Comments on: 2008 Volkswagen Golf GT Sport TSI vs TDI review

By: michael

michael — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:52:51 +0000

? worth upgrading to tdi 6 from 5( 103KW)

By: TSI17

TSI17 — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:28:31 +0000

“In TSI form, the ‘box tends to shunt and clunk a little, not to mention the indecisive changes which go along with it. However in TDI, the grunty bottom end glosses over these imperfections, meaning smoother changes, and a more liveable daily drive.”

Hi,

can you please describe me more detailed why is TSI and DSG not such a good option?

Thank you.

By: Golfschwein

Golfschwein — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:40:03 +0000

Eeek, Rob! Makes me happy for my 1.9’s 15″ alloys that only needed $149 Michelin Energy XM1+s.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:36:52 +0000

I have now done 44000 K’s in my 11 month old GT TDI apart from a minor glitch, fixed under warranty, I have had no issues.
Not sure why the current series are considered inferior either.
Economy is unbelievable on my trips, 900 – 950 per tank avg. but almost 1100 from I run.
Tyre wear is OK, still running originals, but anybody got ideas on a suitable tyre replacement that doesn’t cost $550 per tyre?

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:13:05 +0000

Cheers Golfschwein, just the encouragement I need, now that drive away deals are being splashed around in the event of the new series coming out, things are looking better from a $ perspective too

By: Golfschwein

Golfschwein — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:48:20 +0000

No bad news, Adam. Brake rotors, maybe? My front ones have been wobbly since 25,000 kms, but my original brake components are still hanging in there at 60,000 kms.

It depends how you drive it. I follow some drivers over a kilometre stretch where they dab the brakes for no reason seven or eight times. They’re the ones who deserve their 30,000 kilometre rotor replacements.

The job will cost between $750 and $900 using quality non-original gear.

I had a minor engine management glitch fixed under warranty and might ask them to look at the trip computer cluster whose numerals’ bottom edges are fading, at the next service that’s due right now.

And that’s it. Go get one.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:53:48 +0000

I am considering getting a Golf. love the sound of the GT Diesel. I have been bombarded with the opinion from mates etc, that build quality of the S.A. built Golf is poor, and yet, on forums such as this, I have never heard of anyone mentioning poor build quality. Anyone got any bad news to warn a wary buyer?

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:05:39 +0000

Turbo lag with TDI, this sounds silly to me, coming from a worked Nissan S15 with an aftermarket Jap turbo producing 240kw’s at the wheels.

Boost from 1750rpm is hardly lag (considering what I drive and other similar performance Jap cars), and the GTI would have a similar problem with boost/rpm figures being relatively similar.

Either way, don’t buy these cars for performance, don’t kid yourself the GTI is not a performance car – can’t compare it to a EVOIX, S15, STI or regular WRX in a straight line or around bends.

Like Troy i’m tossing up between the TDI and GT TDI. Not sure which way I will go, plus I may end up just waiting for the MK6 to come out later this year…

Reason for the change – quite simply something good to drive as a daily car. The other cars I mentioned are great in their own right, but not exactly user friendly on a day to day basis in city traffic. Plus the rice rocket stereotype is annoying.

By: Callaway

Callaway — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:34:57 +0000

waiting on long term opinions on the TSI if anyone can help. Drove one for a weekend recently and was completely sold, however I never had passengers or any load to speak of. Love the VWgroup diesels, but having a diesel small car currently I’m getting sick of the $100 petrol bills.

By: George

George — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:56:55 +0000

HAHAHA its all about the TDI people!!

i had the option of the TSI… the TDI is a wayyyy better car!! please just stop the previous arguments, the verdict is the TDI.

Thank you. p.s. alfa romeo are wayyyyyy better!! go for a 147 celespeed ;)

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:35:22 +0000

The GT TDI’s go hard, not great off the mark, and as some other readers noted, can be a bit rough taking off. I have had my GT (By the speedo) to 200 Ks without a problem. One BIG issue, the Continental tyres fitted are not an ‘off the shelf item, I ripped a sidewall thursday and had to wait till monday for a replacement ($550 each!). If this was not enough of a problem, the space saver spare is only good for 80 Kph and I had a 260 K round trip with highway and 110 freeways. Try cruising at 80 with cars travelling 30 Ks faster, scary stuff. One bright note, economy is outstanding at this speed.

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:53:16 +0000

Hello Im getting a Golf GT Sport 20 TDI DSG 140 BHP in 6 weeks How fast are they and also i forgot to get paddle gears now its to late are they necacery or will the manual gear stick do as good a gob thanks for any feed back Ian

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:16:23 +0000

sorry for the typos – shouldn’t type in the dark!

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:14:11 +0000

Kim, I hear you, but the only real cheap option these days, and especially in the coming years will me a two wheeler. Alternately it’s hard to beat the Honda Jazz for economy!

I have found in the VW “crew” I know now, that the TDI diesel driver have typically come from 6 packs or 8’s, or simply love diesels. The TDI isn’t always an easy, smooth drive, especially in manual form like mine. You definately re-lerarn the old clutch control, especially on steep hill starts! I can see the GT TDI with DSG would be an awesome combo. Thing is I wanted the stronger manual, and plan to keep this car beyond the 3 year warranty, and run it on Bio.

I figure the GTI would return me 5-600k a tank, the TSI 700ish a tank, and the TDI gives me 850, and that’s driving H-A-R-D. I take these figures from the various VW forums I frequent, and see how others go in the real world. I could have easuly stretched to the awesome GTI, but the ride, and the fact I know I’d have far worse economy the way I drive were my deciding factors.

The VW display foir economy is notoriously optimistic though, as a lot of guys who track litres and actual km’s are finding out. The error aside, the economy for the drive is atill mindblowing, and I’m very very happy with the little beast!

Overall, get onto a few forums such as VWwatercooled and GolfMkV, and read, read, and read. MANY people come in with the same delimma, that is WHICH ONE : )

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:46:07 +0000

Still waiting on long term opinions on the TSI if anyone can help. Drove one for a weekend recently and was completely sold, however I never had passengers or any load to speak of. Love the VWgroup diesels, but having a diesel small car currently I’m getting sick of the $100 petrol bills.

By: Alf

Alf — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:59:23 +0000

Bought my 08 gt tdi late april, and like many of you here have found no fault in this machine thus far (bar from the ridiculous price of diesel @ the moment). however, for those who want a smile on their faces after you switch this thing into second and feel yourself taking-off like a rocket with the greatest of ease, even though you have 4 occupants and a load of gear in the boot, this is certainly your car to pick. took it down to wagga recently and i swear to you that it could might as-well have just run on a damp oiled cloth, a little over 450 or so km’s it used to get back and it still had more than 650km left on the fuel reader that i used to run around sydney that following week. brilliant! also, in addition… try to get a corporate or fleet price when haggling for the ‘driveaway’ of this car, VW will try and arrange this for you, over-all and with my trade-in it took around 10k off the price of mine and afforded me the leather seats. which are most brilliant!

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:50:09 +0000

I have owned a GT TDI with the DSG since Feb this year, (My first VW, before this I was totally sold on XR6’s) I test drove most 2 lt cars and had set around a $40000 limit. I was after economy but did not want to sacrifice power or comfort. I was about to order the new Ford Mondeo Diesel and the Golf was the last car I tested, just to really see what it was like without any pre-conceived ideas. Talk about blown away, Now After owning the Golf for 4 months and 13000ks, what a car, not the least bit disappointed. Commuting from the country to Melbourne I get an average 5.6 l/100km with 3 adults on board, I love the seats and pickup and learn to ignore the slight turbo lag. I preferred the GTI but decided on the TDI for the economy and resale since I will do more than 100000kms over the next 3 years.

By: Doosie

Doosie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:07:54 +0000

Took delivery of a GT Sport Tdi in Feb. Very pleased with the car overall. However I was a bit disappointed to see that the car has been placarded by VW against using Bio D, under threat of voiding the warranty! Can anyone enlighten me? I believe most diesel in Europe is a 10% bio blend, so why the difference here. The way things appear to be heading these days, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bio becomes the cheaper option.

By: Philip Minifie

Philip Minifie — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:35:32 +0000

Had the TDI for about 15 months. cant fault it, except diesel costs about $1.80 in Manly.

By: Levy

Levy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:49:13 +0000

im in the same dilema as you Troy. very inclined to get the 2.0 TDI but considering GT DSG at the moment -still working out on the drive away price with the dealer at Barloworld. Has anyone got a figure to compare -for GT Sports TDI with out any options.