torqe /power

That has only happened since the introduction of speed limiters.

Well it's become the norm since then rather than the exception.

So will my diesel.

Can we leave out the daft claims then?

..er..in your opinion. I disagree with your opinion. I assume your idea of "exceptionally skint" is anyone who can't afford to run a V8 petrol!

Another opinion presented as fact..

Well, that's changing now. You now see smaller capacity petrol turbo engines as alternatives for larger N/A engines, e.g. VW 1.4 TSI, FIAT 1.4 T-jet, Peugeot 1.6 THP, renault 1.2 TCE. These cars are not higher end performance models, but benefits from the torque characteristics of the turbo. Also Saab stated this trend of 'Light Pressure Turbo' petrol engines, which were good for getting torque at low revs. Once you have driven a petrol turbo, it's difficult to drive anything else.

Noticeable against a calender, maybe.

No daft claims involved other than trying to make diesels out to be acceptable in a gentlemans vehicle.

No, anyone who puts economy first even if it means driving something powered by Dr Diesels Evil Invention is, at best, misguided.

Pretty much everything posted on usenet is opinion. Some are informed opinions, yours are obviously not.

Blimey, that brings back a memory or two, is that the V6 with the 90 degree bank angle? Used to work on one of those donkey's years ago. IIRC it started of as a V8 on the drawing board but ended as a V6 due to the Suez crisis....

My dad had a 20TL, a nice car but prolly a bit underpowered with its 1600 (Hemi) 4 pot engine.

Have you a picture of the 30?

Julian.

Even Ford in USA has seen the turbo light. Going to make 3.5L V6 turbo instead of 5L V8s, 2L turbos instead of 3L V6s and a 1.4L turbo to replace 2L.

"Julian" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

I've never heard of a 3.6 v8 version of the Douvrin v6 - and it's very unlikely, given the national origins... Big engines were taxed _hard_ by the French.

I wonder if there's some confusion between that and the (competely different) sawn-off Maser v6 in the Cit SM?

That's because the V8 got the axe in the design office, it never made production. (or prototype) The oil crisis (in the 70's -Suez?) killed it.

Julian

Are you mixing apples and oranges? IIRC the Douvrin was the 4 pot chain driven SOHC alloy engine with the gearbox in the sump....

Julian

"Julian" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

There were three Douvrin engine families - the v6 (Volvo 260, Pug 604, R30), the 2.0 alloy straight four from the R20/Cit CX Athena/Pug 505, and the 1.4 straight four from the R14/BX etc.

I dunno anything much about the smaller one - but the 2.0 definitely didn't have the gearbox in the sump on any of my three Douvrin CXs, nor did it on the v6 in my old man's 604. And I definitely recall changing the cambelt on the CXs.

Whilst they're colloquially known as "Douvrin", all three families were the product of a joint venture between PSA, Renault & Volvo - Mechanique de Francaise - and designed and built at a factory at Douvrin, near Lens.

But I've never heard of a v8 version of the v6, and it'd be incredibly unlikely to be anything but a Volvo stand-alone. Bear in mind Citroen owned Maserati at the time - and demanded their v8 be chopped down to a v6 for the SM... That was way before the oil crisis, too. A 3.0+ v8 would have been unsellable in France.

I didn't know that - very interesting thanks. Was Douvrin maybe the factory name - or local town perhaps?

The small Douvrin found it's way into the Citroen Visa and LNA/Talbot Samba. I had an 1100 Visa, very good for a little car.

Julian.

Julian.

"Julian" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

A small town a bit S of Calais. There's still a PSA engine factory there now - building the 1.4 and 1.6 shared with the Mini.

Ho Ho..so the MG's going to leap out of the blocks in 3rd gear at 2rpm is it?? Anyway, why are we talking about some old flat cap 'n' pipe smokers Rover heap - I'd have a VXR/Monaro over that any day.

What's "gentleman" got to do with it? Driving pleasure, for me, has

More nonsense..

Having test driven the equivalent petrol to mine, I chose the diesel for its better sound and better performance characteristics for my driving style. If I'd been "skint", I would have gone for the much slower, poorer equipped, 1.6 petrol with cloth seats, smaller wheels and taller suspension and saved about 7 grand. If that would have been the result of your "informed opinion" then I'm more than happy to continue in quicker, leather-bound blissful ignorance. IIRC, even Jeremy Clarkson recommended my diesel at the time.

Yeah, he seems to have gone a bit "funny" recently. Must be senility creeping up on him. ;-)

Seriously though, in the diesel Vs petrol argument, have you ever known a diesel that could give you goosebumps? Yes, they can be quick but there's something about the scream and rasp of a petrol motor that I don't think a diesel will ever replicate.

I've driven diesels for years but I still hanker for the ripping rasp of my old Alfasud (as a plaything more than for regular transport).

Tim

You've not driven either, obviously.

If you don't understand that, you're the ideal diesel driver.

Just the truth, you obviously don't know any better so I shall leave you to your ignorance. You seem to enjoy it.

Yes, lorries has so much power these days. No longer slugging up steep hills on special lanes. The other day I couldn't keep up with a 10-car transporter; I had to stick to speed limits and visibility was poor! I thought that lorries were limited to 40 when not dual carriage ways or motorway? He was doing at least 60.

For me, though, there's something wonderful about the chatter, gurgle and hum of a diesel working hard at low-to-middling revs, that I've yet to find in a petrol equivalent.

I've yet to find any UK-sold diesel that can match an old school V8 in the mid range though...

...I have to go to America to listen to some of their pickups running V8 and V10 turbodiesels.

For me the sound of a Paxman Valenta 12RP200L at full bore complete with screaming napier turbocharger is bloody hard to beat...

Nothing really to match the old big blocks and their tree stump pulling power, though petrol price has ensured they are long dead and burried.

Julian.