Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone has experience with either model?
I've heard horror stories about the 9 speed, with issues such as dropping into neutral or constantly going into limp mode. There's also been a recall on it.

The 6 speed dual clutch seems to have a lot less written about it, but I don't like the idea of a dry clutch, given that it was a dry clutch transmission that gave Ford and VW a tonne of issues.

We test drove the 9 speed because they didn't have any 6 speeds available. It felt way too eager to get into a higher gear, which made it feel confused.

My wife currently drives a fiat 500 with the 5 speed single clutch. It is frustrating to drive, so she is after something smoother and more comfortable. Does the 6 speed dual clutch feel jerky?

Basically just wanting to know how the 6 speed feels and if there is any real reliability concerns with either?

Thanks.
Edit: there seems to be a lot more 9 speeds available in the spec that she wants, but if advice is to stay away, then I will.

EDIT EDIT: I forgot to mention. We are in Australia. The models will either be the 1.4l MA with the 9 speed ZF gearbox, or the 1.4l MA with the 6 speed dryclutch.
Example of both: https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Fiat-500X-2017/OAG-AD-15780734/?Cr=6
https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Fiat-500X-2016/SSE-AD-4887962/?Cr=2

While I'm here. Any common issues with the twin air? Provided they are serviced regularly?

I've got the 9 speed, never tried the 6 speed. 3 years, and 30,000 miles on the clock, the gearbox has never misbehaved and the ECU has never gone into limp home mode. I love it, but then it is mated to the 'dirty' 2 litre oil burner

9 speed AT here. 8 months of daily driving, no gearbox problem whatsoever. Never noticed any excessive eagerness to shift into a higher gear, either. On the contrary, my complaint is that it switches rather late on higher speeds that require the 8th and the 9th gears.

I drove the 6 speed on a test drive for a few miles in a 1.4 Multiair and found it a bit jerky. Maybe 6 ratio's isn't enough, perhaps because it was mated to a petrol.

Then bought the 2.0l diesel ZF9. Earlier versions had issues probably because it was a whole new setup and they hadn't perfected the software. However I like mine a lot. If I did have a criticism it would be the change from 2nd to 3rd when cold is a little jerky, and 3rd to 4th maybe too but less so.

It maybe isn't quite as smooth as the more common ZF8 of which I've driven a few in Merc's and BMW's but I did drive a Seat Alhambra 2.0l diesel DSG for about 1,000 miles one Xmas and the ZF9 gearbox is smoother than that was.

So maybe not the best out there imo, but almost as good as.

cowabunga said:

I drove the 6 speed on a test drive for a few miles in a 1.4 Multiair and found it a bit jerky. Maybe 6 ratio's isn't enough, perhaps because it was mated to a petrol.

Then bought the 2.0l diesel ZF9. Earlier versions had issues probably because it was a whole new setup and they hadn't perfected the software. However I like mine a lot. If I did have a criticism it would be the change from 2nd to 3rd when cold is a little jerky, and 3rd to 4th maybe too but less so.

It maybe isn't quite as smooth as the more common ZF8 of which I've driven a few in Merc's and BMW's but I did drive a Seat Alhambra 2.0l diesel DSG for about 1,000 miles one Xmas and the ZF9 gearbox is smoother than that was.

So maybe not the best out there imo, but almost as good as.

Click to expand...

I have also got a ZF gearbox 9 speed mated to dirty derv!! It can be a bit jerky on trailing throttle (may be my car)?!?
Also if using he ‘paddles’ changing from 5th to 4th makes the car race ahead, so have to cover the brake, anyone else had this??
Does the gearbox have a ‘learning’ mode and can it be reset?!?

Alex4x4 said:

I have also got a ZF gearbox 9 speed mated to dirty derv!! It can be a bit jerky on trailing throttle (may be my car)?!?
Also if using he ‘paddles’ changing from 5th to 4th makes the car race ahead, so have to cover the brake, anyone else had this??
Does the gearbox have a ‘learning’ mode and can it be reset?!?

Click to expand...

Mine has the occasional jerk but nothing to get me too vexed. Hardly ever use the paddles, full auto mode suits me fine most days. As for learning mode can't help you there, sorry

I think it has got a learning mode but it's not something ive noticed in action.

I'm normally light footed and don't feel a need a lot of the time to go above 2,000rpm, the autobox changes below that level anyway under normal conditions.

If i ever want the car to accelerate quickly i just move the gearstick left and it holds the gear, then when it gets to 4,000 revs or so i move it back right and it's back to auto.

What I do find maybe highlights the change from 2nd to 3rd is it occurs at about 13mph and from setoff the auto door lock activates at the same time as the 2nd to 3rd change happens.

I drive the 2L 9 speed auto 2015 year with 30,000 miles on the clock with no issues with the gearbox. Normally drive in full auto mode. Occasionally in sport mode if I want to get off the mark a bit quicker. Then manual in winter conditions.
Have driven a Citroen auto with dry clutch and it was a lousy drive.

6 speed 1.4 auto has not given us any issues so far. Fully auto most of the time and sport mode is not for town but great in the lanes.

Thanks for the replies everyone.
After having driven a few versions of both, we have settled on the DDCT. It was more fun to drive, probably because it is lighter, and all examples we drove seemed smoother.

Now the hunt to find one we like.....

I notice looking back at your opening post that your in Aus where the models appear a bit different than the UK.

In the UK auto wise there's the 140hp 1.4 multiair with DDCT (1320kg) and then most of the ZF9's are the 2l diesel 4*4 (1495kg).

I'm just wondering if you drove the 1.4 multiair 170hp 4*4 ZF9 (1430kg) as part of your test drives? and if so what you thought of it. These are quite rare in the UK and there's not much written about them.

Just asking because I'm thinking the 170hp 1.4 MA could be an ideal car for my mother who does a lot of small trips, needs 4*4, but the diesel would be a no-no due to the DPF.

cowabunga said:

I'm just wondering if you drove the 1.4 multiair 170hp 4*4 ZF9 (1430kg) as part of your test drives?

Click to expand...

That's the one.

I honestly preferred the 6 speed. The 9 speed felt like it had too many ratios. It was too eager to shift up and driving in sport mode didn't alleviate this, as it made everything else too sensitive.
Gear changes weren't smooth either.

The 1.4MA mated to the 6 speed feels more lively and more fun to drive. I suspect that has more to do with the weight of the car more than the gearbox though.

We ended up purchasing a white 500X launch edition.
https://www.carsales.com.au/demo/details/Fiat-500X-2018/OAG-AD-16165588/?Cr=0

I think if you want revs, which is more necessary in a petrol vs diesel because of the lower torque then I could see perhaps the 9 speed feeling like it changes up to soon. In the 2l diesel it's less of a problem due to the greater torque. Then like you say, switch to sport and everything gets a bit twitchier.

1320kgs vs 1430kgs would feel a fair bit lighter no doubt.

That car you posted seems an interesting mix, seems well specced but no centre console, and what appear to be 16" wheels which will be good.

We have the 9 speed in our Lounge here in OZ and using the flappy paddles to down change from 5th to 4th the bloody thing seems to hang in neutral for several seconds. going down hill on a windy road (when it should be fun) is downright scary and dangerous unless i keep my foot hovering over the brake pedal. Also in the morning first trip of the day the change from 2nd to third is a real jerky one. After it's at normal temperature it's fine. We never see 9th gear as our government won't let us drive that fast lol. We often saw 9th gear last year on the M6 in our Crossplus hire car in blighty though

Trentham 500X Lounge said:

We never see 9th gear as our government won't let us drive that fast lol.

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Yes it's true about speed.
The highest speed limit in OZ is 110km/hr and if you go over it the fine is high, in some states it can be $400 for doing 120 and if you were caught at 150 it would be over $1,000 and possibly impounding of the car.
On the M6 I was in a group of cars in the right lane cruising at 155 (96 mph) and the second car was a Police car. Everyone just got on with it. I was so impressed a few days later I spoke to a British bobby about it in a lay-by and he thought our rules were bloody stupid as their interest is more about HOW you behave on the roads not all about speed. He did explain that if you speed in a village though you will cop a decent fine.
Is this true?

You will cop a decent fine if you are caught by a mobile camera unit. They do not discriminate or judge the quality and appropriate safety of your driving. They operate a strict ticket at 10% + 2 mph. So tickets are at 24mph, 35mph, 46mph, 57mph, 68 mph and 79mph.

After 45+ years of driving and not a speeding ticket, points or ticking off a mobile speed camera van did me for 79mph on a dual carriage way. To say I was pissed off is an understatement. Chose the "course" (at increased cost over a simple £60 fine and 3 points) to keep my license clean. Of the 50+ people on the course I was the only one done for 79mph on either a dual carriage way or motorway. All the others were there for speeding in lower urban speed limits where hazards are more likely etc. etc.

It is my understanding and observed experience that police traffic units/cars generally apply sensible discretion before pulling you over for a speeding offence. Pulling someone for safely keeping up with traffic flow, or someone safely doing 79mph on a motorway actually potentially causes more potential danger. This is how it should be IMHO.

Take note though. Un the UK exceeding any speed limit (even by 0.1mph) is an offence and were you to challenge it in court you would lose. EU homologation rules dictate that no vehicle speed device can read less than actual speed. They must read actual or above actual speed.

The 10% + 2mph is a guideline and should not be relied upon. Police forces can operate different guidelines. Guidelines aside police officers also have discretion at the time of the offence.