Anyone go from GTI to TDI?

[hotshoe32]

My 2006 MkV GTI 6MT is getting on (110k+ great miles) and my commute is growing to 66 miles one way in June. I'm just thinking how great a new 5-door loaded 6MT TDI would be with all that highway driving...

How much would I be hating life going from GTI to TDI? I know I'm losing power but is all that torque satisfying enough in normal driving to keep me from regretting the 'downgrade'? Anyone made a similar change? I know i have to go drive one..

Thanks!


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[Aonarch]

Yes and then back to a GTI.

I regret getting rid of my TDI, its slowness got old with me, but the mpg was fantastic.

[TCBinaflash]

Go drive one, I thought they compared well in a side by side while considering the value of fuel economy. Its a great car.

[dhambrick]

I went from a Passat 3.6 Sport II to a Golf TDI and never looked back. And I had a MkIV R32 before the Passat.

I love getting 38-40 mpg every single day commuting through Dallas rush hour.

[hilld]

I didn't go exactly from a GTI to a TDI, my drop was even more drastic. I went from an Audi S6 to a TDI and couldn't be happier. I hated getting over $100 week in gas, now I fill up every other week at about $60 with the TDI. It drives fantastic, is comfortable and has adequate power for me. Is is on the same power level as my previous car. NO, but it has plenty for zipping around towns and the freeways. I wouldn't try to outrun the cops in a TDI, unless you plan on wearing them down by not stopping for 600 miles or so.

[David9962000]

I did, I love the MPG & the low end torque. The GTI is faster but with L.A. traffic I don't miss it. With the TDI you will have to learn the torque curve and keep shifting.

[hotshoe32]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone.... MUST DRIVE

[RogueTDI]

Let us know your impressions.

[DRH]

I did it, and have no regrets.

Once I go stage 1 in my TDI, I def won't regret It.

Go for a test drive and see what you think, I think you'll be surprised.

[bmpR32vw]

went from a turbo R32 to a mk6 tdi and i now love my diesel. But i also have a new project.

[vwgtiIII]

I'm picking up my '12 TDI this afternoon and coming from an '04 TDI.

I loved my 04 because you were always in power. Sure, it only has 100hp and 180tq but if you look at the dyno chart and rpm vs speed curves, in 5th gear above 50mph, you were at peak torque and high on the HP curves. It is fantastic for cruising backroads (especially in the high mountains!) and on the freeways above 65mph.

I think where people get let down is the difference between aggressive driving and WOT driving is very slight in the TDI compared to the GTI. I think of it as being pleased during 99% of my drive and only "satisfied" for the top 1%. That trade off is well worth it when you drive 500+ miles every week and get double the mileage for the same driving.

I am VERY VERY excited to pick up the new wheels...!

Edit: I actually went from a 3rd gen GTI (2.0) to the 4th gen TDI and will now progress on to the 6th gen TDI.

[barryf1fan]

I can't speak on your specific ? you posed, going from a GTI to a TDI, but I think with your current situation it wouldn't really be a "downgrade" as you aptly put it.

Diving over 600 miles to work a week with the TDI will seem like an "upgrade" to me. You'll miss your GTI because of the length of time you've owned it and the miles that you have put on it... but you'll grow to love the TDI just the same, and for different reasons.

Just my 0.02.

Good luck and post up pics your new Golf after you drive it (and buy it).

Best scenario for you, I think, would be to keep the GTI and buy the TDI... there's something about the 100k mile mark on cars that really lower your trade-in value.

Barry

[11223]

I went from an '08 GTI to an '11 TDI.. big difference but I don't mind it.

I loved the GTI and I and love the TDI.

I'm over the driving fast/speeding days so the TDI suites me perfectly. But if you want to do performance mods and use the full potential/power of the car I would recommend going with a GTI.

I enjoy the power the TDI has and I love the miles per gallon so all in all it's a win-win for me.

[BayshoreTDI]

I went from a 2006 GTI to a 2008 R32, and now drive a 2011 Golf TDI and have become a TDI believer! Diesel torque and solid 40+ mpg mean you can't go wrong, considering your commute. It is best if you test drive a 2012 GTI and Golf TDI back-to-back and make your choice - that is what I did and I have never regretted my choice.

[Numbersix]

We have a 2012 GTI and 2012 TDI DSG Autobahn in the fleet. I also drove a 6MT TDI quite a bit before pulling the trigger on the GTI.

My impressions:

-The TDI is an 80% GTI under most circumstances. Things I note most when swapping to the TDI from my car is the steering feels lighter at low speeds (not an apples to apples comparison as the TDI's running 17" wheels) and you definitely feel more low-speed body movement.
-The torque of the TDI, around town at <40mph speeds, negates most of the difference between it and the GTI.
-You notice the difference between the two cars in freeway merging and passing/acceleration. The TDI runs out of breath under certain circumstances.

If my commute were longer (currently ~5.5 miles one way), I'd have likely gone for the TDI. I decided that 21-22mpg vs. 33mpg wasn't that big of a deal with the driving I do, and I might as well get the car I'd wanted for 2 years. Just so happened that the other half liked the GTI so much a TDI joined the stable 2 months later (and kicked the Prius to the curb ).