GTI Vs GTD

[peedman]

The GTD would handle much better though with the new xds diff. It is interesting that the GTD isnt included in the EOFY sales, perhaps demand over supply is so much greater than the GTI (which is inc in the sale)!

[CarbonVW]

GTD also gets the newer CR engine.

[kaanage]

A low kilometre and late model Golf GTSport TDI with original warranty remaining will be a better buy than the GTD as they are essentially the same car. You'd be saving yourself at least $10K over buying the GTD new.

The one with the failing injectors? I guess you could look for one that has had all 4 + the loom replaced.
And as CarbonVW has stated, the GTD engine is CR so it is MUCH smoother than the older PD engine.

[Greg Roles]

...but without the torque wack. Feels a lot more Accord like ( to me ) sadly. Still it is incredibly quiet, and "hopefully" the Pizeo injectors in it will hold up over time. It is far better off boost though. Oh and the high pressure fuel pump is the CR achillies heel, and it's uber sensitive to fuel impurities overall, the downside to CR; there's no free ride unfortunately.

Still, buying today, I'd go GTD with the suspension upgrade no question.

[triode12]

VW giveth and VW taketh away...

At least VW will fix the problem, All I know is that I rather have $10K in my pocket.

[kaanage]

I' rather not experience the way the diesel GT's cut out when an injector fails - immediate engine shutdown with no warning would be no fun at all in the wrong circumstances. Plus the DPF and regen cycles seem much less developed in the older engine.

The CR HPFP issue only seems to be occurring in Nth America where the fuel standard is lower than here and Europe.
An ECU tune would probably give a lot of the shove with extra top end too.

[Big T]

Im pretty keen on the GTD compared to the GT. Had a look at a GT a couple weeks ago and it just didn't look the goods. Really hard to find here in Adelaide as well. We have bugger all on the 2nd hand market.
Was pretty keen on the 103 with the sports pack but then realised it was a 103 made up to look sporty and am not sure if i'll be happy settling for that. Loved the way it drove and felt going up one of our hill climbs so expect the GTD to be even better.

[Transporter]

Yep, it would be GTD for me, new is new and with full warranty. I wouldn't be worried about the CR high pressure pump, just use diesel fuel additive with the BP diesel and change the fuel filter regularly.

I had MB Vito (not just one) with CR and never had any problems.

[alf13]

Hi Big T,

Finally picked the car up in Dec.

Couldn't be happier. Everything works as it should and it has NO rattles at all.

The only complaint, if you'd call it that, is the road noise on coarse roads. The car has no wind noise at all so I'm putting down to the tyres.

One of my friends who drives a V8 Senator recently drove it and he couldn't believe the performance it had.

Every time I get in it, is alwaays exciting, and the fuel economy is just great. Avg 5.7 of mixed driving and gives me a range of almost 1000ks.

I bought the car from Burwin VW in Ferntree Gully as they gave me a good deal.

[triode12]

FWIW, The wife and I drove the GTD on the track on the last VW track day and even she (a person whose least concern is performance) was not impressed. Suspension was setup for cruising rather than performance and power delivery was on the tame side of things. It is more a GT than a GTI - having said that the stock MkVI GTI is also a tad over refined compared to the MKVs.

That is why I recommended the MkV GT TDI, because for $45K, I'd rather buy the Golf GTI than GTD or save $10K and get a late model GT TDI (and buy extended warranty).

Better yet, if you can pony up the extra $$, I'd go for a basic R which is even more fun to drive over the GTI. Unless, fuel economy is the reason you are buying the GTD, the other cars in the range offer more fun for your $$.

Of course, YMMV and test all cars before making your decision.

[Transporter]

I didn't check the performance figures of both, but I doubt that the GTD would be slower than GT. Could it be that the GTD is more refined and you don't feel the power rush and the speed, while driving it.

Anyway the car spends most of the time on the road than at the race track, so it is obvious choice that most people go for more refined model and that's also what brings most of us to the show rooms for the upgrades.

Go for the GTD, you will not regret.

[triode12]

I didn't check the performance figures of both, but I doubt that the GTD would be slower than GT. Could it be that the GTD is more refined and you don't feel the power rush and the speed, while driving it.

Anyway the car spends most of the time on the road than at the race track, so it is obvious choice that most people go for more refined model and that's also what brings most of us to the show rooms for the upgrades.

Go for the GTD, you will not regret.

I wasn't comparing with the GT but with our experience with our GTI, the MkVI GTI and R. Yes, you are right, the extra refinement in the MkVI chassis has been a "problem" for us esp coming from a MkV GTI and GT TSI. Only the R IMO still has that "X" factor - not even the MKVI GTI has it IMO but it is still better than the GTD.

The reason that attracted us to the VWs was that they were fun to drive. We chose the GTI over the Mazda RX8GT with factory bilstein suspension(a car that isn't a slouch in the handling and fun department).

The GTD isn't a bad car, far from it, it is great but IMO not as fun as the GTI/R. If it fits that OPs requirements then I say go for it. But IMO he should try the GTI and R before making his decision if fun is higher on his list of requirements than fuel economy.

[kaanage]

I would expect he's gone through all that since you pay a fair premium to get lower specification performance with a diesel. I say specification performance because peak figures don't mean much in the real world and the torquey delivery of a turbo diesel can make it surprisingly fast.

[Big T]

Alright team,
I got to test drive the GTD tonight and I was not disappointed. Drove it for about 2.5 hours up a fair twisty hill (Mt Osmond for the locals and it loved it), then the highway (an incline that the Commy drops back a gear to hold at 100) and it didnt flutter. I then cruised up to Mt Lofty and across to Greenhill rd (twisty decline) where I went back down to town and across the back track to the highway again and then took on the devils elbow incline up to Eagle on the hill and then back down the highway and home. It was a good mix of peak hour stop start, open road, incline and decline twistys and normal driving. Very happy.
There are no auto diesel GTs in SA so it makes it hard to compare.
Coming from a stock VY on gas the GTD sure feels like its got plenty to give for the driving i do (plenty of kms with a combo of long and short trips).
Im a bit of a unit and thought i might struggle with the tight seats but found it very comfortable and supportive.
Im still tossing up between the GTI and GTD with the price breaks on the GTI at the moment but i'll see how low I can get them on the GTD that is currently still parked in my garage

Thanks Alf13. I might follow up with them if the guys over here aren't playing ball. You've got the car I want so if you get that overseas job give me a call!

[stark27]

I just traded in my MY08 GT Sport TDI DSG which had 118,000km on the clock, never missed a beat, 900km plus out of a tank with my best economy being 5.1 L/100km for a Golf GTI and I'm not regretting it one bit