[Vwdiesel] RE: tdi vs not

[greg rich]

 >Reserve power means safety where I drive.  Get on a mountain pass and come 
up short of
>power when trying to get around one of these "75mph on the straight and
>35mph on the curves" people!  It can get you killed or you just go nuts
>stomping the brakes behind some of those people.

That was my point with holding speed through the exit of the corner to get 
around people who are going slower...but if I get behind someone who takes 
off on the straights I just pull over and pee or let the dogs out...no sense 
passing someone for a corner or two just to have them tailgating and 
possible causing an accident on the next straight.

>   Torque steer is an inheirent property of front wheel drive.  It doesn't
>mean the chassis is overpowered.  A LOT of engineering goes in to
>dampening torque steer, such as different length axles, different weights
>of axles, tube sizes, suspension geometry, alignment specs.  I read a
>pretty good article on it way back. Power just emphasises the existing
>problem.  It doesn't create it.

No, but having alot power in a front driver with a problem (as VWs have) 
makes it worse-if your car is subjet to torque steer with a low output 
engine no sense giving it more power. (I never understand why people 
retrofit a VR6 into an older chasis cause the torque steer was bad enough 
with 100hp)
>
>Matters well drive a car full out and not have any surprises when asking 
>for more power (like
> > spinning out in snow) makes a better driver/safer one.
>
>
>   Again I've not noticed the higher power making a problem in snow,
>which we get a good share of.  Has more to do with if the throttle is
>touchy, which the NA, TD nor TDI seem to be.

My point here was if you drive your car at the limit all the time you'll be 
in control in all conditions (you will know how it handles), if you have a 
tdi chances are you not driving it at the limit very often and when you ask 
for it it may be too much or putting yourself in unfamilar territorty-I 
never floor the tdi no need to but I wouldn't want to in an emergency/snow 
etc-not having the power makes me think the average driver is safer (ie they 
can't go faster). Just my thoughts, I feel way more comfortable driving the 
87 fast then the tdi.
>
> > I find the 1.6 runs a similar rpm as the tdi (or atleast I run it the 
>same
> > manner-shift as early as possible) it just depends on your transmission,
> > most TDIs have lower gearing.
>
>   The TDI's have MUCH higher gearing.  Dad's runs about 2,200 RPM
>where the Jetta (with the FF tranny, about as high as the 1.6 gets)
>is turning about 3,000.  Higher gearing wouldve been nice in those
>earlier trannies.  :-P
>
Okay, but you can change the trannies to get very TDI like, ACN tranny does 
75 mph-3000rpm. Our auto tdi is doing around 2800 rpm @75. Very close.

> > My point is the TDI is really unnecessary for the size of our cars, give 
>me
> >
> > an SDI (nonturbo) and I would be happy.
>
>   Sounds like you are.  It doesn't mean it's unnecessary.  I'm plenty 
>happy
>with my 1.5 but realize a TDI is a vastly different beast.  It's direct
>injected,
>bigger and electronically controlled.  I think we'd all like the first 
>part,
>most
>wouldn't mind the second and a good share of us would be happy without
>the third.   ;-)
>   I seriously doubt DOT would be suddenly allowing thinner glass, besides
>the quietness of the newer cars is one feature that would sway me toward
>one.  If yours was noisier something probably wasn't fitting right.  I sure
>never found a stock 1.6 to have quieter engine or exhaust sound than a
>TDI either.

Sorry, but in 1988 when the Golf and Jetta got the bigger windows (no more 
quarter glass) the actual thickness of the glass changed and you notice the 
difference-it is obvious to anybody who has owned both. I am not saying my 
TDI is noisy but I don't find a properly sealed 1.6 noisy either-again 
different models had different sounds. But nothing is noisier then a TDI 
started at -40!

>   Dad consistently gets about 800 miles/tank so to never reach 600 sounds
>like something wasn't right. I can barely get over 400 miles/tank in my 85
>Jetta!

I am getting over 700-900 miles on my 87 every tank, the tdi never gets over 
600 cause it is automatic, we use the same fuel and conditioners. I don't 
always drive as fast but I still get farther when I do. And we have two tdis 
to compare with-similar results

>   Let me know if your dad ever wants to part with the Toyota.  I have a
>friend that's been passively looking for a Toyota 4X TD for a long time.  
>:)

Yeah, took us 11 years to find one worth buying (originally wanted a Land 
Cruiser but settled for this)
Greg

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