Thing is, I've never been convinced by the "you can run one of these as your only car" argument. Everyone I've ever known that's owned a two-seater roadster has managed only because they have a partner, parent or flatmate with a proper car... or can call me up. "Hi... um... could you do me a favour? Do you still have that old Merc estate?". Or the new variant: "Err... I hear you've got a Peugeot 407 SW on long-term test"... There are masochists who claim that they commute every day in even more uncompromising cars - Caterhams, Lotuses - but well, rather them than me. Tin top or not, the Tigra is a toy, an indulgence - and not, with this diesel engine, a particularly cheap one, either.
The 1.3 CDTi costs from £14,250. That's only £500 more than the 1.4 petrol model, but with the rising costs of diesel versus petrol per litre, you'd still have to do a substantial mileage to reap the cost benefits, an unlikely outcome in what is probably going to be a second car in a household. The cheaper 1.4 does a very creditable 46.3mpg anyway - and crucially, it's a lot more fun to drive.
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| Diesel isn't worth the £500 premium over petrol |
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It's not that there's anything wrong with that 1.3 diesel engine itself - it's particularly excellent in the Panda - but it just isn't right in the Tigra. Of course, in cars of this type, out-and-out speed isn't the most important measure, but a car which takes a full 15 and a half seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour is slow by any standards. It's fine once up and running, with loads of mid-range torque (pulling power) for overtaking and more than enough in reserve for unstressed motorway driving, with a top speed of 104mph, but it is sluggish - and noisy - from standstill, especially when cold-started. Before the turbo kicks in fully, it really has to be worked hard and revved right up - which means that the fuel consumption quickly gets less impressive. At city speeds, it's turgid and uninspiring, and still feels ponderous out in the countryside, the extra weight of the engine giving it a more nose-heavy feel.
With that folding roof mechanism, the Tigra is no lightweight, and the diesel engine just emphasises this. The CDTi loses the 1.4's deftness, its joie de vivre, everything which makes it a sports car despite its own modest performance figures (0-60 in 12 seconds, top speed 112mph). Frankly, it's pointless. If you're going to treat yourself to a toy, a fun car, you may as well choose the more rewarding option.
