So, what does a 'fast' diesel feel like then?

[beatngu]

Recently purchased a 130 Bora but it seems the norm nowadays to have 140bhp diesels such as the Civic and Leon. Now the Bora to me feels very quick and torquey, so how the hell does a family diesel like a bottom of the range Civic have more power? Maybe it's just the PD engine but it feels very aggressive. God knows what a remap would do. Do they produce the power in the same way as I find the Bora quite hard to drive 'sensibly'. Almost like it's a 'sporty' engine rather than an everyday diesel.

I'll put my flame jacket on for this but I prefer my 110 diesel, much better to drive because the car lacks that urgency whilst having enough power for overtaking on a motorway or coming onto a slip road.

For me, 110/120 is my ideal engine size for a diesel. Hoping back into my old 150bhp petrol felt like I wasn't moving anywhere, felt horrible.

I can't even imagine what something like a 330D is like, then remapped...

Edited by beatngu on Wednesday 8th August 20:54

[HustleRussell]

Higher powered, low displacement engines tend to be peaky- and yes, the lower powered version will have a flatter torque curve. The 330D is a revelation compared to a 4-pot engine due to it's smoothness and linearity.

[billywhizzzzzz]

recently sold my e91 330d - and couldn't imagine having less power - although oddly I preferred the power delivery of my older e46 330d which had more turbo lag and loved the slightly vicious kick you got when the turbo kicked in. Either way - it means always having enough power, and a fantastic wall of torque for fast B/A road overtaking... Try one... the torque is infectious! (but then so is horsepower (replacement for 330d is an S4)

[roadend1981]

Forget the 330d try the 335d remapped,or the 640d remapped.

[David87]

beatngu said:

I can't even imagine what something like a 330D is like, then remapped...

Aim for the stars.

[Mr2Mike]

beatngu said:

RMaybe it's just the PD engine but it feels very aggressive.

It's this. The PD engine is renown for it's all or nothing power delivery.

[miniman]

Go try a Mini Cooper SD. Hilarious.

[66comanche]

Torque and a turbo is addictive to me, will never go back to a N/A petrol unless its 250Bhp+.

[Benbay001]

beatngu said:

whilst having enough power for overtaking on a motorway or coming onto a slip road.

Our transit van, fully loaded at 3 ton and 125hp has more than enough go for both of these things.

And to pass someone on a motorway you should barely have to increase your speed.

[Crimp a Length!]

Mr2Mike said:

beatngu said:

RMaybe it's just the PD engine but it feels very aggressive.

It's this. The PD engine is renown for it's all or nothing power delivery.

PD engine has a very narrow power band.
I owned one 10 yrs ago and they feel quick but get them on a motorway and they run out of puff very quickly
BMW diesels don't feel as punchy but have a linear power band similar to a petrol engine, the latest BM diesels are sublime.

[redtwin]

Ask this guy...

http://youtu.be/s9K0EndLJjQ

Anyone suggesting BMWs, remapped or not, an M5 would cross the finish line 3 seconds after he finished.

Edited by redtwin on Wednesday 8th August 21:15

[billywhizzzzzz]

66comanche said:

Torque and a turbo is addictive to me, will never go back to a N/A petrol unless its 250Bhp+.

agree, which is why I went from a 330d to an S4 (340bhp). Strangely, do miss the torque and turbo though!

[billywhizzzzzz]

roadend1981 said:

Forget the 330d try the 335d remapped,or the 640d remapped.

er... no - no proper gearbox in the 335d

[R1-Jay]

whats the best rpm range for max power on a 130 PD engine?

mine is being remapped next month

[Dactub]

Crimp a Length! said:

PD engine has a very narrow power band.
I owned one 10 yrs ago and they feel quick but get them on a motorway and they run out of puff very quickly
BMW diesels don't feel as punchy but have a linear power band similar to a petrol engine, the latest BM diesels are sublime.

Total agree as own at pd remapped Ibiza seems faster than it is and runs out of power early. Regularly get to drive my friends 550d when he's goes away with work to give it a run and clean etc love it power is much even.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

One of my customers a while back, who was into his cars and track days, had a VX220 turbo track slag, and some 5 series BMW with a huge Diesel engine. Can't remember the size of the engine, but it was fitted with some massive turbos, re-mapped and had monster intercoolers on it.

He took me out in it one night - and I'm used to the performance of superbikes too - and when we went out, all I could say was 'Jeeeeeeeeesuuuuuusssssss!!!!!!!'

It was so fast, it was unreal. On full acceleration in low gears, I reckon you'd struggle to lift an arm out in front of you. Just got pinned into the seat.

It was mega!

[SVX]

I'm on my 3rd 'fast' diesel engined vehicle and agree the wave of torque/boost is very addictive! Overtakes are pretty effortless, and despite it being an auto (albeit with flappy paddles), it's easy to be in the right part of the rev range to make rapid progress. I like modern diesels and automatics, for my type of driving they make perfect sense. Moving to a 6.2 litre petrol is going to be a bit of a shock to the system

[Eliser]

Has anyone tested a Concorde on Aviation fuel? - awesome - Mach 2 and that was in 1968

[Dactub]

Eliser said:

Has anyone tested a Concorde on Aviation fuel? - awesome - Mach 2 and that was in 1968

No but been in a type r when the vtec kicked in yo. Think that was mach 2.

Edited by Dactub on Wednesday 8th August 21:34

[nottyash]

I had a Fabia VRS (Same 130 PDI engine) remapped by angel tuning, and it totally changed the way I feel about diesels.

I still prefer the driver enjoyment of a decent petrol engine, be it a Vtec Yo! or a turbo.
I have a 335D at the moment with 340bhp, and 520 lb torque but its let down by the gearbox for the way I like to drive, however as an effortless GT car it is superb, and as a family car it fits the bill perfectly.
Just an excuse to buy something sporty and more involving for the weekends