Mk5 Golf 140 GT TDi alternatives
Discussion
70% short journey's, with the rest of use being longish A/B-road spirited runs (~100 miles). Total annual miles 10K. Car is to replace a heavy drinking Impreza. I have another Scooby for weekending so am not too bothered about performance, but would like a bit of a driver's car
Was all set to get a GT TDi as a balanced, frugal performer, but with all the talk of DMF, DPF and injector issues, I've been put off.
Question is should I be put off or just go for it, or look for something else... it's taken a long time already to decided on the TDi
Thanks
Was all set to get a GT TDi as a balanced, frugal performer, but with all the talk of DMF, DPF and injector issues, I've been put off.
Question is should I be put off or just go for it, or look for something else... it's taken a long time already to decided on the TDi
Thanks
Look at the RenaultSport Megane DCi 175, it will perform as well if not better than the 140 GT TDi and is much rarer. Really good spec on them too, have a look you won't be disappointed.
You could buy my old one?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3724172.htm
You could buy my old one?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3724172.htm
10,000 miles in the Impreza at 25 mpg (if you are lucky) is 400 gallons, £2,400.
10,000 miles in the oil burner at 35 mpg is 285 gallons, around £1850.
If you must change car buy a Golf 2.0 T Gti 200 bhp petrol, great all rounder, will just about give 40 mpg on the motorway, average 32+ mpg, 25+ when driven hard.
The mk5 Golf diesels are horrible noisy things, rolly-polly suspension, limited rev range, noisy. even the the Gt170 is horrible to live with compared to the petrol Gti - and if you drive them hard the mpg drops down way below the published figures.
10,000 miles in the oil burner at 35 mpg is 285 gallons, around £1850.
If you must change car buy a Golf 2.0 T Gti 200 bhp petrol, great all rounder, will just about give 40 mpg on the motorway, average 32+ mpg, 25+ when driven hard.
The mk5 Golf diesels are horrible noisy things, rolly-polly suspension, limited rev range, noisy. even the the Gt170 is horrible to live with compared to the petrol Gti - and if you drive them hard the mpg drops down way below the published figures.
rallycross said:
10,000 miles in the Impreza at 25 mpg (if you are lucky) is 400 gallons, £2,400.
10,000 miles in the oil burner at 35 mpg is 285 gallons, around £1850.
If you must change car buy a Golf 2.0 T Gti 200 bhp petrol, great all rounder, will just about give 40 mpg on the motorway, average 32+ mpg, 25+ when driven hard.
The mk5 Golf diesels are horrible noisy things, rolly-polly suspension, limited rev range, noisy. even the the Gt170 is horrible to live with compared to the petrol Gti - and if you drive them hard the mpg drops down way below the published figures.
So, really you're saying there's not alot of savings to be made, with either an oil burner, or a petrol GTi?10,000 miles in the oil burner at 35 mpg is 285 gallons, around £1850.
If you must change car buy a Golf 2.0 T Gti 200 bhp petrol, great all rounder, will just about give 40 mpg on the motorway, average 32+ mpg, 25+ when driven hard.
The mk5 Golf diesels are horrible noisy things, rolly-polly suspension, limited rev range, noisy. even the the Gt170 is horrible to live with compared to the petrol Gti - and if you drive them hard the mpg drops down way below the published figures.
VR46 said:
10k per year and short journeys is petrols strongpoint. An R32 or golf gti would be perfect. Seal leon cupra r and s3 all excellent choices.
I remember looking at the R32 a couple of years back, and if I recall thought it to have a liking for a drink, as well as being quite a heavy, although very nice place to be carWhat about a Clio 182 Trophy? Only downside I've come across is the need to thrash it to get it going
Intereting article on Telegraph Motoring recently comparing petrol v diesel: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/green-motoring...
FWIW I have a Mk5 Golf GTI and a Renault Scenic 1.9dCi. Average mpg on the Scenic is currently 29. Average on the Golf is 25. Both used for predominantly short runs / town driving with the odd longer run. I know which one I prefer driving.
FWIW I have a Mk5 Golf GTI and a Renault Scenic 1.9dCi. Average mpg on the Scenic is currently 29. Average on the Golf is 25. Both used for predominantly short runs / town driving with the odd longer run. I know which one I prefer driving.
bonesX said:
VR46 said:
10k per year and short journeys is petrols strongpoint. An R32 or golf gti would be perfect. Seal leon cupra r and s3 all excellent choices.
I remember looking at the R32 a couple of years back, and if I recall thought it to have a liking for a drink, as well as being quite a heavy, although very nice place to be carWhat about a Clio 182 Trophy? Only downside I've come across is the need to thrash it to get it going
bencollins4 said:
You won't need to thrash a 182 to get it going - plenty of torque really considering it only weighs just over a ton. Ours does 40 mpg pretty easily and manages 35 even when driven fairly hard.
The nearest to the 182 I owned was a 206 GTi and that was super throttle controllable, weighing just over a ton. I really liked it. Light and nimble, but after 3 weeks of ownership it started dropping apart - central locking, air con leaking etc, but do you know i wish I had kept that car as it could swap from under steer to over steer on the throtlle like no other car I've ownedI own a 2008 Mk5 GT TDI 140.
It's a good car. A thousand times better than a Focus or a Megane, especially inside. It seems to me that the alternative would be a different Mk 5 Golf, whether diesel or petrol.
We get 47mpg out of the Golf. It is used predominantly by my wife for a 25mile each way commute. She does not have a very economical driving style and it spends a fair bit of time in traffic. I tend to get over 50mpg out of it driving around the countryside, 64.4mpg being the best I have had. I have noticed that fuel consumption is not great until it warms up, but that only takes a mile or two. We do about 18,000 to 20,000 miles a year in it and we bought it because our existing Golf Mk 3 TDI is approaching the end of its life.
The suspension is rock hard, frankly. This is the only real downside about the car (that and the hideous standard fit "privacy" glass). I wish we had bought a different specification Golf, maybe a Match or something like that. I found it hard to find any other than the GT with a decent level of kit.
The boot is a bit small.
2008 and up GTs come with heated leather upholstery as standard, which is very nice.
If I were you, I would get a diesel Golf. The advantage to you may not be so great as it is to me, but I still reckon you'll come out way ahead of petrol. I would urge you to consider a non-GT model. I wouldn't waste your time looking at any other car: they're not as good, no matter what anyone says. I hate diesels, by the way.
It's a good car. A thousand times better than a Focus or a Megane, especially inside. It seems to me that the alternative would be a different Mk 5 Golf, whether diesel or petrol.
We get 47mpg out of the Golf. It is used predominantly by my wife for a 25mile each way commute. She does not have a very economical driving style and it spends a fair bit of time in traffic. I tend to get over 50mpg out of it driving around the countryside, 64.4mpg being the best I have had. I have noticed that fuel consumption is not great until it warms up, but that only takes a mile or two. We do about 18,000 to 20,000 miles a year in it and we bought it because our existing Golf Mk 3 TDI is approaching the end of its life.
The suspension is rock hard, frankly. This is the only real downside about the car (that and the hideous standard fit "privacy" glass). I wish we had bought a different specification Golf, maybe a Match or something like that. I found it hard to find any other than the GT with a decent level of kit.
The boot is a bit small.
2008 and up GTs come with heated leather upholstery as standard, which is very nice.
If I were you, I would get a diesel Golf. The advantage to you may not be so great as it is to me, but I still reckon you'll come out way ahead of petrol. I would urge you to consider a non-GT model. I wouldn't waste your time looking at any other car: they're not as good, no matter what anyone says. I hate diesels, by the way.
I drove most of the TDIs on sale in 2006 and my favourite all rounder was the Focus. Lovely ride/handling and steering. Strange comments from the previous poster, who recommends his Golf and then says he hates diesels?!!!
Honda Civic 2.2s are quite cheap and the diesel engine is revvy for a diesel, sounds ok and is not as off/on as the TDI 2.0, which frankly is really brutal and not that nice( I tried both 140 an 170 in a Seat Leon). The Honda, when I drove, it managed 105 MPH in 4th gear, which was quite surprising as the others ran out of gas long before that speed in 4th.
For 10K miles a year, you dont really need a diesel, how about something left field like a Mazda 3 2 litre sport? I nearly bought one 4 years ago and it was a really sweet steer. Great handling (as good as Focus IMO), sweet Jap engine which needs revving and quite cheap....I also know they are quite economical and get close to the advertised 35MPG easily enough or 40MPG if driven on a run.
Just a thought.
Otherwise get yourself a VRS. Much cheaper than the Golf, same performance, more space and cheaper to insure.
Honda Civic 2.2s are quite cheap and the diesel engine is revvy for a diesel, sounds ok and is not as off/on as the TDI 2.0, which frankly is really brutal and not that nice( I tried both 140 an 170 in a Seat Leon). The Honda, when I drove, it managed 105 MPH in 4th gear, which was quite surprising as the others ran out of gas long before that speed in 4th.
For 10K miles a year, you dont really need a diesel, how about something left field like a Mazda 3 2 litre sport? I nearly bought one 4 years ago and it was a really sweet steer. Great handling (as good as Focus IMO), sweet Jap engine which needs revving and quite cheap....I also know they are quite economical and get close to the advertised 35MPG easily enough or 40MPG if driven on a run.
Just a thought.
Otherwise get yourself a VRS. Much cheaper than the Golf, same performance, more space and cheaper to insure.
Edited by StevieB on Sunday 20th May 09:16
My wife runs a Seat Leon Tdi and she also has a 25 mile each-way commute. Her speed is largely dictated by the traffic, but she consistently averages something like 52-54 mpg.
However, I do wonder if a Golf GTi in her hands might average 40 mpg, and with petrol being cheaper, etc etc.
I think the OP should look at Mk5 Golf GTis. Diesels aren't that much better at short journeys. Having said that, I do a short commute and sometimes use my old VW Bora diesel auto. If I ignore speed limits it averages 32mpg on the commute, if I stick to speed limits it averages 40. This suggests to me that only a small change in driving style can result in a significant change in mpg... but then maybe the same applies to any car.
That's not much help, is it?
However, I do wonder if a Golf GTi in her hands might average 40 mpg, and with petrol being cheaper, etc etc.
I think the OP should look at Mk5 Golf GTis. Diesels aren't that much better at short journeys. Having said that, I do a short commute and sometimes use my old VW Bora diesel auto. If I ignore speed limits it averages 32mpg on the commute, if I stick to speed limits it averages 40. This suggests to me that only a small change in driving style can result in a significant change in mpg... but then maybe the same applies to any car.
That's not much help, is it?
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff