Question on engine size

Limey

zorber wrote: »

size wise smax is the winner

We are looking at the smax but we are looking at the 1.6 petrol ecoboost engine, its 160bhp so plenty of power. We tow a caravan and i wouldnt look at the 1.6 diesel too under powered.

OH who will drive it doesnt do that many miles which is why it is worth us changing from diesel back to petrol

The Diseasel has more torque than the petrol (214 vs 177 Ib.ft) so for towing I'd go for the diseasel. Altho the 2.0TDCi trumps them both with 236 Ib.ft.

We had a Ford 2.0 TDCi (Mondeo estate I think) as a hire car to drive up to Scotland from Portsmouth and were amazed when we only needed to put 45l in to fill it back up in Helensburgh.:cool:

rodenal

The psa 1.6 diesel is a very good little motor. I much preferred my friends 1.6 tdci focus to my 2.0 tdci, neither was a quick car and the 1.6 wasn't far enough behind to make the 2 litre car worth the difference.

BUT - the 1.6 tdi fitted to new VAG cars is an absolute dog imo, maybe they loosen up alot but I personally hated the drive of a new golf.

I don't think you'll have a torque problem when laden though, if you're just interested in saving some cash then go for the smaller engined car.

daveyjp

Don't choose it based on the relatively short amount of time it will be full of camping gear. Most of the time only you will be in it.

The 1.6 diesels of either vehicle will be fine even when fully loaded.

I've not driven the VAG 1.6, but the bluemotion models return 50+mpg easily.

reck_uk

Thanks everyone for the replies, it's been really useful.

wba31

are you looking brand new? if not check out the Honda FRV to see if that is suitable. I had an accord with the 2.2 diesel engine, the CO2 was low enough that tax was £125 a year, dont know if that ticks any boxes... might also be worth checking the CRV as well then...

Tilt

Here's one you may not of thought of;

http://www.fiatprofessional.co.uk/uk/CMSEN/Models/ScudoPersone/Pages/overview.aspx

forgotmyname

Diesel have low down power and torque though.

My 130bhp diesel mondeo requires less gear changes compared to my old 142bhp petrol car.

The diesels have over 1/3rd more torque compared to the petrol and at half the revs.

But the gearing can soon kill that advantage, Some cars are geared so high they lose the low down power.

Mark_Hewitt

reck_uk wrote: »

I commute a large distance every day and the place I work are going to change how they charge for car parking based on the car's CO2 emissions\engine size.

That's rather stupid, what does it matter to the car park what sized engine you have under the bonnet? I guess that's their way of being 'green' I guess.

My employer charges for parking too, but it's taken as a percentage of my income, which is probably the fairest system.

BTW, I have the 1.6 PSA lump in my car too, it's a good little engine, but it's only pulling a Fiesta, don't know how it would cope with something bigger.

reck_uk

Mark I work at a university and they've been getting external pressure to do this.

Apparently this sort of thing is going to be spreading to other universities in the future and if the government have their way other businesses as well.

Flearoy

daveyjp wrote: »

Don't choose it based on the relatively short amount of time it will be full of camping gear. Most of the time only you will be in it.

The 1.6 diesels of either vehicle will be fine even when fully loaded.

I've not driven the VAG 1.6, but the bluemotion models return 50+mpg easily.

I've been driving a 2.0L TDI 140bhp Passat Bluemotion for a few weeks now, doing about 70 miles a day, roughly 80% motorway. Driven at the speed limit everywhere, admittedly with just me in the car, it is returning an indicated 65mpg + overall. The car has only done 1200 miles from new. If the 2.0 is that good, the 1.6 should be amazing!

The car is sufficiently quick when you need it to be or just feel like it. It does not lack grunt.