Just about to switch... need some advise!

[en13]

If you take your car to a vw dealer for servicing you should be ok, it's only if you need to top up in between oil changes or you take your car to someone who is not aware of the special oil requirement that there will be a problem.
I have seen a photo on an American site where cam followers were damaged from the use of wrong oil being used at from memory around 20,ooomiles.

Thanks Jets!!! I plan to send it to the dealer.. I want to keep this car long term, so I'll definitely take good care of it

[GermanwithaVdub]

thanks for all the input!!! i really appreciate it. i drove the golf today and really liked it- i'm still torn betwen the astra or the golf, they're both the same price so it's really a toss up between extras (the astra has extras) or just going standard with the golf.

sorry i don't get how i have to drive it differently.. it's just city driving (and the ocassional freeway)... are you talking about driving it differently if i'm racing it? i'm just errr... happy to drive it as per usual but am concerned if i have to learn how to drive it differently in order to help with my fuel economy...

the polo is out of the race btw.. i'm just used to more space in a car... decisions decisions!!!! argh!!

anyone driven as astra CDTi or knows anything about it? i heard horror stories about holdens but i'm not sure how reliable the stories are.... any input of the manufacturing for golfs?

dont worry its not going to be a like learning to walk again just because you're driving a diesel, we're just saying that its a different feel

ive heard bad things about the astra diesel, i mean just read ANY diesel review and they will trash the astra and put the golf on top of all the others. the astra has a cheap tacky interior and even an astra with extras wont touch a standard golf. and if you're after an auto, forget about the astra; the diesel auto is a waste of time.

oh and despite the extra power of the astra (110kw for the astra compared to 103kw for the golf) the golf is actually faster and you get a much much better made, engineered and designed car.

GL with your search, only one of the two cars you're contemplating will leave you completely satisfied

[neil]

thanks for all the input!!! i really appreciate it. i drove the golf today and really liked it- i'm still torn betwen the astra or the golf, they're both the same price so it's really a toss up between extras (the astra has extras) or just going standard with the golf.

sorry i don't get how i have to drive it differently.. it's just city driving (and the ocassional freeway)... are you talking about driving it differently if i'm racing it? i'm just errr... happy to drive it as per usual but am concerned if i have to learn how to drive it differently in order to help with my fuel economy...

the polo is out of the race btw.. i'm just used to more space in a car... decisions decisions!!!! argh!!

anyone driven as astra CDTi or knows anything about it? i heard horror stories about holdens but i'm not sure how reliable the stories are.... any input of the manufacturing for golfs?

If you are wanting an auto for the Astra or Vw the only choice is Vw.
check out the economy on the two and the vw blows the Astra away.
I drove the Astra first and found it a lovely vehicle to drive but I could
not justify the price difference over the petrol model. where as the diesel
model in the Vw is not that much greater. From memory Holden wanted
7 and a half grand more than the petrol model.

Have had mine a few weeks now (Jetta) I have been driving it normally or
as in your words "happy to drive it as per usual".... I get the same
economy even when I drive using the torque.

[gpk_gti]

Hi all

I'm just about to switch to a Diesel (either Polo of Golf) but I'm wondering if I could get a better idea of how it feels like to be driving a diesel. My understanding of it is that it's more economical, it has a bit less power (which isn't an issue for me).. and if anything goes wrong, it's very very pricey.

What has been your experience with diesel? Everyone seems to sing praises of it but I'd really like to know if there's a flipside that is 'unspeakable'....

I'm almost ready to get my new diesel car... the contenders for the moment are- Polo, Golf and Astra (don't kill me). Of course I'd like to stay in the VW family, seeing as my Golf 1994 GL has served me well but at the moment, it's just about budget!

So hit me back with any input you have, I'm really quite new to this so I hope I'm not doing anything wrong!

hey mate,

I borrowed my mates 1.9 tdi golf and I was extremely suprised by its power! its not as sluggish as you think and infact the way it continuously pulls makes you feel like you could tow a truck!! I even drove a CHIPPED 2l tdi dsg golf and that was truelly AMAZING!!! that will def be my next car!!!!
The europeans are hooked on the TDI's and they are not wrong!! you wont be disappointed !!!!

[gldgti]

Defiantly get a manual, as auto's and diesels just don't match.

i disagree.... im a manual diehard all the way, but vw put a lot of effort into making an auto trans to work well with the tdi engine, and did a great job. it uses the torque properly and isnt just a petrol engine swapover thing. if someone wants a tdi auto, then by all means...

[en13]

thanks everyone!

wow!

thanks so much for the input. yeah, i just did a search on the economy of the astra and was really surprised that it was almost the same as a 1.8L petrol car! the main reason why i'm switching to diesel is cos i want to save on fuel... so it looks like the golf is the winner!

now i have to decide between a brand new manual Golf Trendline, or a semi-automatic 2005 Comfortline that has done 47000...

any has thoughts on 2nd hand diesels? i know it's up to me at the end of the day.. but it's really tough cos the comfortline does has extra perks but i don't know much about the '05 model so i'll have to go test drive it and see.... i'm more concerned about it being 2nd hand than anything else... the difference in price is about $2.5k (new car being more expensive).

opinions?

[jets]

A saving of 2.5K is not nearly enough for a car that has done 47000km, I'll bet that was at a VW dealer.That car is now 2 years old & the average Joe will say it's half worn out[we know better of course] & it's past halfway in time warranty. When I bought mine even the salesman told me that I was better off buying new.If you buy new you can negotiate a better deal. I phoned interstate to get prices & used them as a bargaining tool.
Take your time in buying, search the net. including Trading post & ebay & something will turn up.

[gldgti]

i agree with jets - the engine is only run in at 47,000km, but thats probably 1/3 of the shocks, a couple of rattles, and no more new car smell. for 2.5 grand less, i wouldn't bother. be a tough customer and you might save some on the new one anyway.

the other part of me, the greenie, says take the 2nd hand car. it is the best thing to do environmentally...

cheers,

aydan

[en13]

thanks everyone!
i've decided to go with a new car, just a standard trendline 1.9L i'm sure i'll be a happy camper driving it around!!!!

[gldgti]

well done!

i'm sure you'll be well treated by your new vw.

dont be put off by the fact you cought the 1.9, 77kw car rather than the "better" 2.0l beast. if your keen, you can get plenty of performance out of your 1.9 TDI - and economy too.

www.vwdiesel.net is a great source of info - look in the tdi section. theres a guy on there that converted his 1.9tdi from 77kw (105hp) to a dyno proven 187hp, 290ftlbs, with just a handful of resistors!

happy motoring,

aydan

[en13]

thanks gldgti!

i'm just glad i made a decision.. i don't have enough expertise to mess around with any engine parts, so i'm just going to leave the car be but thanks for the heads up!

[GermanwithaVdub]

wooo congrats!

[en13]

Running it in...

Hi all,

now that I've decided (will probably sign papers tomorrow but get it next year so that it's 0... I read in this forum that there's things to do about running a diesel in...

Was directed to "interesting articles" and there was something about revving it up to a certain amount, making sure I don't stay at the same speed for too long.. does this still stand for the new cars now?

What's your take on it?
I really like this forum, everyone's so encouraging and replies just fly in!

[GermanwithaVdub]

yes its best to run it in with varying your revving, it still stands for the brand new cars. check www.tdiclub.com for more info. also, change the oil yourself after about 6-8 thousand, its not a hard job. glad you're enjoying the forum!

[gldgti]

there was a big thread on running in a TDI, but its pretty simple - for the first 3000k, don't rev the car past 4000 rpm too much if at all. dont use the cruise control, accelerate hard up to the speed limit, and if possible try to do a few down changes so the engine is revving a bit while slowing down. you want to vary the load on the engine as much as possible, so the rings bed in properly.

for the first 1000km, i wouldnt rev it past 3500 if you can, all other rules apply.

BTW for everyone -

i have some engine oil info thats interesting. check new thread.