Test Drive: VW GTI and TDI Shootout

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Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 06:57:04 +0500 #1

Let’s play some Golf, shall we? Minus the ‘lowest score wins’, golf tee’s, golf clubs, golf bags, golf balls, caddies, oh and a golf course.

The Volkswagen Golf GTi, and the Volkswagen Golf TDI usually don’t contend for the same buyer. One car attracts the youthful, boisterous, turbo-loving college student who bought the car and saw his parents’ insurance premium shoot through the roof. The other… is none of that. In ANY way.

They’re different- it’s established. But while that may be true, they are still similar than first meets the eye. For one, they’ve got the facts and figures column check-marked similarly- $20,000…ish MSRP, 2 liters, turbochargers, and neither version is short on power. So where’s the dissensus? If they both look the same, cost almost the same, and have similar things going on indoors, what makes one better than the other?

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 06:59:13 +0500 #2

Let’s start with the GTI. Volkswagen 10 years ago was at the bottom of their Golf game. With no chance at the jacket with their then-current Golf GTI, they needed a bit of a rethink. They came out with the Mk V Golf which, through a lot of technical details that aren’t worth mentioning in this article, recaptured the magic of the original Mk I and Mk II GTI’s. This new GTI continues the same philosophy of perky handling combined with quick acceleration thanks in part to its up rated suspension, and turbocharged direct-injection 2.0L 4-pot mill. That’s good for 208 horses and a 0-60 time in about 7 seconds. But if you like automatics and acronyms, the GTI’s DSG gets to 60 in 5.5 seconds. If you're ever short on time, put it into Sport mode. It can't cease to amaze you at how the power delivery manages to shove you back into your seat so much in such a small car.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 07:01:23 +0500 #3

How does it drive? Not badly. I’ve had the experience to drive quite a few fast cars now, but this still feels fast while having considerably less power. It’s may not be faster than the others, but it ain’t slow. It’s quick in first gear, but not without a bit of hesitation from the drive by wire system. You fight your instincts to call it turbo lag, so you remember that current sports cars are all plagued with this new-age issue. It’s not the turbo, it’s the DBW. First gear doesn’t last very long though, with peak rpm reaching about 7000 before the dash displays the number “2”, telling you it’s time to shift. Dump the clutch, and bang into second; the number 2 disappears. The clutch feels easy to play around with, the shifter is comfortably direct and not too loose, and I liked the ratios being spaced out, allowing for smooth shifts without waiting for the revs to drop for too long. It sounds good too, with the exhaust rumble even on a cold startup sounding well worth waking up on a cold morning for. Braking power is good, but the pedal feel is numb initially, and it doesn’t bite until you’ve clenched your toes a brief moment of nervous anticipation.

How does it handle? Like a GTI. It’s well worth the douchebaggery to just say those three letters. Those three letters are synonymous with one of the best ride handling characteristics of all time, and this rendition holds true to the GTI’s core values. It handles like a GTI. Enough said.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 07:02:55 +0500 #4

Where the GTI is fast and agile, it’s lacking in longevity on one tank of gas. VW saw this as an opportunity in the US market to shoehorn their 2.0L turbocharged diesel into the Golf to lure potential buyers in the market for something other than a hybrid. It’s priced less than the Toyota Prius or any hybrid currently on offer, and returns comparable numbers in the MPG column. Most of all, it’s a damn side quicker, employing the use of a torque heavy engine and a turbo, instead of going the electric motor assisted route.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 07:05:50 +0500 #5

Other than the sporty bits and the fancy styling cues, the Golf with the peanut oil engine is the same car. Where it differs is the way that torque jumps in, and you’d be impressed with how much it can twist. 236 lb-ft of torque don’t leave you or the gas tank feeling empty.

How does the diesel Golf drive? Well, it’s not as much fun to accelerate. First of all, the drive by wire system is even more annoying in this variant. And this time, it’s not just DBW lag. Yeah- there is turbo-lag. But the problem is you don’t get much time to notice it. The needle is at 1000 at one second, and it’s at 4500 the next, where it’s time to change a gear. Above 4000 rpm, it’s just noisy and rough, and it’s not a good place to be. And it constantly runs out of revs every time you go near the throttle pacing through the gears. I imagine accelerating in heavy traffic with this car would be REALLY annoying. And another gripe I had was with the clutch. I had no problem letting the car move a little on the bite point in the GTI, but it’s impossible in this car. You NEED to keep the throttle pedal down and the revs up if you want to move the car an inch, which is hard to do with a laggy DBW system pegging it down even further. Needless to say, I stalled. Twice. In traffic. And for some reason, when the clutch does bite, it feels hard. It’s not jerky and the car doesn’t buck, but it just feels like it grabs the flywheel rather than bites it.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 07:08:01 +0500 #6

But when it does get into its own, it’s magnificent. Guide the shifter into 6<sup>th</sup> gear at 40 mph and press the accelerator. You’ll be doing 50… 60… 70 in no time. And that same exercise is impossible to do in the GTI which barely accelerates from the same speed in 5<sup>th</sup> gear, let alone 6<sup>th</sup> gear which gives zero response. And while I didn’t get to drive this specific TDi on the freeway, I did get to drive my friend’s Jetta TDI 2 years ago bearing up and down the hills of Northern California, and the acceleration with the DSG gearbox uphill was probably the smoothest I’ve ever felt in any car with an automatic transmission. I imagine this would be an equal joy to drive in the same setting.

As far as the options sheet goes, both the TDi and the GTI can be equipped with almost the same stuff, give or take a ground effects kit, and larger wheels. They’re on speaking terms when it comes to interior space as well. But then again, they would be since they’re the same car.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 07:11:29 +0500 #7

The Verdict:

Which one would I choose? The GTI. ‘No wait, the TDI has all that torque. But it’s not as fast, and I’m a child so I want it to be fast. But every pompous kid has the GTI, so why not be different?’ Leaving aside the voices in my head, which one wins? The TDI.

It’s pretty simple, you see. The GTI suffers from being a car without a real world purpose. Most GTI owners don’t visit the drag strip, nor a road course. They’ve never been interested in the GTI for 0-60 times, and not until recently did the GTI raise some eyebrows in that venue anyway. They’ve never been interested in lap times, and most won’t be ready to expense a full set of tires on one track day. (They’re GTI owners, not GT3 owners) The TDI does everything it’s engineered to do. It goes from A to B and uses as little fuel as possible in the process. It has nothing more to prove than a 41 mpg highway figure, and it exceeds that figure on any given Sunday. An average driver can easily manage 50 miles to the gallon by driving between 70-80 mph. The TDi wins more than just this competition, it ends up being in my “cars I would actually like to buy” list.

The Golf TDI- Berlin to Warsaw… in one tank.

mehran (mehran) 2011-02-19 07:15:20 +0500 #8

Nice review. It was done in the US. But in my opinion people still prefer Japanese products as the pricing of European cars is quite a bit more than the Japs. And reliability is more and parts replacement is a bit cheaper with Japanese products. Of course, a VW Golf would be more superior in terms of quality perhaps but reliability, fuel economy, parts would be better for Japanese products.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 07:20:13 +0500 #9

They've just started building the Jetta (Corolla equivalent) in the US, and the price is now exactly the same as the Corolla. Their reliability is yet to be determined, but most repairs are done under warranty for VW's. Plus, these cars are leased anyway, so within the lease period, usually not much goes wrong.

Waisay about fuel economy, these cars are about the same on gas as Japanese models. And they've steadily started gaining momentum with buyers now. Toyota's are still more common, but VW's aren't uncommon either.

jayb (jayb) 2011-02-19 07:21:33 +0500 #10

Nice review... And i just love the way the new Golf looks. Wish we could have them here in Pakistan.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 07:23:03 +0500 #11

Thanks very much for the appreciation. It is a good looking car- I agree.

shift_oz (shift_oz) 2011-02-19 08:20:57 +0500 #12

I liked your review. Very realistic.

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-02-19 12:59:56 +0500 #13

Brilliant review mate. I wish VW sold the golf in India.

chinyoti (Murtaza Shahid) 2011-02-19 13:16:37 +0500 #14

No doubt shes the sexiest thing ever, But since its adopted the POLO concept (bumper and lights) Ever since then i like the Vw Polo more

airomerix (airomerix) 2011-02-19 13:39:17 +0500 #15

Impressive review [Y]

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-19 18:19:55 +0500 #16

You wonder WHY they don't sell it there, seeing as it would be perfect for such a market. I'm guessing import costs might be significant. Atleast that's usually the main reason cited for most good VW AG models not coming stateside.

@shift_oz:
Thank you very much for your appreciation. I try and keep it as real-worldly as possible.

@chinyoti:
I would love to see the Polo here. And smaller cars have their own appeal. They're easily lovable simply because of their size!

@aeromerix:
Thank you!

m_waqas (m_waqas) 2011-02-19 18:29:45 +0500 #17

awesome buddy... these are indeed hot hatchbacks..

does the song play every time u startup ??

chinyoti (Murtaza Shahid) 2011-02-19 18:41:56 +0500 #18

I still dont get it why did VW wind up, What on earth made them introduce them selves with Passat/Tourag and the mini-van and that too with zero advertisment.

Plus on the other hand there keeping up with the sister brand Audi, in Pakistan.

They could have eaisly started off with the Polo wud have had been an ideal car to capture small cars market or atleast diversify it, keep others as CBU imports, and start production if sufficient demad rose.

Even a normal person such as me can assume who would buy VWs here in a country which didnt embrace audis, Plus Pakistanis know VW only for the Beetle and thats it.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-20 02:29:12 +0500 #19

For a place like Pakistan, small cars like the VW Polo would be offered at a premium price, and there just aren't buyers for those cars at such prices. Case in point was the Mini Cooper- they even introduced them in the showrooms, but I don't remember more than 5 or 6 in Lahore.

With Audi, they've introduced a premium car for a premium price, and there are enough suckers in Pakistan to buy into A4's with no options JUST for the badge. Volkswagen couldn't offer that.

...well they COULD, they just wouldn't sell more than 2 cars a year.

Bilaltq (Bilaltq) 2011-02-20 02:30:07 +0500 #20

That'll be an added option!