best 2 litre diesel?

sonic85

hey all. i currently drive a 2 litre tdi mark 5 golf - im thinking of changing it though. ive looked around but nothing really jumps out at me. im looking for a diesel car thats reasonably powerful and very reliable.

what in your view is the best 2 litre diesel car on the market?

opinions welcome and appreciated

166man

It would have to be a BMW engine 320d/520d probably...

glynf

166man wrote: »

It would have to be a BMW engine 320d/520d probably...

Agreed re. 320d, 5er is too big for that engine. depending on year/budget, I would suggest an Alpina D3 if you were willing to suffer exchange & customs:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201139417582470/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/model/alpina/make/bmw/radius/1501/postcode/w1a1aa/page/1?logcode=p


1

166man

glynf wrote: »

Agreed re. 320d, 5er is too big for that engine. depending on year/budget, I would suggest an Alpina D3 if you were willing to suffer exchange & customs:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201139417582470/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/model/alpina/make/bmw/radius/1501/postcode/w1a1aa/page/1?logcode=p


1

The 5 Series as much as I hate saying it, has nearly 190bhp 55-60 mpg and 0-60 is something like 8.5 seconds. Unbelievable stuff really.

Sure the old Audi A6 had 138bhp from it's 2.0 TDI and that car wasn't 'that' slow..

bazz26

It really depends on the OP's budget.

The Subaru 2.0 litre boxer diesel engine is a good engine and is so far proving reliable. The BMW N47 2.0 diesel is also a good engine and depending on your budget depends on which version you get, they run from 163bhp to 177bhp to 184bhp currently.

And to the poster who said the 5 Series is too big for that engine, I suggest you take one for a test drive, even the new bigger F10 520d has no problems whatsoever moving about.

glynf

Dont know about the F10 My experience is based on last time I changed. I tested an '08 e60 520d, and same year 530d.

I felt the 530d was obviously quicker, but a much smoother drive. The 520d was fine but to me felt a bit underpowered.


For a finish I tested an A5 3.0 tdi, and all bmw's were promptly forgotten about.

I went with the Audi.

bazz26

glynf wrote: »

Dont know about the F10 My experience is based on last time I changed. I tested an '08 e60 520d, and same year 530d.

I felt the 530d was obviously quicker, but a much smoother drive. The 520d was fine but to me felt a bit underpowered.


For a finish I tested an A5 3.0 tdi, and all bmw's were promptly forgotten about.

I went with the Audi.

In all fairness you compared a 530d and A6 3.0 TDi against a 520d. It was never going to impress in that company. Aside from the obviouse power gains, a 6 cylinder engine whether it be petrol or diesel will always be smoother than a 4 cylinder.

Try comparing a 520d with an A6 2.0 TDi and you will get a more accurate measure.

glynf

bazz26 wrote: »

glynf wrote: »

Dont know about the F10 My experience is based on last time I changed. I tested an '08 e60 520d, and same year 530d.

I felt the 530d was obviously quicker, but a much smoother drive. The 520d was fine but to me felt a bit underpowered.


For a finish I tested an A5 3.0 tdi, and all bmw's were promptly forgotten about.

I went with the Audi.

In all fairness you compared a 530d and A6 3.0 TDi against a 520d. It was never going to impress in that company. Aside from the obviouse power gains, a 6 cylinder engine whether it be petrol or diesel will always be smoother than a 4 cylinder.

Try comparing a 520d with an A6 2.0 TDi and you will get a more accurate measure.

True, but i wa dsscribing the last exp i had wirh bmw diesels. The op mentioned a reasonably powerful car, Im assuming it's 2nd hand, and my original point was an e90 2l diesel would feel more powerful than an e60 with same engine.


I mentioned the D3 as an option. I drove a mates one un uk for a few days last year. Amazingly quick car to drive. About 200hp compared to 163hp from standard similar 320d an he reckons better fuel econ. To my mind it's as good as it gets for a 2nd hand 4 pot diesel.

bazz26

The Alpina D3 is a bi-turbo though and is rare as hen's teeth on these shores. Even in the UK they fetch a pretty penny second hand.

A 177bhp 320d/520d can be easily be remapped to 210bhp for a few hundred euro these days. I've had my 318d remapped from 143bhp to 180bhp and it has transformed the performance of the car especially in lower gears.

pburns

I don't think there's a 2.0 diesel smoother or more petrol like than the Subaru boxer. It's a gem. Unfortunately, the current range of models are an acquired taste.
Volvo have a 5 cylinder 2.0 which is different.
The power/emission stats for BMW engines are very impressive too.

glynf

bazz26 wrote: »

The Alpina D3 is a bi-turbo though and is rare as hen's teeth on these shores. Even in the UK they fetch a pretty penny second hand.

A 177bhp 320d/520d can be easily be remapped to 210bhp for a few hundred euro these days. I've had my 318d remapped from 143bhp to 180bhp and it has transformed the performance of the car especially in lower gears.

Chipping makes a big diff ok. But the D3 has a lot more tweaks than a remap-tuned suspension, injectors, turbo & intercooler etc. And interior tweaks as well.

Lex Luthor

pburns wrote: »

I don't think there's a 2.0 diesel smoother or more petrol like than the Subaru boxer. It's a gem. Unfortunately, the current range of models are an acquired taste.

PB, you still hanging onto yours or found a replacement yet?

Have you looked at a remap? Would consider it next yr once warranty is up myself

pburns

Lex Luthor wrote: »

PB, you still hanging onto yours or found a replacement yet?

Have you looked at a remap? Would consider it next yr once warranty is up myself

Think I'm holding onto it until at least early next year, maybe longer. There's nothing around that floats my boat at the moment. If they imported the saloon in this spec - at a SENSIBLE price - I'd stick with Subaru. But they don't!
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201118202306865

I don't think I'd bother with a re-map - I'll see...

Probably won't buy brand new anyway - Y1 depreciation sucks!

EPM

pburns wrote: »

Think I'm holding onto it until at least early next year, maybe longer. There's nothing around that floats my boat at the moment. If they imported the saloon in this spec - at a SENSIBLE price - I'd stick with Subaru. But they don't!
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201118202306865

I don't think I'd bother with a re-map - I'll see...

Probably won't buy brand new anyway - Y1 depreciation sucks!

They have a navy one there with a few tasty extras. Test drove it last week. The engine was the best bit. The rest of the car disappointed in every other area. I was gutted, expected it to be so much better. It felt like a boat on the road. I cannot comprehend how they got it so wrong. I know europes a small Market but it can't be considered as a viable option at the price they have it pitched at.

Lex Luthor

pburns wrote: »

Think I'm holding onto it until at least early next year, maybe longer. There's nothing around that floats my boat at the moment. If they imported the saloon in this spec - at a SENSIBLE price - I'd stick with Subaru. But they don't!
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201118202306865

I don't think I'd bother with a re-map - I'll see...

Probably won't buy brand new anyway - Y1 depreciation sucks!

Think i'll hold onto mine for about 2 more yr and look at a remap next yr. I need the estate for a couple more yrs cos its handy for work and weekends. Only car interesting me at the moment is the XF. Might wait til 2014 and take a look then at a 2yr old 3.0d facelifted one

Lex Luthor

Just been googling and read the xf is to get an estate next year with the possibilty of a 4WD option

Also looks like a new x type also coming in 2012...look forward to that aswell