peteB Posted April 19, 2003 Posted April 19, 2003 I'm seriously thinking of buying a Multispace, but I don't know which engine to choose. I've discounted the 1.4 on the grounds that it was slow enough in my old ZX, never mind in a big lugger like a Berlingo. The HDi seems impossible to get hold of, so it's down to the 1.9D or the 1.6. I'm a bit worried that the diesel would be a bit slow and noisy and not much more economical than the petrol. However, a few people have told me that the diesels are easier to resell and hold their value better. What does everyone think? Quote
beerthunderman Posted April 19, 2003 Posted April 19, 2003 Mines a 2year old 1.9 diesel (bought recently with 110,000 miles). Its my first diesel motor and I'm impressed. Its not particularly fast and takes a while to run up through the gears, but if you adapt you driving style to stay in the higher gears it wafts along on the torque really well. It uses bu**er all fuel and they run for ever if the oil is changed regularly. Quote
ACHUKA Posted April 20, 2003 Posted April 20, 2003 The 1.9D engine in our brand-new Multispace loved the warm weather last week - still seems a bit tight on a cold start, but then we've only done 700 miles. In cold conditions there's still an issue (see a post in New Owner) with engine/body vibration, though that would appear to be a quirk of our particular car, and one which will hopefully get sorted at the first 1000-1500 mile service. I'd go for the diesel engine every time - for reliability, longevity, economy, 2nd hand value etc. Quote
clanixion Posted April 20, 2003 Posted April 20, 2003 I've got the 2.0 HDi engine and can't fault it. It seems a bit revvy in 1st gear but I think that's because the ratio may be a bit low for the engine. Plenty power, economical and with the added bonus of diesel economy. My father-in-law is a taxi driver and has the same engine in his cab, he laughs at all the other drivers with the old Ford engines. Quote
Albert Posted April 22, 2003 Posted April 22, 2003 Sorry all you petrol and 19D boys, but it has got to be an HDI. Heres why- 1.4 Petrol - Too slow and if you may want to tow a caravan, make sure it comes in a box marked Dinky Toys 1.6 Petrol - Too thirsty 19D - Again too slow. My X plate one was a pain on the motorway and overtaking moves had to be booked 3 weeks ahead! A mate has one as well and he prefers his ZX TD for the daily trip from Swindon to Reading. I know its not all about speed but a car with a bit more uuumph is so much more relaxing to drive. I do at least 1 long motorway journey a month and the HDI makes it alot easier. As for the HDI being hard to get, thats just dealer talk to get you to part with your cash and buy what he's got on stock.:blink: If you want an HDI (Oh yes you do!) Get them to order one! I waited 8 weeks for mine as I wanted HDI, Modutop, ABS, aircon, comfort pack and a second air bag. Non was available so it was ordered 20.2.2002, built 25.3.2003 and picked up 23.4.2003. This was at the time when the HDI had been available for less than 10 days in the UK. The length of time was because of the spec I wanted not the type of engine. Think about it, your spending nearly 10 grand so why should you be told you can't have one!! I'll get off me box now and get me coat............... :) Quote
StephenM Posted April 22, 2003 Posted April 22, 2003 Thats odd - my dealer had no berlingos in stock, except a 1.9D which was sold - I was wanting to sign up for the 2.0HDI but they wouldnt be getting built until May/June - delivery was looking like June/July! I went to another dealer (owned by Citroen UK) to be told exactly the same - all he had was the 1.9D in stock (these seem readily available) but didnt push it and agreed that you were better off with the 1.6 16v - roughly the same economy but far better performance. Unless you want a 1.9D or 1.4 you need to order - I went for the 1.6 as the perfomance was better, the Diesel was too slow for me, if the performace was better I would have considered it. To get the factory fitted comfort pack which I wanted would have caused a longer delay - although I could have got a highly specced 1.6 (air-con, modutop etc) sooner as some were available in the UK when I ordered - this would have cost me too much and I felt that some of the options were not great value. I would go for the 2.0HDI (if you can get it!), although my 1.6 was thirsty at first - it is now the same as your average hatchback, not bad for a big van! It is also surprisingly fast - I would recommend it. Quote
StephenM Posted April 22, 2003 Posted April 22, 2003 Oh and another thing is cost - the HDI costs more to buy and so does diesel - make sure you recooperate your costs, if you do low milage think again. I assume the HDI will be easier to sell, but I am confident that my 1.6 is a large enough engine that buyers wouldnt worry about pulling power. The 1.6 I bought without factory extras, with the £1000 cashback and serious haggling only cost £8500! where can you get a better car for the money than that! With the demand for the HDI being so strong you can forget about an amazing deal. Quote
Albert Posted April 22, 2003 Posted April 22, 2003 On the cash back job, I was amazed to get £500 off when I ordered as the model was so new, and 4 weeks later the dealers phoned me to say Citroen had upped the offer to £1000 and I was due another 500 quid! Which was nice........ :D Quote
peteB Posted April 22, 2003 Author Posted April 22, 2003 Thanks everyone. I spoke to my dealer today. He recommends the HDi too as it holds its value the longest, but he did say that any options mean a factory order which take about eight weeks. The promotions on all Berlingos aren't great at the moment as Citroen UK are selling all they can get apparently. Cashbacks and other incentives tend to be applied to models and versions they want to shift. I still think I prefer the petrol option. The AA report on the HDi said it isn't much more economical than the 1600 petrol. Actually, I have another question! How do you all find the handling of the car? I drove one of the very early ones a few years ago and although I really enjoyed it, it did feel like it was going to topple over on roundabouts! How do you all find it? If you read all the reviews, it appears that the Multispace handles better than the Picasso. Would you all agree? How does manage on wet roads? I have driven a Picasso ( I hired one for a week once) and it felt very securely grounded, but it lacked agility and felt a bit dead. Quote
StephenM Posted April 23, 2003 Posted April 23, 2003 The handling is great - not much body roll, drives very like my last car (a clio) which handled well too. Only time its not so good is driving on very twisty roads, it goes in to the corner well but if it tightens too much then it will run a bit wide, you have to be ready for this. Not bad for such a big car though and certainly better to drive than my dads Volvo V40! Motorways are good, a little wind and road noise but fairly smooth ride, bounces a little on undulating surfaces. Brakes seem aduquate and the visibility is a great plus point, I like the raised driving position and the seats are the comfiest I have sat in - I seem to sit 3ft higher than the lowered saxo i used to own! The power to weight ratio for the 1.6 is great even when fully laden, if the waiting list is down to 8 weeks for the HDI then it would be worth going for - it took 6 weeks for my 1.6 to arrive. I am surprised that the 2.0HDI is not much better than the 1.6 in terms of economy - I have heard many reviews about it being very efficient. Also, Albert I would be annoyed at your dealer - if you negotiated £500 (good discount) off from the dealer then citroen introduced their cashback, you should really have got this on top of your £500 as this is a manufacturer offer - not from the dealer! any discount is good but the bigger the better - I negotiated around £600 off plus low finance, the £1000 cashback was separate. A warning to folk trying to get a deal, dont let the dealer use the cashback as a means to end haggling (one dealer tried this with me), they have margins too and if they want your business they will be flexible. Quote
Albert Posted April 23, 2003 Posted April 23, 2003 The first £500 was the cash back deal at the time, not a negotiated reduction. No other reduction could be got as the model had only been out a matter of days. The further £500 came out of the blue from a phone call to fine out the delivery date. I have found the HDI and the 19D to give the same fuel figures, both are better on fuel than the 16 petrol. Quote
peteB Posted April 23, 2003 Author Posted April 23, 2003 If you look at Citroen's own specs, the 1.9D gives 40.9 mpg, only just over two more than the 1.6 which gives 38.2. The HDi is supposed to do 49.6, but if you read the report on the AA's website (theaa.com), they say they struggled to get anything like that! Their tests came up with just 5mpg more than the HDi, which means you'd have to drive a lot more miles (and be slower getting there!) to make it worthwhile. The Picasso with the same HDi engine is more more economical. Quote
peteB Posted April 23, 2003 Author Posted April 23, 2003 oops! Spot the deliberate mistakes! "Their tests came up with just 5mpg more than the HDi" should have read "more than the 1.6!" And I wrote two "more"s! Well, I've had a long day... Quote
StephenM Posted April 24, 2003 Posted April 24, 2003 If this is the case I am now glad I got the 1.6 - cheaper fuel and better performance. I always assumed that the HDI was very efficient - although there is a lot of hype about diesels at the moment, everyone seems to want one! a few years ago people would laugh if you went for an oil burner. So far I have done 1100 miles in my 1.6, gettin closer to the figure of 38mpg but still a few miles short, as the engine loosens up I expect mpg to be normal. I know the diesels are supposed to be about torque, the 1.6 seems to have great overtaking power, not so great at lower speeds/revs but fairly flexible. Quote
Albert Posted April 24, 2003 Posted April 24, 2003 Yup, my HDI only does on average 43 mpg, so I do agree it doesn't make sense as the 16 petrol seems only slightly less on mpg and on cheaper fuel. It probably works out the same to run but the purchase cost is more on the diesel so the 16 petrol has to be favorites. Contradicting myself I feel! It is down to personal choice, I wouldn't buy a petrol car as I prefer the "feel" of a diesel engine. I recently bought a LandRover as a toy/second car and one of the biggest consideration in buying was the fuel type. Diesel of course. Ya pays ya money.........:P The Picasso is alot more economical I suppose because of the smoother lines and shape, not so much of the "rounded off brick" shape of the Berlingo. :D Quote
Albert Posted June 19, 2003 Posted June 19, 2003 :D Just fueled the HDi up and it's worked out at 50.7 to the gallon. That will do nicely :D Quote
StephenM Posted June 23, 2003 Posted June 23, 2003 Because some of our schools are off with exam leave etc. the 'brat run' has calmed down a bit, and with less snarl ups I have managed to break the 40mpg barrier on my 1.6! This is with rush-hour journeys Mon-Fri and a wee jaunt up north at the weekend...not bad me thinks. So if you have just bought a petrol and only get 280 miles out of your first tank, dont worry (like the song) things can only get better. Quote
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