Golf 118TSI vs. 103TDI

[Cossor]

EH?!

[Maverick]

I can Push the poor little 1.4 to GTi power and surpass its torque outputs with a revo tune if I wanted to, and I'd sooner do that that buy a GTi. GTi and R have the looks for sure but it's mainly about the driving experience for me.

Sure you could do that at the cost of longevity and without the handling/safety of the GTI it won't be a fun/safe experience so not sure what you mean by "driving experience".

Of course the GTI with or without a tune will still leave it for dead, there's a reason why they offer the GTI as a package and not just an engine and that's the complete package of suspension, brakes, transmission, engine, wheels/tyres etc.

[darkfriend]

Love the TSI responsiveness, and like having the manual gearbox. Don't theink the extra cost of the 103TDI is worth it... what is it? an extra $6000?

[cameronp]

Love the TSI responsiveness, and like having the manual gearbox. Don't theink the extra cost of the 103TDI is worth it... what is it? an extra $6000?

It's an extra $2500. It'd be easier to justify buying a diesel it if it was cheaper than the TSI, but it'd take a lot of driving to make back in fuel costs the extra cost of the diesel engine, and in the mean time you have to put up with having less money in the bank while driving a slower car that idles like a tractor...

As hoi polloi suggested earlier in the thread, it took me a lot of willpower to not even test-drive a GTI. With the TSI I was already spending more on a car than I'd intended to, so realistically the GTI would have been pushing my budget a little bit too far.

[cme2c]

Like Prise very happy with the 118TSI, and the miles didn't justify the diesel.The VW is my wife's car and I keep having to stop saying "Your car is amazing." Love the diesel like surge, but it revs to 7000! Also, how did they get that deep engine sound out of 1.4l. The car was bought for comfort, and it delivers. The GTI wasn't released when we purchased.( and we signed the order a year ago), but it wasn't what she was looking for. Still very happy.

[Zaul]

It's an extra $2500. It'd be easier to justify buying a diesel it if it was cheaper than the TSI, but it'd take a lot of driving to make back in fuel costs the extra cost of the diesel engine, and in the mean time you have to put up with having less money in the bank while driving a slower car that idles like a tractor...

As hoi polloi suggested earlier in the thread, it took me a lot of willpower to not even test-drive a GTI. With the TSI I was already spending more on a car than I'd intended to, so realistically the GTI would have been pushing my budget a little bit too far.

I went to the dealer to test drive a TSI..and somewhat foolishly thought while I was there that I'd test drive a GTI too, because I could! Not the smartest thing I've ever done...guess what I bought?

[Greg Roles]

I saw the twincharged 1.4 engine on display at Sydney Airport late 2007, and spent about 10 minutes marvelling at it. Decided I HAD to have one, as the thought of being able to tweak both a turbo AND a blower was enticing!

Went up and test drove one. Felt like my mum's 2.4 accord, smooth, effortless, a big four pot feel. Didn't seem like a motorbike sized engine at all.
Drove the GTI. Superbly powerful and torquey, tight, responsive, a real drivers car. Immediately obvious why it gets all the rave reviews. Suspension was just too harsh for me personally, which was the decider. Was trading in my FPV BA GT Falcon. Dealer suggested i should try the GT diesel given I was stepping out of a V8. I laughed at him.

They unwrapped one straight from the packing materials, quickly prepped it, and I took it for a spin. One hit of that turbo rush, and I was sold. Certainly not a refined car, nor a smooth or easy to drive one. I could see why a lot of people wouldn't like it. Reminded me of my first turbo, a JA Mitsubishi Starion ( lag city ) and even more importantly, my favourite old trailbike back in the day, a Yammie YZ125G. max torque at 11,000rpm, max hp at 11,500rpm. Talk about peaky.

Bought the TDI no question, and have loved it ever since. I love the rush, the challenge to "keep on the pipe", and the massive fuel economy. Feel I've not been this good a driver for many, many years - a necessity of driving a manual laggy diesel in traffic.

All I could wish for is RWD or AWD, but I'll work on that in the "next" TDI : )

[stormshark]

I saw the twincharged 1.4 engine on display at Sydney Airport late 2007, and spent about 10 minutes marvelling at it. Decided I HAd to have one, as the thought of being able to tweak both a turbo AND a blower was enticing!

Went up and test drove one. Felt like my mum';s 2.4 accord, smooth, effortless, a big four pot feel. Didn't seem like a motorbike sized engine at all.
Drove the GTI. Superbly powerful and torquey, tight, responsive, a real drivers car. Immediately obvious why it gets all the rave reviews. Suspension was just too harsh for me personally, which was the decider. Was trading in my FPV BA GT Falcon. Dealer suggested i should try the Gt diesel given i was stepping out of a V8. I laughed at him.

The unwrapped it from the packing materials, and I took it for a spin. One hit of that turbo rush, and I was sold. Certainly not a refined car, nor a smooth or easy to drive one. I could see why a lot of people wouldn't like it. reminded me of my first turbo, a JA Mitsubishi Starion ( lag city ) and even more importantly, my favourite old trailbike back in the day, a Yammie YZ125G. max torque at 11,000rpm, max hp at 11,500rpm. Talk about peaky.

Bought the TDI no question, and have loved it ever since. I love the rush, the challenge to "keep on the pipe", and the massive fuel economy. Feel I've not been this good a driver for many, many years - a necessity of driving a manual laggy diesel in traffic.

All I could wish for is RWD or AWD, but I'll work on that in the "next" TDI : )

I'm with Greg, i have come out of bigger cars too including a V8. The GTI was just a tad to harsh in ride for me as i live and work in the provinces. The TSI in many respects was a better drive than the MK6 TDI, but for some reason the Mk5 GT TDI got my vote, i conceed it has its idiosyncracys but they are actually something i have grown to like. I somewhat regret not going the GTI but the roads i am on are just too rough.

[prise]

The first gear on the 7spd DSG is very low so acceleration in first for my 118 TSI is usually traction limited.

[dopey]

EH?!

We've got a 118TSI (manual) and a 103TDI (DSG)...

I preferred the 1.4 twin charge engine mated to the 6sp manual, I am not a big fan of the 7sp DSG (there's nothing wrong with it, just personal preference) but I felt that the 2.0D was a perfect match with the 6sp DSG transmission so opted for that combo with our second car. Best of both worlds I think
In the manual transmission I thought the 118TSI was nicer to drive than the 103TDI, but as mentioned in DSG it was the opposite.

What's quicker and whatnot doesn't bother me, I just went with what was more pleasant for normal every day driving in my opinion.