The presence of turbo lag, however brief, does have a damping effect in general. You don't really need to change gear more often, you just change at different points in the rev range. A good diesel will produce usable power from 1500rpm but the party's over by 4000rpm.
As for pedal response - this depends entirely on the individual car, exactly the case as with petrol cars. People tend to lump diesels into one category. There's no way you can liken a modern diesel car to the way a 1985 Cavalier 1.6D was.
They have. In some ways we've lost the original design goal, which was simplicity. No electrics whatsoever - mechanical injection etc. etc all featured.
But, to drive - they're stunning. My Primera was lively by anyone's standards but it wouldn't get near the 406 I have now. (Nor will most 3.0 litre petrol V6 cars either).
There's a way to go yet with the sound they make outside the car. Much quieter than they used to be but a decent V6 petrol is almost inaudible outside.
In the car though, things have really improved. You really can't tell that it's a 4 cylinder engine, let alone a diesel one.
I'll also add that I was a diesel HATER for years.
Try a 1985 Sierra 2.3D and find out just how bad a diesel engine can be. The VW Audi mid 1990's 2.5 5 cylinder was also a dog even in 140bhp tune.
VW and Peugeot Citroen led the way to today's smooth, quiet, and powerful diesel engines.
It's the massive torque figures that really make 'em fun, especially with a performance remap. Consider this, the Jaguar XK8 has 320lbft torque at 4000rpm, and that's a 4.0 litre V8. My car delivers this much at 2300rpm. For sure, it won't rev round to 6500rpm so the top end is not there but in everyday driving you have that same driving 'feel' urgent feel of immediate and strong acceleration.
And, yes, for clarity, I have driven an XK8.
Diesels are a bit limited in revs. But modern ones are doing useful work from as low as 1300rpm. so it's not so bad. Mine revs to over 5300rpm before the limiter starts to intervene. This, I know, is unusually high and, to be honest there's no point in going over 4300 where peak bhp is produced.
When there's a TQ cars meet we'll have a little race if you like. I think you'll get a bit of a surprise. I used to have a primera and it was quick, without question. But I reckon the remapped 406 will flatten it.
They have. In some ways we've lost the original design goal, which was simplicity. No electrics whatsoever - mechanical injection etc. etc all featured.
But, to drive - they're stunning. My Primera was lively by anyone's standards but it wouldn't get near the 406 I have now. (Nor will most 3.0 litre petrol V6 cars either).
It's about time really. We've all been planning something for a while. I think it's the financial situation that's stopping all us organising this.
I, too, like long rev range that a good petrol engine can offer - I adored the way my Primera would go beyond the 7300 red line and limiter started to intervene at 7600!
But I did find it spineless below about 4500rpm throughout the whole time I owned it, which was from about 300 miles to 170,000 miles. And there was no way I'd have bought a diesel in 1997 as they were just not up to it, in my opinion.
The P11 is a stunning handler, I used to take ridiculous liberties with it, take bends at 85mph in the wet that I wouldn't have taken at 65 in the dry in something else.
If you want a good simple reliable diesel then nothing beats the old pug 1.9 DT engine.....
You can get sizeable gains from a simple tune up, and they already have a redlline of 5000 rpm my car will pull up to that in every gear except 5th (exhaust is very restrictive)
love it....
http://jacmech.co.uk/tuning.html
http://jacmech.co.uk/projects.html
there something in there about the HDi engines as well....
"Mine is really strong on the top end of the rev range above 4000 revs and it flies."
Yes, I know that, too. I had one for eight years. I also found it sppineless at lower reves.
And I still guarantee that the 406 I have now will flatten it effortlessly.
30-60 - four seconds in third gear
The race doesn't stop at sixty though. Besides 0-60 in mine is about 7 seconds. You will probably win the first gear bit because diesels don't rev much ast 5000rpm.
primeras are sensational handlers - I couldnt compete on that score
Hehe that was the trick up my sleeve lol....
Yep, I can probably out brake you though - just don't stray too close to the rear bumper
What rear bumper? Clear track in front of me buddy
It would be an interesting race. I think you'll get one hell of a surprise though. We put it up against a 406 Coupe owned by Pug1Off in Brackley (3.0 V6 24 valve) and that struggled to keep up.
It would be interesting to swap cars as well. I've not driven a Nissan for a few years now
That's a shame. Still, we can give it a go with the 620Tti.
I was wondering what a P11 would be like with my DW12 engine under the bonnet. (If indeed, it could be shoehorned in). 406's are heavy cars so the Nissan's leaner meaner build might become a real showcase with a 200lbft increase in the torque it has already.