Buying Used Golf V? 2.0 FSI or 2.0 TDi

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

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.
:biggrin:

My vote goes to the TDI.

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.


:)

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.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mikinoz

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

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tim

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

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So it was, damn!

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.

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 !