MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Now got really used to the Astra and can make some serious progress in it - Mid range punch is massive and it's one of the best "small block" diesels I've driven BUT: I hate the noise - No more smiling on start up. Big turbo whistle is mildly interesting but that's it. I hate the lack of any action below 2k rpm (I've tried loads of other diesels, all are the same). I hate the lack of any action above 4.5k rpm. I hate the smell when I fill up. BUT it's shockingly quick for overtaking (we are talking near R32 mid range and I'm not joking!) and it's very good on fuel and is a pretty perfect workhorse. I NEED a 2nd petrol car soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Listen, I kind of know what you mean. There's a tendency when changing to a diesel to drive it the same way as a petrol. If you really want to get a shift on in a petrol car, plant your foot and keep it down until it screams. With a diesel, it just works the other way. Changing up a gear at 3500 revs will be quicker than running it up to the redline, and that's just the way to drive it. By far the most enjoyable thing though is being able to blow away most of the boy racers round our way, and still get nearly 50 to the gallon. I've got a little note on the number plate for when they finally catch up with me. It says "Yes, it's a Diesel!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I think I've learnt how to drive it to it's maximum ability (I change at low rpm and race through the 6 gears) and I can blow away many supposedly quick cars but it's just not as satisfying. I think the sound counts for a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 These points you make Matt are exactly what worries me about getting a diesel. I can see myself being bored s***less with it after a month or two.I'm thinking of getting a 150bhp Golf to drive everyday because as I stated on a seperate post,I'm sick of paying for petrol and the miles I do it's getting to be silly expensive. Now I've read the figures on the Golf and they quite surprised me,deffo hot hatch performance and better in gear figures.That's cool and I could live with that kind of performance,but is it the way it's developed that's gonna make me hate the car before too long? One thing is for sure.I will not carry on spending a fortune every month on petrol,but I do love driving,so whaddaya think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I know exactly what you mean. I had the 2.5 V6 Audi A4 Quattro as a diesel and it was pretty darn good. Had a nice sound to it when on the move and had all the grunt I need as well. But it just wasn't a petrol and neither did it give me great MPG either. I have ended up getting a 2.0 T FSI A3 Sportback, and it is the best of both worlds in some respects. Its far quieter than a diesel, very refined in fact, has great MPG and loads of low down torque, but it is missing the stright 6 or V6 soundtrack that I loved in my Lexus. Am hopefully changing jobs soon, and a BMW or Lexus is on the cars. The noise just finishes off the car IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Activa - Think hard about it and drive as many as you can. If you need a car that will hustle you along as a very good pace but needs no attention then go for it but if you're looking for a car to excite you, stay with petrol. As for mpg - I'm getting about 40mpg. Pretty good as I rag it around but consider that diesel is a good 3-4p more a litre and usually more to buy in the first place (unless you kill the dealer and get £3k off like we did!). Our car has virtually the same torque as the R32 (as does the Golf) but that's only in the power band. With the R you could floor it at ANY revs and pull away with a gorgeous soundtrack to make anyone smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS4_Barry Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I hate the lack of any action below 2k rpm (I've tried loads of other diesels, all are the same). I hate the lack of any action above 4.5k rpm. [/ QUOTE ] I don't have any of these problems in my diesel!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 There are a few diesel exceptions of course but you need well over £30k for them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 40mpg sounds fantastic,driving enthusiastically,so I guess it could be up in the 50's if driven sensible-that's excellent. I have the bonus that the diesel is gonna be available to me half price through my friends company( )so the fact that it retails at more,luckily isn't gonna be a factor. I think I'll go and have a test drive this weekend and see what they're like.Only thing is,I reckon on a test drive it's gonna be "loads of boost,change,loads of boost,change etc." and it'll feel exciting.As I said before,it's gonna be after a while that it may start to annoy. Oh well,guess I'll just have to live with that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I don't have any of these problems in my diesel!! [/ QUOTE ] Yes,that is deffo one exception. If I could afford one of those there would be no doubt in my mind. The only thing you'd get bored of is whooping all the performance petrol motors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Yep - The 535, Audi 4.2 TDi and VW 5.0 litre V10 TDi would probably just about offset the diesel disadvantages! Activa - Sounds like you have some strong reasons to get one. Try a few though - I found the VW diesels quick but couldn't get on with the handling at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I hate the lack of any action below 2k rpm (I've tried loads of other diesels, all are the same)...... There are a few diesel exceptions of course but you need well over £30k for them! [/ QUOTE ] Erm, the family Xantia HDi pulls smoothly from as little as 1,200 rpm in all gears. Leaving 30 mph limits in 4th is fine. Will do this rpm in top on the flat as well. Pretty obviously it is quicker to change down a cog, but there really is no need. The car offers its 'meat' between 2-3.5k and there really is no point in revving it beyond 4k. Quicker to have faith, grab another gear and get yourself back into the torque. With the miles the car has done now it is worth pence rather than thousands. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Ian - The Astra pulls from much lower revs but not enough for me. Turbo kicks in at just over 2k revs and that's where you need to be to push it along properly. I guess it's just a delivery that I don't particularly get on with, a bit like very low torque NA engines like the Honda Type Rs. Big capacity petrol is where the fun is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Erm, the family Xantia HDi pulls smoothly from as little as 1,200 rpm in all gears. [/ QUOTE ] TBH Ian that was my first thought an HDI Xant(replace like for like)but the lack of outright performance will probably get a bit frustrating after only a short while. As you say,they are bargains.A 2001 with everything including TM will only cost a few grand and probably serve trouble free for ages. However,the Golf,according to tests I've read,really is on another performance plateau and will at least(I hope)keep me amused for a lot longer.Of course,they are a lot more money and I have always said I wouldn't spend a load on a diesel but it looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and spend upwards of 10k to get a decent example. Same price as the 944 cost,that's what hurts!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Activa - The Golf 150PD honestly needs suspension work to handle properly. I tested one and the chassis was a big disappointment - Very slushy, understeery and vague. The Astra has the same power and torque and about the same performance figures yet handles in a different league. See what you think but make sure you chuck it round some bends otherwise I'd go for something slightly slower but better sorted in the handling department. Vauxhall have only fitted this decent motor to the most recent cars but the old shape Focus has a very good TDCi engine and handles brilliantly too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Actually never thought about what they handled like,mmmmm,that could be a BIG problem. However much fuel I put in the Citroen,the handling after near 120k is still astounding,I wouldn't wanna end up in something that felt like a skid-pan car by comparison. Having said that,surely a set of rims and decent shocks and springs would go someway to making it feel sensible round bends. I'm guessing the 150 Astras are holding their money pretty well? Or maybe I can look for an ex-company high miler,you got me thinking now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Turbo kicks in at just over 2k revs and that's where you need to be to push it along properly. [/ QUOTE ] Matt, that's the difference then. The old 1.9 TD had quite a hard hitting turbo but the 1999- 2.0 HDi has a turbo that is always meshed in. Simply don't feel it or have to wait for it to arrive. God knows how it gives such great ecomony: the 1.9 TD cruising on the motorway at 3000 with the boost hitting really hit ecomony, giving around 45 mpg. The HDi manages over 55 on a like-for-like cruise. Activa - go for the 110 HDi is you can. Extra intercooling worth it. The on-road difference is not as great as it looks on paper (188 lb ft vs 155 lb ft) and early cars have a flat spot between 2000-2500 rpm - pretty bloody important in a diesel - that simply isn't there in the 90. Superchips do a great software upgrade that smooths this over as well as giving a peak of 228 lb ft @ 2,200 rpm. For reference, the Golf PD 130 makes 236 lb ft. Go on, you know you want to. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Activa - Knowing Vauxhall, my 05 reg 3.5k miler is probably worth about a tenner now! Seriously though, I think they'll hold onto a bit more money than the rest of the range - The engine has been very popular (Saab and Alfa use it too)- I think the new shape has been out for about a year and a half. I'm NOT trying to persuade you to get one, but when I got the Astra I tried SO many cars and it really shone. I think the Golf's handling could be improved with suspension mods but it's still a fundamentally dodgy chassis. Just have a really good look around, ignore the badge and see what you can get for your £10k. The Golf will be the quickest diesel for that money but I think the handling will get on your nerves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Ian,you're someway to talking me into the HDI with a remap. Think I'm gonna have a test drive of the VW and the Cit and draw some comparisons.I really don't like going for test drives when you possibly have no intention of buying. However,in this instance I think my lack of oil-burner experience means I have to. Matt,I think the order of the day is to nail the Golf into some corners and see if I come out the other side. Thanks for the info guys and I'll keep you posted as to my decision! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Happy testing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zchybrid Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Activa, dont forget the HDi xantia dosn't have the same suspension as your old car does it?? Sounds like the astra is worth a test drive just to compare against what sounds like a dissapointing golf for cornering! Do they do a focus with anywhere near 150bhp? if so, they do handle very well, i remeber first going out in my friends focus TDi (poor 90 bhp) and thinking, crikey... this has got a proper chassis on it!! And you know i will test a car to death . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I think the current 2.0 TDCi has 136bhp and a bit over 230lbsft and goes very nicely. Astra slightly quicker, but not a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJno1 Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Matt, Superchips have just released a power upgrade for your motor. See link below for chart. http://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/vauxhall19cdti150bhp.pdf Might keep you smiling for a while longer!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Hmmm - An extra 30ish bhp and similar lbsft gain... Interesting.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I really don't like going for test drives when you possibly have no intention of buying. [/ QUOTE ] Regretably unable to help here as the HDi is dads and he won't let me touch it - not even a brief drive in a private car park! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now