Buying Used Golf V? 2.0 FSI or 2.0 TDi

[Cam]

2.0L TDI definitely.
I say this with some bias I suppose.


The TDI is a great little engine, pulls hard in every gear, great economy (even when giving it some stick), great noise (some may chuckle but I love the growl of the TDI) and the smile it puts on your face when it pins you back into the seat in second gear + can still retain 5.5L/100km and get nearly 800km out of a tank.

I haven't driven the FSI, but I have been behind many going up hills and even followed one on a cruise day. They're a nice little car but they lack the one thing that makes the TDI great....thats torque. The effortlessness and pull the little diesel has up top is simply phenomenal.


My vote goes to the TDI.

[Marcotto]

For the drive between Sydney and Wollongong I would go the TDI. the engines are superb and you will find going up the hill from the gong will be a breeze with the amount of torque available to you. The diesel also would have a longer life span.

My drive between Sydney and Wollongong on cruise control I average 7.1 – 7.2L. and that’s using the GTI, you would get phenomenal fuel consumption on the TDI.

[Cam]

Yeah going from Wollongong to Sydney in the TDI is great. Even better if you come up on a weekend from the coast like me. I love putting up Kiama Bends in 6th gear when you hear most other cars dropping back hehe.

Mt Ousley is a breeze too. Can cruise up there in 6th gear if you hold around 90kmh.

[Manaz]

2005 2.0 TDI are only 103KW sadly. But your performance comment still stands.

Bugger. Still a damned nice engine - 300Nm+ torque IIRC...

I believe the 2005 2.0 FSI was available with a tiptronic auto

So it was, damn!

[Bizi]

Just to chime in on a classic question... the other fun part of driving the TDI from Wollongong is the curves in RNP - get a HSV on your tail - floor it on a corner to put smoke in his eyes. Once that clears you're gone.

I've had no dramas with the TDI and spirited driving on empty roads or following certain Porsche and GTI vehicles.

[vwparkingonly]

I bought an FSI and it is a nice car but I did do some research on the auto box reliability.

The FSI with "Tiptronic" has a 6 speed Aisin (Aisin Seiki Co Japan) transmission. The gearbox is 'sealed' with no fluid change on the maintenance schedule.

My Golf blew its Aisin box at about 112k - before i bought it thank goodness. The job sheet said "slamming into gear"...... replace transmission.....etc...

I was told they are prone to failure, the valve body warps and this must be replaced with a new one from VW, the part is around 2.5k and the full job is about 5k+

Apparently the DSG is less expensive to fix at about 3.5k for its 'typical' failure.

Its a shame that VW have not solved their auto reliability issues. The 01M in the mk4 and most later mk3 models was notoriously unreliable (stated on Wikipedia) and difficult to overhaul I was advised.

Still they are excellent cars when everything works !