Daily driver auto barge: 4cyl petrol or 6cyl diesel?
Discussion
Krikkit said:
Even with the devil's fuel, the straight 6 wins for me.
Smoothness is luxury, and a 4-pot is never luxury.
Agree with a 4-pot is never luxury, however I did have a go in a 2017 530i with the 4-pot and it did feel smooth mated to the ZF8 auto. I do really like a 6 cylinder diesel engine(they always feel punchy I reckon) if you are covering big miles though. Smoothness is luxury, and a 4-pot is never luxury.
I find this a far more tough choice than I was expecting to be fair.
Triumph Man said:
4 cylinder engines have no place in an executive car. I don't care how much power they can have, it has to be a minimum of 5 cylinders and up, preferably a minimum of 6.
Good point. Everytime I got into my 520d I did wish that it had a 6 cylinder engine under the bonnet. It was an executive car without the executive engine for me. mikey_b said:
270bhp from a 4-pot is quite a high output. Doesn't sound like the sort of relaxing engine usually found in a 'barge'.
What cars are you thinking of?
Something like a Skoda Superb 280 or 272 TSI.What cars are you thinking of?
Obviously 6 and 8 cylinder petrols are nicest but they are specifically excluded from the question. The reason being I am considering 'normal' cars with sensible purchase and running costs rather than dedicated performance models which are almost the only place such engines are found these days.
TurboHatchback said:
Something like a Skoda Superb 280 or 272 TSI.
Obviously 6 and 8 cylinder petrols are nicest but they are specifically excluded from the question. The reason being I am considering 'normal' cars with sensible purchase and running costs rather than dedicated performance models which are almost the only place such engines are found these days.
Shorter trips/Lower mileage I'd say 4 cylinder petrol, longer trips then 6 cylinder diesel.Obviously 6 and 8 cylinder petrols are nicest but they are specifically excluded from the question. The reason being I am considering 'normal' cars with sensible purchase and running costs rather than dedicated performance models which are almost the only place such engines are found these days.
I've owned a 330D with the N57 3.0 diesel previously and it used to take about 7 miles on the motorway to get fully up to temperature. When I changed jobs and my mileage dropped considerably, I saw more DPF regens and more importantly high 20s/low 30s fuel economy in it. The diesel benefit was completely lost. Engine itself was fantastic, smooth, powerful and economical but only on longer trips when fully warmed up.
Now I have an Octavia VRS with the same 4 cylinder EA888 as the Superb, albeit with a smaller turbo. It lacks the sound and punch of the 3.0 diesel, the performance is more linear, but it's more refined and smooth when cold, warms up quickly and still goes well. Fuel economy is probably low 30s short trips, mid 40s longer trips.
Nice those Superbs with that engine, it's probably most likely going to be what replaces the Octavia in the near future when Covid settles and I actually use my car regularly again.
Edited by ahenners on Tuesday 2nd February 23:27
6 cylinder diesel, for sure. refinement and driveability of 6 cylinder diesels is way better and 4 cyl diesels, and really suit an auto too.
only possible reason i wouldnt is if your journeys are too short for a diesel to work properly - but id go diesel for anything over 15 miles probably.
only possible reason i wouldnt is if your journeys are too short for a diesel to work properly - but id go diesel for anything over 15 miles probably.
Mr Tidy said:
But there is nothing unique about a FWD scrabble-wagon with a 4-cylinder turbo is there?
Leon Cupra 280, Octavia VRs, A-class 35AMG, Golf R, Audi S3, current M135i - even if some of them do have 4WD sometimes!
Not for me.
Why are you naming hatchbacks when the thread is about barges? Also, where does "unique" come into it? Leon Cupra 280, Octavia VRs, A-class 35AMG, Golf R, Audi S3, current M135i - even if some of them do have 4WD sometimes!
Not for me.

Edited by culpz on Wednesday 3rd February 12:30
Was thinking about this exact same thing the other day , i used to do 10,000 miles a year and had had a a run of V8 estate cars which i loved. now mileage is 25,000-30,000 a year have had a Golf R estate, followed by a V90 D4 and now E220d , all nice cars but the 4 cylinder engine clatter ruins a nice car. definitely going for a 6 cylinder diesel next time
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff



Or at least 6cyl petrol?