Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

After deciding I wanted a Golf TDI 150, it's typical that I've now seen a few cars including:

A potential clocked car without history (although advertised with a full VAG history)
A missadvertised car which is a 130 and the dealer didn't care!
All others are either 3 door or with high mileage!

The Golf seems to be the right car, so how does the TDI car, compare to the turbo'd petrol cars?

I appeciate that the TDI will have more torque, but will the petrol car with a better rev range make up the difference?

I have £10k to spend, which would get me a TDI 150 or similar spec GTI 1.8T 180 with a 6 speed box.

Am I better concentrating on getting the TDI or should I consider the petrol option as well?

We are only talking about 15k per year.

john banks

Not quite the same engine combos, but an interesting thought on the 2.0 140 TDI vs the 1.8T 180 engine. From looking at both, in Mk V Golf 2.0 TDI or Octavia vRS (old 1.8T) and driving both. Overall, I thought the power band of the 1.8T was a little better, whilst the peak torque is at about 1950 RPM IIRC, it holds flat over a long range and the gearing suits it so that overall I thought it had the edge. The 1.8T in a Golf sort of weight of shell also manages low-mid 30s mpg which was a nice surprise. The fact that we were not paying for the fuel swung it to petrol, especially with the lower list on the old vRS and better spec meant that as a company car option it was cheaper. Not necessarily an easy decision? If the 2.0T in the Mk V Golf, it is everything the 1.8T is with even better turbo spool and a better noise, but I think that is a different budget.

curtis11

a 180 gti is a very suprising car , the surge form about 2k is enough to leave almost anything on the road (even subarus) but once u hit 5k its game over.
a diesel will hold its money better, but its a diesel , and a 180 will do 35 mpg no problem.

people will say that the diesel is faster and all that ****e, but its not because you have only 1k rpm of power and then its dead .

get a test drive in a diesel and then the 180 1.8t, i bet you will be impressed with the 180 .
make sure its not a 150 1.8t because the difference is unbelieveable

CupraT

Andy, not the same car but the same engines I think...

I used to own a Seat Leon Cupra (not R) - 180bhp turbo engine. Wife now owns the Seat Leon Cupra TDI - 150 bhp.

Performance wise there is not much difference. The TDi pulls hard but as mentioned above its only a short range, the petrol does not pull as hard but is over a larger range.
In every day driving on mixed roads I doubt you would tell the difference A-B.

Fuel economy as measured bim to brim in the Petrol car was 34 mpg at 20k miles, owned from new. In the diesel its 44mpg at 21k miles, owned from new. The wife is doing short journeys though which is bringing the economy down. When its had a decent blow out, it can get near 50 mpg.

sgcooby

I used to own the golf gttdi albeit the 115bhp version but it was still a pretty quick car. When i say quick i mean it felt quick all the time in any gear but when you actually are up against someone then you realise it still takes about 10 secs to hit 60 so ultimately it isnt that fast but you would swear it was faster than the figures suggested because of the torque. In the end, the petrol 180bhp version will be a good bit faster. I allways found that my diesel cars ive had in the past allways feel quicker than they are purely because of the torque. For this reason a diesel car will allways feel fast enough for you in every day driving but hust dont expect to beat anyone from the lights. If i wasnt worried about fuel consumption, which im not as i own a wrx now, then id go for the petrol 180bhp as the VAG group 1.8t petrol is a good engine and pulls well at low revs, unlike my wrx, so kinda feels torquey like the diesel anyway but with a much bigger rev range to enjoy the engine more when pressing on a bit. A diesel car, imo, will never be a fun car to drive quickly because of the narrow powerband but an extra 10mpg at least is not to be sniffed at. Depends on what is important to you.

mg driver

i had a 150 tdi and the only way a 150 petrol could even think of matching it was when ragging to the redline up through the gears,in every other situation the diesel obliterates the petrol,it will pull to its top speed a lot easier as well ,saying they have only 1k of power band is poo ,of course they have a shorter power band but it is a diesel you cant have everything ,i got 60 mpg out of mine pretty easily and high 40's when driving fast,they are 6 speed boxes and rattle up through the gears like lightning,,its got 90 odd lb ft more than the petrol,you have to work the box in the petrol to make good progress ,in the 150 tdi you put your foot down in any gear and it just goes,no choice imo diesel kills 150 petrol ,cant speak for 180 petrol but i would still have the diesel ,you can chip em to 200 bhp and 300 lb ft for 3oo quid although imo they dont need it and i dread to think what traction is like then.

awd wrx

I have a 150 PD GTi , had it re-mapped at jabbasport back in may , it was showing 169bhp as standard and I got 221bhp and 335lb ft torque when finished , it goes like stink , and now pulls from 1:5k to 5k revs. it does have traction control and in wet conditions works overtime , if you switch it off it will spin in the first 3 gears , and thats with mahoosive 19" wheels , A mate had a 150 petrol turbo and mine was quicker when it was standard , absolutely killed it after having it re-mapped.
Its so usable in everyday driving as like has been already said , it pulls like a train from 1:5k revs , go for it

Chip Sengravy

That sounds like a beast! I drive a TDi 90 bhp caddy, and have surprised a few ******* that try and undertake on the motorway...its that instant grunt when you just catch the right gear, speed and rev combination, I can imagine that thing of yours is something else!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm leaning towards the TDI, but finding one at the right price/specification/location is the difficult bit!

Although I'm now looking at either a Golf or Leon with the 150 TDI engine

Chip Sengravy

another thing to consider, is that you can drive like a maniac without drawing attention to yourself with a screaming engine

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

That's why the Integra and the Civic are off the list!

mr flibble

my other half has a Leon FR 150 tdi. I'm very impressed with the car, it manages to embarass quite a few petrol performance cars including my Impreza. The torque is extremely useful once rolling, traction is somewhat an issue from a standing start.

sgcooby

Apart from all the black soot billowing out the back. And the tractor noises.

aggs

I have just bought my wife a Golf TDI 130,I have been driving it quite a lot around Christmas period, I have been very impressed with its speed, I would imagine 150 even better,all driving has been quick but not flat out,probably not quite so enjoyable if you love revs and engine notes,for normal driving was superb, I would be seriously tempted if/when the Scooby expires.
Good on Motorway, came home in small hours on Sat night sitting between 100 and 125 depending on traffic with loads vroom to spare and very comfortable.
A chip must be fab!!
Now miss 6th gear in Scooby!!

Christ

PD150 will also happily/easily sit at these speeds, in fact happier than any other car ive owned.. (unrestricted roads obviously)




Go a lot better when Revo'd though

aggs

of course,goes without saying.

scott8629

Im leaning towards getting a Leon TDI 150. I currently have a 306 DT which is ok,I feel the old mech pump diesel engine will be less economical than the PD150 of the Leon.

My head says the Pug is ok why change but my heart says go for the leon.

Im hoping Seat will offer a few deals soon as the new leon is out swhich will help swing me.

Scott

Mike123

What true speed is that 145 though? About 133->135?

Christ

145 Mph on speedo = 141 on roadangel display (and still a "bit" more to go)

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

There are discounts on a new Leon Cupra TDI (£2500 off list IIRC) which is being advertised on the www.seat.co.uk website.

It would push me past my budget though.

worley

I have a Bora 150 Tdi, got it after the scoob. Easy to drive 0-60 just over 7 secs and top speed in excess of 135 mph standard (slows a bit 120+). Great motorway car (110 kmiles in 2 years) and still going well.

However would fault the black smoke and stodgy handling. Due for a replacement in 6 months and looking for a 330d SE.

Beats the petrol 150 hands down.

rexabusa

is that 145 with 19"wheels

jimmy wrx

150 tdi is a must and very chipable