Golf 118TSI vs. 103TDI

[prise]

Do the consumption specs indicate that the 7 speed is a more efficient unit than the 6 speed.

Besides the advantage of an extra ratio it is actually more efficient due to lower pumping requirements (no oil cooler required, etc) and not having an oil bathed clutch. VW claim a 6% mechanical efficiency improvement over the 6 speed

have a look at page 7 below:

http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/01/environmental_commendation1.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Umweltpr%C3%A4dikat%20DSG_Oct%2008_engl.pdf

[gregozedobe]

Having a provent almost solves the DPF issue that the new diesels have.

The DPF clogs up and costs $5k to replace.
It also throws error codes if you do lots of low rev city driving or short distance travel.

I suggest you have a closer look at what a Provent is designed to do. It will make almost no difference to the functioning of a DPF. But you are correct in saying that DPFs don't work at all well for cars that do mainly short trips and stop-start driving. To fix the DPF issues requires a lot more than an oil catch-can (which is what a provent essentially is).

However, a properly installed Provent will almost certainly make a big difference to the amount of crud that accumulates in the intake of almost all modern VAG TDI engines (courtesy of the dreaded EGR system).

[Greg Roles]

Love your work Greggo.

DPF has never caused me any issue at all. It's just an expensive part to replace when it finally clogs permanently, at approx 150k plus from what I read. If you do lots of short city trips, the DPF lifespan will be less.

Stock TDI emission control has a LOT of oil vapour and exhaust gas entering the inlet, and soot plus oil vapour equals thick goopy sludge. Performance and economy drops over time as the inlet becomes alarmingly smaller, and parts can fail as they gum up.

Dropping the oil ingested is the easiest fix, along with VW or similar "cleanouts". Get your butt into the diesel section and start reading!!

[Anfield]

Got my United Grey 103 last week, really love it! Leather, sports pack, sat-nav, Dynaudio. Rides well and is putting out some really economical fuel figures.

[MariusGT]

I've been reading posts on this thread the past couple of weeks and from all
accounts it would seem that it comes down largely to 2 things.

1: the number of kms you drive- and particularly how long your individual trips are. A few posts have mentioned the tdi needing around 10kms to come into it's own. Lots of kms and long trips = tdi. Short trips and less kms = tsi

2: the tdi is a more "sedate" drive. While giving huge respect to the torque numbers- it is a much more relaxing engine compared to the twin charger. If you're after the cruiser go the tdi. Bit mote of a drivers car? tsi

Before buying (and this is a slightly dated observation though still relevant I hope!) I drove a 2.0 tdi pacific, a gti and a gt tsi.

I loved all three. And personally found the tsi a nice compromise between the gti and the tdi.

Note: I didn't dare drive an R32.... Though I could afford it I just didn't want to splash out that much- and was wary of falling in love!!!

[Frankenstrat]

Most of my driving is to and from work, approximately 50km in either direction, of which at least 35km is on the freeway so I think the TDI is likely to be getting a decent workout.

[Hadders]

Diesels

Many thanks Coreying. You have saved me a lot of time.

Hadders (Martin Hadley)

[Frankenstrat]

I'm really enjoying the 103TDI, having read the thread in the Interesting Articles forum on how I should be running-in a new diesel. I've been keeping the revs up around 1500-2000 and boy does she fly! I was inadvertently hooning along well over the speed limit coming down the freeway. This could get addictive (and expensive if I get my photograph taken).

[NovaArtist]

Just picked up my 103TDI manual Golf in united silver this morning from Wangara VW, and it does drive well. Have to get used to the turbo kicking in - having trouble with smooth acceleration at the moment. Car certainly has a bit of a kick once you hit about 1700 rpm in the lower gears. I also have this MDI interface, which comes with an included usb cable. I thought that I could just plug in the iPOD using the same USB to iPod cable that you get with the iPODs, as it works with my Pioneer amplifier in the lounge room - just plug it in through the usb iPod socket on the amp and away you go - controlling the playlists with the amp's remote. However - the MDI interface with standard usb cable does not recognise either my 3rd nor 5th generation iPOD nano. Well, that was a wasted $300 option.
Rest of the car is really good though. Looks very nice with window tinting.

[iBoost]

You need the optional iPod cable to connect it which you can get from the dealer for around $80. A number of people have found out after getting the car.

[NovaArtist]

Thanks iBOOST for your comments. I was wondering what Kimberlee was talking about when she said that a cable could be purchased for about $90. Given that it came with a cable - I thought she must have been referring to replacement cables if I lost the original one. I mean, really, other iPOD compatible devices work quite happily through a USB port connection, so why won't this specific "optional extra" that is promoted as an iPOD reader. You should get the choice of what cable you want when picking up the car - either the USB or the iPOD one, and it should not cost an additional amount.
Anyway, I have since found that if I move songs from iTunes onto a USB stick, that works fine - and as an 8 Gig USB stick is dirt cheap I'll just buy one of those and use it as is.

Regards,

[Corey_R]

I guess the reason is that VW thought it wasn't fair to all car owners to have to pay for "an ipod license/royalty to Apple" if they don't intend to use an iPod. So for those who do have an ipod, they can buy the additional cable and then the fee goes to Apple from the sale of that product....

[NovaArtist]

MDI - and tyres

The MDI interface itself is the unit doing the iPOD reading, not the cable - that is simply a conduit to get to the MDI unit itself, so I would guess that VW has already paid the royalties to Apple on every car that has an MDI (which is all of them in the UK - as it is a standard item - not here though). It stands to reason that you cannot plug an iPOD into the device directly as you need the USB to iPOD connector. Sales people need to be clearer that they are not just referring to the standard usb to iPOD connector when they are talking about additional cables that can be purchased. Anyway its all good now - as this way with a USB stick - it can live in the car permanently and the iPOD can go back to being used for its intended purpose (bicycle rides).

On a completely different note - when I saw the other 103TDI a couple of weeks ago - they were shod with Pirelli tyres of some description - while mine have Michellin Energy saver ones. Interesting that there is no standard tyre for the car.

[NovaArtist]

Thank you very much Dermot, That is very kind. Kimberlee did indeed mention that a different cable was needed, but as I could see that the existing one ended in a usb connection, I simply assumed she was referring to a usb to iPOD cable, which I already had a number of lying around the house - and that it was more about just having a usb to ipod cable dedicated to the car. This was why I dismissed it and did not consider it important, as I assumed that as I already had spare cables that I simply would not need another one.

I would like to say that Kimberlee is a very dedicated and professional member of your staff, and she did a great job with the car hand over yesterday. You are lucky to have her on staff. Keep up the good work.

Regards,
Andrew.

[Frankenstrat]

On a completely different note - when I saw the other 103TDI a couple of weeks ago - they were shod with Pirelli tyres of some description - while mine have Michellin Energy saver ones. Interesting that there is no standard tyre for the car.

Pirelli P7 205/55R