Newbie Advice please 1.4Tsi Vs 2.0Tdi?

[Darren1967]

Hello All

I'm after some newbie advice please. I am about to order a Scirocco as a replacement company car (I have an A3 Now). I like everything about the car, however I'm stuck between the 1.4Tsi and the 2.0TDI. (forget the 2.0TSi-too dear on my car list!)

I'm likely to have the car for around 36-40months so need to make the right choice! I've driven a few cars including A4's with the 2.0tdi which clearly has that effortless low end grunt, but on the flipside get's the noise and soot too.

I get the logic of the Tsi supposedly having torque throughout the range but my only experience of a smallish capacity VW offering was the 1.8T (150hp) Golf I had as a previous company car which was a little gutless - In fact I had a Golf 1.9tdi 130pd loan car whilst mine was in for a service which was just miles quicker in everyday driving despite being 20hp down on mine.

I asked about the Tsi at my local dealer yesterday and the sales guy raved about it but none were available for a test drive right now.

I can get a specc'd 1.4tsi with leather for about the same as a Tdi with cloth. Econony wise I reckon a real world MPG of probably 35mpg Vs 50mpg ish which only means a difference of about a tenner a month in private miles so hardly worth it.

So which drives better? I've read a few magazine reviews - none where they have been run back to back though. Any thoughts?

Cheers

[Tallguy]

Unless you do a very high mileage go for the 1.4 TSI; it is more refined and has better performance. Don't be fooled by the small capacity engine - it produces more bhp and torque than a 2.3 litre Golf V5 I had a few years back.
I have had a 1.4 TSI for a few weeks now and am delighted with it.

[adavie12]

I'm undecided between the TDi and the 1.4 as well.

Seen as the 1.4 is a non-GT, is there any difference in the trim compared to the TDi GT? Apart from the rear tints, steering wheel, fogs etc. I read somewhere that the trim in a non-GT is light; can anyone confirm this or better still provide a couple of interior photos of the 1.4 non-GT?

[Nobby]

Just my personal opinion (so no offence intended) but I think if you buy a coupé with a diesel engine you will always feel it's sort of "close but no cigar"

I've ordered the 1.4, it's surprisingly torquey & pulls literally from tickover, then pushes hard right to the red line, the twin chargers cover all of the rev band between them. Hard to believe it's a 1.4 !

I also own an X-Trail 2.2 dCi which doesn't pull from so low in the rev band! (turbo spins up just before 2000 RPM)

I've tried a 2.0 TDI (not in a Scirocco), the usable "power band" is extremely limited, from about 2000 – 4000 RPM and then it's all over, and it sounds like a tractor
It is also atrocious with the DSG box, if you were considering one, because the box doesn't keep it in the usable range, so you get huge torque low down then it goes as flat as a fart for a while until the next gear gets engaged

Hope this helps

[Tallguy]

Apart from climate + multi-function steering wheel, the GT and non-GT interiors are the same. You can specify either of these 2 items as extras on the non-GT if you wish - I have the multi-function wheel which comes with a Highline computer upgrade and is good value.

[CTRnutter]

Or you can have my 2.0 GT at a steal lol with blufin and Milltek (its abit quicker than the standard car) Joking aside I'd go with the 1.4

[Nobby]

I think this sums it up

http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=239819

[Darren1967]

Unless you do a very high mileage go for the 1.4 TSI; it is more refined and has better performance. Don't be fooled by the small capacity engine - it produces more bhp and torque than a 2.3 litre Golf V5 I had a few years back.
I have had a 1.4 TSI for a few weeks now and am delighted with it.

Thanks Tallguy - thats interesting - I had a Toledo V5 a while back and that was a great engine - I didnt realise the 1.4Tsi had more torque than that too.

[Darren1967]

Thanks for the input gents, I really appreciate it. I probably do 20k miles a year ish and the 1.4 sounds like the better choice.

BTW I did ask if there was any difference between the seats in the GT/Non GT and my dealer confirmed they are exactly the same despite VW seeming to infer that the GT has sports seats and doesnt refer to the same in the standard model.

I'm really not fussed about some of the GT extras - I can spec the tints and the 18" wheels and tan leather to lighten up the interior a little- not so bothered about fogs which I have always had and never use anyway. The multifunction s/wheel might be nice though.

Thanks again :-)

[tartangti]

The multifunction s/wheel might be nice though.

Thanks again :-)

I'd definitely go for that as an option. I never ordered it on my GOlf GTi (as it was pretty expensive at about £150 IIRC) but I always missed the conveneice of it and the steering wheel looked incomplete without it. It does rub salt in the wound when it's standard on poverty-spec Micra's/Clios and has been for the last decade but VW won't give you it as standard on a car costing 3 times as much

[maisbitt]

TDI vs 1.4TSI is all dependent upon what you want out of the car - you're a lot more likely to get close to the published economy figures in the TDI. Most 1.4TSI owners (Golf and Scirocco) get around 36mpg around the doors, vs 50mpg for the TDI.

If you want everything that the GT spec offers, it'd cost you around £1400 to up your 1.4TSI to that level of equipment, vs £1035 difference between normal and GT TDI.

I'm getting a TDI GT, but if there'd been a GT option on the TSI i'd have been tempted.

The TSI is much quicker off the mark, but once you're rolling, you'll find the TDI a little faster through the gears in overtaking range. The TDI is noisier at tickover, but at motorway speed its a little quieter as it revs at 2000rpm in 6th at 70mph.

So you've got to ask yourself whether you want all that GT stuff, whether you'd pay a bit more for the TDI and whether you'd rather pay less at the pumps once you own it - vs the TSI being a bit quicker at the lights. The TDI will probably have a better retained value come trade in too.

At 20000 miles a year you'd save approximately £630 a year with the TDI in fuel costs.

[Darren1967]

Thanks maisbitt, just when I think I'm settled on the tsi you throw some sensible facts in there :-)

Mmm, interesting as mid range is more important to me being quicker 0-60. I need to sort out a proper test drive asap.

Cheers

[SHutch]

I'm very happy with my TDi - and my last car was a 230ps RX-8!

The midrange acceleration makes the car very responsive at motorway/overtaking speeds and the economy is fantastic - just filled up the tank after 520 miles - took 48 litres which is about 49.5mpg

[Greeton]

I've tried a 2.0 TDI (not in a Scirocco), the usable "power band" is extremely limited, from about 2000 – 4000 RPM and then it's all over, and it sounds like a tractor
It is also atrocious with the DSG box, if you were considering one, because the box doesn't keep it in the usable range, so you get huge torque low down then it goes as flat as a fart for a while until the next gear gets engaged

I currently have a 140ps TDI DSG on order for a September delivery (Company Lease Car), can anyone else confirm Nobby's comments regarding the DSG box?
I am in two minds at the minute to cancel my order and either go for a 170ps TDI DSG or the 160ps 1.4 Petrol DSG (will have to add on a lot of extras to catch up wth the GT spec).
Anyone got any sage advice?

Thanks,

G.

[mruddy]

My two cars are a MkV Golf 2.0 TDi GT(140 PS) and a Scirocco 1.4 TSi. On the same route using same driving style I average 48mpg in the Golf against 38mpg in the Scirocco.
The Golf has more mid range grunt, which I seldom use, but the Scirocco is quieter, more refined, better handling, all round faster and much more fun to drive.

I'm very impressed with the twin-charged TSi's all round performance, which I think suits this sports coupe better that a diesel, but I would strongly advise you to test drive each before choosing.

In any case I don't think you'll be disappointed driving either car.

[jonallen628]

In any case I don't think you'll be disappointed driving either car.

Sorry to be blunt but drive them both, see which you prefer. Don't listen to what everyone else says as only you know which one best suits your pocket & driving style. It is fair to say which ever one you plump for i don't think you will be dissapointed.

[andres]

Go for the TDI, do a remap (you can get from 175 - 195 PS) and enjoy the performance as you'll have HP close to 2.0 TSI, only with much more torque..
and of course, you'll be doing close to 40 % more range with a TDI..

[Tallguy]

As has been said before the best advice is to test drive both and then decide. I just think the 1.4 TSI suits the car
(a sports coupe) better than the 2.0 TDI diesel.