2.4 OR 1.9 JTD - HEART OR HEAD?

[correlejco]

OK - so I've given up on the idea of the Jaguar 2.2D or the Beemer. I'll stick with quirky Alfas to go along with my wife's 2.0TS 156 and the son's Spider.

I need the economy of the diesel, so it's a facelift (2004) 156 JTD. But should I go for the 20v 2.4 (heart) or 1.9 (head)? I know the 2.4 sounds good and goes (a bit) better - but will I get significantly better mpg from the 1.9? And is the 2.4 really much quicker?

I need sound, sober advice (which ideally tells me to get the 2.4)

[V6Alfisti]

I have had a 2.4 156 and a 1.9 GT.

The GT does give an extra 7-9mpg but imo the 2.4 is the much peachier unit.

It revs higher, has a lot more poor, much more refined (and actually sounds nice with revs).

Would have to be the 2.4.

[Wombat Rick]

2.4 without hesitation. It's an absolute gem. Yes, it's a bit heavy at the front, but the extra weight at the rear of the super luscious Sportwagon balances it perfectly.
;)
You didn't know you wanted a Sportwagon did you?

[paolo74]

2.4 definitely but make sure all gears Ok on 2.4 and that clutch is Ok on the 1.9 Mjet, both costly to rectify

[sjg]

I'm biased but the 2.4 is worth it to me. Much better sound, smoother than any 4-pot diesel I've tried too.

I get the claimed combined mpg figure, there's less than 5mpg improvement with the 1.9, which I make to be less than £165 saving per 10,000 miles. Totally worth it.

[JamesK]

heart or head? 3 litre V6. Your heart has already lost.

[Andrew_M]

I am trying to sell my 2004 156 M-Jet 1.9

But I would go for the 2.5 V6

Diesels are for economy IMO, you may as well get the best you can from it, 1.9 all the way.

[T5AMX]

I work for the Fiat group and i previously had a 159 1.9jtdm (150 bhp) as a co car and was very happy with it.... no probs at 60k in 12 months... Now i have a 159 2.4jtdm Ti (210bhp) and i would never go back to the 1.9 plus the Ti spec is excellent and the handling is ace. My only minor complaint is the factory fitted blue tooth is crap.