[kenl]

I've noticed a few people quoting mpg of near 40mpg for their diesel Golfs. With my 1.6fsi after after 2300 miles it is about 39mpg gallon average. For the first 800 miles with only my wife driving it was 42mpg. This is with mixed town/motorway driving.

So, is there really any economy benefits to be gained from buying a diesel[?]

 

[adam10780]

I tend to average 52-53mpg (when driving sensibly) - I took a trip to Bucks mid week and got stuck in slow moving traffic (40-50mph) and I managed 57mpg. I've had the car almost a year now and the most I ever achieved was 59mpg. But admittedly this was within the early days of owning a diesel and wanted to drain every last mile out of her [^]

But to be honest I can't help but enjoy all that mid range torque so I tend to average about 45mpg, that's doing a mix of town/country lanes daily - Cloin McRea styleeeeee []

I would say you need to be doing at least 15K (motorway) miles a year to see the real benefit's unless of course you just want that - mid range punch[]

 

[Felix]

40mpg seems a little low. I can get between 47-50 on my 9 mile trip home through town. Thats just twon driving too. On the Motorway I can push 60.

If the journey was motorway only I can (and have done) on a ful tank get from Chesterfield to Dover, pootle around calais for a while and then get back from Dover to the second services on the M1 on the way back. And thats without even trying to be economical.

In my opinion comparing the 1.6 or 1.4 MPG to the 1.9 deisel doesnt really make a difference, as you say, its probably not worth it to that extent.

The main advantage is that you get the power of a normally aspirated 1.8/2.0 petrol from the 1.9 TD, and the emissions are lower - which means that the company car tax bracket is lower.

So MPG isnt the whole story, I reckon the TDi's are popular for a combination of the MPG and tax benefits.

 

[spg]

its a case of performance/economy i can get 40-45mpg out of

my 110TDI thrashing it and its a lot faster than a 1.6FSI !

Soom as you start thrashing a petrol the economy plumets.

I went fram a 1.6S mk4 to my 110TDI and its alot faster and

i get an extra 100miles to a tank!

The down side of diesel is that they are usually dearer to buy.

ie/ 130PD worth prob ?1000 more than 1.8T same age.

 

[RickyD]

Mid-range performance is better!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers

 

[simfin]

Kenl

I think this is a good thread to start.

I have noticed my MPG anywhere from 53mpg to 40mpg over a tank of fuel, depending on driving conditions amd more importantly style. I live near Milton keynes which is roundabout city, and if I have a spirited drive from one side to the other get low 40's mpg.

My point........... I previously had a passat 1.8t. This car on a similar drive would get low 20's mpg, but on a good run could get 40mpg. The diesel does not punish you as badly for aggressive driving. The low figures you are seeing for diesels are in all probability due to 'faster' driving. Stick to 60-70 mph/ gentle accelerating etc and you will easily get 50mpg +.

When I first got mine I was desperate to get the best MPG (company pay me 13p a mile for fuel) so that I could make more money. But, the enjoyment to be had with the diesel torque far outways the slight degredation in economy, and at 40mpg I am still making money []

The last thing to consider is residual costs when the time comes to sell - diesels are the thing to have and obviously the 2nd hand market will compensate you for that.

The only downside to the GT Tdi model for me is the high insurance - 14, whent the Audi A3 is only 11.

Cheers

 

[gail1ian]

When I had my 90 bhp tdi I would have said yes diesel every time. It would never do less than 50 mpg on a run. I managed to get 70 mpg once going to work. A 14 mile journey with 4 miles in heavy traffic, 7 miles on a d/carriagway (40 mph I am afraid) and 3 miles at 20-30 mph upon leaving home. I could get 55mpg and keep up with most traffic. When touring France/Spain we were doing 600 miles then looking for gas station. However my new 140 tdi is only doing 41mpg over the last 900 miles but I am still driving it quicker than my mk 4. When the novelty wears of I think it will settle to a 43-46 average.

I prefer the power delivery from the diesel. I find modern multi valve engines need to be thrashed to get decent performance from them but the diesel is a nice lazy unit.

I hope this helps.

 

[adam10780]

Quote: posted by spg on 17/12/2004 13:51:37

I went fram a 1.6S mk4 to my 110TDI and its alot faster and

i get an extra 100miles to a tank!

I also came from a 1.6 MK4 - WOW what a difference - You can boot it all day long, listening to that turbo spool and still getting over 40mpg [^] I honestly dont think there's a great deal in it in terms of 0-60 I think a 1.6 is about 10.8 and the PD130 TDI is 9.6 sure there's a difference but not a massive one. Still its that mid range punch thats puts a smile on my face everytime [^] Let some barry boy try to over take and boot it! great fun [)]

Sorry to change topic slightly

 

[kenl]

Quote: posted by spg on 17/12/2004 13:51:37

110TDI thrashing it and its a lot faster than a 1.6FSI !

Really []

I know the mid-range punch of a diesel is better and give better in gear figures but are they really faster is you know how to drive a petrol car[?]

 

[redcup]

I think you have to compare like with like (performance wise).

We are going from a Leon Cupra (27mpg average, 32mpg on a run if lucky) to a 2.0 GT TDi. If we average 40mpg it will be sufficient to save 600+ quid a year with the 15,000 miles we do annually. I suspect in the real world, the GT TDi will not be a lot slower than the Cupra, whereas I think a 1.6 FSi would be a bit painful loaded up with a family and the asscociated stuff we have to cart around.

 

[Felix]

The 110 diesel and the 1.6 petrol are going tobe pretty similar I would have thought, even the 130 I wouldt think is "that" much quicker. As I say its probably the economy and the tax implications that makes them popular.

Sure the mid range torque is better, but thats not the topic, the topic is fuel economy, and in tha respect then to justify the extra cost of a tdi over the 1.6 you would have to do some serious miles.

 

[MikeTDI]

1.6 vs a TDI theres no contest. TDI all day long. i average appx 44mpg from my REVO'd PD130, and i like to drive it hard. I see appx 485 miles from a full tank of diesel before the please refuel light comes on. A welcome site from the days of 230 miles then fill up!

 

[JMcQueen]

All i can say is that my fuel usage is pants then! I've done a little over 1700 miles and the indicator says im averaging 37mpg since new! I dont drive it particularly hard either and all ways upshift somewhere near 2500 around town.

 

[adam10780]

Quote: posted by JMcQueen on 17/12/2004 14:40:36

All i can say is that my fuel usage is pants then! I've done a little over 1700 miles and the indicator says im averaging 37mpg since new! I dont drive it particularly hard either and all ways upshift somewhere near 2500 around town.

Try staying in the gear that feels most comfortable i.e the torquest gear and see if that make a difference - changing up too early can to the opposite - my g/f dad says to change up as soon as possible - I tend to disagree - but I'm going off topic again so I'll shut up [^]

 

[KuniD]

I've also come from a 1.6 Mk4 to a 2.0 TDI. Thrashing my 1.6 I'd see 350 miles on a tank (the same for city/town running, 350-380). On the motorway taking it easy upto 450 ish. On the diesel I never go below 450 on a tank, and I've been getting upto 550-600 on motorway trips. Just passed the 3000 mile mark, and my total average MPG (no2 setting) is 49mpg [] And I'm quite a heavy right foot driver.

TBH, the only petrol car I'd buy from this point onwards is a sports car. Otherwise, hatches, saloons and estates are going to go the diesel route [] Amazing real world performance, and it doesn't hurt your pocket.

Look at where we've reached with these engines; the 2.0 and 3.0 TDI are brilliant, same goes for BMW's 2 and 3 litre diesels. Merc's 3.2 - mind blowing.

 

[redcup]

Quote: posted by JMcQueen on 17/12/2004 14:40:36

All i can say is that my fuel usage is pants then! I've done a little over 1700 miles and the indicator says im averaging 37mpg since new! I dont drive it particularly hard either and all ways upshift somewhere near 2500 around town.

A bit worrying, but I'm sure that having 18" RS4 alloys (how wide?) with sticky tyres probably doesn't help the economy much []

 

[BlahBlahMan]

As previously mentioned, residual values especially when you take into account high mileage on a diesel is a big plus.

I do around 20k a year and whilst i know some of you on here do more, the petrol cars that i have had previously, i've found hard to shift (at any price) with 120k on the clock. I'm confident that the 150k or so that my diesel will have when i sell it will be less of an issue.

 

[col.mc]

You need to compare like with like, Thrash a diesel you'll see 40ish, look after it you'll see 50++.

Thrash your 1.6 and you'll probs be in the mid twenties kenl, but you look after it and your in the high thirties.

MPGs really drop when you get over 4000 rpm and thats where you've got to be with modern multi valve petrol engines to get maximum torque

 

[hmi1750]

well it does come down to how its driven... I just came back from central london and with all the stop start and heavy foot to keep gaps closed, i got only 25mpg! in the BORA!

LOL... it wasn't purchased for its economy really.

I have got Mazda 1.6 and that just drinks fuel... and performance is no where near 150pd TDI.

 

[kounkit]

Getting about 49mpg average in my 2.0 GT TDI, which translates into about 550-570 miles before I need to refill....no bs. I guess like other members have said it depends on how you drive it. I find the biggest killer of fuel is the acceleration. When I first got the car I was flying off the lights but only getting about 460 max out of a tank also another thing I do is try and judge braking distances, I find the TDI tends not to bleed mph as much as a petrol....so when in town theres no point in driving the car hard.

On another note I got a 1.6 FSI S MK5 (S model....really mean specification), yesterday whilst my was in for repairs. I drove the car for 20 miles and was shocked at how much fuel it drank (about 1/8th of the tank), I wasn't even driving hard! It only done 100 miles so maybe it needs some more time to settle down.