tronboy

Mixed driving with no thoughts of driving economically, about 550 miles per tank; driven ultra carefully as if there's an egg between throttle and foot, about 650. I once achieved 700, but never managed to repeat it.

600 miles per tank is possible, but not common. Previous owner must have driven like a granny. I must say that I preferred my old 2-litre to my current 1.6 HDi, although economy was certainly poorer on the 2.0. Somehow felt torquier (it isn't on paper) and seemed quicker off the mark, but it's a noisy engine compared to the 1.6. Have fun with yours!

Well I couldn't resist a test-drive in the new M'space, so I gave a 92bhp HDi VTR a go. I must say that there were a few points scored over the previous model (mine's a 92bhp HDi Forte) but also a fair few against: Practicality: Well, the new one's a fair bit bigger, and I like the better rear seat legroom, dash-top cubby for paperwork and centre between seat cubby, but what's happened to the wonderful 3-litre bottle of water pockets in the doors then? The in-dash bottle holders are useless except maybe for pens, and the cup/can holder is too low to reach. Boot space is no wider because of plastic intrusions either side of the boot. The under-seat tray in the new car is about 25% smaller. The removable rear seats are also a welcome feature. The whole vehicle is wider but not that much more spacious. Advantage Multispace 1 Handling: No contest. The new model holds the road better and there are no rattles or rolling. Brakes are far far better although the pedals are still too close together allowing inadvertent pressing of the throttle in hard braking (no change there then) but the ABS system is much keener. Advantage Multispace 2 Performance: The 92bhp HDi is markedly more sluggish than its predecessor. You need the XTR 110bhp machine for any kind of performance, and the economy's better with the larger motor too. Advantage Multispace 1 Equipment: A mixed bag here. Some kit is better in the new car, but the instruments are dull and harder to read. The rake/reach wheel adjust and height adjustable front seats are good, and driving position 4x4-ish and lofty, but you feel as if you're sitting on the car rather than in it. Standard Radio/CD is a million miles better than the shite one in the older car and it'll play mp3 encoded CDs if you can be arsed to burn them. The Modutop is made of better quality plastic than the old version, but is missing the centre skylight in the rear and the car's a tad darker as a result. The fragrance diffuser is rubbish and pointless. Some gear standard on the earlier car is a cost-option on the new one. No fabric roof option. Bah. Colour options are all a bit dour, but at least black is on offer. No overall winner. Safety: In spite of better child crash protection which is a good thing and a multitude of airbag options, both cars score four stars in ENCAP tests which is surely a missed opportunity for the Multispace2? You can be sure that the new Kangoo rival will be a five starrer. Overall: I can't help thinking that this car is too much of a 'normal' mpv than the good old honest Berlingo, which was for me a bit more quirky. A 2CV for modern living, with a lovely air of 'one-downmanship'. It's a better replacement for the Xsara Picasso really. It's just a bit too far upmarket and complicated for a 'Lingo, and too close to C4 Picasso territory, so why bother? It's bigger; heavier and somehow too serious. And anybody else here reckon that it's also fuckinugly compared to the old one? I jumped back into my old car and it fitted me like a glove. Deal: The dealer offered me £4,500 for my old 55reg Forte with 60k on the clock and interest free on the new car. Peugeot offered me a discount of 22% off a near-identical Partner Tepee but no interest free deal. Either way, they're trying to sell them aren't they? No discount was offered on the Citroen, but it was implied that there could be room to move by giving me a better p/x price. Trouble is, I'm not totally sure that I like it enough. Now I would be far more interested in a passenger version of the Nemo. That would be a true 'Lingo substitute.

The new M'space is too upmarket, the First is too downmarket. Rubbish marketing.

Do you mean the one that's been around since 2002 or the brand new one?

The Berlingo First would be a choice if they'd not discontinued the 92bhp Hdi and de-specced the standard equipment tally and options list..

That means that the much pricier new 1.6HDi110bhp is the nearest in performance to the old 1.6HDi 92bhp

A bit disappointing that the NCAP is only 4* too. Not much improvement over the current model.

Yeah, they're in the dealers now. The old one in van and MPV version is to be marketed as the "Berlingo First" and will only be available in 1.6 petrol and 75bhp 1.6 HDi. Equipment is slashed and remote locking and side airbags are once again options rather than standard. Sunroof option no longer available, so I won't be buying one of those either.

Sadly sold my 2.0 long ago. Have a 1.6HDi now......

All good points I'm sure, although logically if fuel consumption was better, surely emissions would also improve? Smoking was noticeable only on hard acceleration, although since I was doing quite a lot of that, it was rather frequent!! Is the £105 chip that you bought available for the 1.6HDi?

I had my 2.0HDi 'Lingo Superchipped. £400+VAT and up to 120bhp. Absolutely awesome performance, better fuel consumption and I loved it. BMW 320is were fair game, and MINI Coopers were left in my wake. Even better that few traffic cops would suspect a van with windows as being anything like a target! The downside was that it smoked noticeably (don't know what this would do in an emissions test for MOT because the car was too young to be tested) and you had to use good fuel. Biodiesel from the local farm was a no-no. Go for it !

Use the cheapest, Gazole or Gasoil. Don't pay extra for the Super.

Just been to see one of the new Multispaces, and decided that I shan't be buying one. Firstly it is too big. The width especially is excessive; the commercial version seats three abreast, so you can imagine just how wide it is. Much standard equipment on current M'spaces is optional on the new one except in faux-off-roader XTR trim, that includes side airbags, Modutop, remote locking. Add in the cost of these extras and combined with the already higher list price and add in the poorer p/x you'll get for your old model..... And no fabric roof option.... It's a million miles from the Berlingo concept of cheap people/ cargo moving.

How old is the Berlingo? Most 5 door Forte models without Modutop have speaker nacelles with interior lights above the rear side windows. 3 door models don't.