Got heart set on Golf TDI, is anything I need know?

juno_first

juno_first

juno_first

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Got my heart set on Golf TDI, is there anything I need to know?

Going diesel for cheaper fuel costs & TDI for speed (miss my VTS).
Insurance is not an issue, its 250 for my Mondeo & would be 340 for a TDI 150.

Ive had a mk2 Mondeo for 4 years now & come MOT time in September I think it will be a gonna. Not that I'm sad about that as its a thirsty, rattly, slow boat, but reliable which is why I got it.
My previous car history: Saxo VTS, Fiesta 1.1 mk4, Astra est 1.7 TD, Calibra 8v, Orion 1.6i ghia mk1, Fiesta 1.3 ghia mk1, Fiesta 1.1 mk1.

I don't know anything about Volkswagen, except I had a ride in a mates Golf TDI mk3 the other day & was shocked at how solid it felt, like the doors did not rattle etc.

I don't know much at about a Golf TDI, are there any pitfalls or things to look out for.
I'll try find a 150, but they seem to be quite rare so may have to settle with a 115.
Think I'll be able save 2k over the next 6 months & was thinking about a 2001 plate 150, thats not had big alloys or chipped or anything as would that mean its been thrashed?

thanks
 
Mileage is about 8000 year. Would it not be worth the extra expense of maintenance on a diesel below a certain mileage?
I was thinking of cheaper tax & how £20 of fuel would get me 120 miles rather than 80 miles.
 
The TDI 150 has a price premium over the 130 version, plus afaik the 130 version is actually more than that in real life, plus the 130 is far more common.

At 8000 miles a year forget the TDI it rattles and shakes the car.

My advice - Get a mint condition 1.8T Octavia MK1.
 
juno_first said:
Mileage is about 8000 year. Would it not be worth the extra expense of maintenance on a diesel below a certain mileage?
I was thinking of cheaper tax & how £20 of fuel would get me 120 miles rather than 80 miles.
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Definitely not.

Petrol Golf will be cheaper to buy, less cost to maintain and more enjoyable to drive.
 
juno_first said:
I was thinking of cheaper tax & how £20 of fuel would get me 120 miles rather than 80 miles.
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This, combined with the fact its going to take you 6 months to save up for an 11 year old Golf, makes me think this is probably a bad idea. You completely neglect to consider maintenance costs which on an older car soon stack up.

What would you do if it needed a new turbo?
 
NathWraith said:
Definitely not.

Petrol Golf will be cheaper to buy, less cost to maintain and more enjoyable to drive.
Click to expand...

Trouble with this is that whilst its normally the case the Golf is a special case in that just what is the petrol alternative? A 1.8T is not going to be less hassle or cost less to maintain, the 2.0 8v is a pile of utter crap and the 1.6 is pretty dire as well.

I think its time for a Focus.
 
[TW]Fox;21480312 said:
Trouble with this is that whilst its normally the case the Golf is a special case in that just what is the petrol alternative? A 1.8T is not going to be less hassle or cost less to maintain, the 2.0 8v is a pile of utter crap and the 1.6 is pretty dire as well.

I think its time for a Focus.
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A more sensible choice tbh. Although he did mention he wanted something with a more "solid" build quality.

Not knocking the focus but the VW will be better screwed together. If he can notice the difference is another thing however.
 
If you want an old golf like that, budget at least 500 to replace all the neglected suspension bits, plus fitting.

Highly likely to need a clutch and or flywheel too, same cost again. Not a huge amount else in terms of expensive bits.
 
[TW]Fox;21480312 said:
Trouble with this is that whilst its normally the case the Golf is a special case in that just what is the petrol alternative? A 1.8T is not going to be less hassle or cost less to maintain, the 2.0 8v is a pile of utter crap and the 1.6 is pretty dire as well.

I think its time for a Focus.
Click to expand...

There is a non-turbocharged 1.8 20V, though it's not a particularly special engine.
 
The only experience of a Golf I have is seeing my ex-colleagues GT TDI lunch it's turbo and run on it's own oil in work's car park, that wasn't cheap to fix. Still recall the screaming of the knackered turbo as the engine went to 5k and beyond, ouch. :(

Petrol NASP is a better idea for limited running costs and 8k a year.
 
i just picked up my 1.6 tdi match on tuesday and its one of the nicest cars i have driven the sound proofing is unbelievable very smooth you really need to go to a dealer and test drive one i considered the petrol but went with the diesel and very very happy with it. Put 70 quid of fuel in done 300 miles so far and still over half tank left according to the trip comp its avg 57 per gallon
 
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It's completely and utterly horribly slow though, the old 1.9 100 was vastly superior in this respect. If that doesn't matter at all then the 1.6 unit is decent in the golf....you're talking about a car 10 years + newer than what the op can afford though.
 
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