Mk5 Golf GT TDI 140 - any good?
Mk5 Golf GT TDI 140 - any good?
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Discussion

bga

Original Poster:

8,134 posts

281 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
It's car change time in the bga household and the usual prevarication has started. This time it's the missus choice while I start the Cerb fund. The OH has her heart set on a Golf and likes the look of the Mk5. While I would love a 5dr GTI, I'm not getting into debt for it and we have up to £11k to spend.

I'm going to be driving the car so I don't want to get a awful one & while I am tempted by all sorts of Scoobery & bargain(yeah right) M5's, it's not washing.

Back on topic, has anyone here driven one of the aforementioned Golf's. To be honest I'm not interested in opinion based on what people have read, but would really appreciate comments from those who have driven them.

Thanks

justlivyalife

4,608 posts

237 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
This is a comment from someone who's read, not driven, I'm afraid.

I have, however briefly, driven a 140PD Leon. Which was plenty quick enough for the size of car etc, but not as economical as I would have liked.

bga

Original Poster:

8,134 posts

281 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
justlivyalife said:
This is a comment from someone who's read, not driven, I'm afraid.

I have, however briefly, driven a 140PD Leon. Which was plenty quick enough for the size of car etc, but not as economical as I would have liked.
Thanks for the honesty, I'll take the Leon as close enough ;-)

To be honest economy isn't top priority, I've driven the 2l FSI & wasn't that impressed so was hoping the oil burner was a bit better. I'll be testing one at the weekend, I just wish I could afford the GTI

Allblackdup

3,312 posts

238 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
I had one for the day previously when my mk4 was in having a service.

Pretty good engine (most of the PD's are really), with a decent amount of torque, but in my opinion i wasn't at all fussed on the interior, especially going from a couple of mk4's.

I wouldn't buy from a dealer, but i'd definately go there with your OH and take a drive. See what you both think and check over the whole car then.


Pooh

3,693 posts

283 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
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I have never driven the Golf but I have the VW 2.0l 130 bhp pd engine in my Mitsubishi Grandis and I am not a big fan of it, it is rough and noisy and delivers the power in one big surge over a very narrow rev range. It is not a patch on the 130 bhp 1.9 multijet Fiat engine in my Grande Punto sporting.

bga

Original Poster:

8,134 posts

281 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated!

King of d sofa

446 posts

222 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
Dear mother has the 140 GT TDI sport thingy, il be honest too, It's rather loud more so then her previous megane GT which we had for a very very short period due to french reasons.

The interior isn't all that, baring in mind ours doesn't have leather because she doesn't like it for rubbish reasons.

It's not as brisk as she expected, (its heavier and less powerfull then the megane) but then she's old and doesn't need a quick car, it would be nice if there were changes over the standard interior but there just isn't except a tiny GT badge on steering wheel but there just isn't which doesn't make it worth the money she spent over a lesser model.

Like someone mentioned not that economical, but if your not bothered then meh what does it matter.

But with that front grill on the GT sport it looks right, we deliberately chose the standard 17" wheels because they look better IMO.


It's not a brilliant car but then its not bad, why not get her a 1.9 save some money, de-badger it and put the difference into cerb fund?


you know it makes sense, she will never know

paul26982

3,850 posts

248 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
thought they were 90-110-130-150 in the pd engines

justlivyalife

4,608 posts

237 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
paul26982 said:
thought they were 90-110-130-150 in the pd engines
1.9 TDi PD: 90, 110, 130, 150, 160 bhp versions

2.0 TDi PD: 140, 170 bhp versions

HTH.

paul26982

3,850 posts

248 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
oh didnt know that thought it was the tfsi

bga

Original Poster:

8,134 posts

281 months

Wednesday 25th June 2008
quotequote all
thanks for the info all, especially Tonker. Plenty of stuff to look for there.

Muzzer

3,814 posts

251 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
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I have one.

Bought it in September last year.

Whilst not on Audi levels of tank-ness it does feel pretty well built - nothing's fallen off or broken since I got it and I haven't been back to the dealer once.

Power wise, it goes reasonably well but it is heavy so getting it going in the mid-range can be a struggle. Low down torque is also reasonably poor - pulling away from a crawl in 2nd at roundabouts can have you rocking backwards and forwards in your seat until the turbo cuts in...

Economy-wise I get 45-50mpg on the motorway and about 35mpg around town. In fact, since I've had it I've not seen less than 35mpg no matter how I drive it.

Get one in a good, metallic colour with as many toys as you can afford and you'll have no trouble shifting it on.

Overall, I like it. It suits my purposes very well, but it's not outstanding. If you don't plan on doing quite a few miles I'd get a petrol given the current fuel situation...

Wombat Rick

14,556 posts

274 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
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Mum's got one of the early 140 GTs with the "normal" nose. She likes it - but not as much as her Mark 4 mainly due to the grey plasticky inside. But she says it goes alright, the economy's pretty good and it seems well put together. It's one of those "OK" cars which doesn't do anything brilliantly but is "OK". I've driven it a few times and the engine is the usual VAG PD horrid laggy lump though which doesn't seem to worry my Mum but as mentioned above it's not a patch on the Fiat/Alfa JTD.

Why not take her to see a 147 Lusso JTDm? That's what my missis went for and loves it. A tad smaller than the Golf if that's important but still a decent size family run around with a lovely interior.
smile

fathomfive

11,236 posts

220 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
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I've had a couple of current model Leon 2.0 Tdis and I agree entirely with the lack of low down grunt - it is very much like an old school turbo engine.......nothing nothing nothing then .....boom....there goes the turbo. Very loud in the Leon under accleration, and well, generally loud. Don't know how that translates into a Mk5 Golf.
The 110bhp diesel I had in a 2001 Multipla was way better than that, and the 150bhp derivative in a Saab 9-3 I had a few weeks back was an excellent engine, and the same one which can be found under the bonnet of the 147Jtdm.

baz1985

3,685 posts

275 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
quotequote all
I had a A3 2.O TDi as a courtesy car a few months back. I didn't like it....too much torque steer- poor traction...it wouldn't go in a straight line under full throttle......and a very narrow powerband with lag to boot....and to top it off it was loud as a Massey Ferguson.


Ranger 6

7,706 posts

279 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
quotequote all
Why not look at one of the MkV clones (Leon/A3) with the 2.0T engine? Both were available with a 'nearly' GTi spec and that engine is very good. Yes economy would suffer over the diesel but I think the overall experience could be better, definitely smoother and quieter.

Here's one off the trader
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

and another if you like the BTCC 'look'
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/SEAT...

Or even what appears to be a reasonable Golf GTi for a fraction over £11k
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VOLK...

Edited by Ranger 6 on Thursday 26th June 10:27

matt21

4,400 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
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justlivyalife said:
paul26982 said:
thought they were 90-110-130-150 in the pd engines
1.9 TDi PD: 90, 110, 130, 150, 160 bhp versions

2.0 TDi PD: 140, 170 bhp versions

HTH.
you missed 1.9 TDi 105ps redface

and the 140 etc refers to ps the german version so bhp is normally a couple less. ie 140ps = 138bhp.

yes i know im pedantic rolleyes

matt21

4,400 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
quotequote all
my mum had a 2004 2.0 GT TDI 140.

she did like it but managed to convince herself she was a hopeless driver. If you were even in a gear too high exiting a junction it would likely cut out and stall. this worried her and she became convinced it was totally her fault (which i suppose it was - but easy to do). Just bare in mind as others said this unit needs revs and has a narrow power delivery. we found it plenty quick enough though once on song.

just as an aside, unless you are doing massive mileage why not get a 1.6 FSI. These are pretty economical, my friend gets 40mpg out of his driven sensibly. They will be far cheaper to buy and petrol is also cheaper to purchase. Also an easier car to drive even if it does lack the TDI "punch".

justlivyalife

4,608 posts

237 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
quotequote all
matt21 said:
justlivyalife said:
paul26982 said:
thought they were 90-110-130-150 in the pd engines
1.9 TDi PD: 90, 110, 130, 150, 160 bhp versions

2.0 TDi PD: 140, 170 bhp versions

HTH.
you missed 1.9 TDi 105ps redface

and the 140 etc refers to ps the german version so bhp is normally a couple less. ie 140ps = 138bhp.

yes i know im pedantic rolleyes
I was trying to be simple. Seeing as 1PS = 0.9863bhpwink.
I didn't think the 105ps version was PD - maybe I'm mistaken, also missed out the 100PS 1.9 TDi, and I used to own one!

justlivyalife

4,608 posts

237 months

Thursday 26th June 2008
quotequote all
bga said:
While I would love a 5dr GTI, I'm not getting into debt for it and we have up to £11k to spend.
As an aside - a brief look on Autotrader it appears you can get a GTi for 10k upwards, so maybe it is possible?