Diesel Power

We really need your help anyone that has experience with a diesel engine….i know that a diesel is better mpg and as far as i know cheaper to run.We are looking for a run around until we can afford a nice MK1 and have seen some nice TDi's in MK4 model but i have a serious issue with a diesel engine when its idle…All i can think about is like a crappy tranny van and thats not good guys/girls.Is there a cheap productive way that we could have a nice TDi and have it purring like a petrol car with a turbo?I hope this makes sence……

Crikey if you think a (relatively) modern TDI in a MK4 is noisy at idle you should have a sit an old school IDI Diesel engined 1.6 Golf/Jetta/Caddy. Steering wheel shake and dashboard rattles don't even come into it. Sound fantastic though, just like the engine noise you made as a child pushing the matchbox car along the carpet.

Most MK4s will still be taxed on engine size (£230) so if after saving £ that's a bad start, Diesel cost @5% more than petrol, modern TDI type Diesels are just as complicated (i.e. prone to go wrong and expensive to fix) as petrols, 2nd hand DERVs generally cost more to purchase than the equivalent petrol, if you are doing less than @12,000-15,000++ miles a year you'll never make the £ back.

On the plus side a good modern turbo Diesel can be very quick (see recent 5th gear telly programme) and are just a good drive compared to a petrol motor screaming at 5000rpm down the motorway.  

Hi,

my '79 1500D does 58mpg and 70 mph all day every day, it's no noisier than my '78 Bedford cf petrol or my '80 mini, but it's a lot more economical.

It certainly rattles, and it's got character, but I can listen to the radio fine and drive all day without getting a headache.

You can't expect a 35 year old car to drive like a modern car, so if you dislike noisy smelly smokey cars, don't get a mk1 diesel.

Robin