TD/JTD
Hi, If your undecided about Bravo TD or JTD, then I suggest that in standard tune the TD is much quicker and certainly feels it and I know because I have both at the moment! The TD is only marginally less frugal giving 48-50mpg in normal driving. The JTD feels very sluggish compared to the older TD. I have a 2001 JTD which has had a remap done - 155bhp which when on the rolling road gave 121bhp max power and 224lbs of torque somewhat short of the remap claim and fuel consumption is down to about 45-46mpg, plus the clutch slips a bit if you whelly it in 4th/5th from about 40/45mph which is annoying as this is the beauty of a diesel engine pulling power and ultimately worrying as more expense when the clutch gives up. The standard Fiat clutch on the JTD cannot really handle the power increases that remaps claim and there are no upgrades available. I rang the tuning place in London, Red Dot, I think and they said they could do a Valeo clutch which are apparently 20% uprated over the standard for about £120, but this does not include labour to fit it and any way it would more likely than not, not be able to deal with significant increases in the level of torque from standard.
On reflection knowing all this I would have stuck with my '97 TD in std tune and then maybe gone for an extra 20bhp with a module for the mechanical TD diesel pump which increases the power to about 120bhp which cost about £220.00. It would have certainly have saved me a lot of money! So live and learn.
I regret sinking so much money into the newer JTD knowing what I know now. I'll probably lose alot more money on this than the older car.
So be warned all that is supposed to be newer and better isn't necessarily so.
