Best OMGVEG HESSIAN diseasal car?

[320touring]

Fellow shifters, lend me thy brains (or at least thy remenants)

 

I have previously ran a mk3 golf with the AAZ1.9td engine. It pure loved the veg.

HOWEVER, the mk3 golf was shit, not shite.

 

So, I ask you, o pinchers of penneth-

 

What engine AND car combo is best for the joy of OMNOMNOM veg?

 

Particularly interested in-

Engine reliability

Engine tunability

Competent chassis

Interesting design

Parts availability

Overall shitery

 

So far I've come up with

Pug 306 xud

Pug 405 xud

 

Vw golf 1.6td mk2

Skoda Felicia 1.9d

 

Citroen xantia 1.9 xud 2.1td too?

Citroen zx 1.9 xud

 

Any others?

[Junkman]

LDV Pilot.

[vulgalour]

Engine reliability - intergalactic mileage expected and not uncommon
Engine tunability - some come with a turbo.
Competent chassis
Interesting design
Parts availability
Overall shitery - in SPADES

 

Citroen BX.

[skattrd]

For the engine to run on veg and be tunable I don't think you can beat the pre-pd 110bhp VAG's. The XUD etc just do not prodce the same sort of power/torque as the VAG motors.

 

My boring has a few mods and is putting out about 140bhp, which is nice but 300Nm torque and pulling all the way through the range whilst doing 55-60mpg on veg is gr9.

Pricewise all cars with these engines should be sub £1k as none are less than 15 years old now

Competent chassis - yes, tuning parts cheap - yes, standard parts cheap - yes

 

Interesting design - not really, maybe if you like a SEAT with the right motor then maybe, otherwise it's Mk4 Golf/boring/Audi A3/4/Skoda Octavia.

[skattrd]

If you want to avoid VAG there are a few others I'd consider

 

Rover/MG with L-series motor and tuning box - a la Wuv & Rover Of Doom.

Cavalier with Isuzu 1.7td - wind up the fuel pump and crank up the boost.

Volvo 850/s70/v70/s80 with Audi 5-pot. Not the most tunable or the most economical motor, but a nice overall package.

Merc - someone else needs to add info on this one, but the non common rail ones apparently run on veg and I've seen some with massive turbos pushing out tons of smoke.

[Pillock]

Leons are nice inside, tunable and cheap. They're not the worst car to drive by a long shot.... And you'll easy get one for 750-800 coins. I think they're all pre-pd but the 110 is in plentiful supply and cheap. The 130s have a six speed box and tend to fetch more. SE spec has electrics all round, climate and a CD changer.

 

Not OMG SHITE HEAVEN like running a BX or Xantia or something but depends what you need.

[Jim Bell]

Anything with the Isuzu 1.5/1.7td.

Corsa, Astra, Cavalier, Vectra A.

 

Possibly the best engines ever built.

[skattrd]

130bhp VAG's (as well as 115 etc) are pd motors, so not veg friendly. They are however highly tunable.

[Lacquer Peel]

Avoid the Felicia 1.9D, miserable to drive and fitted with Lucas injection pumps.

[gordonbennet]

Merc W124's will stand it (though i couldn't do it to such a lovely car) good old mechanical pump.

[Cavcraft]

To be fair to the VAG stuff, they don't half pull well, as Chris has alluded to.

 

BX: Love them but getting on a bit now and reliability and maintenance not as easy as most other cars.

 

Cavalier: Brill engine, brill car.

 

306: Dull as dishwater, suspect build quality in some areas and the TDs just don't seem as long lived or veg friendly. the n/a XUD seems as tough as several factories full of old boots, but by God they are no ball of fire, and trying to tune one would probably be a great way to spend a load of money with no noticeable results.

[Richard]

2.1 Xantias have a Lucas pump (electronically controlled too IIRC) so they need to be converted to Bosch with XM bits if they are going to run on veg.

[skattrd]

One day I will have a Mk2 Scirocco or Corrado converted with a 1.9td VW motor .... The best of all worlds for me and if you do the conversion in a Scirocco then you also have the bonus of added lightness - they're about 300kg lighter than the cars the motors come from.

[320touring]

Engine reliability - intergalactic mileage expected and not uncommon

Engine tunability - some come with a turbo.

Competent chassis

Interesting design

Parts availability

Overall shitery - in SPADES

 

Citroen BX.

Hurrrah! I'd love one of them- even a petrol. A design classic

 

For the engine to run on veg and be tunable I don't think you can beat the pre-pd 110bhp VAG's. The XUD etc just do not prodce the same sort of power/torque as the VAG motors.

 

My boring has a few mods and is putting out about 140bhp, which is nice but 300Nm torque and pulling all the way through the range whilst doing 55-60mpg on veg is gr9.

Pricewise all cars with these engines should be sub £1k as none are less than 15 years old now

Competent chassis - yes, tuning parts cheap - yes, standard parts cheap - yes

 

Interesting design - not really, maybe if you like a SEAT with the right motor then maybe, otherwise it's Mk4 Golf/boring/Audi A3/4/Skoda Octavia.

No objection to VAGs here- just the mk3 golf was rubbish to drive:-)

 

I was unaware that the pre PD lumps could Veg up- what sort of mix are you using? I know that the old AAZ lump I had was upset by 50% veg in the colder times

 

If you want to avoid VAG there are a few others I'd consider

 

Rover/MG with L-series motor and tuning box - a la Wuv & Rover Of Doom.

Cavalier with Isuzu 1.7td - wind up the fuel pump and crank up the boost.

Volvo 850/s70/v70/s80 with Audi 5-pot. Not the most tunable or the most economical motor, but a nice overall package.

Merc - someone else needs to add info on this one, but the non common rail ones apparently run on veg and I've seen some with massive turbos pushing out tons of smoke.

I shall research the rover of doom!

 

Funnily enough, I was looking at the volvo diesel for sale on these here beige pages when I wondered -will it run veg?

 

I think the 240d/250td/300TD are the ones to have for veg on mercs?

 

Anything with the Isuzu 1.5/1.7td.

Corsa, Astra, Cavalier, Vectra A.

 

Possibly the best engines ever built.

1.7 td FTW-turn up the wick and away you go

 

Avoid the Felicia 1.9D, miserable to drive and fitted with Lucas injection pumps.

Aww boo! you can get coilovers for them cheaps too:(

 

Merc W124's will stand it (though i couldn't do it to such a lovely car) good old mechanical pump.

Yeah, thon Drift merc with the 300TD looks a hoot. A w123 estate is a good looking car

 

To be fair to the VAG stuff, they don't half pull well, as Chris has alluded to.

 

BX: Love them but getting on a bit now and reliability and maintenance not as easy as most other cars.

 

Cavalier: Brill engine, brill car.

 

306: Dull as dishwater, suspect build quality in some areas and the TDs just don't seem as long lived or veg friendly. the n/a XUD seems as tough as several factories full of old boots, but by God they are no ball of fire, and trying to tune one would probably be a great way to spend a load of money with no noticeable results.

No real issues with VAG stuff- My brother currently runs a 110 Octy

 

The mk3 cav with the 1.7 Izuzu lump is an oldskool classic- John Cleland AHOY!

 

So you dont rate the 306?I thought they had a decent chassis for a fwd setup? maybe I'm being overly kind to the ones I've driven

 

2.1 Xantias have a Lucas pump (electronically controlled too IIRC) so they need to be converted to Bosch with XM bits if they are going to run on veg.

Good knowledge- take it that means that the 406 2.1td are off the cards too

[scruff]

Maestro turbo diesel 

[Cavcraft]

I highly rate the 306, wouldn't sell mine for anything now, it's with me until the bitter end. Which might be this week, coincidentally! It's just that they are quite dull, have the odd quirk like shitty door locks (a PSA of that era trait imho) and bits that work one day then not again for a few weeks or months as they see fit.

Mine handles great, I think it's been lowered and it's running on 1.9GTi alloys with 50 width rear, 45 width front tyres. It's been very reliable (as in not had many 'failure to proceed' moments) and is so cheap to run I would seriously suggest I'm into four figures on the cost saving front.

 

They're not to everyone's taste and build quality varies enormously, another Peugeot trait, but if you're not arsed about what you are seen to drive (and you're on the wrong forum if you are) then they're great cars. 

[Richard]

Good knowledge- take it that means that the 406 2.1td are off the cards too

 

It does, again unless you do the XM conversion. I have a vague memory of it being possible with 1.9 XUD bits but that's still a lot of farting about.

[dome]

I've done the Rover L series thing in a 200-cracking engine. I ever went above 50/50 but it was unmodified and ran better on that than it did on diseasel

 

I've also done the Merc thing-had a w124 300d which was a lovely old thing. I would rank the chassis as competent, in that a nice one will go round corners without falling over. Followed that with a c250 which was a fucking horrible thing. Vacuum leaks everywhere even after relacing every pipe and the leak off pipes caused me no end of bother. 

 

But for me the ultimate car for running on veg would be a fish faced Scorpio. It comes with a built in fuel pre heater which is handy for the winter and, well just look at one and bask in its magnificence.

 

This ones been for sale for a while, I was going to buy it before I got diverted and bought another 944. Buy it then sell it to me when you're done

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C311732

[skattrd]

The mix in my boring varies, depending on a variety of things, usually my ability to buy veg whilst working all over the place. In summer I've run it on 100% veg and it was ok, but I've found It does run better on 50-75% veg.

[320touring]

I highly rate the 306, wouldn't sell mine for anything now, it's with me until the bitter end. Which might be this week, coincidentally! It's just that they are quite dull, have the odd quirk like shitty door locks (a PSA of that era trait imho) and bits that work one day then not again for a few weeks or months as they see fit.

Mine handles great, I think it's been lowered and it's running on 1.9GTi alloys with 50 width rear, 45 width front tyres. It's been very reliable (as in not had many 'failure to proceed' moments) and is so cheap to run I would seriously suggest I'm into four figures on the cost saving front.

 

They're not to everyone's taste and build quality varies enormously, another Peugeot trait, but if you're not arsed about what you are seen to drive (and you're on the wrong forum if you are) then they're great cars. 

You've not seen my daily:)

 

Glad to know its just the usual frenchness thats the 306 issue

 

It does, again unless you do the XM conversion. I have a vague memory of it being possible with 1.9 XUD bits but that's still a lot of farting about.

 

too much like hard work, i fear!

 

I've done the Rover L series thing in a 200-cracking engine. I ever went above 50/50 but it was unmodified and ran better on that than it did on diseasel

 

I've also done the Merc thing-had a w124 300d which was a lovely old thing. I would rank the chassis as competent, in that a nice one will go round corners without falling over. Followed that with a c250 which was a fucking horrible thing. Vacuum leaks everywhere even after relacing every pipe and the leak off pipes caused me no end of bother. 

 

But for me the ultimate car for running on veg would be a fish faced Scorpio. It comes with a built in fuel pre heater which is handy for the winter and, well just look at one and bask in its magnificence.

 

This ones been for sale for a while, I was going to buy it before I got diverted and bought another 944. Buy it then sell it to me when you're done

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C311732

HOW much for that scorpio? Bloody nora-not a hope of me buying that

 

good gen re the L series though:)

[The Moog]

Running Xantia 1.9td at moment. As a cruiser it is good, happily tootling away at 80. But the acceleration is rubbish. I live just off a dual carriage way so everyday have to do 0-70 to get on there. The only safe way is to wait for a big gap or a slower truck or tractor to get on.

 

Saying that I have saved more than the car cost so far... so free motoring isn't bad.

[Lacquer Peel]

I had a Xantia 1.9D and 1.9TD, the TD seemed like a supercar in comparison.

[oman5]

Ok, here is the wild card.

 

Volvo 740/940 td if you can find one. They will run on just about anything you can put down the filler neck. (main reason I bought one) plus they sound good in a straight six thrummy kind of way, power delivery is more like a truck than a car.

Look after them religiously and they will do 500k miles, They are actually quite pokey as standard (the 740 was the fastest production td car when launched) but you can mess about with them for more power if you like.

The body will last forever, interior and electrics less likely to. not exactly a bundle of laughs to drive, its an old rwd volvo but they do the job. I love 'em.

 

merc w123 240 and 300d are both suitable for veg, the 300 is the same engine with an extra pot welded on. but...their veg friendliness is common knowledge and they seem to be rocketing up in price for any that don't need collecting with a dustpan. plus they are very,very,slow.

[Dave_Q]

My experience of vag tdis is that starting is poor on 100% veg. No problems at 50/50 though.

 

Anywhere near you sell biodiesel? Round here there's a few places selling 'Bio heating oil' for £1.05 a litre, not much more than veg and you can just lob it in at anytime except deepest winter.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[320touring]

Running Xantia 1.9td at moment. As a cruiser it is good, happily tootling away at 80. But the acceleration is rubbish. I live just off a dual carriage way so everyday have to do 0-70 to get on there. The only safe way is to wait for a big gap or a slower truck or tractor to get on.

Saying that I have saved more than the car cost so far... so free motoring isn't bad.

 

Funnily enough,my golf was like that.75bhp/tonne and less desire than I to move in the morning

 

Ok, here is the wild card.

 

Volvo 740/940 td if you can find one. They will run on just about anything you can put down the filler neck. (main reason I bought one) plus they sound good in a straight six thrummy kind of way, power delivery is more like a truck than a car.

Look after them religiously and they will do 500k miles, They are actually quite pokey as standard (the 740 was the fastest production td car when launched) but you can mess about with them for more power if you like.

The body will last forever, interior and electrics less likely to. not exactly a bundle of laughs to drive, its an old rwd volvo but they do the job. I love 'em.

 

merc w123 240 and 300d are both suitable for veg, the 300 is the same engine with an extra pot welded on. but...their veg friendliness is common knowledge and they seem to be rocketing up in price for any that don't need collecting with a dustpan. plus they are very,very,slow.

 

I think the 7/940 diesels may just be the best engine,not the best car?between the elecs and a chassis that's about as responsive as a tranquilized heffalump..

 

However, it nay be that the engine is so good it outweighs the rest?

 

 

My experience of vag tdis is that starting is poor on 100% veg. No problems at 50/50 though.

Anywhere near you sell biodiesel? Round here there's a few places selling 'Bio heating oil' for £1.05 a litre, not much more than veg and you can just lob it in at anytime except deepest winter.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

I'd imagine I would be running whatever I got on gradually increasing volumes of SVO until I hit problems -then back it off one hit. Up here in Scotland, the chances of it being too cold for 100% SVO in summer is high.

 

I shall see if I can locate any bio diesel places nearby

[Sigmund Fraud]

I'm not sure if the 205TD came with a Bosch pump - if it did, it's what you're looking for !

[Jim Bell]

I'm not sure if the 205TD came with a Bosch pump - if it did, it's what you're looking for !

 

They never did.

 

405s and 306s did. Engines interchangable.

[Lacquer Peel]

Volvo 740/940 td if you can find one. They will run on just about anything you can put down the filler neck. (main reason I bought one) 

 

They are pigs to start from cold on veg, I'm keen to advance the timing on mine to see if it makes a difference.

[320touring]

Good knowledge chaps! keep the info and Ideas coming:)

[oman5]

They are pigs to start from cold on veg, I'm keen to advance the timing on mine to see if it makes a difference.

I never had any problems with a 50/50 mix in my last one. I'm very weary of running anything on neat veg.