brickboy

@ Cupramax -- the resistor mod plugs into the fuel temp sensor. Hotter fuel = less dense fuel = less fuel per squirt of the injectors, so if the car thinks the fuel is hot (and it can reach temps of 100+ farenheit) it compensates by injecting more fuel. The mod tries to fool the ECU into thinking the fuel is really warm, so you get extra fuelling under all running conditions. It's crude and cheap but works.

@ Logiclee, can you remember which edition of Diesel Car that tuning box test was in? I wouldn't mind having a read

NewLabour

So to recap if you are skint get an inferior tuning box, if you have the cash to run a decent car better get REVO or similar.

Exactly what I've been saying then again I forget most diesel owners are tightwads trying to save a few pennies here and there.

Cupramax

Interesting, you learn something new everyday thanks chaps...

logiclee

Or people who have more to life than than just making their car go 3% quicker.

And not driving a turbo nutter petrol rally car 40k miles a year may mean I have enough money left for a turbo nutter petrol rally car as well and be able to take it on track. The extra £550 is pennies to you but some could better spend it on something else.

NewLabour

It's more than 3% and if you have a diesel to save money in the UK then you ARE an idiot 'cos you aint really saving jack sheet.

Let me qualify that

Petrol MKIV GTI about 9.5K

Same model but Diesel more like 10.5K.

factor in extra cost of diesel, extra servicing costs and you'll need to cover 100K+ miles before you get your money back.

Where I live diesel costs 55p/ltr as opposed to 70p/ltr for 98 Ron SUL, thus the 330D.

logiclee

I was off work and in hospital in May, June and July last year and I read nearly every car car magazine going as well as some relatives and friends bringing me some old stuff. So best I can say was it was the first half of last year.

They have some tunit tuning box road tests on their website archive I believe, I came across them when looking to buy a diesel last year.

www.dieselcar.com

Cheers
Lee

Andy M3

logiclee

So I do 40K miles a year and average 55mpg instead of 35mpg from a similar powered Petrol. Petrol equivalent needs servicing every 20k miles, diesel every 30k miles.

And I'm not saving any money

NewLabour

Do the sums and the extra cost of diesel and the initial purchase price premium means you aren't really saving much at all.

As for similar power I drive what's acknowledged to be one ofthe best of the high output diesels and I'd take the petrol every time if diesel wasn't cheaper than mineral water here.

Most diesels have more frequent service intervals than their petrol equiv as well although this is changing as newer models come out.

logiclee

Yep I did the sums, I bought from a supermarket and the diesel option worked out £600 more expensive which I'll probably recover most of when I come to sell it anyway.
Diesel is around 5% more expensive were I live but I get around 50% more economy. Petrol version combined economy 34.9. Diesel 54.3.
I save my £600 outlay in the first 5 months in fuel alone even with diesel at 5p a litre more expensive.
As for servicing, the VAG petrols are on 20K mile variable servicing and the diesels are on 30k mile servicing. The last full service including brake fluid change cost me £170. So the diesel works out cheaper on servicing as well.
For a drive to work tool it's a complete no brainer. I wouldn't get to work any quicker if I went to work in an sti, most of the time I'm doing 40mph on the motorway if lucky.

Lee

NewLabour

I'm glad it works out for you, for many people it doesn't as the premium for diesel ownership is well above the petrol alternative.

What car is it?

Just to give you an idea I could have had a 330i for 2K less than my 330D spec for spec. That equates to an awful lot of fuel.

chiark

Have a look at the residuals on large engined petrol cars.

Now have a look at residuals on diesel engined cars.

Diesels hold their value better. Strange but true in the BMW world in the UK.

logiclee

Just like to add that buying diesel isn't always about saving money.

My wife uses a Fabia for a round town run about only does about 4000 miles a year. I could have saved around £4k and bought the 1.2HTP but instead bought the PD100 TDi. The PD100 has the same power as the 1.4 16V but the petrol only has 92lbft at 4400rpm and felt wheezy to drive while the PD100 has 184lbft at 1800rpm and feels very strong.

Financially it was the wrong decision but the diesel was far better than any petrol in the range.
It now runs 142bhp and 220lbft. which is not bad in a supermini.

Cheers
Lee

the moose

I've got a 530d. Residuals are much better for this than for the petrol engined model, it's as quick, it does 600 miles between refills ...... honestly, why WOULDN'T you buy the diesel?

logiclee

Remapped Octavia Elegance TDi with extra ICE to make the motorway hours a little more tolerable.

Cheers
Lee

Jamesemt

So which is the best tuning box for the VAG130PD engine?

logiclee

All the main ones are pretty similar, Dragon, PSI, Tunit, Van whatsit.

Tunit and PSI tend to go for about £400 but the Dragon boxes are under £300 on www.mrhoot.com

If you keep your eye on ebay they usually go for under £200.
Dragon items
They come with a 30 day money back offer. If you dont like it just send it back in the supplied jiffy bag and they will refund your money.

Cheers
Lee

Christ

Posted this before, but heres an idea what you can expect from a remap..

This was Revo, similar results from Jabba or JBS, and SOME of the tuning boxes are good too..

http://www.haddock.tv/temp/standard.wmv

http://www.haddock.tv/temp/revo.wmv

Jamesemt

Can't justify a remap as it's the wife's car...would fancy a tuning box for a bit of fun, though...

Christ

You'll get almost the same performance with a tuning box, just wont be as smooth and there could be smoke from over-fuelling..

logiclee

As long as the box is adjustable and with a bit of tweeking you should be able to set the box for uneffected idle, smooth pick up and no visible increase in smoke.

Cheers
Lee

dba

yep,i have an adjustable tuning box and at full on it is a tad smokey,tune it down to half way and its perfect,with no problem at idle.

The_Titanium_Knob_Man

I bought a diesel becos I liked the idea of an easy drive. I have never driven a diesel car before let alone own one. I have to say I am stunned by just how easy it is to drive. The torque from the engine allows just effortless progress and an mpg that makes me think the needles broken.

In gear acceleration is stunning, when I've run the car in I might go down the REVO route myself. I'd love to give a few hot hatches a good run for their money!

Am I a tight **** ? dunno I've had some nice cars in the past, just wanted something inconspicuous that can shift 'in the real world' relatively well.

Can't say I regret buying one at all.

Stueyb

What people are also neglecting here is insurance is a lot lot cheaper. It costs the same for me to insure my 306 (10 year old) as it does for a brand spanking Golf TDI AND the gf who hasnt even passed her test yet.