engines - 102PS and 150PS difference?

[VinylArchie]

So I have been looking for a donor vehicle for a while now and I just can't find what I am looking for on budget. My budget in unrealistic lol!
Ideally I wanted a 150ps highland with tailgate but I'm wondering if I might have to plump for a 102. My question is, is there much of a difference between a 150 and a 102 with a re map? If I went for a remap I would get in done by a company like pendle. Is there much difference between the engines? As you can probably telll I'm not much of a mechanical expert so keep it simple for me. Many thanks.

 

[Paynewright]

One of the mapping companies has stopped upgrading the 102, rumour being turbo failures.

I have a 102 and I can make good progress and keep up with traffic.

102 is 5 speed and 150 is 6 speed.

Regards
Ian

 

[Andyf]

Hi we have a 102 and a 150bhp
The 102 is tuned to 170bhp REVO
But in my option the 150bhp DSG is a better drive
The 102 is way better on fuel though, driven steady camper conversion I can get 42 mpg
Swings and round a outs but I would go for a 150 or bigger if I was buying again
Andy

 

[mopardave]

My 150 kombi manual has just been in for a timing belt change/service and mot. They lent me a 102 panel van again. First thing I always notice is the 5 speed box feels nicer than the 6 speed box. I also thought the 102 felt a little smoother than the 150.....but didn't have the mid range. The fuel consumption......oh boy! Straight away I could see a huge difference! Now, I drive like a vicar on account that North Yorkshire is wall to wall speed camera vans.....and I don't fancy another speed awareness con.....sorry, I mean course. I tend to average 42 ish (always shell vpower) in mine but the 102 was pushing 60 mpg........well impressed!
Just my thoughts fwiw?

Dave

 

[Andyf]

Dave

would you go back to the 102
Don’t forget the newer 6.1 are 110bhp
Don’t know if there six speed though
Andy

 

[mopardave]

Dave

would you go back to the 102
Don’t forget the newer 6.1 are 110bhp
Don’t know if there six speed though
Andy

No Andy.........I'd stick with the 150. I did have a T5 that started life as an 84bhp panel van but the guy I bought it from had it chipped. I don't think he ever told me what it had been chipped to but by god, it had some mid range punch! Quicker than my 150 for sure! I am wondering about having mine (2016 eu6) chipped when the extended warranty expires. I don't need it but I remember how nice my T5 5 speed was to drive. Just as an aside btw, I also noted that the electric windows in the loan vehicle felt a lot more robust than mine. My window mechanisms make a funny "twanging" sound AFTER they've been operated. I just know they're going to fail outside the warranty!

 

[mopardave]

@Andyf ......what do you think of the revo remap.......170bhp from a 102!! Wow!!

 

[DaveD]

First thing I always notice is the 5 speed box feels nicer than the 6 speed box.

I've got the six speed manual and I think it only really feels comfortable in 6th gear if I'm doing over 60, I think the sixth gear is a bit long but that's partially my fault for putting bigger tyres on, (3.9% bigger circumference than OE).
Given that legally I can only do over 60 on a motorway, which I rarely use, I often find myself cruising along at 55-60 in fifth, which sort of defeats the point of a six speed box!

 

[mopardave]

I've got the six speed manual and I think it only really feels comfortable in 6th gear if I'm doing over 60, I think the sixth gear is a bit long but that's partially my fault for putting bigger tyres on, (3.9% bigger circumference than OE).
Given that legally I can only do over 60 on a motorway, which I rarely use, I often find myself cruising along at 55-60 in fifth, which sort of defeats the point of a six speed box!

That's interesting........I use 6th ALL the time. I spend a lot of time on the A1 and tend to stick to 60mph. Right now, I'm on 16" Claytons.........I didn't get time to fit my Devonports this year.

 

[Andyf]

@mopardave
170 is great, but if I was to buy a new one I would buy a 150, which we are looking at a new 150 at the moment
the 102 in first and second seams to run out of steam pretty quickly, so you tend to nature it till in third and beyond
I think the Original van be it a 102 or 150 is a better drive, maybe wrong
But if you have a 150bhp tuned may be a different ball game with the six speed or DSG
We have a 2017 150 DSG which we’re considering converting into another camper shortly so may get it tuned to see what it’s like

 

[DaveD]

I live near the A1 and it's mostly 60 limits here for all vehicles but my Kombi just feels like it's labouring a bit at 60 in sixth unless I'm going downhill. I changed the Claytons for 235/55/18 as soon as I bought it so can't recall what difference it made. The engine has plenty of power but it feels much happier at 65-70 in sixth.

 

[Andyf]

Possibly more to the gallon as well
The tuned 102 is possibly doing 33 /35 to mpg at 50 but is showing 39 / 42 mpg at 70 75 mph
Bizarre

 

[VinylArchie]

A lot of food for thought here then. Sounds like a 102 might not be a bad buy after all.

 

[Andyf]

Like I said and others may back up a 150 BHP or even a 199 BHP will be better and easier to resale

 

[SouthLondonT6]

Driven both and the 150 is worth the extra. Easier on motorways when loaded

 

[bobby69]

Go for the 150 or 199 if possible
My vans at Vw at the moment having warranty work don’t they have give me a 102 manual it’s gutless and quite boring to drive feels very underpowered and runs out of steam very quickly on the motorway

 

[boxelder]

Had a REVO stage 1 remap on my 102 5 speed today and the difference is above and beyond what I expected. Acceleration is much better (as expected), the van does feel lighter/empty (it's converted though not loaded), but it's the increased range of each gear that's best - so much smoother and more enjoyable to drive. I can now cruise over Whinlaater Pass in 4th like I could in the old 130ps T5. I suspect MPG has improved too (long term av was 38). I don't do a great deal of motorway driving, but did miss the 6th gear of the T5 when motoring through France etc. We'll see on that score, but I can tell already that it labours less in 5th.

 

[different.gear]

Had a REVO stage 1 remap on my 102 5 speed today and the difference is above and beyond what I expected. Acceleration is much better (as expected), the van does feel lighter/empty (it's converted though not loaded), but it's the increased range of each gear that's best - so much smoother and more enjoyable to drive. I can now cruise over Whinlaater Pass in 4th like I could in the old 130ps T5. I suspect MPG has improved too (long term av was 38). I don't do a great deal of motorway driving, but did miss the 6th gear of the T5 when motoring through France etc. We'll see on that score, but I can tell already that it labours less in 5th.

which 102 do you have? I’m guessing it’s the euro 5 engine

 

[boxelder]

which 102 do you have? I’m guessing it’s the euro 5 engine

Yes, EU5, 5 SPD.

 

[boxelder]

OK, done a few hundred miles with the remap now. Fuel efficiency is up around 10% I reckon. Average over 2000 miles had been 38mpg and having done 550 more with it remapped it's up to 38.4mpg. Had a bike on the rear rack for most of those miles too.