Do you eventually get over the claterring of a diesel?
Discussion
red_slr said:
There are a few gems, but they tend to be big displacement twin turbo units which can start to build useful boost just above idle and then come on boost between 1-2k. Due to smaller turbos and fairly conservative waste gate pressure they generally will keep boosting from 2 to 6 or above which is much nicer than a single turbo VAG motor which does not even get near full boost till 3500rpm and by 5000rpm its starting to run out of puff.
The smaller displacement diesel motors are typically fine, too, as long as they are biturbos. I really like the OM651, for example.I've reached 55 yrs of age and never owned or even driven a diesel car. I loath and detest the whole concept of diesel as an alternative to petrol.
Took months to find my current petrol A8 as they're all bloody diesel.
But, was given a lift in a colleges XF 3.0 diesel the other day and found myself thinking that maybe I've had it wrong all these years. Punchy, smooth, quiet with a rather nice (almost V8) growl when he pushed the loud pedal. They've certainly come on in the last few years. Mind you he's only getting 2mpg more than my petrol V8 on a motorway jaunt.
Still not quite ready to move to the devils fuel but next time I'm changing I may just take a few test drives.
Took months to find my current petrol A8 as they're all bloody diesel.
But, was given a lift in a colleges XF 3.0 diesel the other day and found myself thinking that maybe I've had it wrong all these years. Punchy, smooth, quiet with a rather nice (almost V8) growl when he pushed the loud pedal. They've certainly come on in the last few years. Mind you he's only getting 2mpg more than my petrol V8 on a motorway jaunt.
Still not quite ready to move to the devils fuel but next time I'm changing I may just take a few test drives.
Harry H said:
I've reached 55 yrs of age and never owned or even driven a diesel car. I loath and detest the whole concept of diesel as an alternative to petrol.
Took months to find my current petrol A8 as they're all bloody diesel.
But, was given a lift in a colleges XF 3.0 diesel the other day and found myself thinking that maybe I've had it wrong all these years. Punchy, smooth, quiet with a rather nice (almost V8) growl when he pushed the loud pedal. They've certainly come on in the last few years. Mind you he's only getting 2mpg more than my petrol V8 on a motorway jaunt.
Still not quite ready to move to the devils fuel but next time I'm changing I may just take a few test drives.
Why do you think they're all diesel, the 4.2 TD is bloody brilliant Took months to find my current petrol A8 as they're all bloody diesel.
But, was given a lift in a colleges XF 3.0 diesel the other day and found myself thinking that maybe I've had it wrong all these years. Punchy, smooth, quiet with a rather nice (almost V8) growl when he pushed the loud pedal. They've certainly come on in the last few years. Mind you he's only getting 2mpg more than my petrol V8 on a motorway jaunt.
Still not quite ready to move to the devils fuel but next time I'm changing I may just take a few test drives.
untakenname said:
Lots of people drive petrol like they would a diesel (not going up the rev range) and thus a diesel feels really fast to them.
It's not too bad in the summer but at winter diesels are really antisocial, hate being woken up in the morning by them clattering away.
A friend of mine has just started driving, he learned to drive in a diesel and now has a Seat Ibiza with the 100bhp 1.4 16v engine. Being a multivalve engine the Seat probably doesn't hit peak torque let alone peak BHP until long after the diesel would've been tailing off, alas old habits die hard and for all intents and purposes that Seat probably doesn't make more than 65bhp at any point the way he drives it. I am trying, PH, but so far failing to fix him.It's not too bad in the summer but at winter diesels are really antisocial, hate being woken up in the morning by them clattering away.
HustleRussell said:
As a member of the general public, may I remind you that as well as sounding bad it also smells bad and furthermore I firmly believe that like-for-like, diesel is worse for the environment than petrol (This is an unpopular topic of discussion on these forums, I know...) 
Talk about stating the obvious 
What you're saying is correct, but we're not talking about environmental factors here. The topic is the sound of diesel motors, not everything else in between.
Me and Mrs so called have a Disco 4 trip and an MB CLS CDI.
Both very quiet and comfortable and great for long trips.
With either of my TVR's, you can't hold a conversation above 70.
Back 8 weeks from a round trip to the Algarve in the Tuscan and ears are still ringing.
You can get used to anything for the right reason.
Both very quiet and comfortable and great for long trips.
With either of my TVR's, you can't hold a conversation above 70.
Back 8 weeks from a round trip to the Algarve in the Tuscan and ears are still ringing.
You can get used to anything for the right reason.
HustleRussell said:
A friend of mine has just started driving, he learned to drive in a diesel and now has a Seat Ibiza with the 100bhp 1.4 16v engine. Being a multivalve engine the Seat probably doesn't hit peak torque let alone peak BHP until long after the diesel would've been tailing off, alas old habits die hard and for all intents and purposes that Seat probably doesn't make more than 65bhp at any point the way he drives it. I am trying, PH, but so far failing to fix him.
Re-watch the old topgear with Jackie Stewart giving a lesson in the TVR and then do that to your mate....[edit: I mean shout at him, not the TVR bit... unless you're minted in which case TVR!]
Whenever my 325i is in for work I get a 120d. The torque low down does surprise me, and it is quiet and pretty refined when moving at speed. However, at idle, startup and shutdown it is terrible. I do understand there is two less cylinders but the 4pot petrol motors I have driven are much more refined at low speeds. Also I find the diesel a little inflexible. Below 1500 revs the diesel really becomes harsh, but not with the petrol models.
hobobaggins said:
HustleRussell said:
A friend of mine has just started driving, he learned to drive in a diesel and now has a Seat Ibiza with the 100bhp 1.4 16v engine. Being a multivalve engine the Seat probably doesn't hit peak torque let alone peak BHP until long after the diesel would've been tailing off, alas old habits die hard and for all intents and purposes that Seat probably doesn't make more than 65bhp at any point the way he drives it. I am trying, PH, but so far failing to fix him.
Re-watch the old topgear with Jackie Stewart giving a lesson in the TVR and then do that to your mate....I love my diesel. Its good for what its made for. Comfy, cost effective, distance driving. Its not a race car but at 200hp and 52mpg it means I can enjoy a bit of a rally without having to slow down for the next petrol station.
Noise isn't great though! It sounds a bit like a dying sea lion with bronchitis when you pull away from a road end.
One thing I do notice is that any petrol car sound like a racer when you drive it now.
Noise isn't great though! It sounds a bit like a dying sea lion with bronchitis when you pull away from a road end.
One thing I do notice is that any petrol car sound like a racer when you drive it now.
To the thread question - not in my experience.
I'm getting over the clatter of a 4 pot TDI ford by not driving it (and taking a 6.2L V8 out instead). I also hate the fact you have to slip the clutch to make sensible progress off a roundabout, which has nearly caused a few accidents (my fault as I've failed to adjust back to that power band etc, but downright dangerous IMHO)
I'm getting over the clatter of a 4 pot TDI ford by not driving it (and taking a 6.2L V8 out instead). I also hate the fact you have to slip the clutch to make sensible progress off a roundabout, which has nearly caused a few accidents (my fault as I've failed to adjust back to that power band etc, but downright dangerous IMHO)
I've never had an issue with the sound of a diesel engine. Even my 1997 Mondeo 1.8 TD (highly regarded as one of the most refined diesels ever created) sounded fine.
They don't sound bad, but they don't sound good (at least most of the small/4-cyl/high-pressure-turbo diesels don't).
But it's the same with most small 4-cyl engines. It's just not an interesting sound.
The bigger issue is power delivery. Or rather that used to be a bigger issue. Now that most petrol engines are getting turbos, the difference is less pronounced.
They don't sound bad, but they don't sound good (at least most of the small/4-cyl/high-pressure-turbo diesels don't).
But it's the same with most small 4-cyl engines. It's just not an interesting sound.
The bigger issue is power delivery. Or rather that used to be a bigger issue. Now that most petrol engines are getting turbos, the difference is less pronounced.
I had a 2.0TDI Golf for 5 years, it never really bothered me.....until I got a 1.4TSI ACT,not only is it very quiet but the smoothness is in a different league, though of course it's not all down to the engine, MQB etc helping.
Now everytime I hear a diesel start up I wince.....some could accuse me of being like a reformed smoker!
Now everytime I hear a diesel start up I wince.....some could accuse me of being like a reformed smoker!
MiggyA said:
I don't mind diesels really, but it does give me some cognitive dissonance seeing a 'nice' car make an incongruous industrial sound on startup or at the lights when I'm walking about. As such I wouldn't want to own any sports or luxury car like that as it simply feels inappropriate.
It doesn't sound like that from inside the car, though. Especially modern ones with fake engine sounds which can be quite nice.But I don't know why people buy convertible diesels.
To answer the OPs question, no you don't, well I've not anyway. Had a TT diesel since February, brilliant at what it does, decent torque, roughly 120mph max (in germany of course) mpg is pretty good too, but the noise at start up and idle is just awful. It's not too bad on the move though. Hopefully replacing it soon for a Volvo 850R with the 5 pot warble 
It will cost more to run and things will need replacing on it but I really don't care
It will cost more to run and things will need replacing on it but I really don't care I like the sound of some 6 and 8 cyl diesels; however, 6 and 8 cylinder petrols sound better. Yet to hear a 4 cyl diesel that sounds remotely pleasant - my 2 litre VAG job certainly doesn't although it doesn't really rattle too much when cold. It just has zero charisma.
I miss my old S62.
I miss my old S62.
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