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General 1.2 versus twinair performance

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General 1.2 versus twinair performance

My wife drives a 1.2 Pop Dualogic (2010) and mine is a TA Lounge Dualogic (2011). I get to drive the 1.2 when it needs petrol as she cannot get the hang of securing the filler cap afterwards. On 2nd thoughts is it because I am paying ???!!!

To me the 1.2 is a quiet runner and lively enough, but the TA is a totally different beast. For me a lot better acceleration and I love the engine noise.

MPG average for me after 7 months and 5K on the clock is 44 mpg relating to an approx spend of £730 on fuel.

Do not have any figures for the 1.2 to compare.
 
Re Earlier Post: I missed your comment re Eco Mode. Unfortunately cannot comment as do not use very much.
 
deeyup said:
I've read a lot stuff about mpg between the 2 cars, but not a lot on performance difference.

Would it be fair to say the the 1.2 has similar performance to the twinair with the eco mode switched on?
Click to expand...

Best way to check out the performance difference is on a back-to-back test run. From memory the eco button on the TA didn't make the same difference as the Sport (thinking of the A500 & to a lesser extent the 1.4) or in particular the Dynamic button on other 'Fiat' models. With the 1.2 you have to go looking for the 'performance' (engine has to have a few thousand under its belt to have any real go) while with the TA it's there after an initial break in period.
The TA is marketed as having the same performance as the now discounted 1.4 and is priced accordingly.
 
I have a twinair on the drive now. It's been loaned to me.
I've found the eco button makes a big difference in performance.
For instance on the motorway using eco, acceleration in fifth at 70 is poor.
Worse than my C1, but turn off eco and it goes great!

I am off to check out a 1.2 tomorrow to compare. :)
 
deeyup said:
I have a twinair on the drive now. It's been loaned to me.
I've found the eco button makes a big difference in performance.
For instance on the motorway using eco, acceleration in fifth at 70 is poor.
Worse than my C1, but turn off eco and it goes great!

I am off to check out a 1.2 tomorrow to compare. :)
Click to expand...

The Eco button like the Sport button (in reverse) on the A500 gives a different mapping and the throttle response is improved. The Sport button on the standard 1.4 only affects the throttle response but no 'mapping' change takes place. On the current motor (MiTo) the Dynamic setting is a bit maniac compared with 'Normal' and economy drops to the low 20s in comparison to the low 30s. I gather that the Eco button on the TA does not have the same mpg impact but that was from a posting about 'town driving'.
 
The ECO button switches the engine management into a tamer map with less boost (probably less ignition advance, and fuelling) and softens the engine quite markedly. It wouldn't surprise me if it changes the valve timing/lift also, reducing the engine's dynamic compression ratio, and thus reducing pumping losses (it certainly feels smoother and softer).

If you drive softly, the trip computer tends to report better fuel consumption figures in ECO, I find.
 
loveshandbags...The MiTo is that the Alfa Romeo MiTo? Been looking at one of them in Alfa Red an Italian car if ever there was one.
 
I drive my TA in eco mode. It's very nippy, far more than the 1.2 was when I test drove it. I know what you mean about the difference in acceleration when you turn off eco - you can certainly feel the "thrust" ;). In either mode acceleration is still better in my TA than a 1.2 (imho). I'm nearing 4000 miles now, so that may have made a difference.
 
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0-60 the 1.4 is the best performer. The twin air is very close. Then the 1.2. I've not yet had a go on the twin air so cant comment on how it feels. The 1.2 is alot of fun and feels like my old 1.2 punto.

I only do low mileage so the 1.4's extra running costs are very low for me. And its soooo much more fun than the 1.2.
 
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Deeyup
I'll try to answer your original question. Yes, I'd say the TA in ECO mode gives subjectively similar performance to the 1.2. I drove a 1.2 and the 75bhp diesel before buying my TA, and made my choice because the TA was significantly quicker than both.
 
Austin Mini said:
loveshandbags...The MiTo is that the Alfa Romeo MiTo? Been looking at one of them in Alfa Red an Italian car if ever there was one.
Click to expand...

When the OH was buying her Alfa red MiTo there was a bit of confusion over which red was the 'Alfa red'. Alfa had an orangey one called Giulietta Red with some referring to it as the 'other red'.
There was research done on the looks of the MiTo and they found that men liked the rear end and women liked the front end. Funnily enough (depending on which way you look at it) I prefer the front end :eek::).
After having the 155TB for over 6 weeks I would be hesitant to recommend one. The big issue is the lack of steering feedback (dynamic mode improves things a little) and reckon that the 1.3MJ suits the car best. The scariest place to go looking for information is on the AF site because if you really looked before buying one you wouldn't dream of getting one. I'll will be stuck with it for a few months now that I have paid the €330 road tax for the year. I'll just have to enjoy the boost whilst it lasts.:D
 
Well, just got back from driving the 1.2.
I thought a lot slower than the TA in full power mode
And slower than the TA in Eco mode too.

This car only had 1400 miles on it though, whereas the TA had 5000.

Still, I think the TA is the motor of choice for me.

Cheers for all the replies.
 
We currently have a Twin Air on the drive as our 5 day old 1.2 Lounge is in the dealers while they sort out the non-functioning washers.(n)

The TA is clearly much 'peppier' (eco mode off) - remarkably so for such a small engined car, it's clearly a very clever piece of technology, and great fun to drive but - for me the engine note is wearing and intrusive, I realise it appeals to some but it's not for me at all. I actually though Jan had come back from the dealers in a diesel.

As for the economy - can't comment yet as we've only had it a day.
 
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