1.9 tdi vags or something else?

[Dblock]

Hi guys,

I need a car to do 90mile each way trip a day and I was thinking of a 1.9tdi vag of some sort. Just because they seem cheap to run and pretty reliable. They are also dull which suits driving long distances fine.

So I want to spend £2000 or less ideally. £2500 at very very very most. Must be diesel. I thought about a bora 1.9tdi 6 speed but alot of people say the 6 speed boxes are week and don't reduce revs at motorway speeds?

Also what do the 1.9tdi's manage on the motorway?

Lastly should I go for a higher powered tdi or a lower powered one as what ever I will go for will get a remap for economy and performance.

So what vag should I get. Needs to be polo size or bigger ideally. Reliable. Cheap too.

Other things I was thinking

w211 e220cdi, but maybe too complicated to do silly miles on the cheap

e46 320d seem to have a fair amount of problems and pricey.

Honda civic hybrid expensive and I don't think a 1.5 petrol even with ima will be great on the motorway.

[James827]

but you drive an Arosa TDI...

which is cheaper to insure, tax and is better on fuel compared to the 1.9's due to the weight of the car..

the MK3's are super cheap and go for EVER. less to go wrong except for Rust

early MK4's are also super cheap and are also the same engine's but they seem to rust through wings not to mention lots of issues with interior trim..

BMW's are pretty good. but im sure repair costs would be high if something went wrong due to the specialist nature of the cars.

[Dblock]

I know but thats MY car. This is going to be a shared car. Plus once winter comes round I'l only use the arosa and not my other car.

TBH with bmw its not so much as expensive like small parts go which are cheap but if they go bang its alot of money or its constant little fixes. The merc and bmw units are nicer to drive than the vag 1.9tdi but the 1.9 just seems pretty bullet proof with little maintenance. It would be maintained well by myself but constantly doing stuff to a shed is boring and I can't be bothered

early mk4's hmm is that ibizas or polos or bora? Was even thinking of looking at octavias too or anything with the 1.9unit in it. Is there not a super long geared 1.9tdi?

[Al3xTee]

I will also be doing plenty of miles come next week, I will be keeping my arosa for abit but do plan to sell for a diesel. Mk4 golf?

[James827]

yes, Ibiza's will have them, in the 6k2 shape (2000/2001) after that they go all PD

i don't know much about the PD engine's sorry, i assume they are alright, but the earlier diesels are just much easier to work on etc..

[Dblock]

I agree but sdis seem way to slow personally.

I was thinking a polo/Ibiza over a golf for the weight saving.

[James827]

im on about TDI's. SDI is a possibility, much more reliable, much better on fuel, EVEN cheaper to run, just a bit slow. which you wil probably get used too

[Dblock]

I thought all 1.9tdis where pd?

Btw I have no vag exeperiance.

[RobG]

I've a 1.5 IMA 6MT Crz, it copes well at motorway speeds, but in terms of economy you wont beat a diesel on distance stuff. I can get late 40's to early 50's mpg when taking it easy on the motorway, drops down to around 42-44 when travelling faster.

In comparison a friend had a 406 HDi estate 110 up until it died, he could see 70mpg when driving with care.

[Dubmuffin]

My A3 is 105 standard, with a map / egr delete and FMIC - running about 150 ish. I get 46 around town, and that's with the occasional heavy right foot. And A3's are quite heavy, and I have my compressor taking some of the engine power now and again so that reduces mpg.

1.9's are in no way 'dull' when done right

[Dubmuffin]

The 1.9's do sound quite agricultural with regards to the 2.0. However 2.0's have problems with injectors and turbos apparently.

I love my little diesel.

[James827]

the 90BHP TDi models are the same as the MK3 TDi engines, very strong, agricultural, and actually pretty quick for a diesel

the MK4 GTTDI models etc are all PD, the diesel pumps all different as its all common rail injection compared to a rotary style pump, and the Non pd Injectors are controlled by fuel pressure compared to solenoids (similar way to petrol injectors) on the PD engines

i do know of a few people with the MK4 GTTDI's that are well over 200k and well on there way to 300k with no major issues!

one day i might own a PD diesel, i'll stick with the old school for now though

German Diesel cars are up there.

My MK2 is on 190k, and for an '80BHP' 1.6TD its pulls like a train, and easily keeps up with most of the modern 1.9TDi's

However top end gearing could be a bit longer like the more modern Equivalents...

[Dblock]

the 90BHP TDi models are the same as the MK3 TDi engines, very strong, agricultural, and actually pretty quick for a diesel

the MK4 GTTDI models etc are all PD, the diesel pumps all different as its all common rail injection compared to a rotary style pump, and the Non pd Injectors are controlled by fuel pressure compared to solenoids (similar way to petrol injectors) on the PD engines

i do know of a few people with the MK4 GTTDI's that are well over 200k and well on there way to 300k with no major issues!

one day i might own a PD diesel, i'll stick with the old school for now though

German Diesel cars are up there.

My MK2 is on 190k, and for an '80BHP' 1.6TD its pulls like a train, and easily keeps up with most of the modern 1.9TDi's

However top end gearing could be a bit longer like the more modern Equivalents...

Thats the thing I want the longest gearing possible as doing alot of miles at high rpms is uncomfortable. I will keep looking though cheers for the info.

[jon_273]

PD diesel engines are nothing like common rail, the very high injection pressures are created at the injectors themselves, which are driven by an extra set of lobes on the camshaft. There is a pump built into the side of the cylinder head but this is not what creates the injection pressure, so it's not "common rail".

MKIV 1.9 TDi's come in both PD and non-PD. The 90 and 110 bhp are non PD. The 100, 115, 130 and 150bhp engines are PD.

PD engines are particularly efficient as the injection pressure is so high (about 2000 bar).

If I were you I'd be looking at something with a 130 bhp PD engine and 6 speed manual box. Best combination of power, economy and reliability in my opinion.

Edited June 26, 2013 by jon_273

[JoeA]

Jon speaks sense! PD are great, 130 gttdi 6 speed golf can easily be has within your price range.

My mum has one, never had any engine problems and is on it's way to 180k iirc.

[Dblock]

Cheers guys. I read that the 6speed box only lowers the revs at motorway speed by 120rpm and the gearboxes aren't as good as the 5speed? Anytruth in that?

[GTIChris]

I have a PD, 170 TDi with a six speed box and its awesome IMO.

Pulls like a train through the gears and will sit at 90-100 effortlessly on the motorway.

There was a problem with the injectors, VW were instructed by VOSA to replace all four on a recall across their entire range of engines that used them and the DPF doesn't like it if you do frequent short journeys.