I am looking at getting a TDi for a runabout and am thinking a Golf would be OK. There seems to be lots of diferent variations on the theme though, so can someone point me in the right direction to find what each variant has in terms of performance and equipment?

Are they all Turbo diesels or are some NA?
whats an SDi/TDi/PDTDi/ etc........

thanks

 

SDi is na, if its the same as the Octy then it's 68bhp and 98 lb/ft
TDI, all silver is 110 bhp
TDI, red I is 115 IIRC
TDI, Red D and I is 130 bhp and 229 lb/ft
TDI all red is the 150

Equipment varies as the engines were available in different specs, apart from the 150 (I think). Getting new or used?

Considered a Skoda?

 

Forgot to say, PD is Pumpe Deuse (or something like that) basically a seperate fuel pump for each cylinder, running very high pressure.

There was a thread about this a month or 2 back, but as search has gone AWOL I can't find it for you.

 

I heard that some PD TDi 150's are badged as GTi instead of TDi??

Offer decent "real world performance" (favorite SN phrase when discussing TD's) with resonably good cheap costs too!

Would consider the whole "VW Range" though, Seats & Skodas as well as VW itself.

Cheers,
Grant

 

YOU can get 130bhp GTI TDi's too

- GTi is really just the trim spec (stiff suspension, big alloys etc.)

 

buying used, want to spend about 6K tops.

So SDi is definately out then.

 

And watch out for ones that are 'badged up'. i.e. a 100bhp one with a 130bhp TDI badge etc. Check the documentation to be sure.

 

John

Seriously look at a Skoda Octavia, Dont Laugh, try one. Same mechanics, same floor pan etc but better screwed together & for less money

Re performance if you want to get a bit more out of whichever VAG Diesel you choose talk to Jabbasport on 01733 211779 about a remap. Our 110 bhp Skud Oil Burner is now 164 bhp, 393 N/m of Torque & averages 55 mpg & it gets well used !!, top wack is an indicated 135. Interestingly the average mpg went up after the re map.

I like many have done the Scoob thing & we now have 2 Octavias, A diesel & a 4x4 turbo. Weve done a combined 55000 miles in the last year including the Cannonball in the 4x4 & can report they just dont break

 

I'd recommend trying a Seat Leon - much better drive

 

Got an old 100bhp tdi one and a revo or similar remap to 130bhp. Decent performance and cheap

 

I'd second that but then mine does have 270hp

 

Anything non-VW badged! Octavia seems a popular and liked choice. Plus good motorsport heritige

 

thanks for the info chaps.

 

I have a 150 GT TDI and the badge is GTI with a red I.!

 

John,

mines badged up as a GTI with red I too. You can only tell its a deisel when you start it LOL

 

Is the badging something to do with the spec?
Mine's a GT TDI PD130 to give it it's full name, but it's badged as a TDi (red D and i)
I have seen some badged as Gti
Does it depend on whether it's an import (mine is).

 

For less than 6 grand i would expect to get a 150, 130 or 115.. Maynbe a 110 but a high miler... You might be looking at just a TDi S or SE 100 bhp for that kind of money..

Have u considered a Seat Toledo if u only want a run around? theyre cheap as chips used.. prob around £6000 for a V/W/X TDi SE 110 bhp

 

The badge issue is a bit misleading, as a lot of it is down to how the dealership has decided to change the badging. For example, you can get an SE spec car with a red D and I, it just means its one of the later 100bhp PD engines.

Performance wise, theres isn't too much difference between the 130 and 150, its just the 150 has the 'proper' GTi spec with included Sports suspension and the 16" Montreal II wheels. You can get the 130 with these option (reasonably rare) and then its basically the same.

Out of the Golf clones, I'd probably go for the Seat Leon. They don't have the image, and are therefore very good value used. An SE TDi 110 would be the one i'd recommend, and are very nice cars to drive.

Chris

 

I just spend a couple of hours at the auctions today, the Golf TDi's are fetching serious money compared to everything else of similar age/condition. Leons seem very rare, they look like a good option based on writeups though.

Anyone know anything about the 1999 SEAT Ibiza 1.9 TDi Sport?

 

Golfs are indeed very expensive for some reason - that's why I bought a Passat! Much more car for your money but probably a bit big for your needs.

No experience of Ibizas.

 

Ibizas are good cars, but are you sure they did a Sport model back in 1999. I thought it was only the one badged "S"?

Chris

 

No, not sure at all. Thats what the advert says though.

 

John,

may be worth taking a look at some of Fords TDCI offerings. The Focus TDCI is said to be very good. I would also imagine the Focus has a far more capable chassis than the VAG MK4 platform (although the Seat Cupras have relocated suspension pickup points and do feel better).

Liike other folks have said the Seat cars are good too - and their values tend to slip back a little quicker than the comparable VW and Audi cars.

 

Problem with the Focus is that their new diesels are very new, and they aren't cheap yet

 

When I was looking at the Focus TDCi it was only just launched and that was probably October 2002. Hence it should be possible to find an early one with a bit of trawling but I'd expect them to be circa £9k.

The 'new' Mk4 Ibiza TDi Sports started on a 02 plate IIRC, so probably too pricey for John's budget. A 51 plate will probably be a Mk3. There's two 51 plate Mk3 TDi Sports on Autotrader . No idea what engine they got - 110?

 

My sister's Focus Tdci 115 was £9000 used. She bought it 3-4 months ago, it was 16 months old, '02 reg, with 23k miles. So they are out there at a good price.

Ibiza Sport 130 TDi was onsale from April 02, but beware, my sister sold her Ibiza of a similar age to buy the Focus, due to crap build, endless problems etc etc. Plus they are all the money too. Ibiza's before that are 90bhp tdi's, well screwed together, but poor to drive.

Leon has been out since 2000, there are not that many diesels though, lots of 1.4/1.6 petrols or 1.8T. Most have been bought by private buyers, and will be lots to choose from, with lowish mileage now. Iffy build on some, but a good looking car with good mechanicals.

 

thanks for all the info, it's very helpful.