Having been quite critical about the doblo in the past I have totted up the running cost of our 1.9 over four years. Not bad to be honest with no major problems apart from ridiculous servicing costs from the main dealer, this ended when we found an ex fiat guy at our local garage who charges £40 an hour.
The maff needs sorting now and we had the exhaust welded for £20 so over the period that we have owned the car I reckon that in normal circumstances I could ask around 4k for it which would show very economic ownership.
My question is should I buy a 1.4 doblo. Would there be any benefit. If not is the 1.9 still the top of their range.
Fiat Supersaver prices of course.
:idea:

Hi Hiccup.

No definite answers but a couple of thoughts....

1.4 is becoming more attractive as the gap between the cost of diesel and the cost of unleaded grows and grows.

1.9 120hp (mine) is really strong but plenty of reports on the forum on disappointing fuel consumption. 105hp seems better for fuel.

If I was starting over I think I'd look at the 1.3 diesel. Perhaps you could work out if the fuel consumption difference over your usual mileage would justify the extra cost vs the petrol.

Good luck

PETER

Hi Hiccup,

Have a 06 1.9 multijet 105bhp which has been and is excellant but if you are considering a new doblo and looking at the 1.4, I would seriously consider the 1.3 16v multijet instead better bhp double the pulling power, superior mpg even taking account of differential between petrol and diesel fuel.

Unless motorway driving is frequent I would say the more modern 1.3 diesel is hard to beat in any vehicle let alone one as spacious as the Doblo.

The all new Doblo is in the pipeline for backend 2009 and will probably feature the new 1.6 multijet 105 or 120bhp diesels currently in the new brava instead of the ageing 8v 1.9 units currently in service.

Remember fiat have to build engines to euro 5 and I think euro 6 emissions so the old 1.9 8v might have to go

Hope this helps

Thanks for both your replies chaps. I suppose I am trying to decide the most economical way to buy and to run.
I have read some worrying things like the cost of some flywheels etc after relativly short lives costing the best part of a grand and the odd Diesel Pump which is always going to be expensive.
Of course fuel prices are still rising with no end in sight. I have a use for this kind of vehicle and it earns me good money. The 1.4 active can be had for 7.5k on Fiat supersaver which is a damn good price for such a usefull product even if residual values are a little on the low side.
I do approx 14000 miles a year half of which is motorway miles so would the Diesel be the better bet I wonder.

hiccup said:

Thanks for both your replies chaps. I suppose I am trying to decide the most economical way to buy and to run.
I have read some worrying things like the cost of some flywheels etc after relativly short lives costing the best part of a grand and the odd Diesel Pump which is always going to be expensive.
Of course fuel prices are still rising with no end in sight. I have a use for this kind of vehicle and it earns me good money. The 1.4 active can be had for 7.5k on Fiat supersaver which is a damn good price for such a usefull product even if residual values are a little on the low side.
I do approx 14000 miles a year half of which is motorway miles so would the Diesel be the better bet I wonder.

Click to expand...

residuals are an issue with the petrol but 7500 is a good price

yes the cost of repairs on diesels is expensive D M flywheels , turbos and the like none of which is found on the petrol.

Your miles are on the border line of benefit for a diesel, apparently they now say that to truely benefit from a diesel you need to do 45000 miles everything considered before it starts to save.

i personally just prefer the drive of modern diesels so would always be my preference