SCOOBYD00

Looks like fave option (up to 5k really) so far on the Diesel route (pending selling the sti )

So...

I'm not fussed and would take an S Reg 98' onwards but what are the differences and what year did they change?

I understand you get a 90bhp, 110bhp, 130 & 150 onwards?

I can get a GT TDi within budget but don't really grasp the differences and indeed how to know if it is what it's supposed to be! lol is there any differences on badging (easily changed to fool the unwary perhaps..) engine rocker covers spec levels?

Advice guys please as TBH the Golf will probably be the one...

Thanks

Kevin Groat

130 is the one. We've a 110, had it from new and it (and 115) have a 'feature' with the flywheel which gives you an engine judder when the engine is slowing to idle. Summit to do with a dual mass flywheel iirc.
Get one with uprated suspension or you'll suffer seasickness...

SCOOBYD00

Cheers, so how can you tell the difference between the models. Is it obvious or is it by year.. badge?

MattW

Model I believe, so a 130 needs to be a GT TDi badged TDi (some were badged GTi) without a red "i" which indicates a 150bhp model.

NWMark

badges where put on at the dealers not the factory so you cannot rely on the badges for a clear indication.

I also believe before the 130 and 150 where launched that the 115 was badged as the GT TDi, just to complicate things further !!!

And you can also get 130 and 150s not badged as GT TDi's, just normal TDi's it has to be the most confusing engine / badge combo in current use.

Mark

NWMark

got this from parkers.

at launch the 110 were badged as the GT TDi
then April 1999 1.9 GTi TDi PD (115bhp) is launched (notice the i after the GT the 115 (and anniversary in 02) where the only ones badged this way)
December 2001 the 130 and 150 TDis are launched, although officially named GT TDi many only have the TDi badges on the car with none or more letters in red.

Id be suprised if you could get a 130 or 150 for 5k, although maybe there are a few high milers hanging around.

Mark

Patt@firstime

Have heard the 130bhp is the one to go for too

hth

SCOOBYD00

Ok so S, T or X plate with 110bhp then for my 5k..still good performance with the 110bhp?

scooby_matt

Don't bother with the 150 over the 130, you'll see no more than 30 mpg with the 150, the 130 should see you towards a regular 40+, hardly any difference if performance aswell.
Not sure how the 110's go cos i've never driven one, but the 130's get on with it

Dram300

RE: spotting a Mark IV GT TDi

130BHP+ models should have colour matched bumper and side inserts inserts, climate control (later models), and 6sp boxes.

I did 30k miles in a 130BHP MkIV (just sold it to a dealer) and easily obtained 55+MPG on motorway cruises. If you push it, you'll get a sub 9sec 0-60 for the 130BHP and plenty enough torque at speed to overtake - all at 45 MPG+.

Would I get a 150 BHP model, nope, you'll rarely notice the acceleration improvements but you will notice the drop in fuel economy.

Dr Hu

The VW 130BHP TDi PD engine is a beauty - its the same engine as in the Skoda Fabia vRS.

The PD bit is the winner - Pumpe Duse - makes a massive difference in economy and power.

Kevin Groat

Yes good performance - but if you get one with the engine judder it's a real pain. It feels like warped brake discs, only cure is a replacement flywheel and clutch - expensive..

ex-webby

Really!!??

I have a 150 and have owned it for 2 yrs. Mine has been modified (195bhp/285lbft) for over 18 months and returns better fuel economy now, then what it did standard (albeit by only a few mpg). I regulary see 50mpg and have seldom seen lower than 46mpg over a tank..... and this is giving it stick.

The 5sp box and 130 engine may be the best to go for in reality (especially if money is a consideration), but dont forget you get the better trim and GTi suspension with the 150 GT TDi (in fact you can't disinquish between the 150bhp Diesel and the petrol top of the range GTi from looks or trim level).

Saying all the above about the 150 Vs 130... tbh the 150 has been the best every day car I have ever owned (and I have had a few TDi's)... when ever I want the need.... I just push the loud pedal and off I go!

Reliability from this VW's (in my view) is second to none. I complete 30k miles a year and have never had any real problems with these TDi's for the past 10 yrs I have been buying them.

Regards,
Shaun.

SCOOBYD00

Really. 30mpg! Is this with serious foot to the floor style driving?

SCOOBYD00

Interesting. Higher miles 01 plate then..

SCOOBYD00

Thanks, so 40-50mpg would be nice and is one of the reasons I'm selling my STi! If I got 30mpg I would question why I moved to an oil burner!

Hmmm to lease a new one or pickup an old one.. cash... hmmm

scooby_matt

I'm going on my dad's experience, he had a 150 for just short of a year, and this was all he was getting, so don't know if this was just a bad 'un, he drives like a fart aswell.
He's got the mkv version now (140bhp) and this is getting 45ish with combined driving (bit of town, bit of motorway).

MattW

My wife's MkV does over 50mpg, maybe it's him??

scooby_matt

His new one's loads better, don't know why his old one was so bad

mg driver

thats not correct ,,i had a 150 and could thrash it all day long and still get high 40's mpg............if you look in the brochure vw put out at the time all the diesels had just about the same figures for fuel economy.I had over 60 mpg on a cruise more than once.The extra 20 bhp of the 150 is needed because after the initial thrust of 236lb ft torque coming in hard they tend to feel a bit flat.The 0-62 for the 150 was 8.6 a full second better than the 130.

Christ

Youd be happy with either car, but the PD150 has some very good extras over the PD130..

145Mph or 50 Mpg, good to have a choice..

Kevin Groat

[/QUOTE]Reliability from this VW's (in my view) is second to none. I complete 30k miles a year and have never had any real problems with these TDi's for the past 10 yrs I have been buying them.

Regards,
Shaun.[/QUOTE]


IMHO I don't agree we've run the 110 GT TDI alongside a V3 Sti for the last 6 years and with the exception of consumables the VW has had more failures than the Subaru. VW failures incl - broken coil spring, front wheel bearing, rear wiper motor, heater control lights and regular replacement of the rear light bulbs. Subaru failures - the battery and the lambda sensor.

Also quite surprised at the level of corrosion underneath the VW compared to the Subaru looking at things like the suspension and brake components.

mattvortex

As for telling the differences between models frfom the badges, i read a test in diesel mag which said that; just the "I" in red means 90/110bhp , "DI" in red means 130bhp, "TDI" all in red and its the 150bhp model. This was how they were badged out of the factory but, it would obviously be easy to colour in some letters if you had a lesser model!

ex-webby

For as many people that have no problems I am sure there are numbers that do, so dont doubt what you have said.

FWIW, the last 3 Golf TDI's I have owned had all done circa 150k miles without any real worries/costs though.

SCOOBYD00

Exactly, so not 100% method, perhaps the V5 ?

SCOOBYD00

Cool, assuming the STi goes.... I'll be heading out to pick one of these up. Whats the smart money buy to look for - say 6k budget - can leather be had and what kind of reg should I be looking at?

Cheers

Jamesemt

Don't forget that this model was THE import car - my 130 was an import

Loads of imports around - try and get one a bit cheaper

Bizarrely the more weight you have in the car, the faster it feels.

I THINK the way to tell the GT models is by the 6 speed (ie PD)??

I also believe that the factory spec low power versions had the computer on the left of the clocks (like the Fabia) as opposed to the 130/150 which had the computer in the middle??

I am not 100% on this, though - you need to get yourself over to MKIVs.net !!

mg driver

the td golfs have a plastic engine cover so you cant see much but if its a 150 it will say TDI on this cover in red letters.The 150 also had the same better wheels that are on the petrol turbo as oposed to the lesser gti's pretty naff looking jobs.I swapped my golf 150 tdi for a classic shape scooby and the golf was easily quicker in most situations,,,the sccoby was quicker when you ragged it up through the gears but i must admit that swap was a decision i regretted.

SCOOBYD00

Cheers guys.

Well spread the word! I'm still looking to shift the STi and need a TDi!!

Christ

The ONLY was to be sure of what version of PD you are looking at is to
look at the sticker in the boot, it will give an output in KW..

As some people have said the badges on the back are fairly random, however UK PD150's are supposed to be badged "Gti" with a red "i"

Chris