Golf 118TSI vs. 103TDI

[Frankenstrat]

Just go drive them both mate! It's not hard to find both in a dealership.

That's a very valid point and I have every intention of doing just that, I'd like to deal with VW Wangara despite them being the furthest dealership from where I live. I was interested in other people's opinions, not that it would necessarily sway me, but it's good to have the benefit of their experiences.

[stormshark]

That's a very valid point and I have every intention of doing just that, I'd like to deal with VW Wangara despite them being the furthest dealership from where I live. I was interested in other people's opinions, not that it would necessarily sway me, but it's good to have the benefit of their experiences.

I drove both, ultimately went for a gt Mmk5,as i am in country, overall if it was mixed driving i think the TSI was the better drive overall!

[khamtran]

I recently picked up a Golf VI 103TDI manual with sports pack and I absolutely love it. I just love the solid surge of low to mid range grunt.

I haven't driven the 118TSI so I can't comment on that but I have driven the 90TSI manual and that drove very well. The engine was so smooth and quiet (especially quiet compared to the diesel at idle and in lower revs). If the 90TSI is anything to go by the 118TSI would be a ripper.

Personally, I wouldn't have minded either. Reviews and general opinions on both engines have been excellent. I however, was swayed by the current "free on-road costs" deal VW are running on the 103TDI. If they had a deal on the 118TSI I would have certainly considered that. I know I'd be happy with either engine though as the MkVI is such a great car.

[Frankenstrat]

As it happens I have both a 118 kW Manual Comfortline and a 103 kW Comfortline in stock, available for a test drive. Just call ahead to arrange an appointment and I will make sure both are ready.

Dermot, I will definitely take you up on your offer, thank you. I think I should contact you off-line so I'll drop you an e-mail to explain the situation.

[cktsi]

I have a Mark 6 2.0 TDI loan car while they're checking out my 118TSI. Ignoring the cost of ownership I made the following comparisons of the driving experience:-

- TDI definitely noisier. Even more pronounced under acceleration, but you can't help but think you're in a truck when idling

- TDI is coarse at idle... you can feel the engine thrumming away where you feel nothing in the 118TSI

- 6DSG is way better in creeping forwards than 7DSG. There is no bunny hopping at ultra low speeds and it somehow feels more "solid" overall. If you want a DSG that feels like a torque converter auto, 6DSG with diesel is excellent.

- 6DSG won't hunt for gears like 7DSG does. 7DSG keeps flipping between the gears cos it's always picked 1 gear too high... 6DSG always finds the perfect gear and I can honestly say that manual changes really feel redundant in the 6DSG.

- 118TSI has better 'instant' acceleration but 2.0 TDI really gets going once it's above 1,500rpm in the max torque region.

- Against Mark 5, Mark 6 2.0 TDI is not as feral with the torque steer... this may be due to a different steering setup than the engine itself.

This car also had the sports pack... waste of money IMHO. The seats aren't that much better, and 2010 118TSI standard rims look much better than 2009 std rims or the 17"

Adaptive Chassis Control... driving back to back I can appreciate the comfort of the ACC. Didn't want to really test out sports setting due to the wet weather. I reckon it'll probably give better handling than the std suspension.

OK... throw in running costs... diesel is consistently cheaper than 98 and I think there's less 'volatility' in fuel consumption & you will get consistently lower consumption. I cannot compare directly with 118TSI cos this TDI only had 170km on the odometer!!! So engine needs to loosen up a bit... but by my very rough estimate I think the TDI on my own personal routes that I take through sydney is around 0.2-0.5 l/100km more economical.... that's a great result for 118TSI !!

[Frankenstrat]

CKTSI, that's the kind of comparison I was hoping to see, good onya mate. In my own case I've decided that the 118TSI is the way to go. Ironically, my wife is currrently in Ireland and tells me that almost all of the cars she's seen over there are diesels, including cars owned by two of her brothers. It could be that diesel fuel is cheaper than petrol over there, or possibly there's some kind of tax break for diesel engined cars.

[khamtran]

I recently came back from living London for a year and I did notice that the majority of cars on the road were diesels. I guess the combination of high fuel prices (equivalent to AUD$2.00-2.40 per litre) and the fuel efficiency of diesels is the reason why there are so many diesels there. From memory diesel and petrol prices were very similar.

I also noticed that most cars were manuals.

[hoi polloi]

CKTSI, that's the kind of comparison I was hoping to see.

+1

Yeah, really comprehensive and well thought out response - am leaning toward the petrol (only because IMO the big selling point of the diesel, its economy, is not better than the petrol by a big enough margin). Believe it or not I have yet to test drive either car (due to a full schedule) but hopefully Monday week.

I'll make my decision then.

Regards,
- Anthony.

[rosslm]

I drove both the 118TSI and 103TDI for a full day each and covered approximately 250 km in each, the petrol is quieter at idle although you couldn't call the diesel noisy even at idle it's subdued unless in a closed space and windows down. Once underway they're both exceptionally quiet except with some road rumble noise on certain bitumen surfaces. I found the diesel 1 - 1.5 litres per 100 km better on average not much in terms of savings but giving a greater range in the diesel. I ended up buying the diesel DSG, Sport pack + ACC, Dynaudio and I've got to say it's a real smooth drive, it just lugs around town with ease, so smooth through the gears the changes imperceptible, except in the MDI just love watching it flick through the gears. Around town it sits around 1100-1300 rpm and the DSG does its work, beautiful! 118TSI also super smooth and quiet but for me possibly coming from a V8 just love that torque of the diesel it feels similar but even smoother with the DSG. Also found the engine braking much better with the diesel being a compression engine. I found I used the brakes a lot more in the 118TSI probably because the TSI has a sportier character. I find the diesel DSG really smooth even off the mark you’d think it had a torque converter but no sponginess of a torque converter. So to sum up 118TSI super quiet, super smooth a bit more fuel used, less range more of a hyper personality, less engine braking, a bit more technology involved with supercharger and turbo a bit more stress on the engine, more chance of catching speed camera shot. The diesel a bit more noise at idle a more leasurely drive, a bit less fuel used, greater range, more engine braking, less technology in having just the turbo, I would say a longer lasting engine, slightly less chance of a speed camera shot. But both tremendous cars together with Sports Pack ACC, Dynaudio sound for around $40K this is driving heaven.

[Frankenstrat]

Good onya Rosslm, another excellent review.