Is extra power worth buying?
Is extra power worth buying?
We are considering a number of new coach-built low profiles to be used as a two berth and running at their full 3500 kg. They seem they all will be built on Fiat base vehicles and our choice will be with manual gearboxes.
These can come as standard with 130 BHP but some are offered as costed factory options with 150 and 180 BHP engines.
So the basic question, is 130 BHP enough not to be forever regretting not buying more power?
Then the supplementary questions, are the respective premiums typically of £1500 & £5000 asked for 150 and then 180 BHP variants a prudent outlay?
I realise opinions will vary but I would like to get a “feel” of what existing users believe is the “right” balance of power/cost for a vehicle as described.
Comments
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Well we have a previous generation Fiat Ducato with the 2.8Jtd engine which gives out 127 bhp, our van weighs 3850kgs and we tow a small car on an A-Frame. The power in our engine is enough and it never feels like it is struggling even when towing so in
one sense 130bhp would be plenty but when the time comes to change our van I am going to go for the Fiat 3.0 with 180 bhp just for that bit extra to be on the safe side. It really is a matter of personal choice and as I say ours is fine.0 -
My AutoCruise Jazz, 3300kg , ( sadly no longer made ) on the Euro V 130bhp Ducato is more than adequate, If you are going to spend much time pulling a fully laden 'van up the Matterhorn or such then possibly the 150bhp would be preferable but charging round the mountains of Norfolk ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, !!
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ocsid, your prices are on the high side....150 is isually £900-£1100 and nowhere near £5k for the 180 .....Swift charge £2350 to upgrade the kontiki to 180...(however, the 180 plus auto might take you into that price territory....)
the main reason the price jumps are different, is that the jump to 180 means a 3ltr (4cyl) in lieu of the 2.3ltr 130 and 150
from next year, the Fiat premium motor will still be a 180 but will be a further tweaked version of the 2.3 150, so the upgrade to 180 'should' cost less.
i have the same chassis (4250) / motor (150h) as DD (though a manual 6-speed) but i suspect we run slightly lighter (our van is a little shorter)....the 150 feels a bit stronger than our previous 130.....torque goes up from 300nm to 350nm for the 150 and 400nm for the 180.
having said that, most 3500 vans run well on the 130, but i will have a 150 (or 180) even if our next van takes us back under 3500.
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I would say if you are going to run close to the 3500kg then the 150 will be more than adequate. It's better to have a little more power on tap. If you go for the 130 it may be fine. But if you do not like it, every time you drive it you will always this.
If Only... And that may be for many years to come.We have the 180 Auto and we are running at about 4800kg and it is about right.
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We have a Pilote 716 that is 3500kg with a 150 Automatic. It's really enjoyable to drive with its 6 gears. You have to think ahead a bit as it will always change up from 1st to 2nd as soon as you get going. Had a Swift before with same engine but heavier
body and bigger wheels and manual box. Didn't notice it struggling providing you were in the right gear.0 -
I didn't think you could ever have too many horses ....
I don't have a motorhome, haven't ever driven one, but my car has 225 horses and that's 'only' pulling 2.3 tonnes solo, so there must be a few 3.5+tonne motorhomes that have a think about some hills if they only have 130 bhp on tap. SWMBO's C3 has similar
bhp and that's a mid sized run about.0 -
Our motorhome is a 7.5mts long Bailey 740 at 3500kgs with the Peugeot 130hp engine. I have never felt that it lacked power. It managed perfect;y well on the long drag from Clermont to Millau which is the only sort of test I can think of and it was hardly run in then. If you went for the auto box (not available on the Peugeot) perhaps the 150hp engine might make a more sensible choice?
David
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Do not be fooled by just looking at the horses. look at the torque figure as well.
I used to be a hgv driver and one wagons was a Volvo FL7 the horsepower was only 260 bhp but it used to weigh 30 tons loaded.
The fiat 130 has 320nm the 150 has 350nm and the 180 has 400nm.
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Do not be fooled by just looking at the horses. look at the torque figure as well.
I used to be a hgv driver and one wagons was a Volvo FL7 the horsepower was only 260 bhp but it used to weigh 30 tons loaded.
The fiat 130 has 320nm the 150 has 350nm and the 180 has 400nm.
....my wifes fiat 500 has 100nm of torque.
....my wife and i tested new Kalkhoff electric bikes last week....80nm of torque....
im not sure what the torque figure for the 'new' 2.3 180 bhp fiat ducato motor will be compared to the 3.0 version with 400nm.
Generally, there aint no substitute for 'cubes'
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Haha, DD, we dont 'do' lycra.....well not visible really....i do wear a pair of padded leggings under my trousers to keep warm in winter.....
yes, 80nm of torque is some serious grunt for a bike....the only problem is that the power has to stop feeding in when you get to 25 kph which is all too quickly......
there are other versions which assist upto 40kph....far safer in my book, to allow you to keep up with town/city traffic without getting swamped...
needs registration and insurance.....might check it out
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Haha, DD, we dont 'do' lycra.....well not visible really....i do wear a pair of padded leggings under my trousers to keep warm in winter.....
yes, 80nm of torque is some serious grunt for a bike....the only problem is that the power has to stop feeding in when you get to 25 kph which is all too quickly......
there are other versions which assist upto 40kph....far safer in my book, to allow you to keep up with town/city traffic without getting swamped...
needs registration and insurance.....might check it out
Padded Leggings BB ?? Are you
really telling us they are padded leggings
?? And I thought they were just Lace Patterned
Tights 0 -
If you go on the Fiat Camper website, it has a simple guide to choosing the right engine depending on the type of motorhoming you do. We run at just over 3400kg with the 130bhp engine quite happily over the last 16,000 miles. Extra grunt will probably give
us more fuel economy at just under 60mph on the motorway and get us over the Pennines slightly quicker. However, for day to day driving of a leisure vehicle in the UK, it's fine.If I was doing far more motorway mileage, touring in Europe over the Alps, or just like to drive a little more hurriedly, then I'd go for the 150. I doubt you need more than 150 for 3500kgs.
Reevsie is right - look at the torque curves for the engines and see which better reflects your driving style.
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BoleroBoy,
We bought a Kalkhoff BS10 aout 3 years ago. It does assist up to 40kph if needed. It has to be the best built quality bike I have ever bought. It's pedal assist and not twist and go. Not cheap but worth it.
Reevsie, thanks for that. i was interested in the insurance/registration aspect.
we have been using pedelecs for a while now, dont want to sidetrack this thread so ill start one in Parts and Accessories.
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Haha, DD, we dont 'do' lycra.....well not visible really....i do wear a pair of padded leggings under my trousers to keep warm in winter.....
yes, 80nm of torque is some serious grunt for a bike....the only problem is that the power has to stop feeding in when you get to 25 kph which is all too quickly......
there are other versions which assist upto 40kph....far safer in my book, to allow you to keep up with town/city traffic without getting swamped...
needs registration and insurance.....might check it out
Padded Leggings BB ?? Are you
really telling us they are padded leggings?? And I thought they were just Lace Patterned
Tights they have a padde arse and thinner skinned 'legs' for comfort and warmth when out and about....
however, what you are used to in your caravan is of no concern of mine, except the thought reminds me of Sunbed Johnny
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Nice One BB !!
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We have a 5t unit with the 180bhp engine.
When fully loaded (90l petrol and 135l Fresh Water tanks, etc) She's a pleasure to drive, regardless of Cornish hills or Norfolk flat-lands......
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We have a 5t unit with the 180bhp engine.
When fully loaded (90l petrol and 135l Fresh Water tanks, etc) She's a pleasure to drive, regardless of Cornish hills or Norfolk flat-lands......
Petrol?
Write your comments here...Good nudge DD - yes should have said "Diesel....."
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Blimey that is some rigout you wear when going out for the day. It must be a bit time consuming getting dressed up and then getting undressed in your cycling gear.What with getting the cycles out and then assembling them and then dismantling them again,phew.
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We have a Fiat 130 in our 4005kg Bessacarr and we generally travel almost full. I have now done 19000 miles over the last 3 years and have found no problems at all once I realised I needed to use the gears more. I had no previous experience to fall back on. We have crossed the Pyrenees many times and through Austria twice, all off motorway and some of the roads were very steep & high, again no problems at all. If I had a choice I would possible have chosen the 150 but it is certainly not necessary. Regards, Roy
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I didn't think you could ever have too many horses ....
I don't have a motorhome, haven't ever driven one, but my car has 225 horses and that's 'only' pulling 2.3 tonnes solo, so there must be a few 3.5+tonne motorhomes that have a think about some hills if they only have 130 bhp on tap. SWMBO's C3 has similar bhp and that's a mid sized run about.
Write your comments here...Molly ,not my motor my sons. BMW 335 Coupe 385 bhp.....torque 814 nm = 601.9 ft lbs. He had it remapped with a company in Glasgow,he does'nt tow anything.............but acceleration...... wow and he can get 58 mpg when he is a good boy.Can't add anything else as you know I am crap with motors,just drive them.
Is yours good too go? 
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Blimey that is some rigout you wear when going out for the day. It must be a bit time consuming getting dressed up and then getting undressed in your cycling gear.What with getting the cycles out and then assembling them and then dismantling them again,phew.
What assembling is that?
i just open the garage door and wheel them out, ready to go.....our garage is 1.12m high so no issues with folding or dismantling.
...and to slip a pair of under troursers on.....all of a few seconds....yes, all really hard work, i sometimes wonder why we bother......all that fresh air and exercise, cant really be bothered anymore....thanks for helping me realise.
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