I'm hopefully going to be changing my fiancee's car in the next few weeks!

She has an '07 Golf 1.4 TSI 140bhp at the moment but I want to get her an '07 or possibly '08 vRS diesel hatch.

Whats the advantages/disadvantages of the CR and PD engine?

Should I avoid the older PD engine or is it just as good?

Thanks, I tried a search but couldn't find any info!!

I'll hopefully be searching this weekend, is there anything I should be aware of?

Mark

In my opinion the CR is the better engine. Very smooth torque delivery and a very nice drive. Thats not to say the PD is some old nail, it isn't its just on the last stage of its life.

Interesting comment from Jason Palto on 5th Gear last night; he was testing the Audi TT 170CR - said he felt the power delivery was very 'flat' and not what he had expected from a diesel, it seemed to lack that 'oomph' of torque he'd expected (that a PD engine will provide). Might have been that it is just blunted by the extra weight of 4WD system.

CR engines have a higher usable rev range, going round to c. 5,000revs. the PD 170 in the vRS goes up to 4,500rpm but lower PD (140 and 105) engines tend to run out at about 4,000rpm.

CR engine is (theoretically) a bit more economical and has lower CO2.

On a practical/technical issue any '07 or '08 vRS TDI will be PD as the CR engine did not come out until MY 2009 and therefore likely to be 58 reg. There are I bet though, a few vRS TDI with PD engine that are 'new' and still floating around with dealers; so a change for a strong deal.

Good luck.

I'd keep the Golf, cracking engine the 1.4 TSI so I've been told (especially if you map it )

Can't comment on the CR, but it is the "next generation" engine at the very start of its production life, so likely to be more refined.

I have the PD vRS engine that you would be looking at and am very pleased with it. Slightly rough in 1st/2nd if spanked, but beyond that it's smooth, brisk through the gears and plenty fast enough. Economy at the moment averaging about 42mpg (mostly commuting in Manchester traffic - 25 miles each way per day, average journey time about 50mins, plus some more ... ahem ... spirited weekend driving) but my engine only done 8000 miles so still "loosening".

Can't comment on the CR, but have the 130 1.9 PD in my superb and it is a great engine, only downside, is that it isnt very quiet at idle or smooth in the lower gears, but a remap helps a lot.

I've test drove the CR 170 and PD 170 of the same day. It is smoother and even throughout the rev range. It seems to have more torque at the bottom of the rev range and none the roughness of the PD. The extra usable 300-400RPM at the top end makes a big difference on the road.

It is supposed to have lower emissions, better MPG and is likely to be more reliable (in theory anyway).

Can it be too smooth and refined? Has it lost something when compared to PD170? It somehow didn't seem so much fun. The only way you will know which on is right for your fiancee is to drive them both.