. Give me a Renault Premium any day over it , even one with the factory standard rattling step. I will never complain about a Renault again after this. I even picked up an FH12 Idiot Shift from a hire place this afternoon and the difference between that and the MAN in terms of the gearboxes was like night and day. The I-Shift is far from perfect, but it just ‘works’ and has all the functions for you to do your job with the ability to select your own gears.
/rant
Oh ■■■■■■■■…He’s off on one again! 
Sort of answered my question, but thank you for pointing that out!!!
FFS will you please learn to read or stop posting on this site.
Oh ■■■■■■■■…He’s off on one again!
Such a shame that tipmatic comes as standard on MAN’s now as the manual box with comfort shift is my favourite manual box by far and is sweet as a nut, they are rarer than hen’s teeth now though.
All being said and done though I still quit like MAN’s, the fact they are usually ten to twenty grand cheaper than a lot of the rest makes up for a fair few of the problems for me.
I’d have a new one but be pretty cautious of a second hand one, as with Iveco’s they ain’t too bad till they’re 3 years old and they then auto destruct & become money pits.
i’ve just been given an 11 reg premium so i’m fine and i laugh loudly that you suffer the MAN .
i’m very happy with my auto box and i’ll fight anyone who wishes to take it from me … 
just saying like … 
Steering Wheel Attendant that’s how I’d sum up driving my MAN TGX540, yes with the fleet spec box. As confirmed by the link to the video only difference in the auto boxes previously mentioned is software. You’ll not win any standing start drag races with anyone in these trucks with the fleet box, doesn’t hold any gear long before upshifting and doesn’t get into it’s stride until your into 10th. On the plus side the 540 is a cracking motor pulls really well so the gearbox isn’t too much of a handicap once up to speed, better than a DAF 510 I had for a week…
I sort of get what Micks saying and what Robs saying 
Fleetspec is you stick it into drive and thats it, the other gearbox you can set what gear you want…
Much like I-shift, though I understand that some I-shift boxes have the manual function disabled…
MAN 440 TGS Tipmatic Auto gearbox, day cab.
This has replaced the ERF with the major Oil Companies as their vehicle of choice.
By the sound of it we have been lucky, as we can change between manual and auto.
In fact the MAN driver trainers, taught our trainers, that we must use both modes to achieve the best fuel economy.
As this is my first and only auto box i have nothing to compare it with.
It does take time to adjust to it and makes for a more laid back style of driving.
However driving it without the manual mode would be a nightmare.
It makes sense to have the choice because as drivers WE KNOW BEST right?
john_london:
BIGRIG1:
I totally agree,i normally drive a manual premium and ive been in auto Cf and TGXs this week and the CF is the worst thing ever to have wheels bolted to it, and i think the TGX is over rated,give me my year old premium any day!I take it you’ve never driven an Axor then
I think the CF is a nice unit; at least I don’t feel sea sick when I’m driving one.
I agree with the comments on the MAN, they’re cheap and nasty.
Im happy enough in a manual CF,overall a good enough truck,XFs are all right too,ive driven manual Axor and wouldnt bee mad about them,the Actros is a bit more refined and nice gearbox but very bouncy and sways alot.Suppose they all ahve advantages and disadvantages.
BIGRIG1:
john_london:
BIGRIG1:
I totally agree,i normally drive a manual premium and ive been in auto Cf and TGXs this week and the CF is the worst thing ever to have wheels bolted to it, and i think the TGX is over rated,give me my year old premium any day!I take it you’ve never driven an Axor then
I agree with the comments on the MAN, they’re cheap and nasty.
Im happy enough in a manual CF,overall a good enough truck,XFs are all right too,ive driven manual Axor and wouldnt bee mad about them,the Actros is a bit more refined and nice gearbox but very bouncy and sways alot.Suppose they all ahve advantages and disadvantages.
CF is nice, yes. I used to tramp all week in a CF space cab with manual box and loved it. Bunk is same comfy-ness as the XF one, but just a little bit shorter in length I think.
Rob K:
BIGRIG1:
john_london:
BIGRIG1:
I totally agree,i normally drive a manual premium and ive been in auto Cf and TGXs this week and the CF is the worst thing ever to have wheels bolted to it, and i think the TGX is over rated,give me my year old premium any day!I take it you’ve never driven an Axor then
I agree with the comments on the MAN, they’re cheap and nasty.
Im happy enough in a manual CF,overall a good enough truck,XFs are all right too,ive driven manual Axor and wouldnt bee mad about them,the Actros is a bit more refined and nice gearbox but very bouncy and sways alot.Suppose they all ahve advantages and disadvantages.
CF is nice, yes. I used to tramp all week in a CF space cab with manual box and loved it. Bunk is same comfy-ness as the XF one, but just a little bit shorter in length I think.
wild guess here but would that have been MV04 LUH or MV04 LUW that you tramped in ? close ehh.
bowser:
Rob K:
BIGRIG1:
john_london:
BIGRIG1:
I totally agree,i normally drive a manual premium and ive been in auto Cf and TGXs this week and the CF is the worst thing ever to have wheels bolted to it, and i think the TGX is over rated,give me my year old premium any day!I take it you’ve never driven an Axor then
I agree with the comments on the MAN, they’re cheap and nasty.
Im happy enough in a manual CF,overall a good enough truck,XFs are all right too,ive driven manual Axor and wouldnt bee mad about them,the Actros is a bit more refined and nice gearbox but very bouncy and sways alot.Suppose they all ahve advantages and disadvantages.
CF is nice, yes. I used to tramp all week in a CF space cab with manual box and loved it. Bunk is same comfy-ness as the XF one, but just a little bit shorter in length I think.
wild guess here but would that have been MV04 LUH or MV04 LUW that you tramped in ? close ehh.
VERY close - MV04LUR. Was the best looked after on the fleet, no accident damage, dents, scratches or bits hanging off. 
Are you on for them now bowser? Is Higginbottom still running the show?
not for them no but i know who owns those two now and yes very well looked after and still both drive like new , good motors for what they are … they are both still parked at heywood .
bowser:
not for them no but i know who owns those two now and yes very well looked after and still both drive like new , good motors for what they are … they are both still parked at heywood .
Those 2 sound like Manc motors from the reg #s iirc. I don’t remember those being at Leeds where I was out of and from you saying they’re still based at Heywood would suggest that they were. I can’t speak for the others but mine was certainly in top nick when I left.
yes both manc motors and still parked in same yard .
mickyblue:
Rob K:
mickyblue:
Yeah i did,I will ask again,
If your able to select your own gears, is it an auto or a manual, or one of those semi auto jobs?
So before you type have a think Rob
LEARN TO [zb] READ.
WHICH [zb] PART OF “MAN TIPMATIC AUTO IN FLEET SPEC” ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING?
LOOK YOU need to get out more and relax.
I think we have our wires crossed here,
Not your fleet spec i am talking about. I am on about the other gents box as you stated he can select his gears hence why i am asking if it is a semi auto or a manual
It’s a ZF AS-Tronic, the same automated mechanical box used by DAF and IVECO, but they all use their own software, so are slightly different to drive. Most manufacturers, at the request of fleet engineers of big fleets now offer two programs, one which allows driver intervention and one which does not, the one Rob K has seems to be in the not category.
The reason that their customers asked for this more basic option is that some drivers did not like the way the autos hung onto gears and intervened to keep the revs up, and therefore the trucks did not return the fuel results promised. So this very useful manual over-ride feature was removed on fleet spec vehicles.
