I've had a 2001 1.9Jtd in a Stilo and liked it...am trying to line up a test drive in a Doblo Cargo but it's not proving easy, no one seems to have any! I have registred on the Fiat Pro website. In the meantime can anyone report back as to what they would recommend for long days on the road - I'm a saddle fitter and can work 15 hour days with over 6 hours' mainly motorway driving. I'm tempted by the 2 litre, know the 1.6 is the sensible option, but know that I'll probably only get to test drive a 1.3...

Thanks from this noob

I can only comment on my 2011 1.6 diesel with 6 speed with seats. Its okay on the motorway but not fabulous. 70mph is about 2200 revs. You start to notice wind noise just before 70mph. To be honest it feels at its most comfortable at 65-70mph, to my mind it doesn't feel truly happy at higher speeds but I can't put my finger on exactly why. I have even set the overspeed warning beeper to 70 mph to remind me should I get a bit ahead of myself. I drove it for 300 miles in 8 hours the other week and I got out of the car reasonably fresh.

It delivers about 45-46 mpg at these sort of speeds on the motorway.

I have just changed the original Goodyear marathon Cargo tyres for some winter tyres, and unexpectedly its massively quieter on the motorway on the new tyres. I suspect the original factory supplied Marathons will be going on ebay and I will get something different and quieter when I revert back to normal tyres in the spring.

You definitely need a road test though. I am surprised you can't get a test drive as most large dealer chains should have at least one registered as a demonstrator.

sbloom said:

I've had a 2001 1.9Jtd in a Stilo and liked it...am trying to line up a test drive in a Doblo Cargo but it's not proving easy, no one seems to have any! I have registred on the Fiat Pro website. In the meantime can anyone report back as to what they would recommend for long days on the road - I'm a saddle fitter and can work 15 hour days with over 6 hours' mainly motorway driving. I'm tempted by the 2 litre, know the 1.6 is the sensible option, but know that I'll probably only get to test drive a 1.3...

Thanks from this noob

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The 1.9 jtd is only available on the old shape. To test a larger engine than 1.3, why not try a dealer selling nearly new and pretend to be interested?

Well I'll be lucky to get any test drive at this rate - have asked on the Fiat Pro website for a test drive, over a week ago, and nothing, and now nothing back from a dealer in 48 hours either. Rubbish :bang:. Ahh well, will call a couple now, and I will make sure I get to test both. I had thought the 2L might be markedly better, we'll see. I'll report back. Is it sad that I'm really excited about having a Noddy van (am I allowed to say that on here?!) :woot:. Had an 09 plate Vito until I could not longer afford it, much more excited about this!

Of course you're allowed to say noddy van! I was called postman pat by people everywhere until I traded my red doblo for a silver one!

The verdict is slightly mixed. I've had a SWB 1.6 Euro 4 SX for the weekend and actually it's pretty much up there for me on the motorway, certainly with a very light load, I never carry huge loads. The 2.0 would have to be a fair bit pokier, and the mpg better at 70mph plus for me to consider it a rival. BUT...I have neck and shoulder issues and the seating is a real issue. The left hand offset of the steering wheel, plus the short seat back height and the slight buldge around the shoulder blades has made me ache. A bit gutted as a 300-400 mile day would probably leave me in serious pain

Have you tried the previous model at all? Seating position is probably different.

SBloom, now having had mine for about 3 months, I think I agree with you. The seats are not as good as they could be as I feel like I am sitting on them rather than in them in the new Doblo. I do like the seat height adjuster though which makes it easier to get the right position.

Checked the fuel consumption before I gave it back today and it was 37mpg over 500 miles including lots of motorway - considering it was a light load and I was only heavy with the right foot now and again, I'm really disappointed. I wonder if the 2l would be better over 70mph, but there are so few figures even for the MPV.

I am really pushing it financially with buying a new one with starting a new business so will look at an old Doblo (not tried one yet) for a year or so and see if I can justify a new one after that. With a sheepskin seat cover or something!

There are a few of the old shape 1.9's out there being cleared out for around £10k which is loads cheaper than the £15k wanted for the new model! I am refering to the Doblo car type not van I have no idea what the price of a van might be,

I have the 1.9 multijet 120 and I am VERY disappointed about the MPG on the motorway, and around town.

I am only getting around 44mpg at approximately 70mph ( on my Satnav, speedo indicates 78 as it is very optimistic)

Overall I am averaging about 33 to 35Mpg!

I get 47mpg put of my 1986 SAAB 9000 Carlson (2 ltr turbocharged petrol 185bhp) if I cruse at 70 (genuine) on the motorway.. although that only happens VERY occasionally..

Well it will (The Saab not Doblo) happily cruse at 135 all day! (German Autoban only ) Nuremburg to Dunkirk 500 ish miles 5 hours inc loo breaks and food stop! It was over night to be honest so Autoban was clear.

Although my Doblo has been very poorly serviced (by Arnold Clarke;s useless bunch of cretins) for the first 108k miles so maybe that's why the mpg is so low.

Maybe in the spring if I'm feeling flushed I'll remove the DPF and get it re-mapped.

I had my Citroen Picasso remapped from 90 to 120 Bhp and got 2 MPG more.. Result!

I love the seats in the Doblo.. I have a slipped disk and have not needed to renew my prescription for pain killers since starting to drive the Doblo in June.

PS Citroen Seats are REALLY REALLY bad for anyone to sit in for many hours.. the Taxi firm I work with has a lot of them and everyone is always complaining of back problems.

Unless you are very small don't go near Japanese cars either!