Help!....

[tjw2007]

OK, I'm interested - so what exactly is a ECU remap? And what model Peugeot 2.2 is it?

[waynne]

Darn - another diesel convert! And I was hoping HDi wouldn't see this thread

[tjw2007]

Hey, I'm not converted yet! Just curious. I'd actually like to know some details about these diesels, like mpg, insurance groups etc. I've never been keen on the idea of a diesel, but I like to be open minded

[waynne]

OK then. The Golf GT TDi is in my opinion the best of the bunch - my mate has had his remapped to about 195bhp and he gets 50-65mpg out of it! 0-60 time is (he claims) 6.x seconds and it does seem to pull well. His insurers didn't even bat an eyelid when he told them it had been remapped! Diesels do tend to have lower insurance groups than petrol equivalents so it is a good way to go.

Hang on a minute - now I'm at it. Promoting Diesel ownership is HDi funs job. You can get some info from HDIs article on diesel tuning in our tuning section and that will give you a good overview of what is on offer out there. http://www.torquecars.com/tuning/diesel-tuning.php

[tjw2007]

Thanks for that Wayne.

[tjw2007]

So, what kind of cost are we talking about for a remapping? And is it easy to get someone to do it?

Thanks

[waynne]

About £250-£450 and some companies offer a mobile service - it only takes a few minutes usually and lots of companies give you a 300 mile trial to see if you like it (which you will!).

[tjw2007]

Help me out here, 'cause I know absolutely nothing about diesels - I take it they don't sound like old, London black taxi cabs anymore & are they really quiet to drive? Are there any particular downsides to having a diesel?

Thanks for all the advice.

[HDi fun]

They go, that's not in doubt. Some can still be a bit rattly on a cold morning from outside, at least.

Mines a peach. It's a 2001 plate Peugeot 406 2.2 HDi. Remapped to 192bhp and rolling road suggests 328lbft at just over 2000rpm. Over 90,000 on the clock now and drives just as it always has done (I bought it with 20,000 on it).

And it does go, that's without doubt. Like 50-70, in fourth gear, in about 3 seconds.

0-62mph (0-100khm) is an interesting one. We've had a good old go at it just before I replaced the front tyres last year and with care you could get it to a shade over seven seconds.

However, if you back off a bit and change up way too early (say around 3500 rpm) then it was still easy to achieve 8.5.

I like the sheer midrange grunt, you can overtake on A roads like you would in a Boxster.

Quiet? yes, it is. Hydrauic engine mounts and a dual mass flywheel sort the noise and vibration spectacularly (factory standard on the 2.2). It really is like driving around in a Jag. (petrol one, even!) except for the fact Peugeot didn't offer automatic transmission.

They're well tooled up too: electric front seats for all adjustment; cruise control; auto wipers and lights; self dipping mirrors; full climate control; JBL audio and CD changer etc....

Downsides ;-

1. Servicing is more often that a petrol unit and generally costs more as the engines are so bloody complex

2. Front tyre wear. Weight and torque mean you're replacing front tyres every 10-12000 miles. It can fidget in fourth gear in the wet if you over do the pedal.

3. Image. It's a diesel.

[tjw2007]

I'm currently looking at either the Megane 2.0 Dyanmique Turbo (which I understand can be remapped as well, being a Turbo) and the Golf 1.9 GT TDI which can be remapped very successfully going by what I've read on various forums. Anybody had any experience of either of these two cars? Despite the pedigree, I'm kind of going towards the Megane, but I'm not sure why!

[HDi fun]

I have a a cautious approach to Renault's. Build quality is not good in my experience.

[tjw2007]

The extras look a little thin on the ground for Golf's it seems - like no remote central locking, just key central locking and some adverts I've seen only list a radio/cassette - not even a CD player! Been looking on AutoTrader's website & it seems that the 1.9 turbo diesel is a little hard to come by if you're looking for one that's a few years old.

[aswearing]

agree with hdi fun, mum has a laguna, the new one and bits are falling off!

passenger door handle is currently held on with insulating tape, the centre cd player cover looks like acid has been thrown on it (bubbling up) and every year around summer time, a 'coil' goes which costs 200 quid.

[xfirebladex]

Save some money and buy a Skoda Fabia 1.9tdi. You save a fair bit over a VW but it's pretty much the same kit. However trying to find a second-hand one is difficult, I believe something about rocking horses may be appropriate. Because they're such solid cars, people often don't part with them. Skoda's are great sleeper cars because there is still a stigma attached, but you can tune loads underneath the bodywork, but you can still work on the outside as I think the Fabia has quite a nice shape.

How about a Ford Focus 1.8TDDi? Some argue the older version is friendlier to tune than the newer TDCi, but a remap and Bluefin and you'll be pushing out some good power with a nice kick from the turbo as well. Plus they're much more plentiful and at reasonable prices. Get a Ghia or Zetec model and you'll have plenty of nice extras. I'm still amused by my electric adjust seat.

Diesels are up and coming with performance and economy. You might not get off the line as quick, but you get there as you move up through the gears. HDi Fun is right that servicing etc. will be more, but you can do the maths to work out what you might save in other areas like fuel and Road Tax.

[HDi fun]

I've got full electric adjustment of both front seats. That not just height, it's fore/aft, rake and backrest as well. God knows how much weight all those motors add!