General Anyone with a DDCT?

[Goudrons]

Been thinking about swapping my Panda 4x4 for a 500X and I'm trying to gauge if the DDCT gearbox is any good.

I'm a bit fed up with the manual Panda, the 4x4 Twinair with it's 6 speed 'box is a bit painful around here (Central London) with it's ultra low first gear, and there's no getting away from the fact, I'm getting (am already) a grumpy old git and starting to lust after self shifters.

The 500X with Traction Plus should met the demands I put on the 4x4 at the weekends, in and out of farmer fields and up and down farm tracks with a light trailer, I presume there's a towbar available?

I'm driven a few automated manual gearboxes, so I think I've an idea of what to expect, but wondered if any other owners can share there experiences.

 

[Mikehep]

Hi. I've a cross plus 170 bhp 9 speed auto. Had the Clarkson flappy paddles fitted.brilliant, especially when sport selected. After starting in mornings, starts initially in 1st then always in 2nd. In manual mode, you select what you want (auto/manual modes different). See if you can have an extended test drive.

 

[LovelyRed500XCross]

Been thinking about swapping my Panda 4x4 for a 500X and I'm trying to gauge if the DDCT gearbox is any good.

I'm a bit fed up with the manual Panda, the 4x4 Twinair with it's 6 speed 'box is a bit painful around here (Central London) with it's ultra low first gear, and there's no getting away from the fact, I'm getting (am already) a grumpy old git and starting to lust after self shifters.

The 500X with Traction Plus should met the demands I put on the 4x4 at the weekends, in and out of farmer fields and up and down farm tracks with a light trailer, I presume there's a towbar available?

I'm driven a few automated manual gearboxes, so I think I've an idea of what to expect, but wondered if any other owners can share there experiences.

There's a Towbar, if you go to 'Guides', then '500X' you will see how-to in there.

 

[Goudrons]

Thanks all.
I'm thinking of a Cross with the 140 engine and DDCT gearbox, but I'll wager I'll have trouble finding a tester, even though there are around 12 dealers within 30 miles of me!

I've read some horror stories regarding the DDCT's fitted to some FCA group models in the US and wondered if the same goes for the ones here?

 

[s130]

The 500X with Traction Plus should met the demands I put on the 4x4 at the weekends, in and out of farmer fields and up and down farm tracks with a light trailer, I presume there's a towbar available?

On my 500X 1.4 Turbo MANUAL 6 speed, the jury is still currently out on how good or bad or even if the Traction Plus is actually working! I had to get towed out of a slightly boggy roadside in the New Forest. The offside wheel was on slightly damp fine gravel for two thirds of the tyres width with 1/3 on dry tarmac. The nearside wheel was in boggy very wet ground.

All that happened was the inside wheel just spun with no attempt by the ABS system to brake/lock that wheel.

Since then I've had and ABS software update but there was no information from Fiat as to what the update did or was supposed to fix so both the dealer and me don't know if the Traction Plus system is now correctly working. Before the update I did test the system on the drive but this is a risky business I don't really want to repeat. In that test the Traction Plus system showed 0, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% drive going to the offside wheel but the nearside wheel just span unrestrained.

As for tow bar yes they are available and the 500X 1.4 tows very very well. My 500X replaced my Croma 150BHP MultiJet 1.9 Diesel and IMHO the 500X is as good as the Croma when towing a 1000kg caravan/trailer.