RE: The Long Goodbye: VW Golf GTD
Discussion
f1nn said:
The GTD that I had would return mid to high 50’s on a long slog, and around 48-49mpg on average.
This was with a Superchips Bluefin, which if you believe their claims would have been somewhere in the region of 210-215bhp.
Real world brisk.
If I go back to a Mk7, which I might as I really rate them, I would go with a GTI though, mainly due to the lack of the relative lack of refinement with the derv lump.
The mk7.5 is apparently even better on fuel thanks to the 7spd dsg I’m changing mine in 18 month time (end of pcp) don’t know what to replace with as yet This was with a Superchips Bluefin, which if you believe their claims would have been somewhere in the region of 210-215bhp.
Real world brisk.
If I go back to a Mk7, which I might as I really rate them, I would go with a GTI though, mainly due to the lack of the relative lack of refinement with the derv lump.
I’m almost 2 years in to my time with a GTD.
The doubters will say it’s just a diesel Golf but I’ve grown to love this car.
It’s my company car, go on holiday car, drive to the shops car, take onto building sites car, take my daughters horse riding with all their kit car, carry 3 teenage kids car, park in the street car and holiday road trip car.
It’s involving enough to drive when the mood takes me, yet comfortable on my regular M4 schleps, compact enough to drive in London and park in the street, smart enough to use for work without being overt flashy, does 48mpg regardless of how I drive it but never feels wanting on motorways .
In the time I’ve had it it’s clocked up 52000 miles and it’s never been less than brilliant in its duality.
I’m due a new car next year and I’m struggling to think what will replace it.
The doubters will say it’s just a diesel Golf but I’ve grown to love this car.
It’s my company car, go on holiday car, drive to the shops car, take onto building sites car, take my daughters horse riding with all their kit car, carry 3 teenage kids car, park in the street car and holiday road trip car.
It’s involving enough to drive when the mood takes me, yet comfortable on my regular M4 schleps, compact enough to drive in London and park in the street, smart enough to use for work without being overt flashy, does 48mpg regardless of how I drive it but never feels wanting on motorways .
In the time I’ve had it it’s clocked up 52000 miles and it’s never been less than brilliant in its duality.
I’m due a new car next year and I’m struggling to think what will replace it.
Granted I've never driven one but these seem over rated: a 4 cyl diesel in a body kit. The mpg people get doesn't sound too great either and knowing you've bought into the the dieselgate company can't feel too good (though owners don't seem to care much)
I can't imagine resale values will continue to be great for long, but perhaps I just don't get the appeal. For me, my Volvo v60 D5 (230hp with their own conservative map) is brisk, sounds good with 5 cylinders but doesn't need to shout about it with body kits or 'GT' badges. 53.1mpg long term average of mixed driving though I certainly won't be replacing with another diesel.
Feels like we're in no mans land at the minute, I'm holding out for an improvement in battery tech and infrastructure to make them viable for rural folk like me- don't really want to be an early adopter with something this expensive TBH.
I can't imagine resale values will continue to be great for long, but perhaps I just don't get the appeal. For me, my Volvo v60 D5 (230hp with their own conservative map) is brisk, sounds good with 5 cylinders but doesn't need to shout about it with body kits or 'GT' badges. 53.1mpg long term average of mixed driving though I certainly won't be replacing with another diesel.
Feels like we're in no mans land at the minute, I'm holding out for an improvement in battery tech and infrastructure to make them viable for rural folk like me- don't really want to be an early adopter with something this expensive TBH.
JamesRR said:
This is a frame of mind I really don’t understand. Would you not rather take pride in your car, and drive a clean, well presented car around? Why not get a 335d and enjoy keeping it good, than get a Golf and, in your own words, neglect it?
I do understand that it’s different with kids, and I accept that it’s much easier for me as a single man with no kids to clean and polish the car, but surely you’d get some pleasure from having a smart, tidy motor to drive about in?
Nah, not really. Used to be pretty fastidious about washing and polishing the cars. Two kids, dog, horses, back road commutes etc and a diminished amount of spare time saw to that. Tend to keep the Mrs' Disco cleaner than mine, it'll get properly washed at least twice a year but the Golf is very much bracketed as a transportation tool. Flip side is that I wouldn't be able to fathom someone who spend an hour every weekend washing and polishing their car instead of spending time with their kids? Once the kids are up a bit it would be nice to see myself taking pride in nice cars again, but for now that window has gone. I do understand that it’s different with kids, and I accept that it’s much easier for me as a single man with no kids to clean and polish the car, but surely you’d get some pleasure from having a smart, tidy motor to drive about in?
I like the look of the GTD and one would suit my driving. But I have an Audi A3 2.0TDI Quattro it’s old and done a few miles but is still in good condition. Is a GTD worth another £10-£15k. Just for me to pile miles on and lose money?
Surely they can’t drive that differently? A3 is boring but for what I use it for can’t complain much.
Surely they can’t drive that differently? A3 is boring but for what I use it for can’t complain much.
keo said:
I like the look of the GTD and one would suit my driving. But I have an Audi A3 2.0TDI Quattro it’s old and done a few miles but is still in good condition. Is a GTD worth another £10-£15k. Just for me to pile miles on and lose money?
Surely they can’t drive that differently? A3 is boring but for what I use it for can’t complain much.
I test drove an a3 tdi 170 before I bought my old mk6 GTD and the GTD drives so much better. I genuinely thought the a3 was broken it was that numb and disconnected. The Golf felt much more lively and responsive. I assume the throttle sensitivity etc were different on the golf. I also found the interior to be a nicer place (looked more modern) and the seats better.Surely they can’t drive that differently? A3 is boring but for what I use it for can’t complain much.
If I ever buy another diesel (about 50/50 as I do cover a lot of miles) it won't be a 4 pot. Having owned an XF with the 276bhp 3.0 V6 twin turbo, the experience is utterly different. That thing felt more like a jet turbine than a diesel and with very little rattle at any revs. I'd actually consider it as an alternative to a petrol car for reasons other than economy.
Edited by macky17 on Tuesday 30th October 15:37
Car-Matt said:
SidewaysSi said:
Pretty much every post is about saving money. Says it all.
A car you only bought if you need to save a few quid.
A quote only from someone who hasn't had to drive a lot for workA car you only bought if you need to save a few quid.
How about if the owner want to save money on his daily for his track car?
macky17 said:
I think Matt meant that the fact everyone is focusing on economy...
And that's the thing, mostly people aren't.It's an economical car that also looks good, is quick enough to be interesting, handles reasonably well, holds it's value well, has a high standard equipment level (spec a 3 series to match, be sitting down when you do), isn't stupid on BIK tax, is comfortable over long journeys, can cope with kids+dog, and so on.
The curse is really that it's a very convincing allrounder, which always plays poorly round here.
There are faster cars, better handling, more economical ones. This one is a pretty decent blend of all.
shtu said:
macky17 said:
I think Matt meant that the fact everyone is focusing on economy...
And that's the thing, mostly people aren't.It's an economical car that also looks good, is quick enough to be interesting, handles reasonably well, holds it's value well, has a high standard equipment level (spec a 3 series to match, be sitting down when you do), isn't stupid on BIK tax, is comfortable over long journeys, can cope with kids+dog, and so on.
The curse is really that it's a very convincing allrounder, which always plays poorly round here.
There are faster cars, better handling, more economical ones. This one is a pretty decent blend of all.
macky17 said:
I agree with you but a GTI does all of that and is much more engaging. Economy is the only possible reason you’d buy a GTD instead, surely?
Ahh, gotcha.I suppose.it's "A GTI would be fine, but I do 30k miles a year for work, and would get reamed on BIK tax and fuel."
Relative economy?
edit - I suppose you could argue that some people may prefer the way the GTD drives - an auto box and a lot of midrange shove is pretty compelling. Not everyone commutes via the Stelvio pass.
Edited by shtu on Tuesday 30th October 18:50
I’ve just bought a used one, an estate. It was between that and a Golf R estate or a Leon estate. Couldn’t find any Leons with a decent spec, same for R estates, at least not reasonably close.
Found one of these nearby with a DSG gearbox, decent enough spec and price. It fits the bill fine. I reckon an R would be more exciting and didn’t particularly want another diesel as don’t do the mileage but there wasn’t much else around this size, price and age that is reasonably brisk, real world brisk I suppose.
Came from a Leon FR hatchback, manual and same engine. Differences are the engine sound, in or out of sport mode the engine (or fake engine) noises are more muted in the Golf.
The Leon had leather sports seats, the standard tartan cloth ones numbers in the Golf are a lot more comfier and supportive in corners etc. Most of the interior is the same, steering wheel is nicer to hold in the Golf.
I like a manual gearbox more as it turns out!
Space in the estate is great for the smallish size of its footprint.
Keyless wasn’t available when I got the SEAT, great on the Golf.
I can see why people think they’re a bit dull but they’re decent all rounders and you can fit a dog crate in the back. That’s exactly the point in the market I’m at...
Found one of these nearby with a DSG gearbox, decent enough spec and price. It fits the bill fine. I reckon an R would be more exciting and didn’t particularly want another diesel as don’t do the mileage but there wasn’t much else around this size, price and age that is reasonably brisk, real world brisk I suppose.
Came from a Leon FR hatchback, manual and same engine. Differences are the engine sound, in or out of sport mode the engine (or fake engine) noises are more muted in the Golf.
The Leon had leather sports seats, the standard tartan cloth ones numbers in the Golf are a lot more comfier and supportive in corners etc. Most of the interior is the same, steering wheel is nicer to hold in the Golf.
I like a manual gearbox more as it turns out!
Space in the estate is great for the smallish size of its footprint.
Keyless wasn’t available when I got the SEAT, great on the Golf.
I can see why people think they’re a bit dull but they’re decent all rounders and you can fit a dog crate in the back. That’s exactly the point in the market I’m at...
My mk4 Gt tdi with a 211hp remap and 350lb/ft torque would still be fast by todays standards and was an absolute pleasure on Euro trips.
It just wasn't pleasurable to drive hard. Even my mapped 330d with more torque than the 5.0 E39 M5 wasn't.
Not only that but it wasnt really that quick either. It was fast sure but it's not going to pin you in the seat and hold you there like a performace car. The M5 probably had twice the area under the torque curve.
More miles for less yes, more smiles for less no. Life before driverless cars is too short for piston heads to drive diesels
It just wasn't pleasurable to drive hard. Even my mapped 330d with more torque than the 5.0 E39 M5 wasn't.
Not only that but it wasnt really that quick either. It was fast sure but it's not going to pin you in the seat and hold you there like a performace car. The M5 probably had twice the area under the torque curve.
More miles for less yes, more smiles for less no. Life before driverless cars is too short for piston heads to drive diesels
Edited by Niffty951 on Tuesday 30th October 22:05
My GTD was a very rare Tornado Red 2001 Mk2 1.6 fitted with a GTi 16v Bilstein and Eibach lowering kit plus GTi Teardrop alloy wheels.
It drove very well and looked pretty nice too...but the noise nearly ripped your head off if you lifted the bonnet while it was running.
Old tech clattery diesel lump in those cars.
It drove very well and looked pretty nice too...but the noise nearly ripped your head off if you lifted the bonnet while it was running.
Old tech clattery diesel lump in those cars.
xjay1337 said:
Shame it is going - good engines in a good car.
I had a very similar engine and got it to 400hp. It was very fun.
With 185k on it before I broke it for parts, it was very reliable as well.
What turbo were you using, and what were the actual dyno figures for power and torque, must have has a lot of work to push over 400bhp and a bit of a handful unless it was 4WD too?I had a very similar engine and got it to 400hp. It was very fun.
With 185k on it before I broke it for parts, it was very reliable as well.
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