tdi 130 or 1.8t

[davemk4]

hey guys.

i had my mind set on a 1.8t but my dad has thrown a spanner in the works................he selling his black mint mk4 gtTDI pd130 now the mileage is 160k!!!! but ive driven this car and still drives 100%. the previous owner was VW obsessed and had EVERYTHING it ever needed changed by VW with VW parts only. now me dad works for VW and has replaced a few common parts and fitted cruise control etc. he will sell it to me for a good price.so why the issue you ask?

well im a petrol freak. i love how the 1.8t sounds when modded. oil burners just never seem to sound sporty lol.

if i had the same mods fitted to both a 1.8t and this pd130 like fmic,exhaust,air filter and stage 2 map. would the diesel be quicker as a rule?

im also concerned by the mileage as obviously im going to start ragging the hell out of it and upping the power will this higher milear cope with more harsh driving and keep its own against other cars of similar spec etc?

thanks dave

[davemk4]

 

[the_hamster]

I have exactly the same dilemma mate, I have 3k to spend on a Golf but cant decide on a tdi or 1.8T.

From my years of driving and modified cars I would say that it all depends on what your goals are. Any tdi will rape a petrol in the torque department and mpg but you have the drawback of it not sounding like a petrol and shorter rev range. You'd need to spend a lot on a petrol to get the same punch you get in a tdi.

The argument will be bhp vs torque. If top end power is what you need then its easier and cheaper to get it from a petrol, if you want B-road/trackday power then torque is what you need, and thats what I want.

I've had a few 300bhp cars, but on B-roads i've still had plenty of tdi's keeping up, bhp only shows its worth when you hit triple figures and need the power to push the car through the air so on straights/motorways etc this is where bhp beats torque.

[Rhyso]

T
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Job done.  My old TDI could keep a 1.8T honest and embarrass one or two 

As per the above you need to remember that the peak BHP is produced right around by the redline in both cars but peak torque is achieved much earlier on a TDI.  You need to remember its all about average power NOT peak BHP.

Also you can only do 70mph anyways 

[davemk4]

It sounds stupid though but id imagine id always be pining for that lush petrol miltex cat back sound that you cant get from tdi. Ive youtubed the TDi and with full exhausts on they do sound alot better but never as good as petrol. BUT the tdi bullet proof and much better mpg. Im currently on a 21mpg car so would love more mpg lol with more umpf!

[JackM92]

I bough a 115tdi but its now running mostly 130 parts its now running 170ish bhp, It is a quick car by all means and does surprise quite a few other cars but its not rapid, I did have an ST before so probably why it feels a little slower.
On the upside though i get about 48-54mpg with mixed driving which you cant complain about when you have 170bhp  and i have lots of torque which is fun! I also have a straight through exhaust but standard back box, You can hear the turbo whistle a lot which is a nice sound!

I was in the same dilemma and glad i went for the tdi to be honest.

[EsSeX dAn]

another vote for the tdi. only real issue with them is the camshaft wear. but if you have it changed at the next cambelt change it should be ok. i drive a mildly tuned 110 non pd and its great. if you do a lot of miles go for the tdi, if you dont do many miles and dearly need that sound get the 1.8t. oh the tax is less on the tdi too, mines only £120 per year!

[hobnobbob]

I'm having a dilema too.
my mate has one remapped to about 170bhp but he needed a new clutch from it slipping. this a common thing with remaps?

[Rhyso]

I'm having a dilema too.
my mate has one remapped to about 170bhp but he needed a new clutch from it slipping. this a common thing with remaps?

Depends mainly on how its driven prior to and after the remap. Loading it up in high gears at low speeds will shorten its lifespan

Ive mapped plenty of diesels with well over 120k on the clock and the clutch has been fine 

[hobnobbob]

The one i'm looking at has a new turbo but i dont know how old the clutch is so will have to ask.

if its got a reletivly new clutch i may get a remap. mainly for the better MPG not just for power as i do fairly long journeys regularly