AUTOCAR not impressed with the TDI...

[robrob]

Just some of the quotes from the test drive in this week’s issue:

All this is good news if you are looking for a dynamically capable. economical, great looking for travelling the length of the country. But - and it's a big but - It's not really that much fun.

The 197bhp 2.0 TSI GT with a DSG 'box is about as near to being a perfect weekend car as it's possible to get.
The diesel Scirocco feels like a different car from its more powerful sibling, rather than the same car with less powerful engine.

The diesel Sirocco is a good car, and will undoubtedly have mass appeal, but it's hard to imagine how anyone would prefer it to the rorty, revvy 2.0 litre turbo petrol.

They also mentioned how brilliant they thought the Sat-Nav unit is, and I totally agree.

Total score for the Diesel was 3/5 while when they tested the 2.0TSI they rated it 4.5/5 losing half a point for the harsh ride and bad visibility.

[JMcQueen]

Yeah, the TDI is a curious one. One the one hand it has the potential to be an excellent cross country car but on the other you'd think the diesel engine would spoil the nature of the car. I drive a remapped TDI 2.0 and I'm not sure it would really work in the Scirocco.

[Tallguy]

For someone that wants a Scirocco but with the lowest possible running costs and/or does a high mileage, then the TDI has to be an option even though it's less fun than the TSI version. Also, looking at other VW cars I suspect the TDI version will do better at re-sale time.

[Kev]

Read it here
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/Fir ... DI/237779/

[robrob]

Also, looking at other VW cars I suspect the TDI version will do better at re-sale time.

Not necessarily, and you can't really compare it to a Passat, Golf etc, it s a very different car, although with the obsession for Diesel cars in this country, who know...
Not driven it personally, so cannot comment myself, but I'm very familier with the engine.
I've driven the TDI (Both common rail and the older version) in a number of cars, and my last A4 had the newer version.
I think they are great engines (though nowhere near as good as the 320d's) but I also think that the sporty nature of the Scirocco warrants the 170bhp model at least, which in my view should have been standard.

[wigit]

i think most tdi owners are aware of the compromises, personally i don't get the tdi in the scirocco like i don't get the tdi TT, i used to be a tdi owner and it suited me at the time, vag tdis have had strong resuiduals as more often than not they are better than the petrol equivalent, inmho the 2.0 tsi reverses that trend

[\\chrome//]

Isnt this review just stating the obvious?

A 140bhp car isnt as much fun as a 200bhp car - No sh1t!!??

And who buys a Scirocco purely as a weekend car these days?!

No one would buy a diesel for weekend use only....

Very poor review if you ask me.

Im still trying to decide which to go for. Obvioulsy id prefer the petrol, but with the milage id do the Diesel will save me nearly £1000 a year.

[klippie]

Having driven both the petrol and diesel Scirocco's I liked the diesel for the low down grunt, in gear acceleration, 50+mpg, cheaper road tax and insurance. The petrol is a riot its a very fast car superb in fact if you like high reving engines the tdi is just as quick through the gears the problem with all diesels is getting them of the line they just don't pick-up like a petrol engine. 236lb/ft of torque= a fair bit of pull.

[chr15]

And who buys a Scirocco purely as a weekend car these days?!

No one would buy a diesel for weekend use only....

Me

I don't get the diesel either, leave it in big saloon cars, 4x4's and vans imo. Spoils the point of the car and I would rather it was kept exclusive to the 2.0 as would be less common.

[Candy Monster]

And who buys a Scirocco purely as a weekend car these days?!

My 2.0 is my weekend car Fun car but practical enough if i want to go camping

[chr15]

I have a work van that I use during the week, but I have been taking the rocco out a bit more in the evenings as it seems a bit of a shame to leave it in the garage. Would never drive it to work!

[confused]

i drive a GT TDI, i could afford the petrol version however the cost in company car tax and insurance does not make it sensible to do so. The TDI has all the good looks and is just different under the hood. I do agree given the two side by side I would take the petrol however that does not mean my TDI is not a wonderful car and still causes a stir when I drive it

[robrob]

i drive a GT TDI, i could afford the petrol version however the cost in company car tax and insurance does not make it sensible to do so.

Just out of interest, what would the company car tax and insurance have been like for the 1.4 compared to the TDI?

[go^uk]

Company car tax is based upon the emissions and the total value of the vehicle including any options...

2.0TSI GT = 23 % (co2 band) Approx value = £20.5k Tax liability = 23% x £20.5k = £4715

2.0TDI GT = 18% = £20k = £3600

1.4TSI GT = 18% = £19k = £3420

Depending on which tax bracket your earnings put you in (20% / 40%) determines your final tax value. Simply multiply your tax bracket by the liability. The difference between the 2.0TDI and 1.4TSI is negligible. For a 20% tax bracket, £720 for the oil burner and £684 for the petrol.

G.

[Bloke654]

I'm in the process of choosing my next company car and have decided on the Scirocco GT. The decision between the 2.0TSI or 2.0TDI really comes down to the tax. I'd love the TSI but can't justify it when it's going to cost me around an extra £450 a year in tax alone (40% bracket). Had considered the 1.4TSI but want the GT spec. The way I see it I get the looks and spec of the GT, but get the option to save a chunk of money every year if I can live without 200bhp. The only other car I'd considered was the golf GT TDi 140, but i'd prefer the Scirroco over the golf any day. Now if they launch the TDI 170 in the scirocco I think they'd have the ideal compromise for the company car driver.

[easybreeze]

So are you saying that you'd rather save £37.50 a month and have 140bhp rather then have 200bhp?

I am/was in the same situation... I ordered the TDI through my company car leasing system, the 2.0 TSI was out of reach, then the prices came down and I could then afford the 2.0 TSI... the TDI price also went down... basically it ended up:
TDI £117 (was £135)
TSI £155

I made the post below and everyone seemed to agree that the little bit of extra money = So I cancelled the TDI and ordered my 2.0 TSI

http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... 3775#p3775

Obviously it's your choice but I think that you'd end up regretting not paying the extra £37.50 for a much more exciting car

Hope you enjoy whatever you get

[chr15]

To be honest I'd rather VW not produce the rocco with the 170bhp diesel. It will appeal to too many people therefore making it common

[JayR]

+1 chr15

[JMcQueen]

+2

Id sooner they didnt do a TDI altogether. The Scirocco shouldnt fall into the realm of company car fodder as well too many of them on the road, the car will become common place and lose its appeal.

[shooms]

+3

I'd rather it was kept to the 2.0 petrol only personally...