GT Sport TDI or GTI

[Neilm]

Folks,
About to flog the 06 TDI Jetta before it loses any more value, after having read some interesting articles in the RAA mag about car values and depreciation.

Main point is that i have always lusted after a GTI but after driving the Jetta and a hire TDI golf in the Uk I am sorta hooked on diesel!

Don't wish to start a bun fight but what is the difference between the two models and is the economy of diesel lost in the extra servicing costs and is the GT Sport much different from the GTI in set up?

Cheers

Neil

[Greg Roles]

I can only hope this doesn't go down the usual path...

Try and find a sample of each at a dealer or private sale and drive them. It really comes down to what you are personally after. The GTI is a much tighter, higher performance, better handling car, but it's nowhere near Jetta comfort. GT TDI will get 800's a tank driven hard, a GTI nowhere near that. GTI has much more flexible engine, still nice and torquey, but a much broader rev range.

The GT TDI is a halfway step from your Jetta to a full on GTI. Depends how far you want to go, and give up comfort for performance handling wise!

[BarneyBoy]

Nicely put, coggy - but even that level of diplomacy will probably STILL cause another deterioration of GTI/diesel relations

Greg's spot on - drive all the options. The GTI & the GT diesel are different animals, and only you can choose which suits you best.
But as you're already comfortable with the oiler, I'm guessing the pendulum's already swung a touch in that direction.

BTW - are you buying new? Because the GTD and GTI would be your choices these days.

[MariusGT]

A friend has just ordered a GTD in United Grey --> he drove my car and loved it.

he also has a penchant for oilers and loves his fuel economy.

solution was GTD! Either way - GTI, GT Sport, GTD you won't be disappointed.

[poyta]

Definitely take both for a drive. They are both sports orientated cars with great performance but they drive so differently. I test drove both before deciding on the GT TDI and my feeling was comparing these two is like comparing a HSV Commodore V8 and a 2.0L japanese Turbo - both of them are very fast and probably record similar 0-100 times and quarter mile but whereas with the jap 2.0L turbo you requires high revs because the the power comes in so late the HSV just does it so effortlessly. Its the same with the TDI vs GTi. The GTi requires a lot of gear change and high revs while the TDI's power/torque is almost at max at under 2000rpm. The fact that I can get "GTi like" performance with little effort , superior fuel economy and at the time it was cheaper steered me towards the TDI.
Oh and I'm sure its open to discussion but the reported extreme long life of the TDI was also a bonus for me. I haven't found servicing costs to be that much more than my mates GTi.

[STV4SYT]

Not this one again.....

I just swapped my 08 GT TDI for a 10 GTI. no regrets. Wasnt doing the km to justify the diesel.
GT TDI had lots more low down grunt, great for putting around in traffic, overtaking, etc.
GTI needs to be worked a lot harder to get it to go, but it goes harder when pushed.

If u enjoy lazily plodding along and getting 800+km per tank get the diesel
If u enjoy thrashing around without any concern of fuel economy get the GTI

Economy wise, over 7000km of mostly freeway im getting 550-600 per tank from the GTI .
TDI was getting 900ish for the same run, but when i worked in the city, it was down as low as 550-600 for short stop start driving.

[triode12]

I'm not taking sides and think that both cars have their own merits and would have a tough time picking between the two if I had to choose.

But the petrol VWs give full power at 2000-2500 revs which is unlike Japanese engines that give full power only above 4000-6000 revs.

So I don't understand why the previous two posts have stated that the GTI needs to be worked harder to get going.The reason I was attracted to the VWs was because they didn't needed to be revved the hell out off to get going.

[Greg Roles]

I agree, when I test drove the GTI I was amazed at the low down grunt for a 2.0 turbo....

[poyta]

But the petrol VWs give full power at 2000-2500 revs which is unlike Japanese engines that give full power only above 4000-6000 revs.

:

No actually if you look at any stock GTi on the Dyno, you'll notice maximum power is at 5000rpm. Sure it starts to go up around 2000rpm ( gradually ) but its not at its "full power" as you say.

[Transporter]

Folks,
About to flog the 06 TDI Jetta before it loses any more value, after having read some interesting articles in the RAA mag about car values and depreciation.

Main point is that i have always lusted after a GTI but after driving the Jetta and a hire TDI golf in the Uk I am sorta hooked on diesel!

Don't wish to start a bun fight but what is the difference between the two models and is the economy of diesel lost in the extra servicing costs and is the GT Sport much different from the GTI in set up?

Cheers

Neil

Also look in Golf6 section where there is a lot of posts comparing GTI against TDI................ and debate gets always a bit hot.