We all know the N/A 1.9D DW8 is a beast of an engine when it comes to speed, so I took mine on the Autobahn for a blast

[kenbw2]

My DW8 is in a 1999 Citroen Dispatch so you might be forgiven for thinking it's gonna be sat in the fast lane with the Audis and Beemers up its jacksie flashing me to pull over, but you might have to adjust your expectations. Now admittedly mine's had a Bosch pump fitted which has been suitably fiddled with, which will explain the phenomenal speeds barely any human could handle.

So there I was, foot down on a straight, level Autobahn, burning diesel like there's no tomorrow. Drop down to 4th gear, pull out from behind the truck, revs going like crazy.

50mph, 55, 60, 65, change to 5th gear, 70, 75, 76, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80... 80... 80... 80... 80... oh that's all it's got isn't it. Slight incline and I'm back down to 75mph. Oh. oh.

It's just a little disappointing really isn't it.

[daviemck2006]

My dw8 berlingo got as far as an indicated 70 on the speedo, which was 64 on the sat nav! That was the recently departed 2006 one with 146000 miles covered. That was on big 17" alloys though which could have affected it badly

[kenbw2]

I did notice a definite improvement with the Bosch pump fitted. Not quite 1.9TD XUD levels I had on my Synergie/806, but less... depressing.

How did you do with your Berlingo for MPG? My trip to Germany and back, ragging it all the way at 70-80mph (where gravity allowed) got me 31mpg.

I'm considering swapping my 14" wheels for the 15" alloys on my 806, but it'd reduce my indicated speed/MPG like you say.

[daviemck2006]

I never did check the berlingo exactly for mpg but at a guesstimate wouldnt have been 40mpg. It was mostly urban stuff it did. The xantia 1.9td that replaced it was getting 44 mpg on diesel, but is only doing about 40 mpg now on 75 to 80% veg. New veg is £15.70 for 20 litres compared to 126.9 p per litre here.

[kenbw2]

Where are you getting your veg for 78p a litre?! I got a Bosch pump on mine so I could use veg, and it's currently cheapest at Morrisons at 90p/litre.

Not running on much veg in these cold temps though, it struggles to start enough as it is.

[daviemck2006]

Costco, with a trade discount card. I work in a chippy lol. Im considering making bio from waste oil, but it seems like too much hassle to me, before I get all the filters and drums I would need, and Im a bit wary of it.

[CitroJim]

They're not really built for speed - they're workhorses and good at that...

The only quick car with an NA diesel I've known was the Pug 205... Deceptively fast but then it's small and very light... I had a 1.9D 405 for a long while... That was never fast (topped out before 70) but was an excellent car none the less; it enjoyed hard work and was amazingly frugal...

Lucas pump too

[kenbw2]

They're not really built for speed - they're workhorses and good at that...

Yea I don't think they pretend to be fast. Although I'd suggest they're actually built to just about scrape the XUD through Euro 3 emissions regs on a budget that the HDi's couldn't deliver.

Still, I'd rather a bodged together mechanical engine than an electronically controlled one.

[CitroJim]

Still, I'd rather a bodged together mechanical engine than an electronically controlled one.

Utterly no argument there Ken

I must confess I'm pretty averse to modern stuff and all the gizmos and so-on on my 207 terrifies me... The Saxo is bad enough...

I have one car that has a carb, a distributor with points and a proper coil

You may have observed that all my passions and interests are to do with vintage in one form or another...

The only exceptions are my cycling - where I have two very modern hi-tech bikes and I run in very hi-tech running shoes whilst wearing 'technical' fabrics...

I am looking to acquire a vintage bike but I'll definitely stick with my 21st century running gear!

[kenbw2]

The only exceptions are my cycling - where I have two very modern hi-tech bikes and I run in very hi-tech running shoes whilst wearing 'technical' fabrics...

I'd imagine cycling is one of those areas where new technology is used to deliver better performance and such, rather than to constantly battle emissions regs. I'd imagine your bike's CO2/soot emissions are much lower than our 'dirty diesels'

[CitroJim]

I'd imagine your bike's CO2/soot emissions are much lower than our 'dirty diesels'

That all depends upon what I had for breakfast and perhaps to a greater extent what I had for dinner the evening before

[kenbw2]

That's just extra propulsion

[myglaren]

That's just extra propulsion

Afterburners

[CitroJim]

That's just extra propulsion

Afterburners

at both of those

[Hell Razor5543]

Just make sure you fit a flame restrictor. You definitely DON'T want a blow back!!!