Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Now I've sold my Ford Ka, my sensible head tells me to get a VW Golf TDI, but is the 150 worth the premium over a 130? Especially as I will have it remapped whichever one I decide on.

With a £10k budget, both are obtainable although the 130 will leave some change to modify with!

I'm looking for:
5 doors
2001-on
Under 60k miles

Before people mention it, compared to the Golf:
The Ibiza and Fabia are too small
The Octavia, A4 and Passat are too big
The Leon and A3 are too expensive

Any websites about tuning, modifying, cars for sale, etc?

RS Grant

What about the Bora PD130/PD150 or the Toledo PD130??

Both are Golf sized, and I'm sure you can pick up a decent example within your budget..

To be honest, if you are considering a basic re-map upgrade I've seen loads of people recommending the 130 rather than the 150 as there is only really 5-10bhp of a difference when both are re-mapped. The saving on initial purchase price would allow for a couple of other mods on the styling side in addition to the re-map.


Cheers,
Grant

Rabid

I had a PD150 for a while having test driven the 130. There wasn't an awful lot in it other than the 130 felt perkier at low speeds. That would be missing the point though, at motorway speeds the 150 is a much quicker car. Not only that the engine has stronger internals, FMIC and the clutch is stronger. Start looking into it and you'll find PD130+remap=clutch slip for a lot of people.
Then consider that the 150's had better suspension as standard, bigger brakes and usually higher spec (ESP, climate instead of air con etc etc) and the 150 is worth the extra.
Buy one get it remapped and you'l find all the comments people make about 'on off power delivery' don't apply either.
If you can face having an ugly car buy a BORA PD150 rather than a Golf and save 3 or even 4K!

sgcooby

I would have thought leons would be cheaper, no?? I had the GT TDI 115 golf ages ago and it was brilliant. Suspension was a bit soft so make sure you get the lowered springs. I was going to say go for the 130 as it is regarded as one of the easiest engines to re-mapp however this was before I read the other post about the stronger internals. I didnt realise the 150 bhp version had these but seeing as it does I would certainly be happier knowing my re-mapped car was better able to take the increased power. I havent however heard of anyone who has had problems with a pd130 tuned to 175bhp which can be easily done for about 4-500 quid. Depends how much money you want to keep aside for other mods on the 150bhp.

Rabid

SG, many PD130 owners report clutch slip after a remap as for the suspension differences they all handle like crap anyway so I suppose it doesn't make much difference. Depends what the price differential is I suppose and if you want to start modding it. I just went for the PD150 as there was only a grand in it and it seemed a much nicer car ie leather heated recaros etc

adyhicut

I agree

My brother has a 130 remapped and his slips the clutch.

Go for the 150

Steve vRS

The insurance on a 130 chipped up will be more than the insurance for a straight 150. You may also knacker your residuals on the car by modding it. Go for a standard 150.

Steve

brickboy

The website you need is www.uk-mkivs.net -- lots of experience in modded 130s and 150s there.

The general consensus is a remap by Revo, Jabbasport or AMD. Although some have had Superchips OBD remapping and reported very good results too.

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

The Leon is available in the lower power versions from when the range was released. The 130 was not available until quite recently (and the 150 in the last year or so) making it quite expensive as they are still relatively new for the models I'd want.

Sorry I've discounted the saloons as I prefer the look (I know, I know) of the hatchbacks over the saloons. And they are both quite ugly cars, although I have had three classic Imprezas!!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for all the replys, so it looks like the 150 is worth the little extra!

I've a few locally at dealers for around the £9-10k, so let's see if any want to hangled before Christmas!

mg driver

i had a 150 ,,very quick and deffo worth the money over a 130 ,its not just power it has other extras as well.

Dave uk blue mica

i've got a 130, came with the stuff Rabid has mentioned, its got ESP, climate control, factory option sports suspension, had it remapped which cost £300 and on an independent dyno it put out 197bhp with no clutch slip.

Rabid

All the PD130 owners seemed to end up with clutch slip sooner or later, ditto some PD150 owners as well but not nearly as many. There seemed to be no pattern to it, remapped, worked fine, drive 10K miles in it, woah- all of a sudden clutch slip in higher gears. Others got it straight after the remap.
Some people say it's down to a 'glazed clutch' whatever that means and advocate burning it off with a bit of abuse
You could of course always go for the PD130 and get a decent sachs clutch with the money saved and thus solve the problem.

logiclee

www.mh2k.com had a 2004 Leon 150TDi Sport in last week for £9599. Looks like it's sold now.

Cheers
Lee

scoobynutta555

What "internals" are different in the block between a 115 gt tdi and a 150? I was told they were the same, just the management was different.

Rabid

As I understand it stronger conrods, injectors, pistons all have different part numbers. Never mind induction differences which I guess don't count as 'internals'

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I think you are right, as I remember reading about it in Evo when the TDI 150 was released.

scoobynutta555

The turbo sizes are also different apparently. I had a 115 gt tdi and chipped it, was fairly quick, but the handling in these cars are quite poor.

Rabid

PD130 engine is similarly uprated I think, minus the con rods. Maybe even a better engine for day to day driving but the way I look at is that I always preferred my TD05 old skool Impreza to the TD04 equipped later cars I drove. Guess I must just prefer turbo lag and higher speed 'on boost' antics.

Turbo is different, not too mention a whopping great FMIC on the PD150 rather than the weedy side mounted item on the 130.

Adam M

go 150, if you don't you'll regret it.

I have driven 1.8Ts upsoluted by a guy named steve. cost is £240 on a group buy and the difference is incredible.

He told me most of the work he did was diesel vws and recommended the 130 as a good compromise. Spec for spec I would take the cheaper option if they really were the same, but I reckon the greater specced 130 will be harder to find.

I would go for the 150 as I said and sort out the handling before anything else.

My 1.8T handles like an MPV but feels like a limo. It drives itself and feels great in the process.

talizman

iTrader: (1)

Correct!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Cheers guys.

I'm now hunting for a Golf GT TDI 150 or a Leon Cupra TDI 150.

talizman

iTrader: (1)

Andy,

Pending a satisfactory test drive at the weekend, I'll have bought a 52 plate GT TDi 150 too

After 6 Imprezas, its time for some frugal fuel economy!

scott8629

How does the Bora compare to he Golf (PD150) in terms of speed and handling?

I quite like the look of these

Scott

Dr Hu

Talizman - Out of interest what did you pay for this?

I'm looking for a 5Dr 150 one at the mo - but some VW dealers want silly money........

Just want to know a ballpark realistic price so I'm not being shafted.

I ideally want to trade my 2003 WRX 5Dr with no cash involved for a VW of the same age/mileage....but finding it hard...

I too need some fuel economy back in my life - I made the mistake of working out the MPG of my WRX when petrol was £1 a litre......24mpg just to commute to work & back.

Buy a Golf and my fuel bill will halve

Dave uk blue mica

theres been a few Golf GT TDI 150's on ebay recently, some 52 plates with under 80,000miles and a buy it now price of £8,295, theres a few on there now if you do a search.

talizman

iTrader: (1)

£9995 for a 52 plate black 3 door with 50k on clock.

talizman

iTrader: (1)

Well I test drove the Golf today, but I'm not sure if it's a 130 or 150

There is no TDi lettering on the boot, just GTi with red "i" (I think)

The plastic engine cover has "TDI" in big red letters.

Does anyone know of a sure fire way to differentiate between them before I commit?

Ta

awd wrx

If its got GTi on the boot its a 150 as all the lesser ones have Tdi on the boot, the 150 also has a red TDi badge on the engine cover

Christ

This discussion crops up on http://www.uk-mkivs.net weekly, what awd wrx says is correct however badging and the optional extras get messed out with a lot, the ONLY sure way to tell is to look under the boot carpet, on the left-hand side is a sticker which will state 110kw on a PD150. The car would have 16" Montreal Alloys, Climate Control (on a 52 plate), a third rear headrest, and wood trim around the stereo, as well as a front mount intercooler.

If your buying one out of warranty, definately check the cooling fans spin constantly at a slow speed when the Climate Control is on auto, as its expensive to fix.. Also bear in mind theres a main service and cambelt at 60k.

Chris