TSI or TDI

[tinto]

Bottom line they are very similar cars on paper, the major differences are in how that power is delivered. Both are amazingly fuel efficient for what they can do.

As much as I love a good series of sarcastic rants, where were you 45 posts ago?
That answer is spot on mate.

[Cam]

Biggest downside is they just don't sound sexy through the carpark.. "G'day luv, check me out, clakkytyclakcclakclack...."

Hehe so true.


I think you summed it up pretty well cogdoc.

[maca]

Biggest downside is they just don't sound sexy through the carpark.. "G'day luv, check me out, clakkytyclakcclakclack...."

Bahahaha!! That's literally made me LOL because it's happened to me so many times.

So yeah, I think it's best to just go out and test drive them both. You won't know what you want based on people's opinions as there will always be two sides to every story, and people saying that "no TDI's are better" while others are saying "No TSI's are better".

In saying that, TDI's are better

[Maverick]

Has anyone mentioned how Diesel is a safer fuel in accidents.
I know if I had the misfortune of being in a serious accident I would prefer to be driving a TDI.

When was the last time you remember an accident where the car burst into flames and incinerated the occupants?

Probably around the last time there was a car accident where the occupants slipped over in the diesel spill and broke their back.

[tdi guy]

When was the last time you remember an accident where the car burst into flames and incinerated the occupants?

It does happen, though not very often:

http://currentaffairs.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=823962

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25717450-5012895,00.html

(luckily the Cooper driver wasn't injured).

[neil]

When was the last time you remember an accident where the car burst into flames and incinerated the occupants?

Probably around the last time there was a car accident where the occupants slipped over in the diesel spill and broke their back.

Recently there has been a number of accidents where the occupant has been trapped and burnt alive.
I also recall about 4 weeks ago one occurred on the Sydney harbour bridge.
And this one a few days ago nearby.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/one-dead-after-catherine-hill-bay-accident/1559724.aspx

[Greg Roles]

Hate to agree with Mav, but there's probably more recent incidences of DPF's bursting into flame. Remember the regeneration cycle is trying to get unburnt fuel INTO the now mega hot DPF, where it BURNS.... and I'm aware there's been a few USA pickups burnt to a crisp because of this.

[Maverick]

Recently there has been a number of accidents where the occupant has been trapped and burnt alive.
I also recall about 4 weeks ago one occurred on the Sydney harbour bridge.
And this one a few days ago nearby.
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/loc...t/1559724.aspx

I probably should have added that whilst it can happen it's very very very very very rare and to choose a TDi over a TSI for this reason is really pointless. Plus most people that die in car fires are already dead or seriously injured and trapped.

[Greg Roles]

Agreed, I seem to recall some issues with 103kw turbos? (I could be wrong though).
I also don't believe VW would release a version (in the MkV) then build on that by releasing it in the Mk6 that they weren't 100% confident in!

The issues come once you chip it. The 103 differs dramatically to the 125 mainly in its heat handling ability. There's been more than a few 103's pop the turbo once chipped. VW did a lot of major redesign work with the 125, details of which have been posted on here several times.

If I had a 103 and chipped it, I'd be looking for any way I could to lower the thermal stress on the engine, water spray the intercooler, air blower over the turbo, cold air intake, free flowing exhaust, boost the EGR cooling, boost the turbo oil cooling, water / meths injection just off the top of my head.

[Greg Roles]

As much as I love a good series of sarcastic rants, where were you 45 posts ago?
That answer is spot on mate.

No fun in getting to the point in the ever fun TSI / TDI war, I purposely kept quiet....and I see even the Pirelli types still LOVE to get involved...

[brad]

I gotta say, my choice of turbo-petrol over turbo-diesel had nothing to do with:

• petrol flammability over diesel flammability - likelihood of either catching on fire is negligible, therefore the risk rating on both is LOW (yeah, I do lots of risk assessments on equipment in my job). I'd be more concerned about contamination when you refuel & the emissions from the exhaust pipe.
• longevity of engine - sure the piston/block assembly might last longer on the diesel but there are plenty of ancillaries that will cause just as much grief on the diesel. Have a read at BriSkoda, low mileage diesels are causing grief all the time. I don't think I've ever owned a car with more than 200,000km on it so 500,000km on a diesel means nothing to me. ALso, being a diesel, does this make all the other parts of the car last longer? So you have a good engine surrounded by worn-out body, bearings, suspension and everything else.
• Fuel consumption - over a year/25,000km there's only a day or two worth of pay in it.
• Depreciation - same deal. Diesel costs more initially (opportunity cost) and % depreciation seems about the same. Either way, over 2 or three years I'll take a big hit.

I bought the petrol because I liked the usable powerband that ran from 1800rpm through to 5000rpm. The diesel doesn't do that big a range (more like 2000rpm-4000rpm???) and I found (in my test drives) that I was getting caught having to change up a gear when I'd rather be keeping the foot on the go-pedal.

Personal preferance that can only be decided with a test drive.

[Paul_OH]

The issues come once you chip it.

Aaaah, I see. Well noted

[Preen59]

Yeah last year a guy that came on the Wisemans Ferry cruise with a chipped 103kw TDI had his turbo dump its lunch.

I think that will always be touch and go to some extent with the diesels, as to make decent power, you have to pump a lot of air into them, which means higher boost pressures. Higher boost pressures mean more stress on the air pump (turbo). More stress means things fail quicker.


I reckon VW needs to bring out a straight out blown diesel. Then we wouldn't have any of these problems and you wouldn't need to worry about turbo lag and all the other crap... Plus i'd be much happier driving something with a puffer- screw the fuel economy! haha.

[Greg Roles]

Yeah, I thought the same thing, and still haven't found a real good reason why blowers are only found on big diesels, but it doesn't seem to suit the diesel engine in smaller capacities. Adding a blower was my initial tinkering plan.

[Preen59]

Yeah, I thought the same thing, and still haven't found a real good reason why blowers are only found on big diesels, but it doesn't seem to suit the diesel engine in smaller capacities. Adding a blower was my initial tinkering plan.

They take horsepower to drive, so you "waste" fuel to drive them. That's the ONLY disadvantage i can see.. Stupid greenies.. haha.