Which diesel?

I'm looking at a the Doblo as a possibly, family run around/taking stuff to the tip/bring stuff back from Ikea/towing the caravan car, the sort of stuff that before fuel prices went mad I'd have bought a used Landie for.

I've done the on-line towing comparison and both the 1.3 and 1.9(120) multijets are "adequate", nothing special but they'll do the job.

The question is which to go for, one side of me says go for the 120 as a little bit of extra urge with a caravan on the back can't hurt. However I've read varying reviews, one suggests that the 1.9 produces it's maximum torque at 3,000rpm which seems far from idea when towing, while the 1.3 produces it at a more respectable 1750. The fiat website, is errm rather crap at providing this info so I can't check if it's true.

Any experiences with towing with the Doblo 1.3, 1.9 etc.? The caravan's maximum weight when loaded is 11-1200kilos and the Doblo's maximum towing weight is just over 1400kilos.

And any hints on the best places for a good deal, I have hints that my local dealer is not very special.

Hi. I've no experience with towing, but maybe can help with prices.

fiatsupersaver (.com) tend to be a very good benchmark. I'd suggest you take their price to a couple of dealers and see if they will match or beat-it. If they won't, get it from fiatsupersaver. I think they will.

There will be a big fuel consumption difference between the two models (when not towing) but I guess that has to be looked at vs your annual mileage.

Good luck

PETER

Annual mileage should be small, as day to commuting, working miles etc., is covered in a company car.

Owain,

Both the 1.3 and 1.9 multijet 120 and the 105 have same torque figures around 150lbs/ft. I have a 06 cargo 1.9 105 multijet and have it loaded most of the time, albeit not as heavy as towing 1100kg but it rarely makes much of a dint in the pull of the engine loaded or unloaded.

On paper its not that impressive for a 1.9 but the jtds really do pull a strong engine with years of reliability behind it, granted its not a honda but a good engine.

As for rpm and peak torque mine hits around 2000rpm but have heard that the VVT in the 120bhp version has pushed the torque further up the power band.

For sensible towing speeds the 105bhp strikes the balance between torque and bhp and is plentiful both new and secondhand.

Interestingly the mpg is better on the 105 than 120 but 1.3 tops out!

Well it is only 1300cc

All this info is when i ran it as standard as i now have a dragon digi box fitted have done for 2 years and now get about 45mpg and 132bhp and 190lbs/ft.

So now its the same but 30% better

The more torque the more pull