I am interested in which would be the best diesel
to choose on a golf or A3. The 2 litre is more expensive but delivers more power and torque in most cases. The 1.9 has been around for ages now so any problems should have been solved. I recently heard the 2.0 described as unrefined, surprising considering it is new. Is the 2 litre worth the £1000 premium it demands on the A3? Fuel consumption appears to be similar, does anyone have any experience of these engines? Thanks.
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My last car was a VW Golf estate 1.9 TDI (115 bhp) - it went like a bomb but neither of these engines is the most refined diesel around. That said, you only really notice it at idle or when starting from cold, as it settles down once you're on your way. My current Audi makes more tyre noise at motorway speeds than the Golf's engine did.
I'd always go for the bigger engine given the choice and the extra finance: more performance with very little penalty in fuel consumption, as the body is the same size. I haven't driven a 2.0 TDI but based on my experience with the 1.9 I would expect it to be very lively.
A Golf will save you money over an A3, a Skoda Octavia (also now available with the 2.0 TDI) even more. I think the SEAT Altea also has this engine, but as SEAT are gradually reducing the glass area of their cars, for spurious styling reasons, I wouldn't feel safe in one.
Hope this helps.
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Driven both in the same car (A3 and new A4). The 1.9 is slightly more economical, the 2.0 is quicker revving, smoother, faster, quieter. The 1.9 only has a 5 speed box though. The 2.0 doesn't pull quite as well from low revs (the 1.9 is like a tank) but is less peaky.
Given the choice I took the 2.0TDI and I don't regret it at all.
Regards
Chris
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ive got a 2.0tdi golf and the engine (and car) get a big thumbs up!!
only driven 1.9 (130)so cant really comment on the 105bhp sorry!
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Currently driving an A3 2.0tdi sportback - excellent blend of economy and real world performance. For years I vowed never to buy a diesel - I was wrong - well and truly wrong.
As for the 1.9tdi - drove a 105bhp A3 3dr for a day as a courtesy car. Felt significantly different - and the lack of a sixth gear was noticeable on the motorway, seemed to run out of grunt quicker as well.
I also drive the BILs new A4 avant - same engine - but with a bigger body feels slghtly - and I mean slightly less quick off the mark - but real world acceleration feels about the same.
Is the 2.0 worth the £1k premium - in my view yes.
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The 1.9 has been around for ages now so any problems should have been solved. I recently heard the 2.0 described as unrefined, surprising considering it is new. Is the 2 litre worth
I have an Audi TDI 130 and as far as I know, the only difference between it and the 2 litre TDi is that the 2 litre is 16v.
I haven't driven a 2 litre 140 bhp but I would suspec that theres little difference other than the Euro iv rating of the TDi 140. VW/Audi have deliberately de-tuned the 8v engine so that the 140 will sell and have a premium price I would say.
I think the motoring press seem to love slagging the VaG engines off by syaing they are un-refined, however I think that they are only unrefined compared to some of the quietest diesels around externally, but are smooth and quiet internally still.
In my personal opinion all of the VaG PD engines are the most fuel efficient engines you can get for their size, and as you also state are 'well sorted' compared to many of the common rail diesels by other manufacturers.
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Thanks for all the help. I thought the 2.0Tdi was an entirely new engine, a clever campaign by vw drawing customers without the expense of developing a new engine. The old golf 1.9tdi was available with a 6 speed box in 130 and 150bhp guises I think. Is the new golf 1.9tdi not available as a 6 speeder? Having been in an old 1.9tdi old version I think it is good having a 6 speeder particularly for motorway driving- 6th must be geared at over 30mph/1000rpm, very relaxing cruiser.
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The 1.9tdi in the new Golf is pretty much the same as the 100PS job in the old Golf, tweaked a bit for emissions. Since it's not that powerful (and cheaper), it gets a 5 speed box in the Golf V. The old Golf IV got the 130 & 150PS versions; the VW 5-speed box can't cope with much above 210lb/ft torque, so it got a 6-speed box ....
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Autocar have a brief review of the new Passat 1.9 in today's issue. They strongly recommend paying the extra for the 2.0.
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According to my Nov 2004 price list, the 1.9TDi 105 PS engine could be had with a 6 speed gearbox in Sport trim. CO2 was 143g/km for 1.9TDiSE, 149g/km for 6 speed, however I suspect that the 6 speed would be more economical in the real (motorway) world.
I have a new 1.9TDi SE, 25 days, 2800 miles old, last 700 miles averaged 49 mpg. It is a BIG step forward over the MKIV 110TDi that I had in terms of noise, refinement and handling. It is not peaky, (the torque kicked in so suddenly on a 115 TDi MKIV I drove that it emptied a bottle of Ribena over my son's face as I accelerated modestly away!) although there seems to be a bit more turbo-lag, which I'll get checked at the first visit to the dealer.
I went for the 1.9 instead of the 2.0 as
- lease cost was fair bit cheaper
- benefit in kind company car tax was less (due to increased cost and lower CO2 figure)
- it came with 195/65R15 (instead of 205/55R16) tyres, and I wanted a quiet ride.
The suspension seems quite firm enough and is not at all wallowy; I have driven a 2.0 FSi with 225/45R17s - great fun... for the first 10 minutes, but what a noisy, harsh ride it had!
JohnM
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John - these engines take a long time to run in, so you'll only need to worry if the turbo lag is still serious at 10,000 miles.
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What is altered on the lower power 1.9tdis to make them higher power? I remember reading a thread on here a while back where a 150 had suffered a broken crank/cam shaft. Would it be more sensible from a point of view of longevity to settle for a 110? I don't think I will find a second hand 110 with a six speed box though. I heard about a 2.0tdi 160bhp version coming out, does anyone know when this will be available, will probably be close to the GTI price wise though! Can anyone confirm whether the 2litre is an entirely new unit or just a modified version of the 1.9?
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That engine is already in the Seat Ibiza Cupra - Not sure about other VAG cars though.
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The lower power 1.9TDI is 105Hp and has a stock turbocharger. The 130/150 varient has a variable geometry turbo to reduce turbo lag. The 2.0 TDI is a development of the 1.9 block, but had to be done because the 1.9 is a very slow revving engine and won't meet forthcoming regulations in super tuned format hence the slow disappearance of 1.9TDI 130/150 block cars. When Euro IV comes into full force in January all engines will be the lower power 1.9 or the 2.0. There is a 160/170Hp version of the 2.0TDI coming, and that will be a "chipped" version of the 140 currently available.
Regards
Chris
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I'm now running an A3 2.0 TDi Sportback and never even considered the 1.9 because you can't have it with the DSG (which IMHO is a definate requirement for the 2.0 litre diesel, unless you really do like changing gear often)! The 2.0 is very refined and very quiet - it can't be heard once cruising.
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