Golf TDi Vs Golf GT Tdi

[Stoney!]

Hey all,

I'm new to the forum so be nice lol.

I've been looking at buying a turbo Diesel MkV for a while now but I could never quite find the spec I wanted (since they dropped the sportline) but you know I only just now realised the GT comes out in TDi also, and not just any Tdi a 125kw - 350nm TDI.

Does anyone know how much better this version is, I once drove the Audi A3 125, and was blown away with its performance. Problem is there is absolutely ZERO reviews on this particular car in Australia, I think the spotlight has been taken by the TSi engine, which is why I though GT was TSi only.

Now my second thing also is the specs between the 103 and 125 kw Diesels.

The 103kw and 125kw Engine are almost Identical apart from a compression increase on the 125 of 0.5:1 over the 103.

but the DSG's and manuals both still share the same spec of the 103 and 125 with each other however the fuel consumption looks terribly erratic on paper.

Fuel consumption (L/100k)
103:-
Manual - 5.7
DSG - 6.1
125:-
Manual - 6.6
DSG - 6.3

I don't understand why these is only a 0.2L/100k increase for the DSG yet a 0.9L/100k increase for the manual Shouldn't their basic consumptions be a little different but the increases over the Low output engine be pretty much the same, between 0.1 - 0.3 per hundred i would be thinking. Does anyone know why the increases are so different?

Also and if anyone would be able to tell me what the 103kw is like for towing an 800kg - 1000kg camper trailer and how much better would the 125kw version be, this is why im looking at a diesel, its economical for an everyday car and has the torque to tow.

Sorry if I have asked to much lol.

Stoney!

[Seano]

Stoney, according to the Green Vehicle Guide you've got your fuel figures for the 125 mixed around - manual g/box combined is 6.3 L/100 while DSG g/box combined is 6.6....which will make the increase make a little more sense.

Looks like VW don't recommend either the 125kW TDi or TSi models for towing either....which might be due to bespoke bumpers and sport suspension.

[Stoney!]

Those are the figures that i got from the VW website, strange.

So does that mean I cant tow? The bumper looks very similar to the std golf bumper.

I specifically want the higher horsepwoer for easier towing!

Stoney!

[phaeton]

Welcome to VWwA Stoney

[GermanwithaVdub]

Stoney, according to the Green Vehicle Guide you've got your fuel figures for the 125 mixed around - manual g/box combined is 6.3 L/100 while DSG g/box combined is 6.6....which will make the increase make a little more sense.

Looks like VW don't recommend either the 125kW TDi or TSi models for towing either....which might be due to bespoke bumpers and sport suspension.

stuff the green vehicle guide cuz those figures are wrong. the original figures stated in the thread are CORRECT. ie:

for the 103: the dsg uses more fuel than the manual
for the 125: the dsg uses less fuel than the manual

tbh i cant think of why this is. i'm sure someone knows?

and im sure you'll find that towing such a light trailer wont be much of a problem at all, especially with the 125.

they're beautiful cars.

welcome to the forum!

[Seano]

Regardless of fuel consumption....yould have to seriously consider the Skoda Octavia over the Golf....the AWD wagon with the 103kW TDi and manual g/box is $39,000. Drop back to the FWD sedan and you get away under 33 and half grand....

[GermanwithaVdub]

very true... especially if you're gonna be towing the 4motion octavia might be a goer. but get teh 125kw diesel when it comes in it (unless its here already?)

[Stoney!]

Tht or I could just wait for the tiguan and hope it comes out in the 125kw guise I suppose, anyone got a heads up on a possible release dat in aus? It's in the current wheels so may be coming up in the next six months.

The only other thing i've found are the mazdas, the power is only round the 100kw mark but the torque is as high as 360nm @2000. Great for towing but theres the prob, max towing on the 3 is 900kg and on the 6 is only a tonne I think, and the trailer i found is 1.1t. what a bum.

Can never find your perfect package can you, these days we pay so much and they expect us to dish out cash for what they want us to buy, not what we want to buy.

If I was a sports 125 kw diesel with chromatic review mirrors, a tow bar, 10 speakers without navigation, electric seats, bluetooth and without sport seats ect ect I should be allowed to have it.

I think u catch my drift, packages are stupid, this is where australia sucks being so far away from the plants, we have to deal with packages instead of basically what we want. In GB they can spec most engines in most car with 4 motion to a degree.

Stoney!

[phaeton]

Tiguan mid next year after Melbourne show is my guess

[gldgti]

if your bent on towing a 1.1tonne trailer, i reckon the skoda is a good option... but i dont see why you should differentiate too much between the 103kW and 125kW models, since they are the same engine.... i'm sure an ECU flash would get you the extra torques if you think you need em, but tbh, 330Nm is plenty to tow something in the real world... 10 years ago, you'd be pressed to find a low/medium range 4WD with more than 300Nm of torque.

[Jarred]

gldgti raises a good point. While golf's arn't towing vehicles, the engine's will have flexible enough power, and most likely heaps of tourqe to tow a tonne.

Getting an ECU remap/chipped etc,; would be a good thing to look at esp if you can switch between maps for daily driving and towing.

Skoda would be good purely because of 4motion, more grip will be heaps valuable. It will be easier to loose grip/traction with the FWD, esp in the wet etc etc..

How often will you be towing etc? all about what compromise you're willin to make.

Tdi golfs are great cars though, so you should be in safe hands either way.
and Welcome to the forum too!

Jarred

[Stoney!]

Thanks for all your welcomes guys!!!

I'll start by saying thanks for your help with skoda but I find the car terribly ugly!!

I know either diesels would be good but I'm looking for a little less stress on the engine while I'm towing, prob tow once or twice every few months which is why I'm look at the golf, one because I've aways liked them, and two because Its an economical alternative for towing when it will spend most of its time as my get-a-bout.

Does anyone use their golf to tow, whats the fuel consumption like when towing loads similar to what I'm looking at. Sorry for the 20 + 20 + 20 questions, lol just when ur paying this money for a car with more than one purpose you wanna know how it will perform .

Once again thats for you help.

Stoney!

[Seano]

my t4 2.5 TDi has 75kW and 225Nm and tows 2 tonne no worries....all comes down to gearing and vehicle weight.

[GermanwithaVdub]

Does anyone use their golf to tow, whats the fuel consumption like when towing loads similar to what I'm looking at. Sorry for the 20 + 20 + 20 questions, lol just when ur paying this money for a car with more than one purpose you wanna know how it will perform .

Once again thats for you help.

Stoney!

sadly the dealers cant help you with things like this. ive used my 103kw golf to tow my 1tonne mk2 golf up a quite steep hill and it did that with no trouble at all.

[Transporter]

Thanks for all your welcomes guys!!!

I'll start by saying thanks for your help with skoda but I find the car terribly ugly!!

I know either diesels would be good but I'm looking for a little less stress on the engine while I'm towing, prob tow once or twice every few months which is why I'm look at the golf, one because I've aways liked them, and two because Its an economical alternative for towing when it will spend most of its time as my get-a-bout.

Does anyone use their golf to tow, whats the fuel consumption like when towing loads similar to what I'm looking at. Sorry for the 20 + 20 + 20 questions, lol just when ur paying this money for a car with more than one purpose you wanna know how it will perform .

Once again thats for you help.

Stoney!

Ugly Skoda
Inside or from the outside?
When you drive you don't see your car, so it shouldn't be much worry. (some lemons are nice too)
Fuel economy when towing. I'm sure the difference in consumption when towing and driving without trailer will be fraction of that what it would be if you compare it to petrol powered car. So, unless you tow every day it's negligable.
You can't stress diesel engine in small car. Look at some older trucks they have much less power than VW 2.0L TDi engine. And T4 transporters with 1.9L TDi 74kw and 250Nm torque last no worries and people even tow with them.