Am I wrong to buy a VAG diesel?

[RammyMP]

I've recently changed jobs and I've lost my fuel card so I now have to pay for my own fuel. I was considering swapping my petrol A5 for a year old diesel A4 or A5. Is it a bad move buying now before we know what the modifications are going to be for the 2.0 tdi engines?

I'm thinking I may get a good deal but will I be getting into bother with recalls etc?

I thought about getting a 320d but I hated the last one I had.

[Evanivitch]

Fix already announced.

http://www.autoblog.com/2015/11/25/vw-diesel-fixes...

[RammyMP]

But what is the effect of the fix? Loss of power? Worse economy? No one knows yet.

[MrTickle]

Does it even need fixing?

I bought one. If I don't like the sound of the fix then I just won't get it done.

The 'problem' has zero effect on normal driving, they are pretty economical units anyway - the only reason for a 'fix' is to try and make them closer to the 'official' specifications - but who really cares?

[BoRED S2upid]

MrTickle said:

Does it even need fixing?

I bought one. If I don't like the sound of the fix then I just won't get it done.

The 'problem' has zero effect on normal driving, they are pretty economical units anyway - the only reason for a 'fix' is to try and make them closer to the 'official' specifications - but who really cares?

Exactly our SEAT apparently needs the fix it runs fine gives very good MPG and recently passed its first MOT so there isn't much wrong with it.

[Pablo16v]

What's your annual mileage? If it isn't too high you might be better off holding on to the A5.

[RammyMP]

Pablo16v said:

What's your annual mileage? If it isn't too high you might be better off holding on to the A5.

That's what I'm thinking to be honest. Just got a run to the Alps at Easter so would benefit from going in a diesel but hey ho.

Cheers.

[RammyMP]

MrTickle said:

Does it even need fixing?

I bought one. If I don't like the sound of the fix then I just won't get it done.

The 'problem' has zero effect on normal driving, they are pretty economical units anyway - the only reason for a 'fix' is to try and make them closer to the 'official' specifications - but who really cares?

It will be interesting to see what the fix is and would make you wonder that if it is a 'fix' why was it not applied to the software in the first place?

[Dr G]

RammyMP said:

But what is the effect of the fix? Loss of power? Worse economy? No one knows yet.

Article linked above:

"The automaker's goal is for these repairs is to meet emissions standards and have no detrimental effects on fuel economy or performance. However, VW admits that it hasn't yet tested the fixes on every model variant to confirm that desire."

As they'll be tested in the same way they were when new I imagine that 'officially' at least this will be the case. The quoted economy figures will still be 'for comparative purposes only' so a real world impact will be hard to gauge. The manufacturers get better at optimising emissions every year so I'd be surprised if there was any drastic change.

Not totally definitive of course but VAG's more recent turbocharged engines generally produce a bit more than quoted power anyway:

[Glosphil]

Dr G said:

Article linked above:

"The automaker's goal is for these repairs is to meet emissions standards and have no detrimental effects on fuel economy or performance. However, VW admits that it hasn't yet tested the fixes on every model variant to confirm that desire."

As they'll be tested in the same way they were when new I imagine that 'officially' at least this will be the case. The quoted economy figures will still be 'for comparative purposes only' so a real world impact will be hard to gauge. The manufacturers get better at optimising emissions every year so I'd be surprised if there was any drastic change.

Not totally definitive of course but VAG's more recent turbocharged engines generally produce a bit more than quoted power anyway:

A 2.0TDi CR 143ps that in the Revo dyno test is claimed to produce around 155-160ps. Hmmm. Of course Revo don't actually measure ps but measure torque at the wheels, assume some loss between engine and wheels and then calculate a ps figure. So where does the assumed loss figure come from? Doubt it is supplied by VAG. I have never seen a dyno graph of a standard VAG engine that doesn't show an adjusted power figure above that claimed by VAG - assumed losses higher than actual?

[liner33]

Glosphil said:

A 2.0TDi CR 143ps that in the Revo dyno test is claimed to produce around 155-160ps. Hmmm. Of course Revo don't actually measure ps but measure torque at the wheels, assume some loss between engine and wheels and then calculate a ps figure. So where does the assumed loss figure come from? Doubt it is supplied by VAG. I have never seen a dyno graph of a standard VAG engine that doesn't show an adjusted power figure above that claimed by VAG - assumed losses higher than actual?

Depends on the dyno often the assumed loss is based on the type of configuration ie 4wd, 2wd, turbo'ed and is preset , some dynos calculate the losses on the run down

I've dyno'ed most of my cars some give higher than expected and some lower, have to say the VAG stuff has always given higher and that seems to be a common theme chatting to dyno operators. My 170hp diesels both PD and CR both read almost 200hp (198hp and 200hp)

[helix402]

The fix will not affect the way your potential car drives. If you want a VAG diesel, buy one.

[RammyMP]

helix402 said:

The fix will not affect the way your potential car drives. If you want a VAG diesel, buy one.

Cheers, I probably will.

[ilovecarz]

I bought a GTD Golf just before the story broke.

My understanding is It's about the emissions not the engine. The only implication is that it might go up a tax banding as it MAY have higher emissions than VW said, it MAY cost more each year but VW have said they will cover the extra costs, if incurred.

I am not bothered one bit.

Edited by ilovecarz on Sunday 6th December 12:40