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What engine? #1630144
27/02/2019 14:19
27/02/2019 14:19
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
A
ali_hire Offline OP
Forum is my life
ali_hire  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Portsmouth
Rather than another "recommend me a car" thread, I thought I'd start with the engine.

I've always had diesel engines, usually 2 litre and usually turbocharged. Because my driving habits have been mainly motorway and a decent amount of miles per year, they suited me well. Whatever car I've had, the economy's been decent and the engine has been able to pull comfortably.

But my driving habits have recently changed fairly drastically. I've bought a business very near to where I live and my journeys are now averaging 1-2 miles at a time (2 miles to work and numerous daily appointments within the city of Portsmouth). My longest regular journey is 7 miles to my 6 a side game once a week.

I currently drive a Kia Sportage but it's going back at the end of the year and I'm looking at options. I have a toddler and I'll also have another baby by then so I still want a sizeable car for all the kit they come with. Also, because I'm busy with a new business, our holidays for the next few years are likely to be limited to driving to somewhere a few hours away with tents, bikes and other kit. It doesn't have to be an SUV although I do quite like the driving position.

My problem is that, engine-wise, I probably want a small petrol engine or an electric-hybrid, given the short journeys most of the time. But I have nowhere to plug in an electric car (terraced housing) and they seem to be prohibitively expensive anyway. But I worry that a small petrol engine in a relatively big car will struggle.

Any suggestions?

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630154
27/02/2019 18:32
27/02/2019 18:32
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Berlin
Ride the bike to work and rent a car for the weekends?


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630167
27/02/2019 22:29
27/02/2019 22:29
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
A
ali_hire Offline OP
Forum is my life
ali_hire  Offline OP
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Portsmouth
I would love to (I'd run rather than cycle), except;

- I need a car for appointments during the day (often, taking clients with me)

- we don't have a shower at the office (or space to fit one) and I wear a suit

I suppose that fuel economy isn't the most important thing to consider, as I don't really do high mileage. Are short journeys still bad for diesel engines?

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630175
28/02/2019 07:49
28/02/2019 07:49
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
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Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
I recently drove a hire Kia Ceed sport wagon 1.0 petrol from West Wales to Stranraer and back. Having ordered a Mondeo or similar my colleague and I were slightly surprised by the delivered Ceed. We both were expecting it to not be able to pull the skin off a rice pudding, but were pleasantly surprised. It drove fine, had enough power for overtaking and returned about 45 mpg. It wasn’t as lazy as my Golf R or coupe to drive, but as a mode of transport it was perfectly adequate. I looked up the Ceed and it’s got 118bhp from the 1.0 petrol, so I guess roughly equivalent to a 1.8 na engine.

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630184
28/02/2019 11:20
28/02/2019 11:20
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 17,366
Staffordshire
Nigel Offline
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Nigel  Offline
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Staffordshire
I have been pleasantly surprised by the performance of the 1 litre Ford Ecoboost engine - about 125bhp and a decent slug of low-down grunt too

In something as small as a Fiesta or C-Max, its a decent little engine

That said, if your journeys are always less than a couple of miles and fuel isn't an issue, man-maths says you need a big V8.....


[Linked Image]
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630197
28/02/2019 14:07
28/02/2019 14:07
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
barnacle Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle  Offline
Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
Forum Demigod

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 33,520
Berlin
Short journeys are *lethal* for diesels. They never get up to temperature, and you can kill the cat in weeks. It doesn't get regenerated.

Diesel is ideal if you're like me, with a sixty mile commute, but they're no good in cities.


[Linked Image]
Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630287
02/03/2019 14:05
02/03/2019 14:05
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
J
Jim_Clennell Offline
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Jim_Clennell  Offline
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Corridor of Uncertainty
I'd agree with the above advice; short journeys kill diesels. I rented a Transit from Enterprise last year and it packed in. I called the AA, who told me that because most journeys in urban rental vans are so short, it knackers the DPF/regen system, which usually ends up with the vans going back to Ford.

I would definitely explore the EV/hybrid options. There are some really amazing vehicles out there that - used as they are designed to be - can get excellent real world economy figures. You don't have to get a plug-in hybrid if charging is a non-starter (as it were...)

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630297
02/03/2019 20:13
02/03/2019 20:13
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 575
Ayrshire
ScouseCoupe Offline
Enjoying the ride
ScouseCoupe  Offline
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Posts: 575
Ayrshire
I would recommend any of the VAG TSI petrols in any of flavour of power. 1.4 and 1.5 TSI being the most popular and most common engine with Volkswagen, Audi, Seat & Skoda.


1999 Rosso Corsa 20VT ( Restored )
2000 Rosso Alfa 916 Spider 2.0 T.S Lusso ( Under Restoration)

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630301
02/03/2019 21:27
02/03/2019 21:27
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
G
Gunzi Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Gunzi  Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Je suis un Coupé
G

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
With the significantly shorter journeys is there a reason you want a small petrol over a larger one and therefore a car that is more potent? I don’t see why a larger engine would be especially worse off than a smaller on shorter journeys.

Focus ST would fit the bill and they do an estate version. Loads of kit in the latest mk3.5. That said there’s always the mk3 RS. If you are interested I could pop round if you’d like a butchers as it’s my family car (albeit for only 1 child).

What about an Octavia vRS? The boot even in the saloon Is gargantuan.

Sticking to the original request I guess I’m saying 2.0 Turbo. Like the Coupe laugh

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630418
05/03/2019 17:05
05/03/2019 17:05
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
neil_r Offline
Enjoying the ride
neil_r  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
How did you like the Sportage? Which engine does it have?

We have the sister car as one of our two daily/winter cars, a Tucson 1.6 T AWD. It is a good compromise between size, pace and economy, and we got a prereg. one quite cheaply a couple of years back. 30 mpg is sort of typical with mixed use and it is not embarrassed on the Autobahn. It is actually very nice to drive and rides really well (17" wheels). It even corners surprisingly well for a tall thing so you don't feel that short changed not being in something more talented.

The Mazda CX-5 is also very good.

Personally, the VAG group is history for me after the way they actively cheated their customers.


1997 20V
2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR
2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD
2018 Mazda2 GT
Re: What engine? [Re: Gunzi] #1630425
05/03/2019 18:43
05/03/2019 18:43
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
A
ali_hire Offline OP
Forum is my life
ali_hire  Offline OP
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Portsmouth
Originally Posted by Gunzi
With the significantly shorter journeys is there a reason you want a small petrol over a larger one and therefore a car that is more potent? I don’t see why a larger engine would be especially worse off than a smaller on shorter journeys.


That’s a really good point actually. I’m still in the mindset of worrying about fuel economy when, actually, it won’t be a significant factor in choosing my next vehicle.

I now quite like the idea of a fast estate!

Re: What engine? [Re: neil_r] #1630426
05/03/2019 18:48
05/03/2019 18:48
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
A
ali_hire Offline OP
Forum is my life
ali_hire  Offline OP
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Portsmouth
Originally Posted by neil_r
How did you like the Sportage? Which engine does it have?


I went for the 2.0 KX4 diesel.

I’ve liked it. It’s not a car you fall in love with or get excited about but it served a purpose and did everything I’ve wanted it to (namely, be comfortable, not be expensive to run and taken a beating from a toddler).

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1630436
06/03/2019 07:54
06/03/2019 07:54
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
neil_r Offline
Enjoying the ride
neil_r  Offline
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 869
Germany
Originally Posted by ali_hire
I’ve liked it. It’s not a car you fall in love with or get excited about but it served a purpose and did everything I’ve wanted it to (namely, be comfortable, not be expensive to run and taken a beating from a toddler).


Exactly - very competent cars that exceed expectations. My summer cars are a 2000 S-type and a 2011 XKR. However, If I could only keep the Tucson, I would be fine with that.

But a V8 estate sounds better smile


1997 20V
2000 V6 manual S-Type and 2011 5.0 XKR
2016 Tucson 1.6T AWD
2018 Mazda2 GT
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1632887
28/05/2019 16:35
28/05/2019 16:35
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
A
ali_hire Offline OP
Forum is my life
ali_hire  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
To anyone who’s interested, I took the advice of a couple on here and went for something exciting. It has a 2 litre petrol engine putting out 300bhp and gets to 60 in 5.2 seconds (because those things are really important when you generally didn’t get above 30mph in the city rolleyes )

Anyone want to venture a guess?

Last edited by ali_hire; 28/05/2019 16:35.
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1632889
28/05/2019 19:54
28/05/2019 19:54
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,852
Cambridge & Cotswolds
M
MeanRedSpider Offline
Je suis un Coupé
MeanRedSpider  Offline
Je suis un Coupé
M

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,852
Cambridge & Cotswolds
300bhp and 5.2s suggests something mid-sized - Saloon sized - after all, my 310bhp SL did 60 in 5.9. And the A45 has 380-odd and does it in 4.2 or something silly. And the A35 is 300-odd and 4.7s

Nope - no idea...

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1632895
28/05/2019 21:20
28/05/2019 21:20
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped Offline
Club member 1924
Gripped  Offline
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Forum is my job

Joined: Dec 2005
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S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Is it a Golf R Estate? Or Leon Cupra Estate? Must be a VAG 2.0TSI engine.....

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1632899
28/05/2019 22:36
28/05/2019 22:36
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,384
Lightwater, Surrey
DaveG Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
DaveG  Offline
Club Treasurer Member 311
Je suis un Coupé

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,384
Lightwater, Surrey
Audi S3?


1996 Portofino 20vt & 2000 Pearl White Plus
1985½ & 2016 2017 Fiat 124 Spider + XF Sportbrake
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1632902
29/05/2019 05:47
29/05/2019 05:47
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
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Jim_Clennell Offline
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Jim_Clennell  Offline
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Posts: 16,603
Corridor of Uncertainty
Whatever it is, it is the correct choice! Something BMW-ish? Golf R is a good call.

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1632952
30/05/2019 18:49
30/05/2019 18:49
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,294
Portsmouth
A
ali_hire Offline OP
Forum is my life
ali_hire  Offline OP
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Portsmouth
Close. Right group and engine. Went for a Seat Cupra Ateca.

Made the mistake of test driving one. A normal Ateca just wouldn’t cut it after that.

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1633125
05/06/2019 18:43
05/06/2019 18:43
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Cooperman Offline
Former Club Membership Secretary
Cooperman  Offline
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My job on the forum

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Posts: 1,306
Kent, South East
Should have tried the Skoda Superb estate in Sportline trim and you can have the TSI petrol variant which is quite rapid. Lots of space and comfort in a well made package.

Last edited by Cooperman; 05/06/2019 18:45.

[Linked Image]
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1633159
06/06/2019 20:54
06/06/2019 20:54
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Gripped Offline
Club member 1924
Gripped  Offline
Club member 1924
Forum is my job

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,609
S. Wales. Way beyond my means
Originally Posted by ali_hire
Close. Right group and engine. Went for a Seat Cupra Ateca.

Made the mistake of test driving one. A normal Ateca just wouldn’t cut it after that.



I didn't even know they did a Cupra Ateca til now. Looks like a good multi purpose comfort rocket !

Re: What engine? [Re: Gripped] #1633172
07/06/2019 11:50
07/06/2019 11:50
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,390
Essex
Trappy Offline
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Essex
They had an ABT remapped Ateca Cupra on CarWow the other day. Apparently it doesn't void the warranty shocked Available on all SEATs. Hopefully a few other manufacturers will go in this direction as it's agony having a Golf R I can't remap for an easy 70bhp...

BTW the remapped Ateca was marginally faster than the Golf R. Very impressive but I can't help but feel the Golf R estate just does everything better...


F****** b****** thing...
Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1633173
07/06/2019 12:06
07/06/2019 12:06
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
G
Gunzi Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Gunzi  Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Je suis un Coupé
G

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
Great choice, the engine and DSG box combination is excellent.

Re: What engine? [Re: Trappy] #1633177
07/06/2019 14:40
07/06/2019 14:40
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
DavidRobot Offline
Club member 1648
DavidRobot  Offline
Club member 1648
Reaping the fruits

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
Originally Posted by Trappy
They had an ABT remapped Ateca Cupra on CarWow the other day. Apparently it doesn't void the warranty shocked Available on all SEATs. Hopefully a few other manufacturers will go in this direction as it's agony having a Golf R I can't remap for an easy 70bhp...

BTW the remapped Ateca was marginally faster than the Golf R. Very impressive but I can't help but feel the Golf R estate just does everything better...


My understanding is that ABT provide a warranty, not SEAT. I’d agree re the Golf R estate, mine’s just had its first 10k service and I’m getting more and more attached to it. I was hesitant to get one because of the lack of manual option, but the 7 speed dsg is awesome.

Re: What engine? [Re: ali_hire] #1633262
10/06/2019 19:45
10/06/2019 19:45
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
G
Gunzi Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Gunzi  Offline
Club member 189, Former Club President
Je suis un Coupé
G

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,057
Southsea
Trappy, how unreliable do you think the golf will be? Just remap it and be done with it laugh

P.S I just did this to my Focus RS with a little under a year left on the warranty. Life's too short.


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