Buying : Golf GT Tdi 150 or GTi Petrol??

[Ketbmist]

Hi Guys,

Many thanks for your previous reply to earlier posting on buying a GT TDi 150. However, I have a slight problem:

I was looking to buy a GT Tdi 150 - and went and test drove one last week. Thing is - I didnt really like the drive and feel of the diesel 150 (never driven a diesel prior to that). I found it was not all that responsive, given it was 150bhp model.

Therefore - I was wondering if any of you would recommend the petrol GTi 150?

I was wondering how the petrol compares to the diesel model? Would anyone recommend the petrol over the diesel???

I'm concerned about the fuel consumption on the petrol GTi. Does anyone know how many miles (assuming its not thrashed) a full tank will give from the GTi 150 golf petrol version??

Are their any common faults with the petrol version that I should look for (would consider looking to buy 52/03 plate).

Thanks

Ket

[RickT]

Hi there..

2 of my mates have a golf.... ones a 1.9 TDI 150BHP Diesel, 3 door and the other is a GTi 1.8T150BHP 5 Door MK4...

On paper the figures are the same.. however.. MPG.. the diesel helps on the cash flow and i think the diesel is the better buy....

Yes the TDI is more cash.. but i think you get a better deal in the long run with the massive Torque comapred to the petrol version..

The best way is to get to your local VW and take a 1.8T 150 out for a run and start comparing..

At the end of the day its what "YOU" are happy with as its your cash... as long as you feel you have made the right choice alls well!!

I could provide you with loads of fact and figures comparing the 2, however i feel your best trying both and go with the feel...


Let us know how you get on..

[adamss24]

Mate, a tdi pd 150 would really give the 150 Gti a run for the money and its accelerating sligtly faster due to the masive torque and still get double the mpg. I drive a chipped 2.5 tdi audi a4 and i tell you ,its a wolf in sheeps clothes and i often humiliate/surprise many so called sports cars ! Go and test a good 150 pd and you wont be disapointed.

[lchris21]

One more thumbs up for the 150 Tdi.
My previous hack before my Gt Golf, was a jap import 260 BHP Impreza. Whilst the golf cannot compete with the brutal power delivery of such a beast, I am more than happy with it.
Its just takes a bit of getting used to. The power delivery is over a much smaller band, and if you "learn" how to drive it in this area, there's not alot that will keep up with you.
My only criticism is the lack of umph, prior to turbo boost, but this can be easily sorted with a few reasonable chip/remap mods.
The biggest bonus, as you know will be in less frequent visits to your filling station. This always brings a smile on your face. I drive my car "like I stole it" and still average 45 -50 Mpg
When I had the Scooby, I was on first name terms with the checkout op in the filling station !

[devonutopia]

Go for the TDI. Both can be remapped to around 200bhp in standard form too, but the TDI will continue to have good fuel economy. Modern diesels are pretty awesome though. I hope to be pushing almost 300bhp in my TDI pretty soon.

[Ketbmist]

Hiya,

Thanks for the advice. Ive test driven 3 Golf Gti petrols (1 at Romford VW dealership and 2 privately) - and absolutely loved them, quick, responsive and power all the time. Ive test driven 1 Golf gt tdi 150 - and didnt like it as much - just didnt feel it had power and the drive was well - "different" to the 3 petrol ones. Dont know why I felt that????

All your responses are advising on a diesel - and yes the cashflow is def a big plus (thats what worries me about the getting the petrol).
Does anyone know how many miles a gti 150 will give on a full tank? How many miles does full tank of diesel give?


All your messages are pointing towards getting diesel. Ok, maybe I need to test drive a few more diesels first.
Question on remapping: how much does it cost to get a gt tdi 150 upto 190 bhp? and once done - will this be quicker than a petrol 150?
Cheers
Ket

[adamss24]

As the other guys said, the diesel its the better buy in the long run and after you get used to it you will be glad you bought the diesel as its the best overall. The GTTDI its the best compromise between performance and economy. A tunned gt tdi will see a petrol gti of the lights ANY time but the petrol will catch up due to the higher rev range. The diesel makes its max torque at 1600-1800 rpm- barelly tick-over, the petrol will make max torque at about 3500-3800 rpm. The diesel will experience a bit of turbo lag but you will love the torque-no need to downshift when overtaking or driving over steep hils ! If you opt to remap a GTTDI, replace the clutch with an uprated one as the standard one wears fairly quick and will slip due to the massive torque ! Its pointless to compare these engines as both were designed for different purposes. The 1.8T is a race spec 5 valves a cyl with cooling oil jets for pistons and the diesel been designed for fuel economy but remember you drive TORQUE and not HORSEPOWER and the diesel GT has the same torque as an rs 4 and thats a SPORTS CAR. "nuff said. Read the reviews if you want more details... Good luck.