TSI or TDI ....which one to order?

[mgs996tt]

Hi Guys, Comments appreciated.
Looking to replace my wife’s Turbo Territory.....it enjoys a drink @ avg 14.1l/100km. Drove a BMW X1 2.0D today. Nice Euro feel. Prefer the Tiguan based on the higher sitting position, but yet to drive. Plan to order either the TSI or TDI with DSG, Leather, roof, 19” Savannah Brilliant Silver (if avail). Thoughts on which way to go? TSI or TDI.....either way it will be flash tuned.
Cheers

[Transporter]

You have to road test both and make decision then. I'm a diesel man and I wasn't really sure after road test, which one to buy. Both have a good fuel economy, the TDI will use less fuel in the city, especially when driven bit harder.

[dogbowl]

Go the TSI. More refined, plenty of grunt, and you can get a chip put in to turn it into a rocket.

[ethosguy]

The TDI frees up alot during 5000-15000km, so a low distance test unit doesn't tell the whole story. Sufficient but not sporty. Not enough power to play with in a drivers context. Typical diesel power delivery, nothing off boost (1500-1700) and all done by 4000ish...it will go higher but there is little point flogging it up in the upper rev range. DSG is probably a good idea to keep it in the meat. Also, manual 1st is short (no low range compromise). Notably frugal without trying and doesn't go away alarmingly if pushed...very practical vehicle but seriously considering a flash.

I could imagine a TSI being quite interesting, espically with a flash, within the limitations of the SUV layout. Can't imagine the TSI will be as frugal when pushed, use boost, use juice...you'll be traveling though. Different league than a Territorys' thirst. A TSI should fall between the Ford and a TDI for consumption and be more fluent/effortless than the others

[Maximus]

Hi Guys, Comments appreciated.
Looking to replace my wife’s Turbo Territory.....it enjoys a drink @ avg 14.1l/100km. Drove a BMW X1 2.0D today. Nice Euro feel. Prefer the Tiguan based on the higher sitting position, but yet to drive. Plan to order either the TSI or TDI with DSG, Leather, roof, 19” Savannah Brilliant Silver (if avail). Thoughts on which way to go? TSI or TDI.....either way it will be flash tuned.
Cheers

I was in a similar situation. My wife and I took an X1 xDrive20d out for a test drive, and got a quote for an Alpine White unit with the spec that I liked. But my wife was underwhelmed by the X1's interior. We subsequently test drove the Tiguan just to be sure that we were making the right decision. And what a surprising package the Tig turned out to be. It was just as refined, handles very well, has a higher seating position like an SUV should, with a more flexible interior and better accommodation for rear passengers. And now, we're waiting to take delivery of our Tiguan 147TSI in early December.

[Sharkie]

To put it into perspective ... especially since you're coming from a Turbo Territory ... TSI has performance and TDI has not.

Chipped TSI will outrun a Turbo Territory (0-100 in around 6s dead) whereas a chipped TDI will not crack 10s even going down hill. Overtaking 80-120 in a TSI in around 3.5s whereas a TDI will take 9s ... that is a huge amount of time to be exposed to oncoming traffic.

On the open road fuel consumption is within 1l/100km of each other. In the city the gap is less close, but 9l/100km in a chipped TSI commuting is easily possible.

Even a TDI will use lots of fuel when pushed hard, I can easily hit 11-12l/100km in loan TDI VWs ..... same expression ethosguys used applies equally to TDIs and TSIs ... use boost = use fuel.

If you came from a car with no performance, I'd say either could work for you as each has its strenghts and weaknesses. However, coming from a Turbo Territory, I'd expect you to be dissapointed in the long run with a TDI. Buy a TSI, you will love it.

[Transporter]

Sharkie slow down,

I see even 99L/100km on the display in TDI Tig or Golf, but that is different, because it is instantaneous consumption when accelerating hard with engine cold and only for a very short time, much shorter probably than in the TSI. However how much fuel you put in tank is important not what MFD says at the moment you look at it. Long term fuel consumption, is what people have on their mind when they ask; what fuel economy you're getting? Also don't compare chipped TSI engine to standard Ford Turbo Territory, or any standard turbo car, they can get it chipped as well and then it might be faster in straight line.

[Sharkie]

Sharkie slow down,

I see even 99L/100km on the display in TDI Tig or Golf, but that is different, because it is instantaneous consumption when accelerating hard with engine cold and only for a very short time, much shorter probably than in the TSI. However how much fuel you put in tank is important not what MFD says at the moment you look at it. Long term fuel consumption, is what people have on their mind when they ask; what fuel economy you're getting? Also don't compare chipped TSI engine to standard Ford Turbo Territory, or any standard turbo car, they can get it chipped as well and then it might be faster in straight line.

Over the course of an entire tank in a Golf TDI I got 11.something l/100km when filling up ... so a TDI driven enthusiastically (and I mean enthusiastically) is not as light on fuel as most people will have you believe. I have workmates who get about 9.5l/100km constantly in their Golf GTs .... much to their disgust as they get GTI fuel consumption without GTI performance.

A new stock DSG 147TSI will do 0-100 in 7.4s whereas a Turbo Territory takes 7.2s, so stock performance is very close. Chip both and it will still be close. You have to remember that a Territory weighs more than 2000kgs and have a std automatic. Chipped DSG Tig will beat a chipped Turbo Territory every time.

In this case the OP is a current "performance" turbo equipped vehicle driver and buying a diesel IMO will lead to buyers regret down the track.

My TSI now sits after 11000km (1500km highway) on 9.8l/100km average (MFD and lease company calculated consumption figures very close at this point) and I drive it VERY enthusiastically .... .... Driven the same way, I'd be happy to bet that a TDI would have similar consumption but without the fun ....

[NZTiguan]

Under "normal" driving conditions with a "normal" driver the TDi will use 20% LESS fuel than the TSi. You can talk performance and standing quarter and 0-60 times till you're blue in the face but for the "average" driver the TDi has heaps of grunt (particularly when towing or hill climbing) and is a very capable AND economic cruising machine. That said, IF you're usually a GTi type driver then don't go for a diesel they're not for you. Horses for courses and for most average family people the TDi is the better option imo.

[Transporter]

Skarkie stay on topic in this thread, it is not about you and your TSI Tig. This thread is not going to be turned onto what is faster in 1/4mile or 0-100.

[epilot]

mgs,

my partner and i drove both the TDi and the TSi and thought the TDi was rubbish...

they are noisy in the cabin, rattly (new term) at idle, power delivery was ordinary and not that economical.

we were comparing to our GTi and were totally underwhelmed with the diesel and have ordered a MY 11 147 TSi with DSG.

even with the old auto the 147 was still a nice drive and the AWD is a real bonus over the FWD GTi, basically we felt we were getting GTi performance with AWD in a (for us ) more practical shell.

by the way nice garage !!

regards,

[STV4SYT]

Having owned both Diesel and TSI equipped VW's in the past 12 months, it really comes down to how many km you intend to do in it, to justify the extra cost of the diesel over the TSI you really need to be putting 20,000km a year on it for the cost savings to be seen. That being said, the diesel is a nice lazy car to drive, with heaps of instantaneous torque for putting around in traffic, whereas the TSI likes to be worked to make progress.

[ian]

I'm just a normal driver and over the years Ive owned a lot of performance vehicles AA cordia turbo, V/8 torana hatchback, VL Calais Turbo
and heaps of Commodores, i find the Golf V Gt Diesel has plenty of pick-up and heaps of torque hills and mountains are like a bump in the road and last week went to Bowral from Sydney sitting on the speed limit and managed to get it down to 5ltrs/100 and i wasn't treating it like a baby.

[mgs996tt]

Thanks Guys. Seems the general consensus is the TSI. (Given the low down torq of the TDI this would also be great around town).
Scanning the web found the attached pic. Will base my plans on building a similar Tig, but in White.
So TSI (either 125 or 147 not sure at present…125 looks to be better value based on my option wish list). Options to include : DSG, Leather, S’Roof, Bi-Xenon’s, MDI, Comfort & Fogs – if 125, B’tooth, OEM running boards, Savannah wheels as shown / H&R Coil overs or KW coil overs / APR flash……let’s see what the stealers can do with availability tomorrow.

[Transporter]

If you go for too many options then price wise, it is better to get 147TSI rather than 125. There are some features in 147TSI that are not available as an option on other models, check it out.