Which Fuel/Transmission?

[snowflakefairy]

Hello, Really hoping someone could guide us to choosing the right Berlingo for our needs!

We mainly do short journeys during the week, with the possibility of longer runs at the weekend.

From the Autumn we'll be doing a 550 mile round trip every 1-2 months (mainly motorway), carrying 2 adults, 2 fully grown teenagers & a dog also a boot full of my daughters Uni stuff.

Our initial thought before looking at the models available was to get a manual Petrol from fear of a clogged DPF from our regular short journeys, but this isn't available in the trim we wanted (Flair) 

So the options we're looking at:

Feel PureTech 110 S&S manual: We'd love some full windows in the back though, and an opening tailgate window would be good too, and we can't add these on.

PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 automatic: We've never driven an automatic, any specific views on this model and driving would be greatly appreciated, especially pulling away at roundabouts/junctions.

BlueHDi 100 S&S manual: We currently have a 12 years old Fiat Qubo Diesel (09 Reg) (bought new) so this would probably be the most similar to what we have, but our current car doesn't have the DPF, and is super slow at times pulling away at roundabouts, and ideally something which will go when I ask it to. Plus I'm worried about the DPF being affected by our daily short journeys.

Please help and let me know what you'd choose and why!

[boop]

BlueHDi 130/EAT8 hands down. Puretech would be doable if you had less load but you will be happiest with the punchy diesel. It has plenty of passing power and overall pleasant to drive. The transmission shifts in a blink and is (almost) always in the correct gear.

I have ordered a fourth one in two years. It's so good.

[notsofast]

Our initial thought before looking at the models available was to get a manual Petrol from fear of a clogged DPF from our regular short journeys, but this isn't available in the trim we wanted (Flair) 

So the options we're looking at:

Feel PureTech 110 S&S manual: We'd love some full windows in the back though, and an opening tailgate window would be good too, and we can't add these on.

PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 automatic: We've never driven an automatic, any specific views on this model and driving would be greatly appreciated, especially pulling away at roundabouts/junctions.

BlueHDi 100 S&S manual: We currently have a 12 years old Fiat Qubo Diesel (09 Reg) (bought new) so this would probably be the most similar to what we have, but our current car doesn't have the DPF, and is super slow at times pulling away at roundabouts, and ideally something which will go when I ask it to. Plus I'm worried about the DPF being affected by our daily short journeys.

I don't have experience with the MPV, but I do have a 1.5 BlueHdi 100 manual in van form.

On the issue of the DPF, the dealer said that the important requirement was to get the engine up to working temperature, but this doesn't have to happen on every journey (on the coldest days of the winter just gone, I noticed the engine sometimes didn't get fully warm even after 15+ miles). He said that every week he took his vehicle out for a run up the motorway.  Most of my driving is on country roads, usually driving 15-30 miles per journey. In my manual it says that my vehicle has a DPF warning light (it hasn't come on yet, so either it's OK, or I don't have the light) and that if the light comes on, it means the filter is starting to saturate and should be cleared by "driving at a speed of at least 40mph until the light goes off".

On the issue of power and pulling away from junctions, my van is sometimes a bit lacking at the lowest revs.  Despite the fact that my new van is considerably more powerful than my old van, much of its power delivery is at higher revs (cos it's a turbo), and it's a heavier vehicle.  It's generally fine on the open road, but when coming to give way junctions, for example - where I almost come to a stop but remain in second gear -I find that when I decide to pull out of the junction, the response to the throttle can be poor, particularly if there is an incline. It's a bit disappointing feeling like I should be changing down to first while still moving.

My advice would be to talk to your dealer about your concerns about the DPF, but also to take several test drives in vehicles with different engines, and make sure the drive includes a real test of how well the vehicles respond at lowish revs - such as pulling out of junctions, and accelerating up hills (if you have any in your area).

[Roy Atherton]

Don't know enough about the detailed spec of all your options to give my personal choice, but wanted to strongly recommend the Diesel with an eat8 semi-automatic gearbox. I am so impressed by the new car I have just taken on the motability scheme. We always drive with a heavy load, as I always have a big mobility scooter in the back. (That's about 100kg, before you add passengers and luggage.) The car deals with it beautifully. You can barely sense the gear changes, and the torque and acceleration are great. No doubt the best performing engine I have ever had. Good luck with your choice.

[snowflakefairy]

Thanks everyone for your replies   they've been very helpful...after a test drive of a diesel manual Berlingo & an auto petrol C3 Aircross we've decided to go for the Petrol Automatic Berlingo, hopefully it cope when fully loaded!
As the majority of our driving is short trips the petrol seemed the better choice along with my paranoia about the DPF and not having to blast down the motorway every 2 weeks.
Delivery in late June, yay!

[boop]

L1 or L2?

[snowflakefairy]

L1 or L2?

L1, Had to Google that...as it's L1 & L2 are M and XL here! 

The extra length on the L1 compared to our Qubo will be fine for what we need, I think if we'd gone for the L2 then diesel would have been more necessary :

How do you decide which of your models to drive each day, do they have specific purposes?

[boop]

How do you decide which of your models to drive each day, do they have specific purposes?

Aah, heh. No, I have a fleet to manage. I drove the L2 Feel for most of 2020 and my new daily Berlingo will arrive in May.

[Great Uncle Bulgaria]

Thanks everyone for your replies   they've been very helpful...after a test drive of a diesel manual Berlingo & an auto petrol C3 Aircross we've decided to go for the Petrol Automatic Berlingo, hopefully it cope when fully loaded!
As the majority of our driving is short trips the petrol seemed the better choice along with my paranoia about the DPF and not having to blast down the motorway every 2 weeks.
Delivery in late June, yay!

We have a petrol auto Flair model.   I think its a 130 petrol, and its a pleasant drive.   Its not fast, but i don't drive fast anyway. Its easily punchy enough for me.  Consumption is OK, the computer says 41.4 since new (1200 miles) but I've driven very gently to achieve this.  Its my first auto apart from awful rentals and I like it. 
As a bike carrier its superb.

[snowflakefairy]

Thanks everyone for your replies   they've been very helpful...after a test drive of a diesel manual Berlingo & an auto petrol C3 Aircross we've decided to go for the Petrol Automatic Berlingo, hopefully it cope when fully loaded!
As the majority of our driving is short trips the petrol seemed the better choice along with my paranoia about the DPF and not having to blast down the motorway every 2 weeks.
Delivery in late June, yay!

We have a petrol auto Flair model.   I think its a 130 petrol, and its a pleasant drive.   Its not fast, but i don't drive fast anyway. Its easily punchy enough for me.  Consumption is OK, the computer says 41.4 since new (1200 miles) but I've driven very gently to achieve this.  Its my first auto apart from awful rentals and I like it. 
As a bike carrier its superb.

Thank you for letting me know about your experience, that makes me feel better that we've made the right choice. Great to hear especially that you're liking the auto, we're not planning on driving fast either