how bad is the 1.6d??

[cal5289]

found a van in my price range. its a N/A 1.6d. are they really underpowered?? what are they like to say a 1.9d non turbo?
i drive a 4speed mk1 jetta so im not to bothered about speed. just need it to sit at 50/60 fairly comfotably.
any advice before i travel 2 hours to look at it.
cheers

[langb20]

They are supremely reliable
but slow and revving the nuts off to go anywhere doesn't do fuel economy too good
worth a look, then can always investigate upgrade options in the future
55-60 may require earplugs and a tailwind

[cal5289]

thanks.the reliable bit sounds good.had a 1.6d caddy a few years ago so im guessing a similar lump.
the vans moted til jan 2012 so as long as it runs all good i mite aswell go for it.
is there much point doin a 1.9d swap or is there not much in it?? not sure i want the hassle of swapping other to turbo.

[kevtherev]

I think you'll soon tire of it mate and want that 1.9 AAZ
your caddy was not a two tonne camper...

[cal5289]

yer thats what im worried of.
yer didnt mean a similar power to caddy just engine type.

[Oldiebut goodie]

Mine's got a 1.6d in her. I've toured all the country in her - Land's End to John o'Groats and a heck of a lot between. She made it up and down Scottish mountains and lesser Welsh ones. 35 - 40 mpg fully laden on big trips. Yes it is slow but I am never in a hurry. I now run a bigger version of a slowcoach - a Mercedes 19 seater bus (only a 2.3 engine) converted to a camper which is exactly the same - good at 50 mph,slow up hills but the mpg isn't as good - down to the low 20's. Good points are that they both will, and are, run on waste vegetable oil.

[DJZ]

Had mine for 6 years, bought it with over 100k on the clock and needing a new engine, been to France 4 times, Cornwall every year at least twice, last year to North Wales and North Yorkshire over 1000 miles, daily driving and no real problems, yes it is slow but hey life is too fastmost of the time so chill out and take it easy Going to get my engine rebuilt and keep it the same.

[psychonaut]

Mine was originally a 1.6. Slow, yes, but reliable (well, until it ate a glo-plug lolol) and the mpg rate was pretty good. I've got the 1.9 now. I still don't break any speed records, the mpg isn't quite so good, but she does hills a lot better than she did. I wouldn't bother changing until you've got to, to be honest, unless you've got money sat spare. Which you wont have, because you own a T25

[kit]

WHS ^^^ exactly sums it up, I now have a 1y but the old CS was cheaper to run and lasted me 8 years with no problems (apart from hills obv)

[Plasticman]

1.6 here. drive acordingly , appart from the bigish hills no probs, keep up corner speed youd be suprised how much progress can be made and very very frugal...
mike (get it bought)

[cozmik]

My 1.6d will sit at 60/65 all day and she made it up Porlock Hill fully loaded with camping gear and family(in 1st gear..of 5). I use her every day and have done for 4 years, including a little 6m run down and back up the M32 every work day. Top ever speed 80mph briefly..downhill with a tailwind. Mind you she is a tin-top panel van and I take all the camping gear out except when actually going camping. She carries a metal framed leather upholstered full width R'n'R seat/bed, plus tools, but I do find she's noticeably quicker with less of a load. Very reliable though, never broken down in 4 years (about 24,000 miles) and starts in any weather.

Not many people buy a 25 for their speed anyway methinks.

[kap]

[quote="cozmik"]My 1.6d will sit at 60/65 all day and she made it up Porlock Hill fully loaded with camping gear and family(in 1st gear..of 5).

Porlock..thats one hill I thought was going to kill my old 1.7d van but went down to first and made it,not a hill you can run at mind.
Keep the engine until It goes then id go for aaz. I have a non turbo 1.9y quite a diffence from the 1.6 but still slow on hills loaded up.

[missyvdub]

hi back in the 80s my OH and i used to go over the Pyreneese mountains ouiet a lot in our t25 16d and the very first time we did it we had 2 friends with us and my OH had his mate had brain wave to get as many cases of beer from france so they would not be without for a good few days 16 if my memory serves me well ..
we was on our way to spain to gibralta then to portugal..they was ok having a good ole time while i was driving has my oh didn't drive on the other side at that time and still wont drive over the mountains even now..
but our baby got us over without an hitch every time i have since drove rv tag axels over and oh has got on the floor with fright he just does not wind me up at these times
just to add some times its been thick snow as we get nearer the top but our tilly never let us down.E D I T..just been reminded this morning by my oh ron we was also pulling a speed boat the first time over the Pyreneese..so this proves without doubt my baby tilly 1.6D could do the unthinkable..until some bastwarde stole her and i was in morning for weeks still think very fondley of her..

[camper]

Mine's got a 1.6d in her. I've toured all the country in her - Land's End to John o'Groats and a heck of a lot between. She made it up and down Scottish mountains and lesser Welsh ones. 35 - 40 mpg fully laden on big trips. Yes it is slow but I am never in a hurry. I now run a bigger version of a slowcoach - a Mercedes 19 seater bus (only a 2.3 engine) converted to a camper which is exactly the same - good at 50 mph,slow up hills but the mpg isn't as good - down to the low 20's. Good points are that they both will, and are, run on waste vegetable oil.

.Oldiebut goodie have you had any problems with the injection pump seals running on waste vegi oil?.

[Oldiebut goodie]

No problems whatsoever. Not even clogged up fuel filter.