Diesel Owners

[OldSkoO1]

Its been a year now - for me anyway and i think we have a few diesel owners here so i'm interested to know how you are getting on. I thought i will ask all my questions in one go :)

- What model

- What fuel do you use

- When do you shift

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k

- Do you notice any smoke?

- Do you warm up cool down

- Average MPG

- Average tank range

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems

- Squeaky brakes?

- Any turbo lag under 2k

- Any other problems

- Are you pleased with your car

[OldSkoO1]

- What model

t180

- What fuel do you use

Only Shell diesel extra and sometimes v-power diesel

- When do you shift

Usually around 2.5k; 3 - 3.5k if uphill

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k

Try to at least once a day - not a fan of just driving on torque, i believe you should rev up to blow out excess soot from burnt fuel

- Do you notice any smoke?

Yes sometimes, especially when going uphill in low gears and/or under hard acceleration

- Do you warm up cool down

Always! 10-15 secs before i set off. Never rev higher than 2.5k, sometimes 3k if needed uphill max if engine is still cold. Always cool down too. 20 secs min, 40secs if up to 50 and over 3k rpm, 1 - 2 minutes if straight off motorway or after hilly, full throttle constant driving.

- Average MPG

41

- Average tank range

425

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems

yes, 2nd gear crunches 70% of the time going from 1st to 2nd

- Squeaky brakes?

yes

- Any turbo lag under 2k

yes if i dont rev from a standstill. If i rev up to 2k then go no lag but that just generate wheel spin

- Any other problems

sometimes i hear a creak from the dash but thats mainly going over poor road surfaces

MPG suffers on motorway

Windscreen wipers dont seem very effective

- Are you pleased with your car

Defiantly, T180 is wonderful, car handles well, very comfortable on any journey, can be a thrilling/enjoying drive, still take the long way round for enjoyment even after a year, bonus being cheaper fueling costs, tax and insurance costs also cheaper than petrol hot hatches or even standard hatches.

[DominicPriestley]

- What fuel do you use

BP Ultimate Diesel. I find the engines runs best on this. Also found smoke is somewhat reduced with this fuel aswell.

- When do you shift

At or before 2k when cold, 2.5 - 2.7 on a flat road, 3.0 - 3.5 on a hill

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k

At least once a day

- Do you notice any smoke?

A little with Shell Fuel, next to nothing with BP. Also notice more if my other half has been driving for a few days.

- Do you warm up cool down

Never go above 2k when cold,allow about 10 secs before moving off, if very coldlet the car run while I de-ice etc, let the car idle for about 30 secs before turning off.

- Average MPG

43mpg on a range of driving

- Average tank range

450 - 470

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems

Slight reluctance from 1st to 2nd, but I wouldnt call it crunching

- Squeaky brakes?

Nope

- Any turbo lag under 2k

Nope

- Any other problems

Thing I hate most is the 'sloshing' of the fuel when anything above 3/4 of a tank.

I wish the Auto-Wipers would Auto reset when engine off. Would stop em scraping across windscreen when I forget to turn em off and its icy.

- Are you pleased with your car

Well Chuffed. Ive not had mine a year, bought it about a month ago with 9k on the clock. What I like most is going into a large car park, Park-up, get out, look around and dont see another T180. Then when driving out, lots of A3's and Golfs which no-one bats an eyelid at, Auris always gets people looking and you can sometimes see em say "whats that?".

The Sat-nav is one of the best In-car that ive used. Love the Dual-Zone climate.

[tdleon]

What model 2.0 TR

- What fuel do you use. Sainsbury,s or Shell extra

- When do you shift Whn the lights get on my nerves!

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k Least once a day

- Do you notice any smoke? Only when above 4K

- Do you warm up cool down. Yep 30 sec to cool and about same when cold

- Average MPG . 54.1

- Average tank range. 535

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems. Nope

- Squeaky brakes? Of Corse

- Any turbo lag under 2k. When new but not problems now

- Any other problems A few rattles when cold but tend to be ok when interior is warm. Misting was a real problem, dealer has cleared drain holes in doors and the last few trips have been fine. Whys the key so long and sharp?

[GreyRacer]

Its been a year now - for me anyway and i think we have a few diesel owners here so i'm interested to know how you are getting on. I thought i will ask all my questions in one go :)

- What model

T180

- What fuel do you use

ONLY Shell Extra

- When do you shift

Just running around I tend to use the green light.

When I'm driving normally, fast, I constantly remain in 2k-3k until 60 when I slip into 6th. That does me right up to.......

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k

Don't really need to. 2k-3k conquers all.

- Do you notice any smoke?

Nope.

- Do you warm up cool down

Always.

- Average MPG

39

- Average tank range

Don't know.

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems

Nothing.

- Squeaky brakes?

Not yet and now covered 14,000 miles.

- Any turbo lag under 2k

A little. But I keep the gear at 1.8k at the speed required. Usually in C.C.

3rd -30mph, 4th-40mph, 5th. 50 mph.

- Any other problems

Squeaky passenger seat and left dash rattle on some raod surfaces.

- Are you pleased with your car

Yes. apart from

Handbrake placement.

Width of A frame.

Centre consol. (fitted new one but still not perfect.)

Body roll in corners.

Information readouts. - I want to be able to see the time independently of all other readouts.

Placement of press stalk for information readouts - absolutely dangerous to use whilst driving.

Stalk control for binnicle dimming - Should be separate.

[Rob2083]

Its been a year now - for me anyway and i think we have a few diesel owners here so i'm interested to know how you are getting on. I thought i will ask all my questions in one go :)

- What model

TR 2ltr d4d

- What fuel do you use

Sainsburys diesel about 90% of the time

- When do you shift

on the green light mostly

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k

once a week or so

- Do you notice any smoke?

nope

- Do you warm up cool down

warm up before giving it some poke. and let it tick over after motorways or hill climbing.

- Average MPG

45

- Average tank range

450

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems

sometimes into 1st if the clutch is not right down - laziness

- Squeaky brakes?

rear brakes in reverse, was sorted under warrenty durng 10k service

- Any turbo lag under 2k

yes only under 1600 rpm tho

- Any other problems

rattles in the dash!!!!!

- Are you pleased with your car

very. the rattling dash is nothing after owning a vauxhall

[Grippen]

I'm the first outside UK to answer ehehe I'm in Portugal by the way. Here goes

- What model: 1.4 D4D SOL

- What fuel do you use: cheapest I can find lol

- When do you shift: Between 2000 rmp and 2800 rpm normally

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k: A few times but normally I use it in a normal way

- Do you notice any smoke?: In day light no but I noticed once during the eavening, but resuming no black smoke

- Do you warm up cool down: Yes 90% of times

- Average MPG: Well here i'ts more like liters/km I don't reset the meter for a long time 4 or 5 deposits so it's at 6l/km now but before during the first months I used to reset and was 5.8l/km

- Average tank range: Well between 700 to 750 km until the fuel alert comes up then I normally refuel it.

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems: nop

- Squeaky brakes? yes but solved

- Any turbo lag under 2k: Yes, in second gear and although the system doesn't tell you to shift down when in very low rpm the car is a bit slow until the turbo kicks.

- Any other problems: Yes rattles in the dashboard I will report this again in the next service. I have 20 000 km with him and will make a year in May

- Are you pleased with your car: Yes I'am but I think a few improvements would have been, nice besides the rattles problems. Some illumination in the doors buttons, onboard PC control on the steering wheel, auto lock of the doors and a arm rest by default.

[Fred6370]

1,4 D4d

Fuel? Mostly diesel :P

Shift? When there is no more torque

Max power? Out of every road crossing on 1-2 and 3d gear

Smoke? nope

Warm up or cool down? nope

0,56l pr 10km

No big problems yet!

[mmihin1]

- What model - 2.0 D-4D 126 HP

- What fuel do you use - Eurodiesel

- When do you shift - 2000-3000

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k - max speed

- Do you notice any smoke? - no

- Do you warm up cool down - Yes

- Average MPG - 6 l/100km

- Average tank range - 900km

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems - no

- Squeaky brakes? - rear - fixed

- Any turbo lag under 2k - no

- Any other problems - No

- Are you pleased with your car - Yes

[mpotter]

- What model - 2.0 D-4D T-Spirit

- What fuel do you use - Sainsburys / Tesco (think Tesco's maybe causing my random power issues?)

- When do you shift - Approaching 2k in traffic / 4k when having fun or overtaking

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k - few times a week maybe

- Do you notice any smoke? - Yes when booted hard but it's a lot less than the leon cupra tdi I used to have

- Do you warm up cool down - Yes

- Average MPG - usually just under 40mpg on trip (Bad congestion in Manchester)

- Average tank range - 400 miles

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems - sometimes takes a second or so for Synchro-mesh to work when dropping down to second but no crunching

- Squeaky brakes? - rear - fixed after 3 visits

- Any turbo lag under 2k - Turbo kicks in around 2k but sometimes power stutters a bit. Happens less now than it used to

- Any other problems - Glove box rattle, Poor pull in 2nd sometimes with stuttering random power

- Are you pleased with your car - Overall, Yes

[don21]

I'm the first outside UK to answer ehehe I'm in Portugal by the way. Here goes

- What model: 1.4 D4D SOL

- What fuel do you use: cheapest I can find lol

- When do you shift: Between 2000 rmp and 2800 rpm normally

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k: A few times but normally I use it in a normal way

- Do you notice any smoke?: In day light no but I noticed once during the eavening, but resuming no black smoke

- Do you warm up cool down: Yes 90% of times

- Average MPG: Well here i'ts more like liters/km I don't reset the meter for a long time 4 or 5 deposits so it's at 6l/km now but before during the first months I used to reset and was 5.8l/km

- Average tank range: Well between 700 to 750 km until the fuel alert comes up then I normally refuel it.

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems: nop

- Squeaky brakes? yes but solved

- Any turbo lag under 2k: Yes, in second gear and although the system doesn't tell you to shift down when in very low rpm the car is a bit slow until the turbo kicks.

- Any other problems: Yes rattles in the dashboard I will report this again in the next service. I have 20 000 km with him and will make a year in May

- Are you pleased with your car: Yes I'am but I think a few improvements would have been, nice besides the rattles problems. Some illumination in the doors buttons, onboard PC control on the steering wheel, auto lock of the doors and a arm rest by default.

Gotta love that little 1.4 turbo.What a terrrific engine.Quiet and ultra economical.

[Cablechap]

Its been a year now - for me anyway and i think we have a few diesel owners here so i'm interested to know how you are getting on. I thought i will ask all my questions in one go :)

- What model

T180 5 door in black with bodykit, lowering springs, armrest extension, alloy pedals, and light window tint.

- What fuel do you use

Tesco, might try Shell.

- When do you shift

2-2.5k

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k

4 times per day

- Do you notice any smoke?

No

- Do you warm up cool down

Yes, but not for long 10-15 secs

- Average MPG

Trip says 35

- Average tank range

Not checked, £30 lasts about 215 miles

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems

A little notchy, especially bad on cold mornings

- Squeaky brakes?

Rear, will get fixed at some point

- Any turbo lag under 2k

Yes, annoyingly at junctions/roundabouts

- Any other problems

Rattle in roof lining. Rattle and pops in dash on cold mornings but goes when warm.

New armrest extension is slightly narrower than without or T-Sport version and now Chinese take-out containers don't quite fit - didn't do a risk assessment, must order in from now on!

All doors needed lub as they creaked and were not smooth to operate.

Would have liked sportier seats.

- Are you pleased with your car

Yes, especially the visual appeal with the accessories, but want more power now - come on chip, hurry up. May invest in the TMS sports steering wheel.

[OldSkoO1]

Thanks to all who have contributed so far - really interesting to see how everyone is getting on with their new cars.

:)

[Toscane]

Here is the first post... :)

- What model

1.4 D-4D (currently at 1500KM, just got it a month ago)

- What fuel do you use

Total, sometimes Shell if I have to.

- When do you shift

1800-2200 When I'm going for the economy.

2600-3000 When I'm enjoying myself.

- How often do you rev up to max power; about 3.6 - 4.2k

Once or twice a week maybe but strangely enough, I'm loosing power over 3000. When it goes over 3000, torque seems to go down.

- Do you notice any smoke?

Not at all.

- Do you warm up cool down

Warm up about 1 minute.

Cool down about 1 or 2 minutes.

- Average MPG

Average consumption shows 6.1 liters at 100KM.

- Average tank range

750-850 KM

- Any gearbox notching or crunching problems

N/A

- Squeaky brakes?

Hell yeah...

- Any turbo lag under 2k

Yes, under 1600 though

- Any other problems

Tends to get tail happy when cornering hard and strong side winds effects the stability alot however I am thinking about getting TTE lowering springs to fix that.

- Are you pleased with your car

Absolutely.