Pacific TDI vs GT TDI

[Neilm]

Folks, have been a frequent visitor to the site trying to decide on which car to buy, have driven the GT TDI and it is an awesome machine, however since the release of the Pacific the only noticable difference that I can see between the 2 is,
Smaller Wheels.(is this a biggie)
103kw to 125 kw( can always re chip)
No gear shift paddles ( never use them in my Euro)
Sports suspension.

I am not a VW expert just a guy who has driven a Euro for the last 5 years but after driving a TDI Golf in the UK for a month was blown away by the handling, power and comfort of the car, I do not need a big car anymore, the kids have gone and my clubs will fit in a Golf and at 55 I want something that is fun to drive with some grunt but is reasonably comfortable for city traffic.

Did try the GTI great car but not for everyday commuting.

The GT TDI is a great car but at an extra $5g's over the Pacific is it really worth the extra cash?

Look forward to reading as always the well informed comments from participants.

Cheers

Neil

[WEDEL.1]

You have a valid point that only you can answer;

"Is the extra cost of the GT worth it to YOU?"

It sounds to me that you are going to be very happy with a Pacific.

Maris

[brentondm]

Neil, I love my GT TDI, the 6 speed manual is great fun through the twisties and the 350NM torque always puts a smile on my face dragging off from the line..... but you're after a more laid back kind of drive and i respect that.

1 week ago I just came back from a one week tour of Tasmania, I can not praise the GT enough, the power delivery is great for effortless overtaking, the brakes are astonishing, sometimes down right frightening.


I could rant and rave forever and ever but doing 3400 KM in 8 days, it gives you a feel for the car. I never felt tired from driving, all I wanted to do was jump back in and drive some more, the GT Sport makes driving fun, effortless, and enjoyable.

regarding re chipping, the suspension, the tire profile, can you upgrade all of these items to the same quality for only $5k and still retain your 3 year factory warranty?

to sum it up:
when you want to overtake someone, will you be wishing you just had that little squirt of extra power?

when you want to just flick the car into a corner to feel like a kid one more time, will you be wishing you had the sports suspension, big tire profile and over a grand worth of rubber keeping you stuck to the ground?

the GT Sport isn't about performance and big wheels and sports suspension, its about the GT badge, knowing you're driving in class, style and sophistication while retaining respect when you put the foot down.

[WEDEL.1]

Oh how I wish I had a GT TDI

Maris

[Russ59]

I drove both the TDI Pacific (manual) and the GT TDI (DSG) when I was trying to decide and the choice for me was easy, even in though they both drive great, I was coming out of an XR6 Falcon and the pull of the GT just blew me away. I have already commented on the performance in other posts so I wont rant on about it, but the fact that the GT comes out of the factory as it is, with more power, more torque, sports suspension, bigger wheels etc... etc... and everything on it is designed and built to belong on the car, that was what SOLD me on it. I absolutely love my GT and I am hoping that with the love and care I will be giving it that it will last me for many many years. So far I couldn't be happier with mine and if you can stretch the budget the extra $5k I would say go for it !!


Russ

[shogun2]

Having chipped my Comfortline and changed to 17" alloys and low profile tyres, the next step is to do something about the suspension, as I don't like the body roll. The GT TDI wasn't around when we were buying (back in 2005), but if I was buying again it would definitely be something like the GT TDI over the Pacific.

[BarneyBoy]

As some others above have mentioned, would $5000 buy you:
Sports suspension
17" wheels & tyres
125kW chip
New wheel with paddles?

Probably you could.

But WOULD you?

I probably wouldn't, but you might. Dunno.

Both are really nice cars, and if you're sold on getting a diesel, then personally I'd go for the GT as it'd keep me satisfied for quite a while without any mods.

If you enjoy the act of modding (some folks do) then go for the Pacific, as there's a fair scope for upgrades.

If you like Blue Graphite or Tornado Red, then the GT is your only option, as is Bi-Xenon headlamps.

And from a purely subjective viewpoint, if you haven't driven a TSI, DO SO!
It's only $2500 over the Pacific diesel and has all the bits (bar the engine) that the GT diesel has. It's also a hoot to drive.

[gregozedobe]

As mentioned previously, take all the contenders for a decent drive and choose the one you like best.

Some points for you to to consider :

1 I found the GT TDI to be a bit laggy until the turbo kicked in properly at around 2,000 rpm (when the torque came in with an emphatic thump). Some people like this characteristic, I didn't.

2 Some (but not all) of the 125Kw 2.0 TDI engine's have had DPF problems (frequent blockages and/or sensor faults) if they are constantly driven in heavy traffic (which causes a heavy soot build up in the DPF). I'm not sure if the current 104Kw TDIs now have a DPF or not (previously they didn't).

3 If you are looking for a slightly more mellow version of the Golf GTI, then take a Skoda Octavia RS for a test drive (available in 2.0 TFSI petrol and also now with the TDI 125Kw CR engine that will eventually also appear in the GT TDI, this new motor is a bit more civilised than the PD version).

[STV4SYT]

If u can afford it do it, if u cant then the pacific is still a great car.

[Mischa]

the gt's engine is far superior, its not just a remapped version of the 103kw. it has a bigger turbo, more cooling ducts, bigger injectors, forged crankshaft etc etc. i reckon its worth the 5k! only downside with the gt is its bloody particulate filter.

[les88]

I came from a XR6 Turbo to the Pacific and I haven't be disappointed with the car's performance.
I had to travel to Sydney and home twice in one week, I just set the cruise control with my GPS and not many cars overtook me. The saving fuel costs were good.
Good luck with your choice
les

[Greg Roles]

I'd rate this as an even tougher choice than the usual GTI/TSI/TDI one!

To me the big thing is that there have been a couple of 103kw chipped cars blow the turbo. Remember the GT has a bigger turbo, quite a number of internal changes to handle the extra power and heat, and comes with a warranty at 125kw.

A chipped 103 doesn't. Sure you will probably get away with it, but when a turbo goes, it's going to be a big repair. If I was a dealer, well I'd certainly have "chip" as the first thing to check with a sheared turbo impeller.

At the moment, new cars are DEAD, so I'd shop around, get real serious, and find a dealer willing to do a pacific "like" deal on a GT in stock. There is always one or two on car sales, and recently my dealer sent me a letter stating they would sell cars in stock at invoice plus on roads, which was thousands off.

They won't be alone in hurting.

DPF for me is a big plus, despite the potential hassle, as I HATE following diesels pouring out black soot, and don't ever want to be one. That said the 103kw engine produces very little soot that I've seen on the road.

[CatonaPC©]

I own a Pacific TDI. I can't fault it. It has lot of grunt 103kw/320NM and it is a pleasure to drive. My wife wanted the TSI, but even though I considered it, at the end, I really needed a good safe car to get me from point A to point B without having to spend a fortune on insurance.

You could rechip it as some of the posters above recommend, but I don't think it is necessary. The other issue, I believe, (someone feel free to correct me), the 125kw TDI has strenghened engine components to handle the extra power. So, I wouldn't recommend rechipping the Pacific.

At the end, it's what you can afford and how much your insurance company can rip off you.

[Russ59]

The only real difference between insurance premiums would be when comparing a n/a petrol or a turbo diesel engine against a turbo charged petrol engine. I have had a few turbo diesel vehicles over the years and the insurance premiums have always been roughly the same or less than the cost of a N/A petrol, being under 25 changes everything no matter what you drive. As soon as you mention turbo and petrol in the same sentence the premium will usually be higher, if you're under 25 it will sky rocket

[gerhard]

Folks, have been a frequent visitor to the site trying to decide on which car to buy, have driven the GT TDI and it is an awesome machine, however since the release of the Pacific the only noticable difference that I can see between the 2 is,
Smaller Wheels.(is this a biggie)
103kw to 125 kw( can always re chip)
No gear shift paddles ( never use them in my Euro)
Sports suspension.

I am not a VW expert just a guy who has driven a Euro for the last 5 years but after driving a TDI Golf in the UK for a month was blown away by the handling, power and comfort of the car, I do not need a big car anymore, the kids have gone and my clubs will fit in a Golf and at 55 I want something that is fun to drive with some grunt but is reasonably comfortable for city traffic.

Did try the GTI great car but not for everyday commuting.

The GT TDI is a great car but at an extra $5g's over the Pacific is it really worth the extra cash?

Look forward to reading as always the well informed comments from participants.

Cheers

Neil

Interested to know why you think the GTI is unsuitable for daily commuting?

As a few others have stated, the GT has better suspension (and better brakes & tyres) - but I found even the GT TDI to be too soft in the front suspension when I test drove it.

Hence I reckon the Pacific would feel worse (to me) as it has softer suspension still, and higher profile rubber on smaller wheels which would add some vagueness (and lack of turn-in) to the steering.

When I drove the GTI I was instantly converted, as it removed the bounce of the front, fixed the turn-in vagueness, removed the lag, it doesn't have to be filled at the dirty side of the serve, and no DPF issues from too much commuting.

All this after I had sold myself on the GT TDI (on paper).

And don't forget, whichever one you get, you'll be a member of another Golf Club