Pacific is New Sportline and Undermines value of GT TDI

[benno]

So I just drove the GT Sport... it was nice enough.

How does the ride and handling of the Pacific compare?

[SmutsGTI]

enough to do a 13.9second 1/4 mile

Ouch that equates to a sub 6 sec 0 -100 that's impressive!

Smuts

[Russ59]

So I just drove the GT Sport... it was nice enough.

How does the ride and handling of the Pacific compare?

Pacific handles well and is a slightly softer ride from memory. The GT Sport has stiffer suspension, 17" rims and lower profile tyres. I love mine and although the ride is not as soft as the Pacific it's still very comfortable over most terrain. Are you looking at petrol or diesel ? I would advise you try both to see what you prefer, I love the torque and economy of the TDI, that along with my preference for a diesel is why I chose it.


Russ

[benno]

Pacific handles well and is a slightly softer ride from memory. The GT Sport has stiffer suspension, 17" rims and lower profile tyres. I love mine and although the ride is not as soft as the Pacific it's still very comfortable over most terrain. Are you looking at petrol or diesel ? I would advise you try both to see what you prefer, I love the torque and economy of the TDI, that along with my preference for a diesel is why I chose it.


Russ

I've only driven the diesel and was looking for one specifically. Don't think I'd like a TSI.

It's a lot of money though. I almost think a Polo TDI is enough for me... Or maybe an Pacific with leather.

[Russ59]

I've only driven the diesel and was looking for one specifically. Don't think I'd like a TSI.

It's a lot of money though. I almost think a Polo TDI is enough for me... Or maybe an Pacific with leather.

I think you would probably find the Polo a little sluggish after driving the GT Sport, wheras the Pacific still has ample power and would still be suitable as a small family car as well. I don't know what your marital status is but if you are single and planning on staying that way, for a while at least, then a Polo would probably meet your needs OK and can always be professionally enhanced (ie chipped) to give it a fair bit more power and torque.

It really depends on your driving style as well, I do a fair bit of highway cruising and not a great deal of stop start traffic driving which is what the GT TDI really needs due to the DPF (diesel particulate filter) - you might want to have a read up on in it here to give you an idea what it's all about - http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ght=dpf+filter

Due to the sort of driving I do the car is well suited to me. If you are driving in a lot of stop start traffic on a daily basis then I would suggest probably going for the Pacific or even a Polo because AFAIK the GT Sport TDI is the only vehicle fitted with it at this stage.


Russ

[benno]

Cheers for the info on the DPF Russ. I had only a vague idea what they were about before.

I don't have any real 'needs' when it comes to transport... as long as I can fit a tow bar for bikes and a roof rack for other toys, I'm set.

It's just a 'want' thing - I'm weak and have an innate desire to be a good little consumer

I like the extra power of the GT, and it looks schmick. The DPF (somewhat irrationally) assuages my guilt.

[BarneyBoy]

I've only driven the diesel and was looking for one specifically. Don't think I'd like a TSI.

You really ought to TRY a TSI, rather than THINKING you may not like it.
That way you won't die wondering if you made the right choice.

It may surprise the ***** out of you...

[benno]

Yeah but I like torque - it makes for a more pleasant street vehicle IMO. I'm not that old, but I've grown out of the boy racer thing long ago and just want a pleasant driving car. Reflecting back on it, I'm now surprised how smooth and linear the power delivery was from the GT TDI.

Plus, the oiler has better economy and lower CO2 emissions. Only marginally so, it is true, but smaller nonetheless.

[Russ59]

.

I don't have any real 'needs' when it comes to transport... as long as I can fit a tow bar for bikes and a roof rack for other toys, I'm set.

The main issue with the tow bar is that they need a special wiring harness (bloody VW electrics) to be used otherwise it will have problems. http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ht=towbar+GOLF

I wanted to get one fitted as a factory option when I bought new but at around $1500 (from memory) I decided to wait until a cheaper alternative became available. I believe there is but I'm unsure as to how successful it has been.

Russ

[Greg Roles]

Yeah but I like torque - it makes for a more pleasant street vehicle IMO. I'm not that old, but I've grown out of the boy racer thing long ago and just want a pleasant driving car. Reflecting back on it, I'm now surprised how smooth and linear the power delivery was from the GT TDI.

Plus, the oiler has better economy and lower CO2 emissions. Only marginally so, it is true, but smaller nonetheless.

Then mate the TSI is the engine for you. It makes grunt from about idle, and whilst a "revier" motor due to smaller capacity, it's grunt is just not as obvious a hit as the 2000rpm wallop from the TDI. Hey, I went in to buy a TSI after marvelling at one in Sydney at the Airport several months earlier, and had to be convinced to even try a diesel ( I remember thinking "performance diesel- - yeah right" ) and fell in love with that hit. Probably comes froma childhood racing 125cc two strokes, and a time with a Mitsubishi starion - talk about turbo LAG!

The TSI has the benefit of the blower down low where the diesel has a mighty hole! That said I found the GTI an incredibly torquey car to drive....just too harsh for me.

[KWICKS]

What cogdoc said. We drove the GT Sport TDI, not being diesel folk (a bit like carney folk I think) we couldn't get past the noise or the lack of rev range. Plus the price premium for fuel didn't make it any more economical.

R32 was next, we really liked the styling, wheels, front end treatment, exhausts. It sounds and goes great, a bit heavy for what it is due to engine and AWD, not particularly efficient on fuel. More than we really wanted to repay. Hard to walk away from.

We then tried the TSI. Marvellous. Grunty down low, runs out of puff up high, but by then you are doing well into loss of licence territory. It really was quite grunty and refined. Very comforable. And fuel efficient with a combined cycle of 7.xL/100km. We ordered one.

Then VW couldn't supply what we wanted so we got a GTI. Yep its a little jiggly, seats a re a bit tight on my lard ar$e, and yep I don't like the honeycomb and red piping on the front end or the wheels (but Mrs does and styling is personal), but it also goes really well and we are happy.

All good product. But don't not drive all of them, they are all uniquely good and you should find the right one for you.

[VW Convert]

All good product. But don't not drive all of them, they are all uniquely good and you should find the right one for you.

This is good advice, take a drive in all of them and decide which one suits one's individual preferences. Any preconceptions can be laid to rest and the buyer can make an informed decision.

Cheers

George

[STV4SYT]

Plus the price premium for fuel didn't make it any more economical.

Yesterday when i checked Premium was actually 2c more expensive per litre than diesel.

People when comparing Diesel v Petrol always compare the price of regular unleaded and not the price of the 98 stuff that the petrol variants need.

[Greg Roles]

This is good advice, take a drive in all of them and decide which one suits one's individual preferences. Any preconceptions can be laid to rest and the buyer can make an informed decision.

Cheers

George

AND expect to AGONISE over the decision for many hours! My dealer had all three in stock ( GTI, TSI, TDI ), right colours, tranny etc, ready to go. I got sunburnt walking around in the car yard! Took me five hours to decide on the day, and several test drives.

That said I could have easily lived with any of the three, they all have such great individual features. I'd love one of each thanks!!

[VW Convert]

AND expect to AGONISE over the decision for many hours! My dealer had all three in stock ( GTI, TSI, TDI ), right colours, tranny etc, ready to go. I got sunburnt walking around in the car yard! Took me five hours to decide on the day, and several test drives.

That said I could have easily lived with any of the three, they all have such great individual features. I'd love one of each thanks!!

And that is fair enough, buying a car is a big decision, you buy it you own it and are stuck with it. There would be nothing worse than regretting buying the wrong car so it is a decision that one should take their time over. One shouldn't have any hesitation about test driving again and again until one is certain the decision is right. Having said that, having test driven a Subaru Liberty, Mazda 6 and Honda Accord Euro, my decision was made within a very short time of driving the Jetta TFSI and TDI and no regrets!

Cheers

George