Oil Burner Feedback
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:36 pm
we are talking TDIs and not stoves so how you guys finding them to help potential owners
I picked my non-GT TDI up near the end of January, now done 5,500 miles.
I've had the same issues as other owners, smeary wipers, missing iPod cable, DRL issues, and one that I heven't seen much mention of on here with regard to the surface finish of the front grill getting all pock-marked and rough. It's the grill at fault because the cover over the towing eye is still in good condition on the same position on the car.
The wipers sorted themselves out, lots of rain when I first got the car. The iPod cable was handed over when I asked for it. The DRL's (I think) are now sorted. The car is going in tomorrow for a new grill to be fitted, which I believe is being done under warranty, but will confirm when I get there.
I'm disappointed with the standard equipment fit on the VW. It's a lot more money than a SEAT, but with less kit. The Climate Control and multi-function steering wheel are standard on the SEAT, and the open cubby hole and cup holder on the VW are just cheap and nasty. I'd wanted Climate, bluetooth and a multifunction wheel but couldn't justify the cost. The options I wanted and could aford, folding mirrors, smoker's pack, flat tyre indicator, were not available to me because the car was already built and I was told by the dealer than none of these could be retro-fitted. Untrue as it turns out.
The VW is certainly well put together, the interior is nicely finished and solid. The RCD510 is nice, but a bit of a distraction, particularly if you're trying to get to a certain album on your iPod. The Auto lights and wipers are nice touches and seem to work well if you can overcome the DRL issue.
The driving position is a little odd, compromised I think by the Golf Origin of some of the parts. To get so I feel comfortable, I have the seat as low as it will go, same with the wheel, which is also pulled fairly well out. I'm not an unusual shape, and like to drive fairly upright and low, but just feel I'm on the limit of all the adjustments. I can also see quite an amount of binacle above the steering wheel. Seats are comfortable and supportive.
As for driving the car, I think it depends what you expect of it, and what you had before...
I had a SEAT Ibiza TDi 130 Sport and was delighted with it. Fast enough, and loads of low down grunt, a real surge at 1750rpm, to overtake in any gear at almost any speed. If they'd brought out a Cupra or FR TDi in the new shape Ibiza SC I wouldn't have bought the Scirocco, but they didn't so here I am.
On paper the VW and the SEAT have exactly the same performance, top speed and acceleration, which I guess means the VW's extra 10hp is eaten up by the extra weight. On the road the VW doesn't feel as urgent as the SEAT, and overtaking is certainly not as easy. The torque surge is missing from the VW's 2.0 twin cam 16 valve Common Rail engine. This may be because VW engineered it out to make the car drive more like a petrol, which it does, but I really liked the way the old 1.9 TDi drove and was hoping for more of the same from the VW. Maybe the 170hp TDI CR is better? I haven't been in one...
The VW rides and handles very nicely, and is big step forward from the SEAT. Though on the noise front, the low level "clatter" of the 1.9 in the SEAT has been replaced by an equally unmemorable exhaust noise in the VW. The adjustable suspension is more of a novelty than an assett, I'd cheerfully swap it for Climate Control and Bluetooth. You can feel the difference between the three settings, but it's not as though "Confort" is so soft it saps your confidence, and in "Sport" it's nothing like a single seater. Some people on here say that the chassis "mode" affects throttle response and steering as well, but I can't notice any difference. I just leave it in normal...
And now for the reason we buy a TDI, fuel consumption. On the trip computer, the car has averaged 47mpg over the last 1800 miles. My eighty mile round trip to work is single carraigeway A-Roads, and B-Roads, overtaking where possible, cruise well above the limit is possible if it's quiet, and cruise at 45 in traffic if it's not quiet. On the days where it's 45mph all the way it does about 55mpg. I've had several return trips to London recently, M1 all the way 400 mile total journey, and on these the car's maintained the average. If you're a fifty-five-everywhere cruiser you might get high fifties out of if, but if that's what you want, buy a Lupo TDi.
So in summary, I'd like my Scirocco fitted with the 160hp 1.9 TDi PD engine, and with more equipment as standard, but other than that it's a decent car. It's nice for them not to be too common, it's comfortable, quick enough, economical enough, and handles well. I think I'll keep it.
