What pd130 car to go for?

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rhysallison

Original Poster:

6 posts

109 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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The initial message was deleted from this topic on 27 February 2015 at 07:26

rhysallison

Original Poster:

6 posts

109 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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Currently driving a 1.4 8v S reg Seat Arosa which is stupidly slow, now with 2years no claims and doing a lot more miles I've decided to go diesel! I know what engine I'm wanting, a vag 1.9 TDI PD130 engine bulletproof reliable and economical it's just deciding what car to go for. I'm 20 in April with no children so I'm not interested in a saloon car like the bora or a4. I'm torn between the Ibiza, a3 or fabia. I've heard that seats interior is a bit tacky and the plastics are always breaking! Just wondering which car handles the best and which one is more comfortable to drive. Would be getting it remapped to improve mpg and make over taking safer. I'm just interested in people's recommendations and advise. Got about £3000 to spend. I know the engines are the same throughout the models but are any particular more reliable? I know the engines are pretty much all the same it's just the advantages and disadvantages of the cars them selves ie interior, handling, electrics, exterior etc Anyone who's owned one or two opinions would be appreciated
Thanks

Edited by rhysallison on Thursday 26th February 22:08

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

129 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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all those cars are the same underneath, all will be nearly 10 years old. choose which one you like the best on looks.

the fabia vrs will feel faster and the golf with command a premium.

seat ibizas are pretty popular.

why are you bothering with diesel? they are dull to drive.

rhysallison

Original Poster:

6 posts

109 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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Persuaded towards the Ibiza as the newer cars have the pd130 think it runs up to 2008 where the a3 only goes up to 2003 also heard the a3 costs a fair bit more to service after all it is an Audi! Also the Ibiza is a lot cheaper to insure than the rest going diesel because I do 45+ miles everyday 5 days a week. Not a fan of golfs think they're too common and not good looking cars.

bearman68

4,642 posts

131 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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I repair a lot of Audi's. It seems to me that the more complex the car, the more likely it is to go wrong, and the harder it is to fix.
Conversely, the more complex it is the more desirable it is to.

Personally I'd go for the Audi, with the understanding I'd have to spend a few quid on it.

They do map nicely though.


Fastdruid

8,623 posts

151 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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Only 12k a year?

Hardly worth a diesel especially as they will cost far more to buy and at 10years old be pretty tired generally.

I wouldn't bother even considering looking at a diesel unless I was doing 15k+ and would only consider one essential when at 20k+.

rhysallison

Original Poster:

6 posts

109 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
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I average about 45 miles a day just going to uni and back but I'm a delivery driver 3 days a week and travel around a bit also, some months I can do almost 1800 miles a month. Only reason for going diesel is because the tdi engines are reasonably easy to tune and also get a lot better mpg than a standard petrol. Definitely sure I want a pd130 just unsure of what car to get Thanks

Edited by rhysallison on Thursday 26th February 21:35

caelite

4,273 posts

111 months

Friday 27th February 2015
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I love my Fabia VRS. Torque for days. In 2nd/3rd at 20-30mph you can spin the front wheels at 2.5k RPM if you boot it. Pulls like a truck up until 70mphish, keeps going up to about 110 before it runs out of steam (on paper it will do 130 but it noticably lacks punch after 110). Handling has some quirky characteristics. Heavy ass van engine in a small chassis makes it rather front heavy so it understeers under power and i've actually had it oversteer under braking. 8.6second 0-60 ive measured from stock so the paper figure if 9seconds is rather conservative. Gets 40mpg when driven hard, 50mpg under normal conditions, Ive seen 62 out of it well trying.

PD130 definetly feels agricultural. It shudders and shakes when in slow traffic and definetly isnt a fan of revving but the torque i still believe makes it an interesting warm hatch.

rallycross

12,744 posts

236 months

Friday 27th February 2015
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Having driven all the cars on your list I'd recommend you take a look at a few polo 1.9 TDi, they perform really well with this engine, and they handle better than most, far more fun to drive than a Golf (although nothing special). If you get a top spec model with this engine it does not feel like a small car and is great on the motorway.

If insurance is a problem you might have to go for the Tdi100 5 speed but ideally you want the GTDi130 6 speed.

The sports seats are really comfy even on long trips, the economy should average close to 50.

If you can get one with a nice spec they are a nice place to sit (last one we had came with winter pack = heated seats is a rare but nice option, sunroof, 6 disk CD, 5 spoke 15" alloys etc).

GT Tdi version
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-05-REG-VOLKSWAGEN-P...

or Sport 100 Tdi

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-Volkswagen-Polo-1-9...

BGarside

1,564 posts

136 months

Friday 27th February 2015
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Also the Seat Leon Mark 1 to choose from. I had a mapped FR TDI (with the 150hp PD engine) until recently. Handled well but ride quality a bit lacking so if I was buying another I'd go for the 130hp SE model.

Remapping makes a big difference to performance. I had a modest 175hp/300lb ft. map on my Leon and it was much quicker. The limiting factor is standard clutch doesn't like more than 300lb ft, but with the 130hp engine I think that won'r be an issue.

Seat Ibiza is lighter (~1190kg) than the Fabia and Polo GT (1300kg+), so should be a bit quicker and also looks sportier, but maybe a little less refined.

Polo GT (TDI 130) is very subtle to look at and a nice Q-car, but a rare model and handling is a bit soft and rolly. Not driven a Fabia but they get good reviews.

I'd guess all 3 probably would benefit from suspension upgrades, but an uprated rear anti-roll bar is a cheap way to cut the roll and improve turn-in.

What about the Ibiza Cupra TDI with 160hp? Then again, it's probably cheaper to buy a 130 and remap it.

Check for full service history, oil change intervals and that the correct (PD-specific) grade of oil has been used as this is very important. Bayonet unions on pressure pipes to intercooler are known to wear and leak, inlet manifolds can clog up with soot from the EGR valve, but the EGR flow can be turned down using VCDS (diagnostic software) or else the pipe from the exhaust manifold can be blanked off.


missing the VR6

2,320 posts

188 months

Friday 27th February 2015
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For actual fun the only option is a Fabia VRS. I've owned an 8L A3 and while a competent car (arguably the best car I've ever owned) pretty uninspiring to drive. I've spent a small amount of time behind the wheel of a 110ps Ibiza and it was OK. Fabia VRS is genuine fun and pretty rapid once you're into 3rd and above.

RS Grant

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 27th February 2015
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My ex had a 100bhp Ibiza and it was impressively punchy compared to what I was expecting it to be like, then she replaced it with a 130bhp Ibiza and that was a good laugh... so much so that I was very tempted to buy a 160 Cupra as a daily driver. The lack of interior quality put me off, even though the Cupra had low miles ~30k from memory, there were some interior rattles appearing which would have driven me mad over time.

Darkside Developments are producing some very punchy VAG TDi powered cars, which look like they'd be good fun to hang onto!! smile


Cheers,
Grant

rhysallison

Original Poster:

6 posts

109 months

Friday 27th February 2015
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Thanks for all your replies they've been very helpful actually! hadn't considered the polo gt I do prefer the models without the circle headlights if I'm honest! Not really heard bad things about the Fabia VRS either had a look on briskoda and theyre nice looking with some subtle modifications. Like the look of the Leons as well but can imagine a ibiza is more fun to drive! An A3 will cost to much to service and insure which has put me off them.

Think I've narrowed it down to an ibiza, fabia, polo and maybe a leon.

Wouldn't want to go over the top with modifying would definitely get a remap heard jabba and revo are the boys for that. Coilovers to give a better stance and handling, front mount intercooler, upgraded exhaust without a cat, EGR and DPF removal, thoughts on this? Maybe pd160 intake and an updated turbo.

Though being a student it's not all going to happen straight away looking forward to get another project going though.

Any more reviews, comments, recommendations would be much appreciated

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

129 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
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None of the pd130 cars have DPFs they didn't come in till the cr engines later on.


I've had a quick look on autotrader and £3k gets you a polo gt tdi in good condition with less than 100k but they are all the round double headlight type.

r http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

there's a few seat ivizas which the cabin seems nicer than the polo, all fr models
www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/20141008804...

There's only 1 fabia VRS with less than 100k on it for less than 3k and its ropey.


Golf mk4s are coming down in price you can get a decent one good spec ( leather recaros etc ) for around £3k

I couldn't find any Leons with less than 100k on


Personally I wouldn't buy a car with more than 100k on I don't know why as its less than 10k a year it's just a mile stone I like to take a car over.

I had a Bora 130 pd from 60k to 140k and it never broke down. But it did suffer lazy starter motor ( where you have to crank it a few times) but it was still on its original clutch turbo and injectors. When I sold it it was about to need new suspension components and the clutch had just started to slip.


There's lots of forums for each model so you can pick up parts cheaper, personally I would just map it and maybe some stiffer anti roll bars. Lots of people for Audi TT ones to golfs and Leons. Ide also add some Sound proofing in the doors

All in all its a great engine which was nice too own but I wouldn't say it was exciting to drive

Edited by Nickbrapp on Saturday 28th February 09:42