I've never driven the 1.5dCi, but looking at the torque and power graphs for the one that they've put in the new Laguna, it looks like they've gone hell for leather to achieve that peak BHP figure, while the actual available torque throughout the rev range looks pretty disappointing. What I suspect you'll be getting is a diesel engine that drives like a 100bhp petrol engine (though lower revving.) It doesn't look to give you the benefit of high low to mid range torque (and therefore near to peak power at low RPMs.) So performance-wise, the 1.9dCi 130 would be my choice of the ones that you mention. It's got loads of torque - in fact for any given speed, it pulls a lot better in 6th than my old 2 litre petrol Lag did in 5th. Though seeing as my 55 plate 1.9 dCi 130 just ate its turbo at 70K and ended up needing a new engine, I'd hold out for the 2.0dCi, which is available in 130, 150 and 175bhp variants (depending on the model of car.)

 

Very informative-thanks for that. Can you enlighten me what the 6th gear ,(or more likely the 5th),is predominantly used for? excuse the ignorance, I've only ever driven a 5 speed before. Are you up and down the box to match speed with revs in these 6 speeders?

 

Moving up from a 5 speed to a 6 speed is much like it was moving up from a 4 to a 5 (if you were on the road back in those days ) It's just a case of getting used to using the extra gear. 6th is mainly useful for motorway cruising. On mine at least (there may be different versions of the box for different models, along with different final drive ratios) 6th is a genuine extra overdrive gear over the usual 5th, which is also still an overdrive gear. They don't appear to have closed the ratios and made 6th equivalent to 5th on a 5 speed box (I hope this is making sense.) On the Lag dCi 130 at least, the car is happy to plod along at anything from about 45mph upwards in this gear as long as you're not looking for rapid acceleration or climbing any hills. Just try not to get into the habit of going from 4th to 6th (which the car is quite happy to do.) If you ever hire a Ford Focus, you'll find yourself trying to crash it into reverse on the motorway.

 

The 1.9 has reliability issues that the 1.5 and 2.0 and probably 2.2 don't have... I doubt the 1.5 has that much juice compared to a 1.6vvt though :d

 

I test drove a 1.6 Scenic and the 1.5 dCi (80) that the OH eventually bought. (both 2004 models) The 1.6 had noticeably more get-up-and-go that the 1.5 dCi. If it was for me to go hurtling around the country in, I'm sure I would get annoyed with the 'leisurely' 1.5 dCi, but as the OH is just doing local journeys with a car full of kids the 1.5 dCI is a very economical and easy to drive.

 

Thanks for the replies-most helpful. what reliabilty issues does the 1.9 have over the 1.5?

 

The 1.9 has a history of turbo failure that can not infrequently lead to engine failure. There are ways to offset this, a full service car with less than 90k for instance - renault offer an extended warranty on the turbo and consequential damage called yellow ots up to 90k or 5 years on full service cars for this very reason, as they were getting a bad rep. Or get an aftermarket warranty. Even regular oil changes will not guarantee against it if you can't guarantee what the previous owner did.

edit: having said all that my 2.2 turbo will probably go pop 2moro :d

 

Thanks for that info. Does the 1.5 suffer from any issues that anyone might know of? I believe theres a 106bhp & a 100bhp version-any major differences in reliability & performance in the two engines?

 

This may be of interest, although its based around a Lag

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=302

 

Hi there I have a 1.9dci laguna 11 52 plate have done 103 thousand miles always made sure oil is changed regular and never gone down the motorway flat out and pulled into a service station and just switched the engine off ALWAYS allow the car to tick over for about 80 seconds I find this helps to stop turbo failure other than that good servicing should look after the motor as long as you don't abuse it, any diesel engine will last as long as it is cared for,

thats why diesel's are so good because their reliable.

 

So the answer is: get the 2.0

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/Summary.aspx?model=744

 

Forgive my ignorance isn't the 1.5 turbo charged as well? If so aren't they as reliable/unreliable as the 1.9 version?

 

No it seems to be a problem with the 1.9, perhaps they just got the turbo spec slightly wrong, so on a long service interval and some abuse it goes pop in a nasty way.

 

Mk 2.2lt & the new 2lt have been know to give problems too, my current 2.2lt for one, turbo replaced at 16k odd miles. :shocking:

I had a RTDT Lag 1 from around 10k to 89k also a 2.2lt turbo, with no turbo EGR problems whatsoever.

I know for a fact the Mk2 uses a variable geometry turbo, I'd be interested to know if the Mk1 was the same, or if the later was a static geometry, if thats the correct phrase.

The way I see it, the engines are made by Renault which in both mine and my outlaws experience in the past have been extremely reliable.

The turbo's are made by Garrett who have a great name in making these items, none better imho.

The only difference from what I can see is the oil & filter change regime, the Lag 1 every 6k, the Lag 2 every 18k.

Assuming Renault have got this oil change interval correct, it makes me seriously wonder if there are issues with all variable geometry turbo's which I would guess would affect a lot more cars other than those made just by Renault.

 

hondo, do you drive like horatio?

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=43683&page=3&highlight=turbo+cool

The 2.2dCi is variable vane/geometry (don't really know the difference) - doubt the turbo is on the old 2.2D which had much less power, and I don't think the 1.9 is either.

You're right this clogging up could cause probs. I reckon a turbo is a service item but a lot of peeps say it should last the lifetime of the engine. Well, if the engine explodes I guess that's probably the case but I don't want mine to go down in flames :d

 

The pdf in the first post here has some good vane shots. The guys on this forum are amazingly technical, I think they all work at NASA and drive VW jetta diesels

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=140910

ps VNT is variable nozzle turbine:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_geometry_turbocharger

 

Petrol V6 to V6 Tdi Swap

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=131414&page=1