real life reviews of SDI, 1.616v and 2.0 GTI

[paultownsend]

I need to replace my mk2 abf golf that a hit and run driver kindly wrote off.
As i am unsure of my insurance for the next year, and as i only have £1500 tp spend i think the 1.8t is off the cards.

i need something reliable, economical and generally cheap to run. i have no problems maintaining the vehicle myself. i will use the car to commute to work and at weekends drive from Derby to Wales/lakes for my mountain bike.

so, the 1.9SDI. is it really that economical, and is it as slow as the power suggests?

is the 1.6 16v a good compromise between economy and a little poke?

the 2.0 GTI. i know this is not a GTI. But it certainly has a better body, spec and possibly the most poke. but does this come at a cost to economy?

thanks in advance

Paul

[cullygti]

if it were me i would be looking a the derv with the amount of miles you will be doing at the weekends and the rising fuel prices as for the 2.slow i wouldnt bother and they aint that much power beleive it or not the 1.8na no turbo has got more power than the 2.slow and is a better engine 

[xxChrisxx]

Not drove any but...

Diesels need turbos. Unlike petrol engines, it actually increases efficiency.
2.0 is an old old engine, so you get all the thrills of 2L fuel economy with none of the power.

I'd find a TDI.
But from that list (by process of elimination) I'd probably go for the 1.6.

[cullygti]

my mate had a fiesta st which in terms of fuel economy was on par with my 1.8t he has just bought a w reg clapped out clio 1.9 sdi and he says the money he is saving on fuel is tremendous it is slow as fook but theres less that can go wrong with it if it aint got a turbo and it will no doubt have the better fuel economy but i would be looking at a 130tdi fuel economy and good torque = win 

[Wayne]

I would avoid all 3 and get the 1.8 20v non turbo

[cullygti]

 

[mcgee9t2]

I would avoid all 3 and get the 1.8 20v non turbo

+1 ide be looking at that or the pd110/130/150 engines depending on how much you have to spend/insurance costs/how far you can go and what is the max you can spend on fuel.

only problem ive found with the 1.8n/a is that there hard to find. only seen a few come up in the last few years and think theres only 2 or 3 of us on here with one...

however if i had to choose out of all three ide go for the sdi.

[dantheman6554]

pm'd

[paultownsend]

im going 1.8t. i know i would regret anything else

[cullygti]