Anyone experienced the Fiat 2.3 180hp yet? (1 Viewer)

[G7UXG]

Interested in any feedback on how it compares with the 150hp, particularly in a 4250kg motorhome.
Is 150hp enough? Is the 180hp worth the £2000 upgrade?

Currently drive a 3.0 litre 180 but of course it's not available in a new motorhome anymore.

Mike

 

[G7UXG]

Doesn't look like there's many about...

 

[Delboyarapaho]

I had a 2011 Autotrail Arapaho (with the 160 engine) and changed about 1 year ago to the Burstner Elegance (2015) that has the 180 engine. The Elegance is a heavier vehicle but the engine is significantly better powered and more economical. We get upto 32 mpg whereas we only got 25 at best with the autotrail. That said this engine is the Euro 5 and the autotrail was the 4 (I think) but our current vehicle is significantly better power and economy, even with the heavier vehicle. Don't get me wrong the Arapaho was not under powered but I this is noticeably better

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[Delboyarapaho]

Oops both vehicles I am referring to are 3 litre engines not 2.3

 

[Lenny HB]

I'll find out next week how the 150 with Comformatic is on a 4500kg van, picking up in Belgium on Tuesday, been pleased with it in our current van and the Euro 6 has a bit more torque.

 

[DBK]

Interested in any feedback on how it compares with the 150hp, particularly in a 4250kg motorhome.
Is 150hp enough? Is the 180hp worth the £2000 upgrade?

Currently drive a 3.0 litre 180 but of course it's not available in a new motorhome anymore.

Mike

Looking at the torque curve it should feel very like the 3 litre. It has a wide rev range at max torque, unlike the lower power engines. So that generally implies less gear changing and a potentially more relaxed drive.
Only disadvantage is the wretched rubber timing belt.
https://www.fiatcamper.com/en/product/engines

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[G7UXG]

Thanks John, there's no choice anymore regarding the belt of course; they've all got one.

I'd be interested in a Comfortmatic so the number of gear changes may be less relevant. Just trying to work out in my mind whether the 180 is worth the extra £2000.

The Euro 6 150hp is now 380nm torque rather than the 350nm of the original Euro 5 150hp, although the torque is over a much narrower band than the 180hp version.

Doesn't look like there's many 2.3 180s around at the moment. Guess I'll just have to try and find one and drive it.

Mike

 

[DBK]

I think even with the Comfortmatic it will feel more relaxed. Though you aren't doing the work, if it is changing gear less often it will feel less stressed. Mine has the 3 litre and the Comfortmatic and on a mountain pass I can put it in manual and rarely have to change gear, it just chugs up.
But £2000 worth of relaxation? I don't think you will regret it if you chose the 180 engine but you could buy a lot of good wine for that amount of money.

 

[G7UXG]

Current van is a 3 litre manual. Last one was a 3 litre Comfortmatic and I loved it. And I agree the 3 litre pulls like a train and is an easy drive with the Comfortmatic.

Euro 6 and a new 2.3 that pumps out 180hp might be a bit more risky than a tried and tested 150hp.

Either way, the next one will be a Comfortmatic.

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[Lenny HB]

But £2000 worth of relaxation? I don't think you will regret it if you chose the 180 engine but you could buy a lot of good wine for that amount of money.

That was our reasoning too much of a price penalty and happy enough with the 150 in our current van.

 

[2657]

Not that long ago I was pulling 32 ton about with 180 HP

 

[G7UXG]

I remember following you up hills at 10mph

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[Robert Clark]

Who wouldn't want just that little more power on those steep French motorway hills.

Edit
If you're currently driving a 180hp surely your likely to notice the difference.
If you're investing in a new van surely £2k is a drop in the ocean

 

[hilldweller]

Is the 180hp worth the £2000 upgrade?
Mike

Surely the human body could not stand that power.

Your ears would bleed and your testicles would end tucked in your socks.

I would not sit in one without wearing a "G" suit.

 

[G7UXG]

If you're currently driving a 180hp surely your likely to notice the difference.
If you're investing in a new van surely £2k is a drop in the ocean

If I ordered a new one I would specify the 180hp but that usually involves a significant wait. Most vans in dealers' stock have 150hp engines and it's a question of whether I'd miss the extra bit of power. I guess I'd just have to try one.

The new 2.3 180hp may be entirely different to the older 3 litre... same figures on paper but does it do the job as well, and is it reliable? My guess would be that it probably is but I've not found anyone that's got one as yet who's able to speak of their experiences.

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[Robert Clark]

I faced the same dilemma with my current MH

Didn't want to wait for a factory order so compromised on spec -Big mistake

18 months later - Now waiting for my new van which is a factory order.

 

[Dilbert]

Not that long ago I was pulling 32 ton about with 180 HP

Haha! ERF or foden , I had a foden for years then the boss bought me a scania 80 . Least the heater worked

 

[funflair]

Not that long ago I was pulling 32 ton about with 180 HP

I bit it had more torque than the average 2.3 litre FIAT lump though.

Martin

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[2657]

Haha! ERF or foden , I had a foden for years then the boss bought me a scania 80 . Least the heater worked

A series ERF's and Atki Borderers mainly, at least the ERF's had a decent Fuller Roadranger 9 speed box the Atki's only had 6 speed David Brown box, didn't get anywhere fast with that setup.....or in the warm ......except of course in the summer when the engine next to you kept the cab like a sauna.......Happy Days?

 

[2657]

I bit it had more torque than the average 2.3 litre FIAT lump though.

Martin

Just looked up the figures and the 180 Fiat has 290 NM which according to my conversion (googled) comes out at 215 ft.lb, the Gardner does have a little more at 536 and over an incredible range,95% of that figure at something like 950rpm to 1500rpm....real plodders