Mk 4 GOLF SDi - what to look for?

[KillerHERTZ]

Haha, thanks for the many replies. We didnt go and see it in the end after this thread. I have told her that a TDi is a must now, avoid SDi's like the plague!

 

[Gridlock]

[wrt: tuning box]Thats some bad advice there, those tuning boxes should be avoided at all costs. They do more harm than good, they are cheaper than a proper remap for a reason.

I know all they is basically a resistor but from experience (provided your N75 valve is a good'un) the 1.9 can take it. I wouldn't recommend a "tuning box" or "boost pressure adjustor" in the majority of cases but the 90bhp engine up to 110 is perfectly fine (people put PD turbos on this engine and get 180bhp out of it).

 

[w124coupe]

The 110 I test drove felt good. The PD 115 I could rave about all day. Fab car that I would have back any time. Wouldn't have sold it if it hadn't of needed a pesky cambelt change every 40K.

es, or every 4 years.

(its about £200-270 at an indie on a Golf - a lot has to come off the front but its quick enough to do and the water pump should be checked while its done)

 

[dervdoc]

i find the 100pd tdi is most reposive to mapping, got 156bhp after mapping one, £200bhp+ out of the 1.9 pd tdi is getting very common round my part of the country, mate has a 221bhp pd tdi golf, very impressive up against civic type r's etc...

 

[will9871]

In accordance with previous posts steer clear of an SDI.

If your friend is after a diesel golf please go for the 1.9TDI, I had one a couple of cars ago and whilst they were a truly fabulous drive VW reliability isnt what it was I'm afraid (in my experinence) went back to dealership under VW warranty 5 times (must say however that VW cust service was top notch!). I wouldnt buy another VW for a while im afraid desipte them being great drives and having great customer service, had the bad experience with reliability.

Had the advice of a family friend who is one of the most senior mechanics in the UK when I was shopping around for VW's and he said if you want a golf buy anything but the SDI, it is woefully underpowered, not just in a boy racer beating people from the lights way, in a literally struggling to pass HGVs on the motorway kind of way, apparently attempting to pass on a single lane carriageway is a terrifying experience due to the engine's pathetic amounts of torque.

SDI resale values are abysmal so for 100k on the clock you should be paying near enough half of the quoted price!! At that milage and spec your friend would be the final owner so 3k is a lot of money to run into the ground!

If you are genuine in who the car is for, buy something small, cheap and Japanese, preferably Toyota, Honda or Nissan (controverisal last one I know but had 2 nissans and was amazed by their reliability, just make sure you stick to the smallish petrol engines!)

 

[will9871]

Sorry for the now defunct advice on avoiding an SDI must read every post nixt time before posting

A wise move though on not wasting your own time matey!

 

[AntJC]

The UK MkVI forums nick named the SDI.... Slug Deisel Injection!!!!!

 

[J400uk]

The UK MkVI forums nick named the SDI.... Slug Deisel Injection!!!!!

haha

Heres another, on pistonheads they are reffered to as "Slowest Diesel Invented"!