GTI Vs GTD

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Originally Posted by uu11wa

Hi all, I purchased a new GTD a few days ago and totally love it. It has heaps of power, incredible fuel economy and is generally a lovely car.

The options I have are DSG, Leather, Xenon Lights and 18 inch rims.

I will agree that it does sound a bit tractor like and people screw their nose up and say... It's a diesel. Trust me though, one lap around the block and they all are very impressed by the power this car has.
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Drove both GTI and GTD and went for the D. The GTI is the star on performance but where am I to use it. I drive 28kms each way to work and the rural highway section has been reduced to 90 km limit (blackspot). I decided that if I was going to be responsible for giving birth to another vehicle on the planet that it might as well chew less rather than more fuel as the performance is more than enough for me.
After driving the the German autobahns I now understand why fast cars are made, but we do not have the roads like that. Before that experience I had real reservations about cars that did more than twice the speed limit, what's the point.
Comments about an extra 1.8 litres per 100 for the GTI as trivial do not add up. Round that up to 2, say the GTD gets 6 l/100, that is a 33% additional fuel for the GTI each time you fill up. If you have pushed the GTI it would be 50% more and if you did not push it, then you might as well have bought the D anyway.
Now having got that out of my system, I can still see why the GTI is the icon and why the golf is what it is. It's just me, I just don't need the top end, I need the torque, and cool.

I had previously disregarded the GTD, I just didn’t really see it as a worthy replacement for my MK5 GTI given it has less power and in real dollar figures is only around $400 per year cheaper to own for the amount of driving I do. This was until my parents recently purchased a MK6 2.0tdi DSG comfortline, which I had the pleasure of driving for a few weeks.

Wow is all I can say, I really am surprised at how much better the quality of the MK6's interior is over the MK5's (and my GTI has leather vs the comfortline which does not). There were a few statements in this thread about the MK5 GT TDI being just as good as the GTD, well I can confirm that the interior alone is worth the upgrade, everything just feels more solid, more German, finally comparable to the older MK4 which was of Audi standards.

Secondly the engine, which is noticeably quieter then the MK5 TDI, the only time you’re reminded it is a diesel is when you look at your distance to empty and it reads 1000+. In gear acceleration doesn’t feel at all like a diesel, it just feels and sounds more like a grunty six. The only real weakness I found with the engine was it felt slow off the line, nothing really happens in fist gear, but due to the DSG and the low torque delivery by time you’ve hit second you’re slung shot forward and have left the traffic behind you in a cloud of black soot.

The fuel consumption, an average tank for me in the GTI is around 550kms which is usually 1 round trip to Sydney (300 highway) and the rest heavy city, which by no means is bad given that’s just on 50ltrs of fuel. The Comfortline however I managed to score 800kms, although as per my original statement this is not really a deal breaker but certainly an influence in the decision making.

So the GTD is looking like a very possible contender when I want to upgrade next year, unless the new Polo GTI is given a bigger better engine, a 1.8tfsi or even a 1.6tfsi would be nice.

Have you driven the MKVI GTI, that might make you fizz even more

Comparisons aside, you do have to admit it is astounding to put the words "diesel" and "GTI" in the same paragraph. Only several years ago diesels were flat out making any sort of power at all, and a lot of black soot in the attempt to do so! I think diesels have come a LONG way in the last few years, they still have their shortcomings ( sound anyone? ), but that torque vs fuel use, well it's hard to beat.

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Originally Posted by Greg Roles

Comparisons aside, you do have to admit it is astounding to put the words "diesel" and "GTI" in the same paragraph. Only several years ago diesels were flat out making any sort of power at all, and a lot of black soot in the attempt to do so! I think diesels have come a LONG way in the last few years, they still have their shortcomings ( sound anyone? ), but that torque vs fuel use, well it's hard to beat.

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I would put forward the argument that top end trumps it every time.. the counter is also that that performance cars have some "economic" measure making them attractive which makes me scratch my head.

No argument that diesels have come a long way but to your point having the GT brand placed on it makes me wonder

In many car races the diesels are outperforming petrol powered cars. The Touareg won Dakar rally 3 times in row, the last time it looked like they had walked over the competition, they finished 1,2,3rd. It was also the only the car in the race that was fitted with the air conditioning (I like that, who cares about a bit of power loss or extra weight :grin: )

So, the GT badge on the diesels is well earned. :)

I don't care how you paint it
A diesel sounds like a truck! If that's what you desire for $40k.....enjoy

Modern diesel engines in cars do not sound like a truck. I do enjoy 1000+ km from 55L:)

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Originally Posted by Brendan_A

Modern diesel engines in cars do not sound like a truck. I do enjoy 1000+ km from 55L:)

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U cannot be serious.
Stand next to any diesel at idle and see for yourself. Truck!
Inside u may be somewhat insulated from the noise but it's there. I idle chatter of a truck.

I'm dead serious! My Jetta does not sound like a CT610 CAT truck engine. The direct injection in the Golf is almost as loud as a tdi at idle.