103TDI - General Discussion

[Mk6 Golf]

For those who have purchased the new (Mk6) 103TDI Golf, I am curious to see what you think of your purchase. Are you happy, are you not? Did you get the manual or DSG version, what options did you get, why, etc..

NOTE: The idea for this thread came from a similar thread by ‘nicandlance’ (View Profile: nicandlance - VWWatercooled Australia) for the 118TSI model (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ad.php?t=37975)

[NovaArtist]

We have a new mark 6 103 TDI manual. Had it less than 2 weeks. Wife drives it more than me - but I do like it when I get to drive it. This is an upgrade from an 8 year old Holden (Opal) Astra 3 door SRI, so this is where my comparison starts. Great fuel economy given it is a new engine with only 250 km now on the Odometer. Peak hour trip to work - 19 Km = 5.5 L/100km. Cannot complain about that, and as I work late - trip home only uses 4.9 L/100km. Even better. Really feel the acceleration above 1700 rpm. I know much has been said about the noise suppression in the new golf - and I have not been in an older one - but I really cannot tell the difference between the Astra and the Golf when it comes to the cabin being any quieter, so I can only guess that the Astra perhaps had good NHV to start with. Perhaps only having the 2 doors helped in the older car? I do like the song title and artist coming up on the RCD 310 system when listening to the radio. That is quite neat. Car feels very solid - and seats are very comfortable.

[Mk6 Golf]

I suppose I should respond as well, seeing as I did post the thread and ask the question

• In a nut-shell, I am very happy with my new 2.0 Litre 103TDI Golf.
• That said, I am looking forward to winning lotto one day (fingers crossed) as I'd love try out the Golf GTI or Golf R32. My 103TDI rocks, so I could image the GTI or R32 would just.......

The main selling points for me were:

• The FUN FACTOR: I've never owned a Turbo Diesel before, so thought it would be fun.
• Has a whopping 320 Nm torque at only 1750 RPM (compared to 240 Nm for the 118TSI),
• Gets maximum power at only 4200 RPM (compared to 5900 for 118TSI),

Fuel Efficiency (a small factor):

• I know the fuel efficiency is also better than the 118TSI, however this is not critical. I did some maths comparing the estimate running costs (for me) for the 103TDI (versus the 118TSI) considering my purchase price (i.e. weekly loan repayments) and weekly fuel costs. Although the 103TDI retails a bit more than the 118TSI, the average weekly costs (for me) were almost identical (mostly, I guess, as I drive a lot each week).

My list of options (prices are approx retail per item):

• $45 - Leather Protect
• $120 - Fitted Floor Mats
• $270 - Media Device Interface (MDI)
• $500 - Metalic Paint
• $500 - Rear View Camera
• $595 - Dark Window Tint
• $695 - Paint Protect
• $1,400 - Park Assist
• $1,900 - Sunroof
• $2,000 - Extended 3 Year / 75,000km Warrenty
• $3,000 - Satellite Navigation RNS510
• $3,300 - Leather Comfortline

Overall thoughts (so far):

• My VW feels like a very well made vehicle,
• Looks and feels nice on the inside,
• Looks OK from the outside (OK, not as nice at the GTI, but nice nonetheless),
• Given its non-GTI ''low attention factor'', it's fun at the lights (with some juice) accelerating to 100km/hr (on the freeway) in seconds. And that's only in normal "D" mode. I've tried the "S" sports mode once - too fast for me, for now
• I'm so happy I could...

[STV4SYT]

That said, I am looking forward to winning lotto one day (fingers crossed) as I'd love try out the Golf GTI or Golf R32.
The main selling points for me were:


My list of options (prices are approx retail per item):

• $45 - Leather Protect
• $120 - Fitted Floor Mats
• $270 - Media Device Interface (MDI)
• $500 - Metalic Paint
• $500 - Rear View Camera
• $595 - Dark Window Tint
• $695 - Paint Protect
• $1,400 - Park Assist
• $1,900 - Sunroof
• $2,000 - Extended 3 Year / 75,000km Warrenty
• $3,000 - Satellite Navigation RNS510
• $3,300 - Leather Comfortline

Sorry for pointing this out, but if you reckon you need to win the lottery to get into a GTI or R32 but then spend $14325 in options above the base cost of the car, then that could have gotten you easily into a GTI albeit a lower spec.

[Mountainman]

My list of options (prices are approx retail per item):

• $45 - Leather Protect
• $120 - Fitted Floor Mats
• $270 - Media Device Interface (MDI)
• $500 - Metalic Paint
• $500 - Rear View Camera
• $595 - Dark Window Tint
• $695 - Paint Protect
• $1,400 - Park Assist
• $1,900 - Sunroof
• $2,000 - Extended 3 Year / 75,000km Warrenty
• $3,000 - Satellite Navigation RNS510
• $3,300 - Leather Comfortline

What is the experience with returns on this sort of optioning - around $14000 - at a 3 to 5 year changeover? It seems so easy to make a $35000 car a $50000 car. Do the options depreciate quicker than the car itself?

[kaanage]

Yep. A higher model in a range will depreciate less than a lower model that has been optioned up to the same price

[REXman]

What is the experience with returns on this sort of optioning - around $14000 - at a 3 to 5 year changeover? It seems so easy to make a $35000 car a $50000 car. Do the options depreciate quicker than the car itself?

My Golf R is $68,300 rrp on road. Good luck getting $50K after 3 years.

The more expensive the car, the worse it gets. You buy a 335 BMW brand new for around $130K. In less than 3 years.. 60K. Ouch.

You look at say a 325 BMW. That is $75,600 rrp. Add options of about $12K. All up on roads + taxes $99K. You pick it up for $93K. Awesome. Resale?

In 5 years time 50K tops If its got less than 40K km's on it. Less with higher Kays.

Do not option up a car for the purpose of resale value. Just do it for stuff YOU like or cant do without.

I guess the only thing is when you are on the buying side of the market, would you want one that is bone stock, or would you pay a couple thousand more for an optioned one (Sat Nav, Audio, Xenon etc)?

(The difference definitely wont be the $10-15K that the options cost you though, thats for sure)

I reckon the more expensive the car, the worse the resale of the options, because, at least I think, the kind of person say buying a Merc or BMW will just want to get one brand new, and wont dream of paying near new price when they can just get.. new!?

So you are selling the car to a different market (used luxury market) = less financially able people. Where you buy a WRX for $40K, in a years time you can sell for high $30's no problem.

Seller is a bit tighter.. Buyer is a bit more leniant..

Demand at luxury cars is different for "normal" cars I think. Hence the massively different proportional depreciation values.

(Just look at a 5 year old STI, or R32 compared to an M3 or Boxter)

(and even more so, in the girly market for cute hatches - barina's, corollas astra's.. man they still hold very well!! My sisters 2004 corolla worth $20K brand new still fetches $10K.. amazed when I saw how well the small cheap hatch market holds value.. again due to the type of seller and buyer as oppsoed to the condtition of the cars)

[Mountainman]

It appears that there is always a big drop after the first year too. A couple of weeks ago a friend picked up a 18 month old Passat 125 TDI wagon with 25,000km for $34,000. It was an ex church car and in immaculate condition. He got it wholesale because of contacts he had - best friends with the user. I don't know what options it had but he said it cost $54,000 new. That seems a big depreciation hit after 18 months to me but then probably nothing like a Falcon owner would experience.

[barges]

very happy with the car and my local dealer. traded in my diesel astra and the golf is so much quieter and refined. my astra felt faster though - possibly because it made so much noise

[Corey_R]

Lower quality cars often feel faster. I've had several friends drive my car, immediately accelerate up to 120kph at which point I tell them to look at the speedo, and they exclaim "I thought I was only doing 70!"