Was looking through Autotrader today and found the following:-

Skoda Fabia vRS

So given that info which is best?

My guess is that it will be either the 120d or 330d

Chris

My guess is that it will be either the 120d or 330d

Chris

120d just doesnt get into that range - although the 118d are in the low 9k range currently.

330d of course thats a better car than any of those listed.

Why?

RWD

Saloon

Handling

More torque & power

Much more expensive to buy in the first place - i.e. youd have to be in the market for a Passat W8 to consider the 330d as an alternative not an 18k GT TDi 140...

Im strictly talking about the 3 cars listed in the first post for this thread.

I'll take a 120D with the 170bhp engine... Yeah I know it isn't in the 7k bracket.

Out of all of those the MKIV is off my list and I'd probably take the MKV. It all depends on the mileage and other factors.

What about a MK 1 Focus 1.8 TDCI.

To me the Mk1 Focus is very cheaply made i.e. hard plastic dash etc.

I'd want to be paying MUCH less than

I'll take a 120D with the 170bhp engine... Yeah I know it isn't in the 7k bracket.

Out of all of those the MKIV is off my list and I'd probably take the MKV. It all depends on the mileage and other factors.

What about a MK 1 Focus 1.8 TDCI.

I think the Mk5 does make the Mk4 look dated the rear is much better to look at - Ive not driven one of the TDI140's though but it does sound very much like the old 1.9PD's.

I like the fact that the rear suspension is multi link and on a recent camping trip one arrived 4 adults 1 father 3 sons/sones mates (appeared to be Uni age) a huge 8 person tent with 3 side domes and a middle section where you can easily stand, camping seats table sleeping bags and normal luggage.

no way a pd150 is slower than a pd130 in real world driving. Just got to drive it a slightly different way.

I find the MK I focus much better internally than the MK II.

The plastics are better and IMHO are not hard. Certainly the ghia plastics are all soft where you might touch them.

Wouldn't say you would pay

no way a pd150 is slower than a pd130 in real world driving. Just got to drive it a slightly different way.

If you look at the 50-70 and 30-70 times in gear the TDI130 is quicker - info from Diesel car

http://www.dieselcar.com/pdf-files/articles/tests/vw/162-gp-golf-tdi-pd-150.pdf

http://www.dieselcar.com/pdf-files/articles/tests/seat/187-ft-leon-tdi-130.pdf

30-50th 4th Gear TDI130 = 5.1 seconds

30-50th 4th Gear TDI150 = 5.3 seconds

0-60 TDI150 = 7.3 seconds (see link above)

0-60 TDI130 = 9.8 seconds (see link above)

http://www.dieselcar.com/pdf-files/articles/tests/seat/189-ft-leon-cupra-tdi-150.pdf

As you can see from the last link they state (Leon TDI 130 & Leon Cupra TDI150 - i.e same as the Mk4 golf):-

"If we had the Cupra & Leon TDi130 side by side you would spot the difference in pick up. Its the 150 that takes longer to get moving".

I find the MK I focus much better internally than the MK II.

The plastics are better and IMHO are not hard. Certainly the ghia plastics are all soft where you might touch them.

Wouldn't say you would pay

Does anyone know the real performance difference between the Mk4 GTTDI 150 & the Mk5 GT TDI140?

Ive read that the tdi150 does 0-60 in 7.2 seconds but in the real world in slower than the TDi130 due to it having a larger turbo and the spool up time being longer.

Having owned two 130 PD TDIs (Ibiza and Fabia) and a Golf 140 GT TDI plus have test driven a couple of 150 PDs I can give you the following info. (opinions not facts though!)

The 1.9s have a nice slug of torque at 2000ish RPM but the 140 doesn't.

The 1.9s run out of puff at just over 4000rpm but the 140 doesn't

The 150 does have more lag at lower RPMs but feels more gutsy going up through the revs than either the 130 or 140.

The 130 is the best on fuel, the 2.0 seems to me to be the worst by a margin.

If you like kick in the back fun then the 1.9s your motor, if you like smooth almost petrol style performance then it's the 2.0. Revs much smoother, especially then re-mapped.

Golf is definately more expensive on insurance than the Fabia/Ibiza

The mk5s suspension and steering is leagues ahead of the mk4 and Polo/Beezer/Fabia chassis. Though on a high miler you would probably need to replace bits to get the feel back, as it's a heavy car stuff's gonna wear in the suspension dept.

The mk5 feels a big heavy car around town though. Very relaxing to drive. NEEDs the GTI steering wheel to feel anything special though, otherwise very bland inside.

The 170 PD TDI is a different matter again though, lots of power.

That any use?

Having owned two 130 PD TDIs (Ibiza and Fabia) and a Golf 140 GT TDI plus have test driven a couple of 150 PDs I can give you the following info. (opinions not facts though!)

The 1.9s have a nice slug of torque at 2000ish RPM but the 140 doesn't.

The 1.9s run out of puff at just over 4000rpm but the 140 doesn't

The 150 does have more lag at lower RPMs but feels more gutsy going up through the revs than either the 130 or 140.

The 130 is the best on fuel, the 2.0 seems to me to be the worst by a margin.

If you like kick in the back fun then the 1.9s your motor, if you like smooth almost petrol style performance then it's the 2.0. Revs much smoother, especially then re-mapped.

Golf is definately more expensive on insurance than the Fabia/Ibiza

The mk5s suspension and steering is leagues ahead of the mk4 and Polo/Beezer/Fabia chassis. Though on a high miler you would probably need to replace bits to get the feel back, as it's a heavy car stuff's gonna wear in the suspension dept.

The mk5 feels a big heavy car around town though. Very relaxing to drive. NEEDs the GTI steering wheel to feel anything special though, otherwise very bland inside.

The 170 PD TDI is a different matter again though, lots of power.

That any use?

Is the TDI140 a common rail or a PD engine? I had heard that Vag were moving away from the PD engines as the difference in performance and economy over the latest gen common rail was indifferent/marginally in favour of the Common rail.

Also Breezer Diesel whats your view on the TDI 115PD? (as I ran one of these just so that I can have a benchmark to understand your comparisons.)

Having owned two 130 PD TDIs (Ibiza and Fabia)

Here's one for you...which is "better" between the Ibiza and the Fabia with the same engines?

Rob.

Here's one for you...which is "better" between the Ibiza and the Fabia with the same engines?

Rob.

It surely comes down to ride - one is much firmer and has like or hate white max power style dials.

Looks also are down to the individual.

Ive seen both and the Fabia (given you keep the seats clean is better) is better - does the Ibiza have the rear water leak like the Fabia?

Unless you want a car with cast concrete seating, surely the Fabia is better than any Golf or BMW?

If you look at the 50-70 and 30-70 times in gear the TDI130 is quicker - info from Diesel car

http://www.dieselcar.com/pdf-files/articles/tests/vw/162-gp-golf-tdi-pd-150.pdf

http://www.dieselcar.com/pdf-files/articles/tests/seat/187-ft-leon-tdi-130.pdf

30-50th 4th Gear TDI130 = 5.1 seconds

30-50th 4th Gear TDI150 = 5.3 seconds

0-60 TDI150 = 7.3 seconds (see link above)

0-60 TDI130 = 9.8 seconds (see link above)

http://www.dieselcar.com/pdf-files/articles/tests/seat/189-ft-leon-cupra-tdi-150.pdf

As you can see from the last link they state (Leon TDI 130 & Leon Cupra TDI150 - i.e same as the Mk4 golf):-

"If we had the Cupra & Leon TDi130 side by side you would spot the difference in pick up. Its the 150 that takes longer to get moving".

Fair enough stats are one thing, but real world driving is another. Change your driving style in a 150 and you be giving 1.8Ts (150/180) a bittle of hassle, which a Pd130 won't as it runs out of puff.... I've owned both engine types (PD130&150 and 1.8T) and, just wish they'd done a Mk1 vRS as a PD150 (octy).

Well the best seats in the Business are Saabs especially in the 9-5.

BMW 3 series are certainly good you can drive 500 miles and still be fresh

Id have thought there are not many uncomfortable seats in modern cars - as who would buy them no comfort just for the marginal benefit of slightly better bolsters for those corners which you are attacking like your being chased by Satan himself.

Fair enough stats are one thing, but real world driving is another. Change your driving style in a 150 and you be giving 1.8Ts (150/180) a bittle of hassle, which a Pd130 won't as it runs out of puff.... I've owned both engine types (PD130&150 and 1.8T) and, just wish they'd done a Mk1 vRS as a PD150 (octy).

Will not changing the normal driving style of a TDI really harm the economy though?

Actually thinking about it surely its now possible to buy the Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8Turbo 150bhp for

Well the best seats in the Business are Saabs especially in the 9-5.

BMW 3 series are certainly good you can drive 500 miles and still be fresh

If only we all had the courage of Welshy's convictions.

If anyone's interested, I drove from Manchester to Edinburgh and back in a day, without stopping (except in Edinburgh, of course!) and didn't experience any discomfort. A lot of it's to do with having the correct seating position, rather than the design of the seat itself. Why am I saying this? Because the seats in the MkIV Golf GTI are the same design as those in the Fabia vRS. The materials aren't the same mind...

Did it on a single tank of fuel as well, as it goes!

It surely comes down to ride - one is much firmer and has like or hate white max power style dials.

I don't know...hence the request for opinion from someone who'd owned both!

Had heard the same about the Ibiza having a harsher ride and being less refined, but only from car journalists and they seem to be a fickle bunch at the best of times!

Rob.

If only we all had the courage of Welshy's convictions.

If anyone's interested, I drove from Manchester to Edinburgh and back in a day, without stopping (except in Edinburgh, of course!) and didn't experience any discomfort. A lot of it's to do with having the correct seating position, rather than the design of the seat itself. Why am I saying this? Because the seats in the MkIV Golf GTI are the same design as those in the Fabia vRS. The materials aren't the same mind...

Did it on a single tank of fuel as well, as it goes!

Agree if your seat & lumbar support are not set correctly and the steering wheel is the incorrect distance from you its not going to be as good as it could be.

Also it depends how wide you a** is - if your in a car with sporty seats and your a fatty then those seats are really going to cut into your lega & hips especially over longer distances.

Robmower - it is a fact that Saabs seats are the best in the business (note below that of S class etc) they are like super supportive arm chairs.

BMW 3 series good too - going by a friends comments, 1 series very much like those in VAGs.

I'll take a 120D with the 170bhp engine... Yeah I know it isn't in the 7k bracket.

Out of all of those the MKIV is off my list and I'd probably take the MKV. It all depends on the mileage and other factors.

What about a MK 1 Focus 1.8 TDCI.

isn't the focus dull to drive, with dodgy handling...:confused:

isn't the focus dull to drive, with dodgy handling...:confused:

Even worse than that ..... it's a FORD!!!!! :thumbdwn:

Chris

Will not changing the normal driving style of a TDI really harm the economy though?

Actually thinking about it surely its now possible to buy the Mk4 Golf GTI 1.8Turbo 150bhp for

The thing is a Mk1 Focus compared to a Mk4 Golf is like minimum wage vs