Which engine size? (1 Viewer)

[Anesta]

Hi, I am looking at motorhomes and I found two that I like. They are both under 3500Kg, one has a Fiat Ducato 2.3l 130PS engine (2011), the other one has a Fiat Ducato 3.0l 177 PS (2014).

Has anybody got experience of real fuel consumption for the two? I expect the bigger one to be thirstier, but I have read comments to the contrary.

I often travel on motorways and less on "normal" roads. I cross the Alps a couple of times a year and I go through cities.

Also, are there differences in road tax for the two?

Any help will be much appreciated!

 

[funflair]

Hi

I believe the road tax will be based on emission figures but could be wrong, as far as fuel is concerned there will not be a lot to choose between them certainly not enough to sway your decision I would say, you will of course notice the extra power especially climbing hills so that might go in favour of the 3 litre if the rest is 50/50.

Martin

 

[Boringfrog]

Road tax, or excise duty is about £255 for either.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[EuroTrotters]

the bigger one

 

[Hymer 1961]

If you’re happy with the MH then I would get the 3.0l 177bhp.
I’ve got one in my Hymer mated to a Comfortmatic gearbox. If offers loads of torque when needed, is powerful and very smooth. If also has a chain, so does not need a cambelt replacement saving you some cash. I can’t comment on the fuel economy comparisons, but I can say fully loaded and sometimes with a towcar consumption is not alarming, providing you drive sensible.

 

[Geo]

Power over weight every time
either cruise the 3ltr or flog the 2.3 your choice, not really but you get my drift
2.3 is adequate 3ltr has reserve

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Speve]

Road tax will be either £230 up to 3500 gvw or 165 over 3500 gvw.

 

[DBK]

We've got a 3.0 engine on a 3.5t van. I get about 32 mpg now but it was only around 27 when new. A big advantage of the 3 litre engine, apart form the chain cam is it has a very wide and flat torque curve so if you have a manual gearbox you won't need to change gear so often.

 

[SuperMike]

8.1L, £165 tax, 10mpg, if I drive carefully.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[peterc10]

First moho was a 3.5t 2008 Adria with 2.3l engine and manual box and got average 26mpg out of it. The present one is a 4.5t 2015 Hymer A class with 3.0l engine and Comformatic gearbox and get average 24mpg out of it.

I would go for the larger engine.

 

[Xabia]

The 3.0 litre every time. As far as mpg is concerned ignore the computer, it tells fibs! Fill,to fill cruising at 60 mph I get a true figure of circa 22.8 in a 3850kgs fullY loaded HymerB544SL.

 

[Lenny HB]

The 3.0 litre every time. As far as mpg is concerned ignore the computer, it tells fibs! Fill,to fill cruising at 60 mph I get a true figure of circa 22.8 in a 3850kgs fullY loaded HymerB544SL.

Not always I've had 3 Ducatos and the computer has always been within ½mpg of tank brimming method.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

As you go over the Alps a couple of times a year it has to be the 3Lt. Our first Ducato was a 130, the 130 doesn't have the variable vane tubo and is a pig on steep hairpins if it goes off the turbo i.e. drop below about 1600rpm it practically stalls and you end up panicing trying to get the thing going again. Last 2 vans have been the 150 no problems with them.

 

[TerryL]

Traveled with another Funster couple of years ago, mine is 2.3 multijet (07) his a 3.0. We found we were both using almost exactly the same amount of fuel and the only difference was occasionally I needed to change down a cog whilst his Comfortmatic stayed in 6th. On that basis the bigger engine would seem a better bet.

 

[Anesta]

Thank you so much to everybody! This puts my mind at rest. Funny how a few of you have a Hymer: that's what I am looking at as well!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Blue Knight]

Thank you so much to everybody! This puts my mind at rest. Funny how a few of you have a Hymer: that's what I am looking at as well!

I'm pleased you joined - it's good to have you on-board.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[Speve]

We have a Hymer B678DL only done 1000m but brim to brim it’s giving 25.4 mpg not far off the trip and it’s a 2.3 180 with comformatic box hoping to get better as it beds in and plenty of power as well

 

[lunarman]

Also the 3.0ltr has a chain driven cam no need to worry about belt changes

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

We have a Hymer B678DL only done 1000m but brim to brim it’s giving 25.4 mpg not far off the trip and it’s a 2.3 180 with comformatic box hoping to get better as it beds in and plenty of power as well

Blimey you got a feather for your right foot. My B678DL with the 150 I was getting 22 now its done 9000 miles getting 23-24mpg.

 

[Speve]

Blimey you got a feather for your right foot. My B678DL with the 150 I was getting 22 now its done 9000 miles getting 23-24mpg.

I don’t boot it much but average about 50mph to 60 most times am very pleased with it and hoping it gets even better

 

[TerryL]

The light right foot helps but I've found keeping it below 60 mph is the key. I've kept a note of all the fuel I've put in and now use the excellent spreadsheet which someone on here produced. From those records I can see that just pootling along I can get 33 mpg but thrashing it, or even just a strong headwind it drops to 24 mpg. Current average over 9 years is 28 mpg.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

I don’t boot it much but average about 50mph to 60 most times am very pleased with it and hoping it gets even better

I find I'm getting almost 25 then spend a few days in the mountains and it knobles it for the whole trip.

 

[Speve]

I find I'm getting almost 25 then spend a few days in the mountains and it knobles it for the whole trip.

havent done any mountain trips or towing yet so I’m expecting a drop but first impressions are good and loving the van really comfortable and loads of storage space.

 

[Northernraider]

I've a 5.2 tonne tag with the 3.0 litre engine and manual box.
I get average of 21.5mpg and that's been steady over fulltime use coming up to 11 months

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Flatlander]

A couple of weeks ago, I returned home from a trip similar to the one mentioned by the OP. Ascending and descending alpine passes, into cities, autobahn driving, including several "stau" the longest of which started outside Hamburg, and finished outside Hannover. Fuel consumption for the whole trip using the "brim to brim" method was around 35mpg. I use the word "around" simply because the fuel was bought in litres, and the speedo is in kilometres per hour. So to be exact, it was 8 litres/100km. Engine is the 130 one. By my way of thinking, after that trip, I personally do not see the need for the bigger engine, as I dont feel I have the need for it.

Having said that, its not really the engine output that matters. Its which camper best suits the purposes to which it is being put. Which one of the two has the best layout? The most useable payload? Prioritise those, and the choice will become obvious. One other thing to think about. To get down to the alps probably means travelling through Germany. If german cities are going to be entered, then that may mean entering an environmental zone. Therefore, my logic would say get the later vehicle mentioned, as it should have a higher Euro number.

As an aside, it appears that the autobahn maut is to be introduced next year. The german government has already approved it (again!) so now things are once again in the hands of the EU...

 

[SuperMike]

MPG, I don’t care, it is what it is. Look at the year, most of the time the vehicle is stationary, a third of the time you are asleep in it.

 

[Geo]

8.1L, £165 tax, 10mpg, if I drive carefully.

Yup and you can boast 0-60in under 6 gallons

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[SuperMike]

Yup and you can boast 0-60in under 6 gallons

Better. When accelerating down the on ram of a motorway to pick up speed to join other traffic, I seen the digital display on the dash of my beautiful Winnebago read 0.9mpg, American gallon that is.

 

[Basildog]

G

Better. When accelerating down the on ram of a motorway to pick up speed to join other traffic, I seen the digital display on the dash of my beautiful Winnebago read 0.9mpg, American gallon that is.

Get a Hymer you won't be able to see the dash !
The idiots fit a swivel so the seat height raises now I can't see the dash without ducking.

 

[Lenny HB]

G

Get a Hymer you won't be able to see the dash !
The idiots fit a swivel so the seat height raises now I can't see the dash without ducking.

Don't have a problem on mine or the last too.
Don't understand why you bought a Hymer you dont appear to like anything about it.