Looking for a bit of guidance, please. I’ve owned and loved a '54 plate NB for nine years but now have the itch to ‘upgrade’ to something a bit more modern and with better spec. My targeted area of searching is an NC, ideally a mark 3.5. I suppose the key first question is do I go for a 1.8i SE or a 2.0i sport?? Is any one better than the other on overall reliability? I definitely want an electric folding roof!
I would welcome any comments/thoughts
Thank you
Robin
I would definitely go for a 2 litre, a PRHT would also be on my list of must haves. If budget allows go for the Sport Tech or a limited edition like the Kuro or Sport Black. They have most standard of equipment you would probably want including Bilstein suspension.
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I’d try to try both. I’ve only had the 1.8, but it is particularly sweet and smooth and responsive between 2.5 and 4.5k revs which is where I seem to spend most of my time.
I’m in west Cornwall where it is mostly tight and twisty. Perhaps a more open county wouldn’t suite it so well. …
Would be interested to hear what makes you firmly in favour of the 2 litre engine? Is there an appreciable power difference or is more down to reliability?
Well someone will correct me if I’m wrong, the 1.8 engine used in the NC2 is the original engine as used in the NC1 I’ve read. The 2 litre NC2 were upgraded, see below. Also they are easier to sell on, more desirable, some may disagree and say nowt wrong with a 1.8, no there isn’t, just an opinion if I were looking for one.
I’d go on other stuff like spec or condition rather than whether 1.8 or 2.0 if push came to shove. One thing I hate about my 1.8 SE is the silly blanking plates where fog lights should be. Chaps, I’m obviously in the underclass here…
The upgrade to forged crank etc was apparently more about smoothing the engine rather than needing to beef up what was already a strong engine…… but we do like forged stuff don’t we:)
Thanks for your thoughts so far. Just to mention that I’m not typically doing fast main road or motorway driving as my MX is for pleasure trips in the countryside etc. Found a different, fairly recent thread on the 1.8 or 2.0 engine debate and one poster made the following comment, which I fully endorse ‘If you are only interested in nice open-top summer (and winter!) driving, then a 1.8 will be more than fine. If you want to use the performance and handling, then you should consider the 2.0’
Not sure the 2.0 has better handling? Maybe the Bilsteins? But if you want the last thing in performance then the 2.0 will be the choice obviously. Stating the obvious?
Possibly a lack of an LSD on most, or even all, 1.8 NCs? I’m not expert on which ones did or didn’t get the LSD, so I’m sure someone else can confirm the detail.
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No 1.8 NC came with an LSD.
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After extensive online searching and a handful of viewings, I have acquired a superb '62 plate 1.8i SE (with the heated seats and PRHT, of course!) and got a very good trade-in price for my much-loved NB - with only 40k on the clock. I quickly decided there was no way I could justify a 2.0 with LSD and all that. The 1.8i (which is what I have been used to), will be perfect for our needs!
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