Which diesel to buy? 1.9 or 3.0V6

[sterling01]

I currently have a Vectra B 2.5 V6 CDX Estate Auto. I am starting a new job and I have the option of car allownace. With the car allowance comes a fuel card. The criteria is that the car I buy must be under 3 years old, seat 4 passengers in comfort and return 35+ mpg on the combined figure.

I have been looking at buying a 55 plate onwards, facelift Vec-C hatch Elite. I just dont know whether or not to go for the CDTi 150 or the 3.0 CDTi V6. I know there will be a road tax issue but I am not bothered by this.

So, points for discussion :

1. I am keen for views on performance, reliability, common faults etc.

2. I have never had a diesel before but I am aware of seeing piles of smoke coming from diesel cars under acceleration. Surely this is not normal...is it?

3. Has anyone done a head to head between the two?

4. How are they for tuning?

Cheers

Kenny

[VauxVeteran]

3.0 CDTi

Speed - not a lot in it

MPG - 5mpg difference on the motorway

Reliable - V6 every time

Spec - Most V6's come in the better specs - I recommend an Elite

1.9 is tunable - 3.0 is but isn't recommended

[m8internet]

3.0 CDTi
Speed - not a lot in it

eek, have you driven them and compared?
Topspeed - There's 11mph between the 120PS and 150PS 1.9, and a further 5mph to the 3.0; 124 / 135 / 140
Midspeed acceleration (50 to 70mph) is where the 3.0 wins hands down; There's 1.3 seconds between the 120PS and 150PS, and a further 1.2 seconds to the 3.0; 7.8 / 6.5 / 5.3
There's a garden mile on the 0 to 60mph acceleration between the 120PS and 150PS, with 10.5 and 8.8 respectively, but only half a second to the 3.0 at 8.3

Ironically, the 3.0 V6 CDTi performance is almost identical to the old 2.5 V6 petrol engine in the Vectra B, the main benefit is you get an average 28.5mpg compared to under 25mpg

[Gsi3.2]

right.. unbiased opinion coming....

the 3 ltr is far more reliable as an engine that the 1.9's.. they 1.9's suffer from amongst other things, turbo failure, swirl valve actuator failure, injector seal leakage.. the 3ltrs suffer far less with faults

the 3 ltr isn't as quick off the mark as a 1.9 as it's a heavy engine, but there is very little between them.. the 3 ltr makes 180BHP , the 1.9 will make 120 or 150 depending on it i's the 8V or 16V model


the smoke is either because they need servicing or because someone has stuck a tuning box on and are busy dumping loads of excess diesel into the engine which isn't getting burnt.. It shouldn't smoke...and the police will stop you and order you off the road if it is excessively smoking..

i don't think anyone has done a head to head.. but i have owned a 150 1.9 CDTi and have extensively driven a 3 ltr, so i think i can give you a fair comment..

Tuning?.. basically if it's a 3 ltr then Don't... the high pressure fuelpump just doesn't like it and if it goes pop it'll be around £3.5K

the 1.9's have loads of tuning option ranging from remaps down to a £65 tuning box...all will see similar fugures...but beware.. the 1.9 is best described as a fragile engine..they fail when in standard form, let alone when tuned.. my advice is if you are considering a 1.9 then get a fully comprehensive warranty that will cover you if it does fail..Ours had 4 turbo's in 26K miles...

If you need a quick, reliable, car.. buy the 2.0ltr petrol..if it has to be an oiler, get the 3 ltr and it should do the magical 35mpg combined..

[mark1319]

2.0T gets 35mpg on a run when driven accordangly, maybe 40 if you put the granny slippers on, doesn't smoke, is very reliable and doesn't sound like a tractor Oh and is very tunable However I would say the 3.0 V6.

[BIG NEIL]

if the car tax thing is not an issue then the 3.0 v6 cdti everytime
but then again i am biased

[CorsaVan]

2.0T gets 35mpg on a run when driven accordangly, maybe 40 if you put the granny slippers on, doesn't smoke, is very reliable and doesn't sound like a tractor Oh and is very tunable However I would say the 3.0 V6.

The 3.0 V6, don't smoke and does not sound like a tractor Returns average of 38 MPG in mine (Auto.) @ steady 86mph with aircon on.

Best not ask what is does around town, stopping & starting...
Oh OK very quietly 26 mpg over 100 miles average journey 6 miles, average speed 22 mph

Best summed up..... Go for the 3.0 V6, Relaible, clean, quick and economical (Sort of)

[Rebellion]

.... if you're not used to diesel - and therefore the extra NVH (noise/vibration/harshness) - then the V6 will be less of a culture shock for you.

[BIG NEIL]

.... if you're not used to diesel - and therefore the extra NVH (noise/vibration/harshness) - then the V6 will be less of a culture shock for you.

infact i would go as far to saying it does not sound like a diesel at all,and the ride is really smooth

[dannysport18]

when i had my 1.9cdti it was at the dealers more then my house engine probs a 1.9cdti Elite faceliift Estate Auto
Good car crap engine the 1.9cdti must be made of chocolate

the 3.0v6cdti I had a drive in for a bit was very nice i would go for the 6 speed man box in the car if poss