VW Golf 5 TDI

Q

quik

Expert Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2004
Messages
1,542
Reaction score
0
Location
Jhb, SA
Hi Guys

I'm looking into purchasing a Golf 5 TDI from Mastercars, and I'd like to know people's experieces who maybe already drive this car or have driven it in the past.

Questions like:
Are there any issues with the Turbos on these cars?
What is the fuel consumption and fuel range like?
What does a typical service, and perhaps a major service cost?

We already have a Polo 1.6 and it's a great little car, services are cheap and fuel consumption is fairly good.
 
I have the 2.0 TDi with 54000km on it - no problems thus far.
If I keep the revs below 2000rpm when driving, I easily manage 5-5.3l/100km.

Dunnow about service costs, it has a maintenance plan but in general I can't see it costing more than R700-R900 a service, which is what the wife's Polo 1.9 costs
 
Everyone says that the TDI has turbo problems bit thats bs. You just got drive the car properly and not take your revs up to 6000 rpm on a diesel
 
Just_Ice said:
Everyone says that the TDI has turbo problems bit thats bs. You just got drive the car properly and not take your revs up to 6000 rpm on a diesel
Click to expand...
Damn...my car's Tacho is only marked to 6000rpm. I cannot rev it higher than 5000 (I've tried) and boost completely drops away above 4500rpm. Boost comes in at 1400rpm and max torque is at 2000.
 
lcbxx said:
Damn...my car's Tacho is only marked to 6000rpm. I cannot rev it higher than 5000 (I've tried) and boost completely drops away above 4500rpm. Boost comes in at 1400rpm and max torque is at 2000.
Click to expand...
And that is why some people have blown there turbo :D
 
You cant go wrong with VW ;)
Nice car. Ive drove one for about 6 months.
Very comfortable to drive.
Not so good with regards to performance, but overall a nice car.
 
Friend of mine has 2.0tdi,he bought when they just came out i think in early 2005.
He is very happy. no problems.
 
Great... now to find one. Have seen several well priced models but every time I enquire the car is sold already. It seems they're selling like hotcakes!

So if there are any used car salesman out there, PM me ;)

I'm looking for a well kept 2006 model or later 1.9TDI/2.0TDI with low mileage, preferably below 50 000km. Not really bothered about extras.
 
One more thing... do you think it's worth going for the DSG model.

I've heard good things about these gearboxes ;)

I'll be pulling a trailer every now and then, don't know if that affects the choice of gearbox.
 
Last edited:
The DSG is a brilliant gearbox, and my next car will be having one of them....

Just chat with the boys a VW and see what they say regarding towing a trailer along behind it.
 
quik said:
One more thing... do you think it's worth going for the DSG model.

I've heard good things about these gearboxes ;)

I'll be pulling a trailer every now and then, don't know if that affects the choice of gearbox.
Click to expand...
One thing I can tell you: I'm regretting it every day that I didn't take my Golf with the R13,000 DSG option. VW doesn't even offer it on the 2.0 TDi model today, only on the 1.9 - unless you buy a Seat Leon...
It is a brilliant transmission and no, you won't have any issues pulling a trailer. The clutches are wet-plate and has its own radiator, so you're more likely to overheat the clutch on a standard manual than the DSG.
 
quik said:
Questions like:
Are there any issues with the Turbos on these cars?
Click to expand...

This is how a turbo is blown/damaged/burnt on a diesel engine ...

if the car is on low revs and you are trying to overtake, and you dont gear down and accelerate, you are over working the turbo (Turbo Diesel Engines have ALOT of torque). If this is the 'normal' way of driving, the turbo wont last longer than 20k km's, if its occasional, you'll probably say goodbye around 60-70k km's.

problem is alot of people think accelarating in high gears with low revs is convenient, so stay away from 2nd hand TDi's.
 
CaTcH21 said:
This is how a turbo is blown/damaged/burnt on a diesel engine ...

if the car is on low revs and you are trying to overtake, and you dont gear down and accelerate, you are over working the turbo (Turbo Diesel Engines have ALOT of torque). If this is the 'normal' way of driving, the turbo wont last longer than 20k km's, if its occasional, you'll probably say goodbye around 60-70k km's.

problem is alot of people think accelarating in high gears with low revs is convenient, so stay away from 2nd hand TDi's.
Click to expand...
This makes no sense at all. The only connections you can make between high torque & a turbo on a diesel, is the compression ratio & energy released by the diesel combustion. Besides, if the turbo fails before 120,000km / 3 years, it's covered by the warranty. The turbo's on 2004+ TDi's are of the variable-vane type, made by Garrett, which again throws your theory out the window as the ECU dynamically adjusts the vanes in the turbo's exhaust housing, controlling boost.

Working your engine & turbo hard on any car (petrol/diesel) without allowing the engine & oil to warm up first is the biggest cause of turbo failure. Not allowing the oil to cool the turbo for 2-3mins after high engine speeds is also a cause, but more so on petrol than diesel, due to higher exhaust-gas temperature.
 
Last edited:
lcbxx said:
This makes no sense at all. The only connections you can make between high torque & a turbo on a diesel, is the compression ratio & energy released by the dies combusting. Besides, if the turbo fails before 120,000km / 3 years, it's covered by the warranty. The turbo's on 2004+ TDi's are of the variable-vane type, made by Garrett, which again throws your theory out the window as the ECU dynamically adjusts the vanes in the turbo's exhaust housing, controlling boost.

Working your engine & turbo hard on any car (petrol/diesel) without allowing the engine & oil to warm up first is the biggest cause of turbo failure. Not allowing the oil to cool the turbo for 2-3mins after high engine speeds is also a cause, but more so on petrol than diesel, due to higher exhaust-gas temperature.
Click to expand...

you have your 'opinion', and its valuable.

the more info the OP gets, better for him.
 
Thanks guys.. very helpfull and informative so far.

I think I've found the car I'm looking for, and it's in Cape Town so holiday included... Score!
 
All paperwork done...

Golf 5 TDI Comfortline DSG, 35 000km on the clock, for R165k

Not too bad seeing as they're quite scarce 2nd hand, especially the DSG.
 
Just_Ice said:
Everyone says that the TDI has turbo problems bit thats bs. You just got drive the car properly and not take your revs up to 6000 rpm on a diesel
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about that... a diesel engine works with constant airflow and variable fuel mainly (petrol is variable airflow and constant fuel) but to explain this won't be easy, so I'm not saying anymore with regards to this.

I know of numerous turbo diesels who's turbo failed/broke. Mainly it was the Polo TDI Sportline (the one with the upped performance), but I think it was heat related with the South African climate condition...

It doesn't matter if you ride your tdi slowly or push it to the limit, the turbo does the same amount of work regardless.
 
I don't know much about cars but since i joined this forum I get light every day.I just bought myself 2000 VW TDI. I took it for inspection, Experts says everything is shanana.But with u guys I'm gonna learn alot they not gonna full me anymore.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X