ClioSport.net

Register a free account today to become a member!
Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

Brace yourselves - you’re NOT going to like this!!





OK boys and girls. I have been doing some research on turbo diesels after I had a mind-altering ride in one the other day. And you are NOT going to like it.

Diesels are not my cup of tea – and I’m not trying to sell you one. But listen up please!

I started off by comparing detailed in gear figures for an average 2.0 (or thereabouts) turbo diesel in a rep-mobile, versus a 2.0 16v in a similar car. Basically, the TD car was ripping the 2.0 16v petrol engine’s times apart so much, that I had to start thinking of some hotter competition.

As hot hatch fans, you are NOT going to like this.

I took the in gear figures for a 2.2 16v TD Vectra from a recent Autocar. Now this is not exactly the best TD on the market at the moment either (start worrying now). It’s a 16v with direct injection and an intercooler, but doesn’t have really high-pressure injection (“pump douse” or “PD” as VW models say), or common-rail technology (which it should to be competitive). Basically it’s a fairly crappy TD engine in a heavy Vectra – 1489kg!! It makes a fairly sub-standard 123bhp and average 206lb/ft of torque at 1500rpm.

How does it compare then to say, a Mini Cooper S? Or a SEAT Leon Cupra R (with 210bhp!!). This is, after all, a really bog standard 123bhp over-weight car…

20-40 in 2nd: Cooper S 5.5; Cupra R 4.3; Vectra TD 3.1

30-50 in 2nd: Cooper S 5.0; Cupra R 3.2; Vectra TD 3.3

40-60 in 2nd: Cooper S 4.8; Cupra R 3.2; Vectra TD 4.2

50-70 in 3rd: Cooper S 5.0; Cupra R 3.5; Vectra TD 5.5

70-90 in 3rd: Cooper S 6.0; Cupra R 5.1; Vectra TD 8.3

OK – that’s the deal. And what it basically says is that if you’re in anything slower than a Cupra R, then you’re going to get beaten – yes, beaten – by a diesel with 123bhp in a car that weighs a good few hundred kg’s more! You’ll see that the TD runs out of puff at over 70mph, but the message is that they’re going to be very hard work within the speed limit. You can’t just count on revs in, say, a Clio 16v – because it’s going to be very difficult to shake off until you’re doing illegal speeds, which isn’t always possible. That is, of course, unless you do a standing start.

I’d like to compare a Clio 172/Williams/16v/Cup if I had the figures. Please feel free to compare them with other cars if you have the correct data (Autocar in-depth tests are good).

I stress that these are in gear figures. They show you what will happen if you go for it at a certain speed – but not the cumulative effects of the acceleration.

Hence the Vectra’s 0-60 is 10.7, while the Cooper S makes 7.7 and the Cupra R 7.2.

I seem to remember the pre-launch hype of the Cooper S making light of the “vivid in gear times”. Well, they ain’t that good matey!!!!

P.S. There might just be hope for TooFat if he starts driving a TD!
 


errrrrrrrr. so what ??..

the ingear times are a mess if it runs outa puff at 70 ?

Who gives a snowballs chance in hell about he 0-60 times ??. its meaningless.

putting the power down is what matters.. you r on cheap drugs or summat >> dood ??..

Joe,,
 


errrrrrrrr. so what ??..

the ingear times are a mess if it runs outa puff at 70 ?

Who gives a snowballs chance in hell about he 0-60 times ??. its meaningless.

putting the power down is what matters.. you r on cheap drugs or summat >> dood ??..

Joe,,
 
  S2000


Its very deceptive Ben. I dare say my dads Golf TDi PD could stay with me low down but would then run out of revs and fall way back!
 
  BMW 320d Sport


Well in a way Id argue that in gear times are what counts on the road. And the Vectra seems to p*ss all over most things that you see about. Of course the downside is that however fast it is, it will always be a Vectra.

Often I tank around in a Citroen something or other 1.9 diesel and it pulls really well - at least up to the 4.5k redline!
 
  Clio 197


Yes diesels do have great torque. And they are getting faster. I really hate it when I am cruising along at 6500rpm in top, concentrating on staying off the rev limiter and a VW, Audi, or BMW diesel just cruises by.

A demonstration of their torque is when we have to drop down to say 180 or so for slower traffic and they would just pull sedately away from my old M3 Sport Evo unless I dropped down a gear! The Willy will stick to them in 5th because it is in the power band at those speeds but the taller gears in the BMW forced a downshift.
 


Thats the difference though Nick, it redlines at 4.5 or 5k, which is when our cars are just gettign started...

Same in gear would be beaten by the Vectra, but the chances are I would be at least a gear lower, and thus revs higher, and so easily beat the Vectra.

My old man had a Xantia 1.9TD and it definitely pulled well, but the redline at 4.5 is so infuriating it is untrue!!
 


a better test would be to time across certain ranges of speeds but choose the fastest gears . so as detailed above a petrol car may be in a gear lower.

if some oil burner trys it on im not going to sit if 5th and compare torque, Ill be down the gears and off
 


Top