Something a little different in the post.

[GolfTi]

From Germany, LuftPost.

A questionnaire about my buying and owning experience from a German company commissioned by VW.

In perfect English of course.

Full marks apart from the drivers wiper and exaggerated mpg figures (currently on 35mpg after 5k).

[monkeyhanger]

From Germany, LuftPost.

A questionnaire about my buying and owning experience from a German company commissioned by VW.

In perfect English of course.

Full marks apart from the drivers wiper and exaggerated mpg figures (currently on 35mpg after 5k).

German post arriving to the UK on a Monday? How efficient of them!  Pity they couldn't solve the wipers considering non GTI/GTD MK7 owners have beenmoaning about them from 6 months prior to the earliest GTI/GTD reaching our shores.

[GolfTi]

It arrived on Friday or Saturday.

It was quite detailed though and really made me think about any problems I've had.
Wiper and mpg, that was it.

Mk6 had a long term average of 34 when I traded it in.
Mk7 is 35 after 5k, has something changed with the official mpg tests??

[monkeyhanger]

It arrived on Friday or Saturday.

It was quite detailed though and really made me think about any problems I've had.
Wiper and mpg, that was it.

Mk6 had a long term average of 34 when I traded it in.
Mk7 is 35 after 5k, has something changed with the official mpg tests??

The official EU tests seem more official and rigid than they used to, although there is still room for a bit of "artistic license" in the car company's favout. There is a specified payload for driver (75Kg?) +15 or 20Kg of luggage. All non essential equipment is switched off, but only equipment the consumer can also switch off. Tyres cannot be overinflated. No taping up panels gaps etc to improve aerodynamics. Engine (including all fluids) must be acclimatised to at least 20C, but up to 30C is allowed (30C would be better for the fuel economy if you're not using aircon, so I assume most would test at 30C). Car can be between 2k miles run in and (the higher number escapes me - i'm thinking 6k miles?) I suspect most will use the higher miles on the clock for their test subjects. I read all the specifics somewhere and probably commented on them here was back in April or May.

[GolfTi]

Are the GTDs any better than the mk6??

[monkeyhanger]

Are the GTDs any better than the mk6??

Right now my GTD is a little worse than my old 170TDI Scirocco (same as the MK6 GTD under the skin), but I am using Shell V-power which seems to be a lot worse than standard Shell (never used V-power on the Scirocco, save for a little bit in on one of my last fill-ups before trade-in. With standard Shell I suspect i'd be matching my Scirocco right now, or not far off it.

Plenty of people reporting improvement in mpg as the miles go on (especially up to 4k miles) which i've never really seen on my previous TDIs. Just yesterday, I did a 70 mile round trip @45mpg that would have been an easy 53mpg (given the cold/wet weather) in the Scirocco. I don't think a run in MK7 GTD will be much better than a well run in MK6 GTD/Scirocco 170TDI. Norbreck is seeing gains over his 140TDI Scirocco, but IMO his was pretty thirsty, using more fuel than my 170 - which is not to be expected. Seems to me so far that the MK7 GTD has a far bigger fuel penalty for higher speed cruising than the older engine.

[DougL]

170TDI Scirocco (same as the MK6 GTD under the skin)

I thought it was based on the Mk5... is it based on the mk6?

[monkeyhanger]

170TDI Scirocco (same as the MK6 GTD under the skin)

I thought it was based on the Mk5... is it based on the mk6?

The Scirocco is an advance from the MK5 (with new touch screen entertainment tech, ACC/DCC debut) just as the MK6 was an advance from the MK5. There is 6 months between the models so they're pretty much the same under the skin. Running gear tech is identical on like-for like engines between the 2 cars. The VW debut of the 170TDI CR engine came out on the Scirocco then was put into the GTD a few months later.

[Sootchucker]

I did once see this in my Rocco after a run down to London....79.6mpg (calculated via brim to brim at 75.2mpg), over 178 miles, with a total tank range of an indicated 870 miles ! However, that was the exception rather than the rule, just happened to be a particularly good run that day.


IMG_0858 by Sootchucker, on Flickr


IMG_0859 by Sootchucker, on Flickr


IMG_0860 by Sootchucker, on Flickr

Problem for both my Rocco and now my GTD, is that it's normal commute isn't exactly sympathetic to getting good MPG. Even my colleagues BMW 320D Efficient Dynamics, which regularly gets him 70-75mpg on the Motorway, he struggles to get mid forties to low fifties doing the same run as me.

I really need to take the GTD on a good run to stretch her legs, which will happen in December when I go down to Oxford for a week to see my sister in law and family. Hopefully by then, she'll have a couple of thousand miles under her bonnet.

[monkeyhanger]

Despite not having had any active regens lately, my weekend 70 mile round trip to Hartlepool seems to have done my mpg some good.

Thurs and Fri saw poor mpg of 42.8mpg on my commute. Dark, wet, 10C. Exact same conditions today, but the opportunity to drive a little faster (80mph) on the dual carriageway (a steady 60mph was all that could be managed Thurs/Fri due to slightly higher traffic volumes) and I cracked 47.2mpg for the exact same journey in the exact same conditions (dark, wet, 10C). It will be interesting to see what I get tomorrow with my box attached.