Why I absolutley despise the modern diesel engine.

[Captain Jack]

I must admit I enjoyed driving my 2.2 CDTi Honda Accord - it was a lovely engine. Quiet (engine, not the road noise) and very quick. On paper it's 136bhp but it's very deceptive. Shame about the failed turbo, clutch, master clutch cylinder and exhaust manifold... all by the time it was 4 years old. I scrapped it on insurance after turbo failure (around £2k to replace) but it's still on the road according to VOSA.

Yes, the 2.2 HDI is the best compromise. We know these engines (and cars they are attached to) inside out and it's reliable... and powerful.

[KozmoNaut]

You obviously haven't driven a good petrol engine, then. Like say an EW12J4 (or ES9J4S) ;-)

Seriously? How old do you think these engines are (and why do you think they've been phased out?) Even the HDis are just TDs with some fancy stuff bolted on.

Around about 15 years old by now, and they were phased out for fuel economy reasons, all of which I am well aware of. Certainly not because of reliability issues. There are 2.2 and 3.0 406s for sale all the time with upwards of 300.000 and 400.000km on them. But when EuroIV isn't cutting it anymore and you can make the same power (160hp and 210hp respectively, give or take) with a 1.6 turbocharged engine and get better fuel economy, that's what you're going to do. Heck, the 1.6 turbo can be had with 260hp now!

But that does not make it a less pleasant engine to drive and I dare say it's more reliable and cheaper to service than a HDI. Especially since you don't even have to consider mucking about with emissions hardware or any of that, it just works out of the box.

[Welly]

I too don't like the idea of a super-boosted small petrol unit but maybe the technology is there to make it work reliably? lets face it when did we last see cylinder bore wear or valve-stem wear? it has been designed out and oil technology is much better too.

I can understand that 95% of the time your engine is just cruising along at small throttle openings so smaller capacity is good for economy/emissions and then when you need power the turbo is there with increased fueling to suit.

The older pug petrols are supremely reliable (and a little misunderstood I think) but I guess regardless of how much crap you bolt onto the engine to strangle it if the core design of the head, piston crowns, compression, injection pattern is all old school then it aint going to cut it now.

Our Astra petrol at home is an old engine and is always pinking/surging or holding back and it's all to try and keep it economical I suppose.

I know, why don't we have electric cars?..............oh wait.