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heebeegeetee
19,531 posts
117 months
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My wife runs a Seat Leon Tdi and she also has a 25 mile each-way commute. Her speed is largely dictated by the traffic, but she consistently averages something like 52-54 mpg. However, I do wonder if a Golf GTi in her hands might average 40 mpg, and with petrol being cheaper, etc etc. I think the OP should look at Mk5 Golf GTis. Diesels aren't that much better at short journeys. Having said that, I do a short commute and sometimes use my old VW Bora diesel auto. If I ignore speed limits it averages 32mpg on the commute, if I stick to speed limits it averages 40. This suggests to me that only a small change in driving style can result in a significant change in mpg... but then maybe the same applies to any car. That's not much help, is it? 
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StevieB
624 posts
17 months
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Mk5 Gtis are very expensive though, for what they are IMHO?? 6-7 grand buys you a 7 year old car.
Hence I recommend the 2.0 Skoda VRS. Thousands cheaper than a Golf of the same year, handling isnt quite as sharp, but everything else is pretty much the same and you get more space (if you need it). 5 grand secures you an early one (06 reg) with reasonable miles. The old Mk1 is even cheaper.
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parapaul
2,701 posts
67 months
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Another vote here not to pick a diesel - if you're buying a new car anyway, definitely get a petrol for that type of driving.
For your 7k budget you could have an 09 plate Focus Zetec 1.8, a 55 plate 118i or an 07 Golf 1.6.
IMO any of those would be a better alternative to the GT TDi.
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r129sl
2,378 posts
72 months
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StevieB said: Strange comments from the previous poster, who recommends his Golf and then says he hates diesels?!!! I guess what I was trying to say was, even though I vastly prefer petrol propulsion, I would still recommend the Golf TDI as a commuter. It's the best vehicle for the task. From what I gather, the real world mpg of the petrol Golfs is about 30 to 35mpg; whereas even if you drive the door handles off a TDI, you will still get 45 out of it.
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StottyZr
4,086 posts
32 months
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rallycross said: 10,000 miles in the Impreza at 25 mpg (if you are lucky) is 400 gallons, £2,400.
10,000 miles in the oil burner at 35 mpg is 285 gallons, around £1850.
35mpg in an oil burner? Do you understand how you'd have to drive a Golf Tdi to get 35mpg? It would be more relevant to quote the Impreza at 10mpg...
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bonesX
Original Poster
430 posts
49 months
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rallycross
4,660 posts
106 months
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StottyZr said: rallycross said: 10,000 miles in the Impreza at 25 mpg (if you are lucky) is 400 gallons, £2,400.
10,000 miles in the oil burner at 35 mpg is 285 gallons, around £1850.
35mpg in an oil burner? Do you understand how you'd have to drive a Golf Tdi to get 35mpg? It would be more relevant to quote the Impreza at 10mpg... I have owned/driven dozens of golf tdi's (100/140/170) and that is what I have learned over the years. Sure enough if you drive everywhere gently they give great mpg, not if you drive a bit quicker. Give me Golf petrol T Fsi and a slightly larger fuel bill with massively nicer driving experience any time over a 4 cylinder diesel.
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StottyZr
4,086 posts
32 months
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rallycross said: StottyZr said: rallycross said: 10,000 miles in the Impreza at 25 mpg (if you are lucky) is 400 gallons, £2,400.
10,000 miles in the oil burner at 35 mpg is 285 gallons, around £1850.
35mpg in an oil burner? Do you understand how you'd have to drive a Golf Tdi to get 35mpg? It would be more relevant to quote the Impreza at 10mpg... I have owned/driven dozens of golf tdi's (100/140/170) and that is what I have learned over the years. Sure enough if you drive everywhere gently they give great mpg, not if you drive a bit quicker. Give me Golf petrol T Fsi and a slightly larger fuel bill with massively nicer driving experience any time over a 4 cylinder diesel. What mpg do you think you would get from an Impreza if your style of driving gets 35mpg from a Golf tdi? As mentioned, it will be roughly 10  I think we would all prefer a Golf petrol turbo over the diesel  but to deny the diesel is much cheaper to fuel is misleading.
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bonesX
Original Poster
430 posts
49 months
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I've not driven/been in a Golf TDi, is it very different from a Passat which I have owned?
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bigdom
417 posts
14 months
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The missus had two MK5 GT TDI's as company cars pre/post facelift, far to heavy on the front end, understeers like a bugger, appalling in snow on the large alloys, with OEM Michelins. Interior OK, not as good as Audi/BM.
Both ran longlife service intervals, dropped turbos at 65/82k. Considering they spent 90% of time on motorway, they only averaged 43 mpg. Now runs petrol, averages 35 mpg, oversteer far better, yet to drive this one in snow.
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bonesX
Original Poster
430 posts
49 months
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bigdom said: The missus had two MK5 GT TDI's as company cars pre/post facelift, far to heavy on the front end, understeers like a bugger, appalling in snow on the large alloys, with OEM Michelins. Interior OK, not as good as Audi/BM.
Both ran longlife service intervals, dropped turbos at 65/82k. Considering they spent 90% of time on motorway, they only averaged 43 mpg. Now runs petrol, averages 35 mpg, oversteer far better, yet to drive this one in snow. That's shocking, but not too different from many other similar stories of big repair bills for the Golfs. I might just stick with what I've got and consider the little bit extra on the longer runs not too bad
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the-photographer
830 posts
45 months
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I would recommend a GTI but you will have to spend around £9,000 to get a "nice" one. Here is one random example I found on the first page http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3823241.htmServicing costs will be the same as the GT-TDI (using VW servicing) insurance will be a little higher and fuel costs are dependant on your driving style. On long runs I get 38mpg versus town, 25mpg. Or you could consider the un-loved 1.4 turbo/supercharger sport model http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3681687.htm
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va1o
11,559 posts
76 months
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the-photographer said: These are starting to represent really good value
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bonesX
Original Poster
430 posts
49 months
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va1o said: the-photographer said: These are starting to represent really good value @ £8K 
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bonesX
Original Poster
430 posts
49 months
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the-photographer said: I would recommend a GTI but you will have to spend around £9,000 to get a "nice" one. Here is one random example I found on the first page http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3823241.htmServicing costs will be the same as the GT-TDI (using VW servicing) insurance will be a little higher and fuel costs are dependant on your driving style. On long runs I get 38mpg versus town, 25mpg. Or you could consider the un-loved 1.4 turbo/supercharger sport model http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3681687.htmHaving to spend £9K on a Golf is something I just couldn't do. The Scooby I have now is probably worth £6K so that means putting another 3 and ending up with quite a lesser performing car, all for the sake of a few extra mpg. The Golf seems a very heavy car too coming in at some 1323Kg's which is as uch if not a little more than a new age Impreza Having looked around at everything else (it took a long time to decide on the Golf as not much else seemed to float the boat) I think I may as well stick to the Impreza
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FoundOnRoadside
436 posts
13 months
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r129sl said: I own a 2008 Mk5 GT TDI 140.
It's a good car. A thousand times better than a Focus or a Megane, especially inside. It really isn't.
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the-photographer
830 posts
45 months
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va1o said: the-photographer said: These are starting to represent really good value Yes and these Euro4 engines don't seem to "blow up" compared to the Euro5 one's in the MK6 and similar.
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the-photographer
830 posts
45 months
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bonesX said: Having to spend £9K on a Golf is something I just couldn't do. The Scooby I have now is probably worth £6K so that means putting another 3 and ending up with quite a lesser performing car, all for the sake of a few extra mpg. The Golf seems a very heavy car too coming in at some 1323Kg's which is as uch if not a little more than a new age Impreza
Having looked around at everything else (it took a long time to decide on the Golf as not much else seemed to float the boat) I think I may as well stick to the Impreza No problem, that's a lot of fuel to recover (even if you were consider a city car) we are always here to help.
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va1o
11,559 posts
76 months
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the-photographer said: Yes and these Euro4 engines don't seem to "blow up" compared to the Euro5 one's in the MK6 and similar. Very true, I still can't get my head around how they managed to make the EU5 160PS and 180PS versions so troublesome compared to the original EU4s.
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Fox-
9,956 posts
115 months
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r129sl said: I own a 2008 Mk5 GT TDI 140.
It's a good car. A thousand times better than a Focus A thousand times? It's not even 2 times better than a Focus.
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