I am in the market for a Dacia Logan MCV. I have read on this forum that if I were to get a petrol Logan it would be better to get the 1.6L 16V, because the smaller engines may not be powerful enough. How would the diesel compare with the petrol engines power (the diesel uses less fuel)? I have never owned a diesel. What in the difference in cost between the two Logans? P.S. I know people who have put in "gas" systems in their dacias. I would also like to do this (costs about 700 Euros here) but maybe it would be better to buy a diesel?

my car has the same 1.6 16v engine, that also equips the logan mcv. it is a good engine, very flexible. you have 80% of the maximum torque starting from 2000rpm, so it's not a problem if you want to drive it economically. if you want to really feel the power, you need to push the pedal to the metal. the engine starts to show its power after 3500rpm (you should try 5500rpm in second gear, - i'm really into high reving petrol engines). but i have to mention that the mcv is quite heavy, even heavier than my car. about fuel consumption, right now the trip computer of my car shows 7.4l/100km, at a average speed of 29.5km/h. if you use it only in town it wil probably show on the trip computer about 10l/100km.

usually the dci engines from renault are very fuel efficient, and all diesel engines in general, use less fuel than a petrol version with about the same hp. also these kind of engines put out more torque than petrol ones. for example 1.6 16v has 77kw(105hp) and 148nm, the equivalent dci engine, 1.5dci 77kw(105hp) has 240nm. but this engine (1.5dci 105hp) is not available yet for dacia models. so diesel engines are better for bigger loads, and sometimes more comfortable while cruising. but you have to take in consideration the mass of the vehicle. for example i have a cousin with a megane 2 1.5dci 100hp (is the older version with only 200nm), and only the urban consumption is maximum 7l/100km with ac on. but the acceleration doesn't compares with my car. i had the opportunity to drive it, and i was disappointed. in fourth gear at 90km/h, i wanted to overtake another car, and.... i had the impression that it took me about 2 minutes to do it. and in this time, i've reached about 110km/h. i was amazed (but in a negative way). the car was in fourth gear so it was in the range, where the turbo starts to work, but almost nothing. with my car if you put your foot down in fourth gear at 90km/h it doesn't take to long to reach 120-130km/h. i think the difference is made by the mass of the car. mine has 1.2t, and my cousin's 1.450t.
i also have a friend with a clio symbol 1.5dci 70hp, only in town with ac on 5.7l/100km. if you want a diesel logan mcv, I would say the 85hp version, is the best choice, because it has enough torque.

if you buy it new, you have to take in consideration a "formula". because a diesel car, costs more than the same petrol version, and all the parts and labor are more expensive than for petrol, it's a general saying that if you don't drive about 20.000km/year, is better to buy the petrol version. even if you drive 20.000km/year, you will make some economies after about 4 years.

This post has been edited by slider2: 8 Apr 2009, 20:39

think about how many km/year you make, and see if the price diffrence is worth it. Diesels usually have all the touque at very low revs and when you hit the pedal to the metal you start to feel as the revs go by that it has less and less power, if you like to give it the beans now and then, go petrol, i own a 1.6 16v and i have to say it's pretty linear power wise, after 45000km done with rpm usually at about 3000-4500, and some flat out high speed runs haven't got any problems with the engine to date.

here are the you can fin the power and tourque curves of all dacias engines

http://www.dacialoganmcv.nl/?page_id=262

Thank you for the replies. I think it is clear I will be getting the petrol engine 16v. I actually can't find any at the moment here in Latvia. I will have to wait till this June for the new models. I plan on getting the "arctic" model because it comes with A/C.