Said goodbye to the Passat and bought a gt tdi :)

[grover]

Just my humble opinion on the handling.

I buy and sell cars for a living and as i am into VW's when i find a nice one i keep it for a while. I had a mk4 GT TDI (2001) for the early part of the year and then the mk4 1.8 GTI (180bhp) up to this point with the standard -10mm lowered sports chassis which it shares with the Anni. I could tell the 180 had lowered suspension without reading it up as it is a lot harder than normal GTi's even though it is only 10mm. The diesel went well but as always with sporty diesels and it is not just VW's, a heavy oil burner in the nose of the car does the handling no favours at all and it is always going to be a trade with these cars between economy and handling even if the chassis is lowered/stiffened ect.

I remember going on a dealer drive day at Oulton Park raceway and driving hot hatches all day going from petrol to diesel engines but all on the same model of car and the difference was greater still. Almost any road car struggles on the track (brakes 1st then chassis) but the blown TDI's were so heavy in the nose of the car compared to a petrol lump.

If anyone is thinking of trading up to a MK5 GT TDI then make sure you drive one on the hills and see what the handling is like. Very nice cars and quick in a straight line but they are built for cruising and are heavier still.

There are no 'best' GTI's, just different engines/specs for different people/uses.

Cheers - interesting post, and you're absolutely right, the petrol is nearly 180kg lighter if i recall correctly.

I might look at a stiff ARB - i know eibach do them - all in good time though!

Tom

[phil140]

That weight figure sounds about right, on a more boring note i always find that over time (i buy a lot of ex fleet cars) diesel models tend to go through tyres/brakes/bushes/drop links etc more than their petrol counterparts. They must ride heavier in the nose especially over the speed humps (some of the speed bumps here have pot holes in!). I am not knocking diesel as a car choice as i have run them as a daily smoker myself. For the first time it was reported last week that derv cars have overtaken petrol in the new car sales lists. Considering that Diesel is a 'waste' by-product of making petrol it is worrying, manufacturers (like VW) are bringing more small cc turbo/supercharged/twin charger petrol units that have the low co2 and torque of a diesel balanced with the rev happy/smoother characteristics of petrol powerplants. Our dentman runs a mk6 Golf 1.4TSI SE 122 and the dealership say the biggest problem is that people try to restart the engine at the lights as it runs so quietly/smoothly that drivers think that the car has cut out!

As i say i like oil burners but my commute means that a diesel engine does not reach operating temp which will lead to an early demise of the engine. When advising someone on which car to buy (as we have a duty to sell someone a car fit for purpose) we always say that financially you have to do 20k miles a year to save any money as the fuel costs more, the cars cost more and are twice as likely to breakdown as a petrol (26% V 23% source: Warranty direct). But the customers get tunnel vision with the 50mpg on the fuel computer!

Who would of thought choosing a car could be so complicated!

[grover]

That weight figure sounds about right, on a more boring note i always find that over time (i buy a lot of ex fleet cars) diesel models tend to go through tyres/brakes/bushes/drop links etc more than their petrol counterparts. They must ride heavier in the nose especially over the speed humps (some of the speed bumps here have pot holes in!). I am not knocking diesel as a car choice as i have run them as a daily smoker myself. For the first time it was reported last week that derv cars have overtaken petrol in the new car sales lists. Considering that Diesel is a 'waste' by-product of making petrol it is worrying, manufacturers (like VW) are bringing more small cc turbo/supercharged/twin charger petrol units that have the low co2 and torque of a diesel balanced with the rev happy/smoother characteristics of petrol powerplants. Our dentman runs a mk6 Golf 1.4TSI SE 122 and the dealership say the biggest problem is that people try to restart the engine at the lights as it runs so quietly/smoothly that drivers think that the car has cut out!

As i say i like oil burners but my commute means that a diesel engine does not reach operating temp which will lead to an early demise of the engine. When advising someone on which car to buy (as we have a duty to sell someone a car fit for purpose) we always say that financially you have to do 20k miles a year to save any money as the fuel costs more, the cars cost more and are twice as likely to breakdown as a petrol (26% V 23% source: Warranty direct). But the customers get tunnel vision with the 50mpg on the fuel computer!

Who would of thought choosing a car could be so complicated!

Great post - thanks.

I have to admit that after reading about the 150's cam wear issue i almost regret not getting the 1.8t

Tom

[phil140]

My latest 180/6 speed is a keeper and it is now off the company stock sheet, i quite like the 'stealth' looks compared to the mechanically identical anni and it appears far fewer standard cars remain. Only 56k with full VW history and absolutely unmarked inside and out. The first week i had it i was offered £2k more than i payed for it but it just drives so well. There are down sides as i taxed it this month @ £134.75 for 6 months along with only 30mpg on its VPower only diet!

Mind you they are all keepers until they go wrong! Got caught speeding today (37 on major 4 lane road before the lefties say anything). Hmmmm a diesel is sounding better already, anyone fancy a swap?