GTD Driving style

[Valenni]

Anyone else notice that the GTD prefers to be driven like a petrol car in the higher revs?

Coming from a Merc CDI220 and a 180bhp Nissan X-Trail, I felt they had more urgency then my GTD.

BUT, I noticed that the GTD likes the higher revs and reacts accordingly. It now feels quicker from 3.5K onward. (2000 revs was a bit sluggish).

I would also say the build quality masks the performance somewhat as when putting the boot down you are sitting @ 90 before you realise it!

Loving this car!

[monkeyhanger]

Yes, Norbreck posted torque/power graphs for the 140TDI CR and the GTD in another GTD thread the other day.

Looking at them, the GTD does like to be taken to 4k revs to get the most out of it (torque remains high for a longer rev range) whereas on the 140, the torque tails right off as you go over 3k revs. I find my GTD is sluggish blow 2k revs, whereas the 170TDI I had before was perky from about 1700 revs. You do have to adapt the style a little if you’re used to previous TDIs, and hold onto the revs longer. The GTD seems to be at its best when you change up at 3500-4000 to hit at least 2500rpm on the next gear. In the 170 I could put my foot down at 60mph (1650rpm) and start to pull quite strongly, not needing to change down to 4th. On the GTD, the car is limp in 6th until 70mph (1950rpm), so you do find yourself knocking down to 4th more often.

I also find that “Normal” has a livelier response in the overtaking range than “Sport”, although “Sport” is more economical overall and has more low end urgency. A bit odd, I’d expect “Sport” to be beefier all round. If you’re more into having your power available at the overtaking range than from a standing start and don’t care too much about the mpg penalty then I’d leave it in “Normal”.

[Valenni]

Funny you mention 'sport mode' as I feel it's more responsive on a rolling road. Comfort (DCC) takes off from a standstill better though.

I only tried 'normal' yesterday and it feels similar to 'comfort', but 'sport' still feels sharper on motorways and country runs.

I had a funny experience on a slip road onto the motorway last week, a Corsa 1.7 CDTI was racing me and I was pulling from 2000 revs, she nearly beat me! It was only when I hit 4K that I flew off.

I also find economy has not suffered at all since changing my driving style. (Higher revs)

[monkeyhanger]

Most likely your higher revs are a little thirstier, but maybe getting your DPF hotter quicker, and for longer -  negating the fuel penalty you get when an active regen is going on. My commute rarely lets me put my foot down hard for long. I can usually get straight up to 70mph a mile into my journey and sit between 60-70mph for 7 miles over 2 stretches, for the rest of it I get straight up to 35-40mph and sit there in 5th (maybe 6th if I am sat in the early 40s). If I really want a huge change in pace, I end up knocking down to a gear lower than I used to in the Scirocco. This is only a recent thing to me, before I started doing this, I thought my Gtd was a bit crap.