Owning a Diesel in the city

[kaanage]

My bad - I had assumed VAG would be consistent in its engine application (I see the Scout got the PD w DPF when it was introduced in August 2006).

But the PD with DPF sounds like a really bad idea. Do you get regens very often??

[Greg Roles]

Depends how you drive mate, can be weekly, can be monthly. Get it hot lots, then it's further apart. I've had all situations, but did experiement with turning my regens off, and the thing was over 60 % clogged after a month despite my best efforts otherwise, so a DPF could indeed clog to failure in several weeks if regens aren't working properly. The MKV DPF isn't a disaster, just that it stretches the limits of a cam operated injector, as to regen it has to inject late in the cycle, and this is physically difficult with a cam meant to inject around top dead centre. The first version of anything new isn't without problems, first wives are a perfect example.

Skoda were ahead of VAG in releasing common rail in several models, and all current cars have to meet Euro 6, so they all have a DPF now.

[Inego]

But the PD with DPF sounds like a really bad idea. Do you get regens very often??

I've had to force 3 or 4 in the last 18 months, and know to do it as soon as the DPF light comes on. It went from 54% full to 100% full in 4 or 5 days last year - luckily the fix was covered under warranty....

[brad]

When?
About 5 years ago I stopped the high school runs to drop off and pick up my younger daughter and I could manage 25km to the city in the morning traffic in less than 45min. The same takes today more than 1.25hour. The traffic had changed - more intersections and much more road works everywhere.

last year (or was it early this year?) to see the Pandas & catch up with some mates. Plus 4 other times in the last 16 years. Truly, I can't believe how quiet the City is & how 3 of the 4 guys I was having lunch with drive to their city offices every day. You couldn't afford to do it in Sydney.
It stands to reason, you have 1.3million people over ~1800sq km, we have 4.6 million over a fairly similar area. The poulation density of ADL is ~660/sq km; Sydney is ~2040/sq km and the areas I'm refering to have a density exceeding 7500/sq km. The Inner West & Eastern Suburbs are two of the most popular areas, therefore the prices have gone sky high & the number of cars per household have increased in proportion to the affluence of the areas. Add the fact that both of these "old" areas were never designed for motor vehicles (My Grandfather used to have a horse & cart stabled in Charing Cross until 1962) and traffic is just a bunfight.

I really loved the 2 years I lived in Randwick & the 5 years I lived in Glebe but everytime I go back the traffic drives me insane.

[Transporter]

It looks like we are still lucky in Adelaide. I was in Sydney 8 years ago, we hired Corolla, and I loved the traffic there (you feel alive), but must admit we stayed with friends, 90km (Gosford, from memory) from the city centre, so most likely a different traffic than driving to work in the morning.

[kaanage]

Skoda were ahead of VAG in releasing common rail in several models,

So VAG use Skoda as a test brand before using new components on the VW models?

[Greg Roles]

I think it's more the fact VW sell in high numbers so they don't have to try as hard, but with the way their reliability ratings are beginning to slide, that may change, and rightly so.

[brad]

It looks like we are still lucky in Adelaide. I was in Sydney 8 years ago, we hired Corolla, and I loved the traffic there (you feel alive), but must admit we stayed with friends, 90km (Gosford, from memory) from the city centre, so most likely a different traffic than driving to work in the morning.

Gosford isn't Sydney. Gosford is The Central Coast. (It would be like me saying "I stayed at Lobethal & the traffic was fine.") The Northern perimeter of Sydney is Hornsby or maybe the Hawkesbury River at a pinch.

The place has gone way downhill in 8 years. Don't come back, it will ruin your good memories.

[kaanage]

I think it's more the fact VW sell in high numbers so they don't have to try as hard, but with the way their reliability ratings are beginning to slide, that may change, and rightly so.

Strange. With most business groups, innovations filter from the premium brands downwards so I would have expected technology releases to be introduced in the order of Audi, VW, Skoda, SEAT.
Perhaps VAG have been trying to build up the reputation of Skoda?

[K1W1]

expected technology releases to be introduced in the order of Audi, VW, Skoda, SEAT.

Lets try Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Audi, VW, Skoda, Seat.
I've left Bugatti out because they are somewhat of a special case.

[gldgti]

Historically its pretty common for VAG to keep producing older engines for other brands like seat and skoda while using their new tech in current vw and audi vehicles. Its also pretty common for vag to keep on the older tech engines in the US market for longer than the rest of the world.

With diesels, vag have produced engines that went into mid 90's vw's for seat and skoda (particularly in europe) for well into the 2000's (such as the 1Z 1.9 TDI and even 1Y indirect injection engine).

VAG definately doesnt treat the australian market the same as the rest of the world, however, and we tend to get limited engine options, with a strong trend towards the higher tech and more powerful end of the engine selection, for any given vag model sold.

[Greg Roles]

Aydan is right, the UK had the VW diesel varients well ahead of us, and the difference is most likely due to the importers rather than the factory, and their opinion of how the typical Falcadore driver would deal with something other than a 6 cylinder 1700kg auto.

[kaanage]

Lets try Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Audi, VW, Skoda, Seat.
I've left Bugatti out because they are somewhat of a special case.

I don't class Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley with the others given their RADICALLY different target markets to that of Audi, VW, Skoda and Seat. The former are MUCH closer to Bugatti than they are to SEAT.

Historically its pretty common for VAG to keep producing older engines for other brands like seat and skoda while using their new tech in current vw and audi vehicles. Its also pretty common for vag to keep on the older tech engines in the US market for longer than the rest of the world.

With diesels, vag have produced engines that went into mid 90's vw's for seat and skoda (particularly in europe) for well into the 2000's (such as the 1Z 1.9 TDI and even 1Y indirect injection engine).

VAG definately doesnt treat the australian market the same as the rest of the world, however, and we tend to get limited engine options, with a strong trend towards the higher tech and more powerful end of the engine selection, for any given vag model sold.

Sure but the DPF and CR engines made it into Skodas well before VWs which is against the trend (what you stated is what I would have expected - the lower brands get the newer tech at a later date)

[spellbound]

When?
About 5 years ago I stopped the high school runs to drop off and pick up my younger daughter and I could manage 25km to the city in the morning traffic in less than 45min. The same takes today more than 1.25hour. The traffic had changed - more intersections and much more road works everywhere.

Wow i used to live at seaview downs , would have taken me to the city 30mins 15 years ago in peak hour , is it really that bad now 1.25 hours .

[K1W1]

I don't class Porsche, Lamborghini and Bentley with the others given their RADICALLY different target markets to that of Audi, VW, Skoda and Seat. The former are MUCH closer to Bugatti than they are to SEAT.

The technology initially introduced into Porsches and the like eventually trickles down into VW then Skoda/Seat in progressively more affordable (and sometimes reliable) forms.