Opel Speedster

Opel Speedster: which version to buy — 2.0 MT vs 2.2 MT

The Opel Speedster ran as 1 generation from 2000-01-01 to 2005-12-31 in a Targa body with 2 versions: 2.0 MT and 2.2 MT. Both are Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, Central engine, Distributed injection (multi-point), Manual 5, RWD, fuel 92, tank 36 L, wheels 175/55 R17 and 225/45 R17.

The Opel Speedster ran as 1 generation from 2000-01-01 to 2005-12-31 in a Targa body with 2 versions: 2.0 MT and 2.2 MT. Both are Gasoline, 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, Central engine, Distributed injection (multi-point), Manual 5, RWD, fuel 92, tank 36 L, wheels 175/55 R17 and 225/45 R17. The buying choice is not “which generation” — there is only one — but which of those two engines: the lighter naturally aspirated 2.2 MT, or the heavier turbo 2.0 MT.

Generations

1 generation (2000-01-01–2005-12-31) is the whole catalogue. Body: Targa. Versions in this generation: 2. No restyling is listed as a separate generation. Production start and stop of both 2.0 MT and 2.2 MT match the generation window (2000-01-01 to 2005-12-31), so neither version is a later facelift-only SKU. If you are choosing a Speedster, you are choosing inside this one generation, not between eras.

Engines and specs

Shared hardware that does not decide the purchase: Central placement, Distributed injection (multi-point), Manual 5, RWD, fuel 92. Differences that do: Turbo vs No, 1998 vs 2198 cc, 200 vs 147 hp, 250 vs 203 Nm, torque peak at 1950 vs 4000 rpm, compression 8.8 vs 10, bore × stroke 86 × 86 vs 86 × 94.6.

Specific output from the given numbers: 2.0 MT makes 200 / 1.998 ≈ 100.1 hp per litre. 2.2 MT makes 147 / 2.198 ≈ 66.9 hp per litre. That is about 33.2 hp/L more from the smaller Turbo engine. Torque per litre: 250 / 1.998 ≈ 125.1 Nm/L vs 203 / 2.198 ≈ 92.4 Nm/L.

Performance and economy

0–100: 2.0 MT 4.9 s; 2.2 MT 5.9 s. The turbo car is 1.0 s quicker. Top speed: 243 km/h vs 217 km/h — 26 km/h more for 2.0 MT.

Fuel consumption: 2.0 MT city / highway / combined are not measured. 2.2 MT is 12.3 / 6.4 / 8.5. You cannot claim the turbo uses more or less fuel than the 2.2 MT from this catalogue: only one version has economy figures. Eco class and CO2 for both: not measured.

Power arrives earlier on 2.0 MT (peak torque 1950 rpm vs 4000). Peak power rpm is lower too (5500 vs 5800). Both stay Manual 5 and RWD, so the extra 53 hp (200 − 147) and 47 Nm (250 − 203) are not diluted by a different gearbox or drive type.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance: not measured for both. Tank: 36 L both. Wheels: 175/55 R17 and 225/45 R17 both. Suspension: Independent, spring front and rear both. Brakes: Disc front and rear both. Gross mass: 1150 kg both.

Kerb mass is the split: 2.0 MT 930 kg; 2.2 MT 870 kg. The turbo version is 60 kg heavier. Payload from the given masses: 1150 − 930 = 220 kg on 2.0 MT; 1150 − 870 = 280 kg on 2.2 MT — 60 kg more payload on the naturally aspirated car, equal to the kerb difference.

Mass per horsepower: 930 / 200 = 4.65 kg/hp (2.0 MT) vs 870 / 147 ≈ 5.92 kg/hp (2.2 MT). Despite weighing more, 2.0 MT is the lighter car per horsepower by about 1.27 kg/hp.

Which version to choose

There is no generation ladder to climb. Buy 2.0 MT or 2.2 MT inside 1 generation, Targa, 2000-01-01–2005-12-31.

Choose 2.0 MT if the numbers you care about are speed and specific output. You get 53 more hp, 47 more Nm, 1.0 s less to 100, 26 km/h more top speed, torque at 1950 instead of 4000, and ~100.1 hp/L instead of ~66.9. You pay 60 kg extra kerb (930 vs 870), 220 kg payload instead of 280, compression 8.8 instead of 10, and not measured fuel use. Boost is Turbo. Displacement is smaller (1998 vs 2198 cc) with square 86 × 86 geometry.

Choose 2.2 MT if you want the lightest kerb in the data (870 kg), the only measured economy (12.3 / 6.4 / 8.5), higher compression (10), and No boost on a larger 2198 cc Inline 4. You give up 53 hp, 47 Nm, 1.0 s on 0–100, and 26 km/h of top speed. Power peaks later (5800 vs 5500); torque peaks much later (4000 vs 1950). Stroke is longer (94.6 vs 86) at the same 86 bore.

What the “extra” does not buy, because the data are identical: another generation, another body, another gearbox, another drive, another tank, other wheels, other brakes, other suspension type, other cylinder count, other layout, other injection label, other fuel grade (92 both), other gross mass (1150 both). There are no prices in this catalogue, so “extra money” can only mean extra hp, Nm, and speed versus extra kg and missing mpg on 2.0 MT.

Short rule from the arithmetic: if 4.9 s, 243 km/h, 200 hp, 250 Nm and Turbo matter more than 60 kg and a measured 8.5 combined figure, take 2.0 MT. If 870 kg, No boost, 12.3/6.4/8.5, and 280 kg payload matter more than the 53 hp gap, take 2.2 MT. Reliability and typical faults are not measured in the source data; do not infer them from these specs.