Petrol vs Diesel

[The Laughing Co]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum and just sadly sold my Audi TT looking for something a bit more economical.

I'm after a Mk5 Golf with £7000 to spend tops.

I am running over and over the debate of petrol vs diesel. I do approximately 12000-15000 miles per year (so not that much) and my commute is 50 mile round trip about 40 of which is on 70mph roads.

My TT gave a reasonable 33mpg average so i'd want way above that (a realistic 45 would be a minimum)

I'm looking for minimum of SE spec. Can anyone advise whether I should go 1.6FSI petrol/1.9TDI or the old SDI engine? I'm thinking the SDI should be completely ruled out?

Thoughts? I just want to save some money but have a car with a little bit of guts still.

[MK5]

Hello and welcome!

About 2 weeks ago I bought a 1.9 SE tdi for 6000. This was my first diesel and I can honestly say I dont think I will ever go back to a petrol. (Unless its a Ferrari!)

For your budget you should easily be able to get a GT TDI. I beleive there are two different BHP versions, there is a 140 BHP and a 170BHP.

It should give aroung 40-50 mpg.

If I were you look on autotrader for the GT TDI and then make a decision.

SDI is a no no...

[The Laughing Co]

Thanks for the reply. I've had a good look about and I was after something with about 50k on the clock and there don't seem to be too many Tdi's about (loads of SDI's). I'm definitely struggling to see any GT TDI's for the money i'm looking to spend.

What was the mileage on your SE out of interest?

[timp3243]

I've a 2005 Golf 1.6 FSI SE. I've averaged 42 mpg (computer and measuring fuel brim-brim agree) over the two years I've had it, so not quite your 45 mpg target. It improves to about 44 mpg in the summer and drops to about 40 mpg in the winter. A steady 70mph achieves about 50 mpg.

It's quiet on the motorway - 70 mph is about 2900 rpm in 6th; much quieter than a new Focus 1.6 petrol which whirred away at 3500 rpm in top gear. I very rarely need to drop down a gear on the motorway.

I've driven many diesel-engined cars (mostly Fords and Volvos) but I still prefer the petrol. I've not driven a diesel Golf, however. The diesels have the advantage that you usually don't need to drop down a gear to accelerate briskly, thanks to the high torque, are normally pretty silent on the motorway, but noisier around town.

Hope this helps,
Tim

[ashadam]

Thanks for the reply. I've had a good look about and I was after something with about 50k on the clock and there don't seem to be too many Tdi's about (loads of SDI's). I'm definitely struggling to see any GT TDI's for the money i'm looking to spend.

What was the mileage on your SE out of interest?

Dont touch the sdi no turbo, really sluggish and quiet juicy compared to the TDi.

I would say diesel all the way you will save money in the long run.

[con1981]

mate you got to think about the price of gas petrol or diesel. If you can get 42mpg out of petrol it's probs going to be cheaper than the diesel to run. Mind having said that i've just done a 45mile round trip and returned 60mpg in my PD with speeds of between 60-115mph. Off course this was done on the german autobahn Personally the diesel is what I'd go for you can't beat a turbo

[RickT]

Go for a 1.9 TDI 105, For £7k you should be able to pick one up with around 40k miles on it..

The GT TDI , for a nice one start around 8k..

Just keep looking on the trader..

Cheers

Rick

[ashadam]

mate you got to think about the price of gas petrol or diesel. If you can get 42mpg out of petrol it's probs going to be cheaper than the diesel to run. Mind having said that i've just done a 45mile round trip and returned 60mpg in my PD with speeds of between 60-115mph. Off course this was done on the german autobahn Personally the diesel is what I'd go for you can't beat a turbo

No petrol will ever stand with a diesel on a long run and in germany you can drive how you want.

[ashadam]

Thanks for the reply. I've had a good look about and I was after something with about 50k on the clock and there don't seem to be too many Tdi's about (loads of SDI's). I'm definitely struggling to see any GT TDI's for the money i'm looking to spend.

What was the mileage on your SE out of interest?

I am not sure where you have been looking just done this search on autotrader. Try not to rescricted by distance for the right vehicle not sure you can haggle to much as these cars are currently selling but do try you may be surprised.

gt tdi
7k - 9k

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk.../search.action

[lanciamug]

I prefer the petrol but a 45mpg target is probably too ambitious for a petrol, so oil burner is your only option.