Golf MK7 - 1.4 TSI ACT or 2.0 TDI

lar77

Getting a new car and I've boiled it down to either of the new Golf's, the 1.4 TSI ACT or the 2.0 TDI.

I only do about 11kms a year, mostly city with a little motorway. Is this too little for a diesel? I was leaning towards the TDI but after reading lots of reviews on the TSI I'm confused. The TSI is about 3k cheaper (meaning I can get bigger wheels!) but when I go to trade it in after 3 or 4 years will it hold it's value like the TDI?

Help please! Thanks ...

sebastianlieken

lar77 wrote: »

Getting a new car and I've boiled it down to either of the new Golf's, the 1.4 TSI ACT or the 2.0 TDI.

I only do about 11kms a year, mostly city with a little motorway. Is this too little for a diesel? I was leaning towards the TDI but after reading lots of reviews on the TSI I'm confused. The TSI is about 3k cheaper (meaning I can get bigger wheels!) but when I go to trade it in after 3 or 4 years will it hold it's value like the TDI?

Help please! Thanks ...

somebody is going to make the 11kms joke.... get a bicycle!

"mostly city" - that pretty much sums it up. Better off going with the petrol. Save yourself 3k (or get those nicer wheels). It wont hold it's value like a TDI i'm afraid, but then you are paying 3k less for it to begin with, and on the plus side, those wheels WILL add resale.

you're still getting crazy good mpg and carbon emmisions with the 1.4tsi.

Diesels need mileage, they need the engine to be warm to be efficient, and they have all these things like dpf's and erg's that can be troublesome and require proper driving to keep clear. Petrol is the way to go if it's most city driving!

and as an extra argument that I would take into account (although I dont know how much of a difference there is these days) the engine noise. My mate has an '08 Diesel and you know it's a diesel by the sound of it, any time he's in my '08 petrol car he keeps thinking I've stalled it at the lights from the noise difference.

MuppetCheck

Petrol for your use, the 2 litre diesel is very expensive too meaning it's even more of an incentive. Family member ordered a 1.4 tsi last week and was quoted 12 weeks delivery as it had a couple of options on it. He had to cancel the rear view camera as it would have been even longer if he had gone for it due to supply issues, just if you were thinking of ordering that.

Stallingrad

100% petrol. Apart from it being more practical for your needs it will be smoother, more refined and will feel more premium.

mailforkev

I reckon that a 1.4 TSI Highline with a couple of choice options is the pick of the range.

Might be worth a bit less when you go to sell it but almost 3k is a nice saving upfront. Also it will be a bit rarer so someone in the know will be looking for a nicely specced used petrol one in a few years.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, just buy it for yourself and enjoy it.

lar77

Thanks for the quick responses ... think I'll start studying the options on the TSI

lar77

sebastianlieken wrote: »

somebody is going to make the 11kms joke.... get a bicycle!

It would save me a pile of cash

Leonard Hofstadter

So reassuring to hear someone actively looking for a new car powered by the correct fuel. It's hard to believe that the 140 engine is actually cheaper to buy than the Highline spec 1.6 diesel with its miserable 105 bhp, not to mention the fact that the petrol has the proper independent suspension. And yet, of the very small number of Irish people who will buy a proper spec Golf, most will pay the extra for the diesel to go everywhere a lot slower and noisier, not to mention have poorer handling and crappy suspension in order to save 38 cent a week in road tax....

JoeA3

Get the petrol. It's a no brainer.

I'm waiting on a GTI, should have it in a few weeks, I'm going back to petrol from my mk6 GTD. The new GTD is much more expensive than its petrol equivalent now, VW clearly trying to take advantage of the diesel craze. For me, I don't do the miles to justify the premium and I'm craving the smoothness and power delivery of the GTI.

Also, with the "blue motion" technology in the petrols, the emissions and thereby the taxes are also quite low on them now. The new GTI is in the same tax band as my current GTD!

ipodrocker

as other posts mention petrol is the best option I do the similar mileage and thought diesel at first but reading up makes all the sense to go with the petrol. and resale value all depends on unique options which would help the sale.

The difference between 40 mpg petrol and 55 mpg diesel is only around 500 Euro's over 10,000 miles, over 20K miles a year the diesel start to make sense. Saving around 1K. Over 20K miles a year.

If it's 3 k in the difference in purchase price over 10 k miles a year would take 6 years to repay.

It still takes 3 years or 60 k miles at 20K miles a year for the diesel to justify the extra cost.

You got higher maintenance on the diesel, and the risk of DPF trouble and DMF and that will wipe out any savings you'll ever make in going diesel in the first place.

You'll probably make more on the sale of the Diesel, but it won't have cost as much to buy, and the 2nd hand buyer will pay more for a diesel with nearly twice the miles as the petrol.

Then the diesel won't get near 55 mph on small journeys and so the gap narrows more with the between the petrol and diesel.

I won't be going back to diesel again, it served me well but now that there are alternatives, diesel for me is a smoky, noisy memory!

I could be persuaded to try a 535D however, if funds ever allow !

lar77

So other than the Sports pack (larger wheels, although I'm going to try get different ones, tinted windows, lower suspension), what are your thoughts on options? I've no real interest in the sat nav., I have cruise control on my current car and only used it a handful of times. Will get the iPod adapter.

R.O.R

lar77 wrote: »

So other than the Sports pack (larger wheels, although I'm going to try get different ones, tinted windows, lower suspension), what are your thoughts on options? I've no real interest in the sat nav., I have cruise control on my current car and only used it a handful of times. Will get the iPod adapter.

For €173 (ish - depends on emissions but VW only give prices "from" on the product guide) you'd be mad not to specify PF1 Adaptive Cruise Control. KA1 Rear View Camera @ €235 would be a nice option.

Presume you are looking at the Highline which comes with the MFSW and Upgraded "Composition Media" Radio?

Shame they've discontinued the 14 way adjustable seats that was very reasonable. Only seat upgrade now is for electric adjustable seats, but forces the leather upgrade as well, which makes it damn expensive.

Adaptive cruise IMO is one very worth while addition, works great with dsg if you can afford it.

Sadly you won't see it on most 2nd cars because most dealers don't know what it is or won't advise people of the benefits, but if I were looking for a 2nd golf I'd naturally go for one with dsg and adaptive cruise.

JoeA3

Deleted User wrote: »

Adaptive cruise IMO is one very worth while addition, works great with dsg if you can afford it.

Sadly you won't see it on most 2nd cars because most dealers don't know what it is or won't advise people of the benefits, but if I were looking for a 2nd golf I'd naturally go for one with dsg and adaptive cruise.

Only thing about it is, you end up with an ugly "hole" in the front radiator grill where the sensor is located.

JoeA3

JoeA3 wrote: »

Only thing about it is, you end up with an ugly "hole" in the front radiator grill where the sensor is located.

really ? I didn't know that. Any pics ?

I don't think it would bother me, the advantages of adaptive cruise and DSG to me would far outweigh a little hole in the bumper, after all I'd spend more time inside using the Adaptive cruise than I would sit looking at the bumper.

lar77

How much should you expect in the difference from a 131 reg demo model with 3k kms on it to a brand new one that will have a 132 reg? Both cars have the exact same spec/options/colour etc (1.4 TSI ACT Bluemotion). What price difference makes it worth buying the second hand one? Thoughts ??

ipodrocker

You can do without the iPod adaptor, their is USB port in Car and it doesn't support the new iPhone as well!

damo86

ipodrocker wrote: »

You can do without the iPod adaptor, their is USB port in Car and it doesn't support the new iPhone as well!

Only need to acquire a 30pin adapter, it works then

JcDubz4life

Why are you even considering a diesal for 11k or city driving? Surely if you'd done your research you would have discovered that this is a recipe for disaster?

As for options get everything you can and it should hold its value better. The amount of "paddy spec" VWs doing the rounds these days is crazy so they suffer hugely in value. It's the high spec ones that sell quickly. The only exception to that is to those suggesting a 225e rear view camera, on a golf, really??

Leonard Hofstadter

Deleted User wrote: »

The difference between 40 mpg petrol and 55 mpg diesel is only around 500 Euro over 10,000 miles, over 20K miles a year the diesel start to make sense. Saving around 1K. Over 20K miles a year.

With a Golf the gap would be even narrower - the ACT is rated at 58.9 mpg, and the diesel is rated at 68.9 mpg. Now I don't for a second believe that a petrol 1.4 Golf will get 59 mpg but it should do at least 45-47 mpg, and the diesel will probably do high 50s. So maybe 10-12 mpg of a gap at most.

The petrol is also faster from 0-100 kph than the diesel despite the fact that the diesel has more power, too.

lar77

I've ordered the 1.4 TSI ACT .... 8 - 10 weeks (I hope) :-)

captainspeed

captainspeed wrote: »

With a Golf the gap would be even narrower - the ACT is rated at 58.9 mpg, and the diesel is rated at 68.9 mpg. Now I don't for a second believe that a petrol 1.4 Golf will get 59 mpg but it should do at least 45-47 mpg, and the diesel will probably do high 50s. So maybe 10-12 mpg of a gap at most.

The petrol is also faster from 0-100 kph than the diesel despite the fact that the diesel has more power, too.

yeah not worth it to be honest going for the slower diesel unless saving 500 or so a year over 10k miles is that important to you, but personally I'd prefer the petrol for smoothness more than anything.

Stallingrad

lar77 wrote: »

I've ordered the 1.4 TSI ACT .... 8 - 10 weeks (I hope) :-)

Good choice.

mad m

lar77 wrote: »

I've ordered the 1.4 TSI ACT .... 8 - 10 weeks (I hope) :-)

Well did you get car? How is it?

lar77

mad m wrote: »

Well did you get car? How is it?

I did, have it almost a month now. Other than a few issues I love the car, very fast, very smooth. The finish inside is beautiful.

The issues: The door seals are useless, water gets passed the seal on the door and onto the door frame which is shaped in such a way that when you open the door water drips from inside the door frame onto the seats. Very annoying. I took the car back but they told me that's the way the car is designed to work, it's not the seals! Then they told me VW Ireland know it's an issue ... I contacted VW but they have not gotten back to me yet.

The steering column squeaks which they fixed when the car was back in but less than a week later it's worse than it was before.

Today the front suspension has developed a rattle ...

I'm sure the second two can easily be fixed but the water on the seats is a big issue ...

Feck sake I thought VW quality had seriously improved since 2009 ?

That would drive me nuts, Of course a car is something you can't return if you're not happy, crazy !

Stallingrad

Amazing that a car can get through design and development with such an obvious flaw.

mad m

@Lar77

Wow, that's a shame...Drove one same as yours on a test drive recently and it was raining and didn't notice the rain seal flaw, but then again I was only in it a little bit. It has some poke all the same for a 1.4.

What sort of mileage are you getting from it? Surely if VW know about it they have to do something.

lar77

mad m wrote: »

@Lar77

Wow, that's a shame...Drove one same as yours on a test drive recently and it was raining and didn't notice the rain seal flaw, but then again I was only in it a little bit. It has some poke all the same for a 1.4.

What sort of mileage are you getting from it? Surely if VW know about it they have to do something.

No idea what mileage I get, I haven't really looked to be honest. It is cheaper to run than the 1.6 Qashqai I had before.

Just to be clear, water does not get inside the car when the doors are closed, it just gets passed the seal on the door so when you open the door the water that got passed the seal usually dips on the seat or your legs ...

Stallingrad

lar77 wrote: »

No idea what mileage I get, I haven't really looked to be honest. It is cheaper to run than the 1.6 Qashqai I had before.

Just to be clear, water does not get inside the car when the doors are closed, it just gets passed the seal on the door so when you open the door the water that got passed the seal usually dips on the seat or your legs ...

I get that, but still don't understand how was it not flagged early and loud in development where they do extensive all weather testing.

74merc

My wife has a Mark 7 2.0 Tdi and the door seals have exactly the same problem. We've also noticed some wind noise from the driver's door seal in particular as well. One thing I noticed when driving in heavy rain last weekend, was that water runs up the edge of the windscreen (beside the A pillar), then the wiper spreads it across the windscreen on the sweep back down to the scuttle panel. It just strikes me as under engineered, as surely someone must have noticed this during development. As for economy, I think it is averaging about 43 MPG and that includes a lot of long journeys. It has only got about 5000 miles on the clock so far, so it may improve once the engine loosens up.

74merc

74merc wrote: »

As for economy, I think it is averaging about 43 MPG and that includes a lot of long journeys. It has only got about 5000 miles on the clock so far, so it may improve once the engine loosens up.

Is that average per trip or tank ?

And people laugh at me for driving a 60-65 mpg Prius MK II with 10 year old hybrid tech !

74merc

That's the long term average over 5000 miles.

Stallingrad

74merc wrote: »

That's the long term average over 5000 miles.

My 2008 2.0TDci Focus did the same, without any fancy gizmos, and my petrol Passat is only marginally worse. I'd be hoping for an improvement.

lar77

74merc wrote: »

My wife has a Mark 7 2.0 Tdi and the door seals have exactly the same problem. We've also noticed some wind noise from the driver's door seal in particular as well. One thing I noticed when driving in heavy rain last weekend, was that water runs up the edge of the windscreen (beside the A pillar), then the wiper spreads it across the windscreen on the sweep back down to the scuttle panel. It just strikes me as under engineered, as surely someone must have noticed this during development. As for economy, I think it is averaging about 43 MPG and that includes a lot of long journeys. It has only got about 5000 miles on the clock so far, so it may improve once the engine loosens up.

Have you talked to the dealer about the seals? Interested in what they are saying to others.

74merc

It is going in on Monday to get the snags looked at, will see what they come up with as an excuse. The tyre pressure warning light is on too, even though the pressures are spot on.

MuppetCheck

Stallingrad wrote: »

My 2008 2.0TDci Focus did the same, without any fancy gizmos, and my petrol Passat is only marginally worse. I'd be hoping for an improvement.

Shows how screwed manufacturers figures are by the offical tests.

I'm in a similar boat although it is improving as the miles rise. Strangely though mine has a worse official rating and is doing better than the Golf in the real world it would seem.

74merc

Correction to the above, the average is 48.5 MPG which is still way short of the 68.9 MPG combined, claimed by VW.

MuppetCheck

74merc wrote: »

Correction to the above, the average is 48.5 MPG which is still way short of the 68.9 MPG combined, claimed by VW.

That's decent enough tbh, especially on a tight engine.

Seweryn

74merc wrote: »

That's the long term average over 5000 miles.

That is quite bad IMO. Our 16-year old petrol engined Honda 1.5 does 49mpg on average while staying reasonably trouble free for the last two years since I bought it.

TheZ

Other half has 1.4tsi. Lovely car to drive. No real issues after about six months. Have not noticed the seals issue but not in it all that much. Tyre pressure indicator does seem to come on randomly though.

RedorDead

74merc wrote: »

Correction to the above, the average is 48.5 MPG which is still way short of the 68.9 MPG combined, claimed by VW.

Seems way off. Whats your driving style like? Average journey? Roads driven on etc etc?

Spark Plug

2.0 TDI is returning 5.2l/100km push it on any way and it will climb toward 6.0 that's with 17" vs standard 16".

lar77

Got the squeaking from the steering fixed yesterday. So far so good. They also replaced a faulty shock mount which was causing the noise up front. At the moment I have a squeak and rattle free car

Now if VW would just fix the door seals and stop the windows fogging up way more than every other car on the road I'd be thrilled ...

LOL how much did you pay for this car ?

I'm not laughing at you by the way. I don't think it's funny. I've been there before with a new 06 caddy van dsg, after 15,000 kms the front drivers side wheel bearing went and the flywheel. Absolutely couldn't believe it.

I thought VW quality had improved.

Seweryn

Deleted User wrote: »

I thought VW quality had improved.

They were making good cars in the '70s, '80s and early '90s, same as most of all other manufacturers. These days they just make good money rather than good cars.

But surely you can make good cars and profit at the same time ?

I swear the only cars I ever owned that gave me no trouble was an 02 Punto Sporting and the Prius, the Prius I've kept longer than the Punto. 110,000 miles and 0 failures. All it's cost is normal service.

Seweryn

Deleted User wrote: »

But surely you can make good cars and profit at the same time ?

You can make more money if you skip some testing, quality control, detail design and engineering, etc. .

Todays cars are more like Windows Operating Systems - tested by users.

noelf

Any updates on your car op especially the front suspension noises any other problems ? I have covered 12000 km in a 1.6 tdi since the end of february average fuel consumption of 58 mpg the mark 6 golf bluemotion i had did 62 smaller wheels on it and no spare wheel .. apart from a rattle of a plastic part next to obd port no problems but it feels slower than mark 6 .. adaptive cruise control is excellent especially on M50 ..