Golf GTI or GT TDI 170?

[steil]

I'm on the verge of buying either of these - given that some of you are driving these I'd appreciate opinions either way.

I'm keen on the GTI as it's the car I'd much rather have, however I'm a skinflint hence the diesel appears attractive in terms of consumption & probably residual values.

I'm likely to go for the DSG version, then again I've just been reading about REVO type mods & DSG doesn't sound the best option...

thanks,

[Dr G]

2.0 TFSI will average out at very low 30s to the gallon under relatively normal driving.

I'd say that's pretty good for the performance on offer.

[somouk]

My GTI does 31mpg average round town and upto 40 ona run. I had similar outof my old 115 BHP bora TDI and it was no where near as nippy.

My GTI is for sale aswell if you rinterested!

Mart

[steil]

Hmm, I used to have a TDI Bora too - was about 40mpg.

I'm planning to buy new hence looking at 'whole life costs' GTI vs. TDI.

cheers,

[Welshbeef]

somouk said:

My GTI does 31mpg average round town and upto 40 ona run. I had similar outof my old 115 BHP bora TDI and it was no where near as nippy.

My GTI is for sale aswell if you rinterested!

Mart

Really! When I ran a Golf GT TDI 115 the ave was over 50mpg and a best (brim to brim) of 74mpg over 200 miles & no I dont hang about & I always use the cheapest fuel available always use non PD engine oil & in my 60-70k ownership it had no problems & neither does the new owner and he still uses non PD oil & getssimilar MPG to what I achieved.

[tybalt]

Welshbeef said:

Really! When I ran a Golf GT TDI 115 the ave was over 50mpg and a best (brim to brim) of 74mpg over 200 miles & no I dont hang about & I always use the cheapest fuel available always use non PD engine oil & in my 60-70k ownership it had no problems & neither does the new owner and he still uses non PD oil & getssimilar MPG to what I achieved.

What's wrong with using the correct spec of oil?

I can believe that you got away with it, but that doesn't mean its a good idea. You don't have to buy oil from the dealer to get the right spec. Last oil I bought for my Seat (PD 130) was reasonably cheap, and meets the VW spec thing 50something or other. I don't see the point in chancing it.

[Welshbeef]

tybalt said:

Welshbeef said:

Really! When I ran a Golf GT TDI 115 the ave was over 50mpg and a best (brim to brim) of 74mpg over 200 miles & no I dont hang about & I always use the cheapest fuel available always use non PD engine oil & in my 60-70k ownership it had no problems & neither does the new owner and he still uses non PD oil & getssimilar MPG to what I achieved.

What's wrong with using the correct spec of oil?

I can believe that you got away with it, but that doesn't mean its a good idea. You don't have to buy oil from the dealer to get the right spec. Last oil I bought for my Seat (PD 130) was reasonably cheap, and meets the VW spec thing 50something or other. I don't see the point in chancing it.

Well I used to use fully synthetic Mobil 1 oil in it and it cost me £12/ltr (very special offer) while the PD stuff would have been vastly more expensive - anyway at the end of the day it doesnt matter provided the viscosity you use is the correct range.

[Welshbeef]

tybalt said:

Welshbeef said:

Really! When I ran a Golf GT TDI 115 the ave was over 50mpg and a best (brim to brim) of 74mpg over 200 miles & no I dont hang about & I always use the cheapest fuel available always use non PD engine oil & in my 60-70k ownership it had no problems & neither does the new owner and he still uses non PD oil & getssimilar MPG to what I achieved.

What's wrong with using the correct spec of oil?

I can believe that you got away with it, but that doesn't mean its a good idea. You don't have to buy oil from the dealer to get the right spec. Last oil I bought for my Seat (PD 130) was reasonably cheap, and meets the VW spec thing 50something or other. I don't see the point in chancing it.

Also do you really know why they state you must use special PD oil??? If you look at the specs of the oils there is hardly any difference.

[bennno]

steil said:

I'm on the verge of buying either of these - given that some of you are driving these I'd appreciate opinions either way.

I'm keen on the GTI as it's the car I'd much rather have, however I'm a skinflint hence the diesel appears attractive in terms of consumption & probably residual values.

I'm likely to go for the DSG version, then again I've just been reading about REVO type mods & DSG doesn't sound the best option...

thanks,

I got lent a gt tdi 170 last weekend and it was very quick, but unless you specify how many miles a year you do then its not really possible to comment which is best for you.

Residually I would expect them to be similar as the GTI is the car which many have always aspired to own.

Personally I would buy a <2yr old, <25k miles GTI in white, black or red for <£16.5k.

Bennno

[Welshbeef]

bennno said:

steil said:

I'm on the verge of buying either of these - given that some of you are driving these I'd appreciate opinions either way.

I'm keen on the GTI as it's the car I'd much rather have, however I'm a skinflint hence the diesel appears attractive in terms of consumption & probably residual values.

I'm likely to go for the DSG version, then again I've just been reading about REVO type mods & DSG doesn't sound the best option...

thanks,

I got lent a gt tdi 170 last weekend and it was very quick, but unless you specify how many miles a year you do then its not really possible to comment which is best for you.

Residually I would expect them to be similar as the GTI is the car which many have always aspired to own.

Personally I would buy a <2yr old, <25k miles GTI in white, black or red for <£16.5k.

Bennno

isnt the difference about £600-800 p.a. on 10k on fuel alone.

[bennno]

Welshbeef said:

bennno said:

steil said:

I'm on the verge of buying either of these - given that some of you are driving these I'd appreciate opinions either way.

I'm keen on the GTI as it's the car I'd much rather have, however I'm a skinflint hence the diesel appears attractive in terms of consumption & probably residual values.

I'm likely to go for the DSG version, then again I've just been reading about REVO type mods & DSG doesn't sound the best option...

thanks,

I got lent a gt tdi 170 last weekend and it was very quick, but unless you specify how many miles a year you do then its not really possible to comment which is best for you.

Residually I would expect them to be similar as the GTI is the car which many have always aspired to own.

Personally I would buy a <2yr old, <25k miles GTI in white, black or red for <£16.5k.

Bennno

isnt the difference about £600-800 p.a. on 10k on fuel alone.

thats a common misconception, the gti will probably do 30mpg and the gt tdi 40 mpg if driven similarily

that equates to 88 gallons or £400 a year more, less £45 or so for the more expensive diesel cost

therefore if you are doing 15k or more the derv makes sense if you are happy to sacrifice a bit of performance, or the gti is faster for not a lot more money

besides if economy is the driving factor we recently bought a 56 plate altea sport tdi for £10k

Bennno

[Welshbeef]

[quote=bennno
isnt the difference about £600-800 p.a. on 10k on fuel alone.
[/quote]

thats a common misconception, the gti will probably do 30mpg and the gt tdi 40 mpg if driven similarily

that equates to 88 gallons or £400 a year more, less £45 or so for the more expensive diesel cost

therefore if you are doing 15k or more the derv makes sense if you are happy to sacrifice a bit of performance, or the gti is faster for not a lot more money

besides if economy is the driving factor we recently bought a 56 plate altea sport tdi for £10k

Bennno
[/quote]

Your also forgetting the additional ins cost of the GTi & higher tyre cost (although not an annual cost i'd imagine) & VED savings the TDI makes over the GTi.

If your after a bargin TDI look at the old old shape Saab 93 1998 - 2001 the 2.2TID these are 120bhp & 45mpg and cost £3k fully loaded with leather!!!

[bennno]

I dont doublt the 93 is a bargain, but put simply the Altea is identical to a golf (in chassis and engine terms) for much less money....

bennno

[Welshbeef]

bennno said:

I dont doublt the 93 is a bargain, but put simply the Altea is identical to a golf (in chassis and engine terms) for much less money....

bennno

Isnt it the same as the Golf Plus?

Having been in the Polo GT TDI 130, Seat Ibiza FR 130 & Skoda Fabia vRS 130 there are differences in the cabin appearance and the extras you get for opting for the VW over the others. Personally I dont like the WHite dials of the Seats & with the Skoda it lacks climate control & multichanger as std - just little things but things yoyu would miss

[somouk]

There are definately differences in spec between the VAG vehicles.

You do often find that going for a seat instead of a VW will get you extra bang ofr your buck. I my case I also found it got me a cheapy cheapy dash and some horrible red lighting.

Mart

[SMB]

Welshbeef said:

[Your also forgetting the additional ins cost of the GTi & higher tyre cost (although not an annual cost i'd imagine) & VED savings the TDI makes over the GTi.

If your after a bargin TDI look at the old old shape Saab 93 1998 - 2001 the 2.2TID these are 120bhp & 45mpg and cost £3k fully loaded with leather!!!

Had my gti over 2 yrs and 17K miles now, longer term average 35mpg. chose 17" wheels if you want cheaper tyres.
I have also known a a number of TDI owners get through front tyres in 10K miles, so i doubt tyre costs will be lower.

[mk1fan]

Realistically unless you're doing over 15k miles a year the costs really aren't that different between petrol and diesel.

During a recent trip to Wales my '99 Bora 2.0 petrol used only one and three quater gallons more of fuel than my friend in his '07 170 DSG Passat Est diesel. That was over nearly 800miles.

Servicing is more in a diesel. Although there are VED savings.

As I only do 5k a year its cheaper for me to have a Petrol. As my mate does 30-40k a Diesel is cheaper.

[David911RSR]

If you are buying new, you should be asking for 7% + discount on a 170TDi and get it. The dealers I spoke to offered less on the GTi

[atom111]

mk1fan said:

Realistically unless you're doing over 15k miles a year the costs really aren't that different between petrol and diesel.

During a recent trip to Wales my '99 Bora 2.0 petrol used only one and three quater gallons more of fuel than my friend in his '07 170 DSG Passat Est diesel. That was over nearly 800miles.

Servicing is more in a diesel. Although there are VED savings.

As I only do 5k a year its cheaper for me to have a Petrol. As my mate does 30-40k a Diesel is cheaper.

In my defense I did have a weight disadvantage with the the Mr S and his clunker.

Also with more spirited driving the 170 diesel does drink fuel it looses all it's economies more so than the 140 I had, if you drive sensibly it will do 53mpg on a low speed run like M25 and M3 in the am and pm (think 56mph stuff or less), my average so far is 44.7mpg over 2450 miles but the 170 is a good engine probably alot of fun in the lighter Golf.

[baz1985]

IMO GTI- It's brilliant. Pretty certain the suspension setup is superior on the GTi... and it's lighter too I guess. The VAG 2.0TDi unit and all of its derivatives are very unrefined imo- I wouldn't be paid to drive a car equipped with that engine.