VW mk4 diesel engine advice/opinions needed

ustari

Was crashed into the back of last week and looks like the car will be a "write-off", I was driving a mk4 1.4 which is grand but obviously weak as you can get. Live in Ireland, thinking about going to England to get my new car. Would like the 150 engine but am looking for opinions on it? What about the 130? You lot will know far more than me!



I'm 20 years old with 3 years no claims, checked insurance on the 150 on its very reasonable.

thanks in advance

Gary ITR

I had the 150 for a while. Really liked it as it was full GTI spec with full leather. Was plenty quick for our roads too. And with a remap I'm told they can be good for 180. Only thing about it was the ride was very stiff on the bumpy roads

bazz26

You should also check on the Seat Leon. Same car as the Golf available with the same engine but prettier.

ustari

Onkle wrote: »

I had the 150 for a while. Really liked it as it was full GTI spec with full leather. Was plenty quick for our roads too. And with a remap I'm told they can be good for 180. Only thing about it was the ride was very stiff on the bumpy roads

I've seen cases of them being brought up to 200 and even more but a lot of things would obviously need changing if that was to happen. Was it a positive experience you had with it?

Gary ITR

bazz26 wrote: »

but prettier.

oh come on.. you're a car enthusiast and male, don't call cars 'pretty'

Gary ITR

ustari wrote: »

I've seen cases of them being brought up to 200 and even more but a lot of things would obviously need changing if that was to happen. Was it a positive experience you had with it?

It was, apart from when it was serviced by an indy (company car and go to whatever garage i'm sent to) and they didn't replace the sump bung properly, car pissed out it's oil when I was on the M4 and the engine imploded. Had to be totally rebuilt, all at the expense of the Indy garage.

Then I had to change for a newer one and I really missed it

ustari

Thanks Onkle.

More advice or experiences welcome!

Gary ITR

I was doing in the region of 500miles per week and I was returning between 35-45 mpg too and tbh I did usually drive it fairly hard, accelerating quickly braking hard etc

ustari

ive been on pistonheads and autotrader.co.uk for most of the day! The price difference is unreal, mk4s demand way too high a price here I think.

Gary ITR

same as every car unfortunately. Why are you going for the diesel? would you not consider the GTI? either the 1.8T or the 2.0. If insurance isn't bad on the 150 then it should be similiar on the GTI

Connorzee

how much did they quote u on the 150?? and which company. AXA dont insure people under 22 on GTTDi and you have to be over 25 for the GTi im told.

Gypo

ustari wrote: »

Was crashed into the back of last week and looks like the car will be a "write-off", I was driving a mk4 1.4 which is grand but obviously weak as you can get. Live in Ireland, thinking about going to England to get my new car. Would like the 150 engine but am looking for opinions on it? What about the 130? You lot will know far more than me!



I'm 20 years old with 3 years no claims, checked insurance on the 150 on its very reasonable.

thanks in advance

Hi,

I run a B5.5 Passat myself with the 130 TDI engine, overall I'm quite happy with it. The PD engines (despite some of the bashing they get around here!) are no dragsters but they are good compromise on power / economy. I'm sure the slightly lighter Golf with the 150 engine would have more of an "edge" to it. Driving within speed limits and a bit of cop on, high 50s is possible on a long trip but there's still enough grunt for overtaking etc. Driving it on of course you'll get alot less. Things have also moved on alot though since the 130s were the cutting edge, particularly on refinement and linearity of power.

I think your main problem will be finding a genuine well cared for / maintained example without paying silly money. I think the resale of these have taken a hit in the last 12 months due to vrt / road tax changes (you'll be stuck paying road tax on a 1.9 while 08 on cars will be paying half the amount as they will be based on cc), rising cost of diesel and they fact that the country is full of UK import Golf / Passats etc. already.

On a relability front they don't have quite as good a reputation as the non PD 90 / 110 units before them. I have heard of air mass sensors, injectors, dual mass flywheels and turbos giving trouble but I'd bet you could experience any of these failures on any badly maintained car. With the amount of them around I'm not surprised these rumors are around and wouldn't let it put me off in the slightest. I think the rest of the car has the possibility of throwing up more problems .

So overall I would have no hesitation in recommending one (the engine at least) but you should probably do your sums first. If your not doing substantial mileage, maybe a 1.8T would be a better fit?

ustari

@Onkle--- Think it will be worth my while cost wise to get diesel, intending on keeping it for a few years fingers crossed if i get a nice one.

@Conor--- With Quinn Direct, using their online quote thing. Usually they will do better for you over the phone. Got 1240 for 3rd party earlier today.

Zonda999

Connorzee wrote: »

AXA dont insure people under 22 on GTTDi and you have to .

GTTDI?? Many people on boards will tell you that such a car never existed and i would be inclined to agree with them. There was never a "GT-TDi". "GT" was, only a trim level on the mk 4 golf.The same 110, 130 and 150 TDi engines were available in many other spec levels also.SE, Highline and whatever.They really are'nt a GTi with a diesel engine.I have, though driven a 150 and it was quite good fun, i have to say.:)

ustari

Thats true, dealerships put it on after to make the car sounded "fancier" as far as I know. Would be de badging mine anyway!!

tossy

Glad to see my GT TDI rantings are starting to take hold

If i was you ustari i would go for the 130 and i would without a doubt go UK,start your search on an enthusiasts forum like uk-mkivs.net when a car comes up for sale there you simply run a search on the user and find out every mod they have made or any problem they have had.

.Longshanks.

Regarding the earlier comment about remapping, I know a lad who had a A4 'RS' TDI with the same engine. It was 130 bhp and it was supposeed to be remapped to 170+ bhp. It felt quick & had the big puffs of black smoke out the twin massive exhaust when pushing on.
Thing is, when he traded it in for the 140bhp TDI passat, it was a LOT quicker!

Yakult

Im looking at a 1.8T Gti myself.

Just wondering what its pushing out as standard? 130/150?

Zonda999

Unless its one of the special editions from the later years, it'll be putting out 150bhp

tossy

Longshanks100 wrote: »

Regarding the earlier comment about remapping, I know a lad who had a A4 'RS' TDI with the same engine. It was 130 bhp and it was supposeed to be remapped to 170+ bhp. It felt quick & had the big puffs of black smoke out the twin massive exhaust when pushing on.
Thing is, when he traded it in for the 140bhp TDI passat, it was a LOT quicker!

Hold up........WTF is an RS TDI A4? here we go again :eek:

bazz26

R_H_C_P wrote: »

Im looking at a 1.8T Gti myself.

Just wondering what its pushing out as standard? 130/150?

MkIV GTi had 150bhp and later a 180bhp version was available.

ustari

tossy wrote: »

Glad to see my GT TDI rantings are starting to take hold

If i was you ustari i would go for the 130 and i would without a doubt go UK,start your search on an enthusiasts forum like uk-mkivs.net when a car comes up for sale there you simply run a search on the user and find out every mod they have made or any problem they have had.

Why would you recommend the 130? I know you know your stuff so I'll be taking your advice. Have looked at the classifieds on that, even created this topic there too.

siralfalot

tossy wrote: »

Hold up........WTF is an RS TDI A4? here we go again :eek:

I've never heard of them either, but there seem to be loads of them about, fecking muppets :rolleyes:

tossy

ustari wrote: »

Why would you recommend the 130? I know you know your stuff so I'll be taking your advice. Have looked at the classifieds on that, even created this topic there too.

Well to me the 130 is a better drive much more spritely(despite its lesser BHP figure),most 130's will be putting out around 150 as standard anyway so you are getting the best of both worlds,by the same token most 150's will be putting out around 170 and at that kind of performance the turbo takes that little bit longer to spool up and you can feel it.

You also mention you are going to keep it for a few years and second to the old non pd 90bhp 1.9 the 130 pd 1.9 is probably the most proven and reliable form of the engine out there.

Despite what you might read in some quarters the PD engine is a great engine very torquey(sp?) and reliable (if well minded),the are no where near as economical as the older no PD TDIs though,on an old 90bhp golf you could easily drive for 60 miles on the red light reserve if taking it easy,with the PD engine you are going to be seeing mid 40's average.

Yakult

bazz26 wrote: »

MkIV GTi had 150bhp and later a 180bhp version was available.

sound for that. 180bhp might be too much for me lol so I will look at the 150 instead.

groupb

Onkle wrote: »

oh come on.. you're a car enthusiast and male, don't call cars 'pretty'

Car enthusiasts do'nt drive golfs!

ustari

groupb wrote: »

Car enthusiasts do'nt drive golfs!

drive what then? jap scrap?

tossy

groupb wrote: »

Car enthusiasts do'nt drive golfs!

What a stupid statement!

Golf MK1 GTI
Golf MK2 GTI
Golf MK3 Vr6
Golf MK4 R32
Golf MK4 GTI anniversary edition.

In fact my definition of an enthusiasts car is a car loved by the few and underrated by the many.

Is your definition of a car enthusiast someone who hangs posters of gallardos on their wall and settles for an almera?

ustari

tossy wrote: »

What a stupid statement!

Golf MK1 GTI
Golf MK2 GTI
Golf MK3 Vr6
Golf MK4 R32
Golf MK4 GTI anniversary edition.

In fact my definition of an enthusiasts car is a car loved by the few and underrated by the many.

Is your definition of a car enthusiast someone who hangs posters of gallardos on their wall and settles for an almera?

What about the 4motion?!!:p

.Longshanks.

tossy wrote: »

Hold up........WTF is an RS TDI A4? here we go again :eek:

:D:D:D:D One of these;

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Audi/A4/1.9tdi-RS/1194602/

tossy

ustari wrote: »

What about the 4motion?!!:p

4motion boras are cool or so i believe

tossy

Longshanks100 wrote: »

:D:D:D:D One of these;

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Audi/A4/1.9tdi-RS/1194602/

thats an A4 longshanks

Gary ITR

groupb wrote: »

Car enthusiasts do'nt drive golfs!

See my sig... you telling me i'm not an enthussiast?

ustari

id like to see groupb's replies to these!

wind-up artist probably.

.Longshanks.

tossy wrote: »

thats an A4 longshanks

I KNOW but haven't you ever seen the amount of A4's going about with the full rs4 bodykit INCLUDING both the rs4 and the TDI badge on back! Always makes me laugh!
My original post was about a car I knew that had both those badges on back

tossy

I have shanks and i would be in total agreement with you,except i used to laugh now i just ask why? :rolleyes:

groupb

tossy wrote: »

What a stupid statement!

Golf MK1 GTI
Golf MK2 GTI
Golf MK3 Vr6
Golf MK4 R32
Golf MK4 GTI anniversary edition.

In fact my definition of an enthusiasts car is a car loved by the few and underrated by the many.

Is your definition of a car enthusiast someone who hangs posters of gallardos on their wall and settles for an almera?

Ok fair enough the mk 1 and mk2 were good cars, but to suggest that the
mk3 or mk4 golfs were enthusiasts cars or cars that were in any way class leaders or innovators is stretching it a bit. You can chip most engines nowadays but power alone does'nt make a great car.

tossy

You are missing the point mr BB (big time) we were never talking about class leaders or big power,i told you my definition of an enthusiasts car,whats yours??

Look up any car club and there will be countless cars classed as enthusiasts cars that were never class leaders or even that popular when the first rolled out of the factory.

The reliant robin for instance is an enthusiasts car.
Countless alfas that didnt even run right a year after leaving the factory are enthusiasts cars.
Early LOTUS cars (lots of trouble usually serious) are classed as enthusiasts cars.

The list is endless!

Sometimes enthusiasts fall for the class leaders like the MK1 golf or the MK2 escort,but sometimes they fall for the car that everyone else forgot.

groupb

Fair enough some people might be interested in them , but I can't understand why anybody could get excited about something as mediocre as a golf (especially mk3 & mk4). As I said before the mk1 & mk2 golfs were good cars(I might even admit to likeing a mk1 1.8 GTI) but the later ones are just a product of slick marketing. Drive a mk4 golf back to back with a focus of the same vintage and it will become obvious to anyone within 5 minutes what a joke that car was.
And before you think I'm saying that everything ford is perfect , the mk2 escort was a class leader , but only on rally stages.
I do take on board your point about what defines an enthuasist and in fairness one mans pride and joy is anothers ............................!

Biro

tossy wrote: »

4motion boras are cool or so i believe

A Bora is never cool.

Slidey

I have a 150 and when i rang the insurance companies this week i had to tell them it was a gt tdi. Told them it was a pd 150 and they hadnt a clue, it also says gttdi on the log book, both the uk and now the irish one.

Am getting solid high 40's in the mpg.
Easy to get over 50 in long runs and great for overtaking.

Got it in the uk with full leather and it is a really nice interior. Also has the brushed aluminium trim inside.


Edit: insurane quote from allianz is 750 for a 27yr male with a fairy liquid licence

tossy

Biro wrote: »

A Bora is never cool.

on what grounds mr biro?

But to answer your point BB,if you drove a bog standard MK4 golf back to back with a bog standard focus of the same vintage you would be inclined to go with the focus i totally agree,but bog standard cars never make enthusiasts cars,and in my opinion(the opinion of an enthusiast) there is only one focus to live with the likes of an anniversary MK4 or R32 mk4 and that is the focus RS.

You say you find it hard to understand how anybody could get excited by "something as mediocre as a golf" by this i take it you mean middle of the road small family hatchback,the golf in the form of the 1.4,1.6 and TDI never claims to be anything more than a middle of the road small family hatchback,as does equally mediocre focus in all the above run of the mill engines! to me i find it hard how someone gets excited by a 1.4/1.6 or TDCI focus,it takes a focus RS or at the very least an ST to make me even bother turning my head!

So like you say one mans pride is another mans.....