Volkswagen diesel performance - Testing the Euro only 2012 Golf GTD higher performance diesel

[Sticky]

Ok, you may be asking yourself, what is the Golf GTD? Well, it's a diesel Golf, you probably have that part down. But it's a higher performance version than the TDI. It's basically a GTI and a TDI combined. The result is a 168 horsepower 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel with 258 pound-feet of torque. And all that torque is available from 1750 RPM. Sounds great right? Yep, except that this car is not sold in the United States.

It definitely should be considering it offers another 28 horsepower and 22 pound-feet of torque on the Golf TDI along with better suspension and brakes. 1/4 mile acceleration is a very respectable [email protected] with 0-60 coming in 7.2 seconds. Not mind blowing but definitely quick for a diesel Golf.

On the bright side, even though this model is not sold in the USA one can tune a Golf TDI to essentially be the same thing. Just without a warranty, the body work, suspension, and other associated pieces from the factory.

Vehicle:
Odometer: 10,659
Date: 10/30/2012
Driver: Mike Monticello
Price: $23,000 (Base)

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front engine, front-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed auto-clutch manual
Engine Type: 2.0-liter turbodiesel
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 1,968/120
Redline (rpm): 5,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 168 @ 4,200
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 258 @ 1,750
Brake Type (front): Ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): Solid discs with single-piston sliding calipers
Suspension Type (front): Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 225/40R18 (92Y)
Tire Size (rear): 225/40R18 (92Y)
Tire Brand: Bridgestone
Tire Model: Potenza RE050A
Tire Type: Summer
As Tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,176

Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.6 (3.3 w/ TC on)
0-45 (sec): 4.5 (5.4 w/ TC on)
0-60 (sec): 7.2 (8.0 w/ TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 6.9 (7.6 w/ TC on)
0-75 (sec): 11.0 (11.8 w/ TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 15.4 @ 88.9 (16.0 @ 88.3 w/ TC on)

Braking
30-0 (ft): 29
60-0 (ft): 114

Handling
Slalom (mph): 69.2 (69.2 w/TC on)
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.89 (0.89 w/TC on)
Db @ Idle: 47.2
Db @ Full Throttle: 76.6
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 66.5
RPM @ 70: 2,000

Comments:

Acceleration: The turbodiesel hesitates significantly off the line if you don't power brake. After that it's all big power and super-quick shifts. With traction control off and the transmission in Sport mode, it went into some kind of launch control, although it only held revs at 2,000 rpm. That was enough, jumping off the line with front wheelspin. Manual shifting is via paddles. Blips throttle on downshifts, does not hold gears to rev limiter, shifts at 4,900.

Braking: Firm pedal, good feel. Lots of ABS goings-ons but nice, short distances. Minimal dive and no wiggle. First stop was shortest at 114 feet. Third stop (out of six) was longest at 122 feet.

Handling:

Skid pad: Compared with the slalom, the skid pad number is only fair. Shows how good the chassis tuning is versus the actual grip of the tires. The GTD pretty much just wanted to understeer here, and throttle adjustments had only minor effects.

Slalom: Volkswagen, bring the GTD to the U.S. exactly as it is here. Don't change a thing. Give us the adjustable suspension, the summer tires, the perfectly calibrated ESC that can be turned off. It's extremely planted, has natural steering and very little body roll. Love it.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

The green color is getting to me something different! Yeah VMoA bring it on, Im in love with DIESELS!!

[Q4P]

excellent car for commuting but I can't take disels as very serious performance vehicles... this car traps 88 mph

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Very true then again thats why i have a 335d w RENNtech flash in my garage

[Q4P]

not trying to be mean or anything but e the renntech flash... u r how much faster than a stock 335i? When I go on dragtimes, the quickest 335d ran a 13.1@105, I know hotrod experimented w tunes but still only ran a 12.9 @ 109 or something. This is barely equivalent to a stage 1 335i. Once again, not trying to be condescending, this is just why diesels typically dont make the cut in the performance arena.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

No problemo amigo DIESELS are not known for 1/4 mile per se but hasnt AUDI wons the LeMans may I say over the past 10-12 years with a DIESEL!! I for one have not done the 1/4 mile but the 1/2 mile run and my best time was 129.68, this year we did not fair well as the trap speed was not working properly.

Here's the link :

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012...n_1603433.html

[Q4P]

No problemo amigo DIESELS are not known for 1/4 mile per se but hasnt AUDI wons the LeMans may I say over the past 10-12 years with a DIESEL!! I for one have not done the 1/4 mile but the 1/2 mile run and my best time was 129.68, this year we did not fair well as the trap speed was not working properly.

Here's the link :

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012...n_1603433.html

correct but that is a dedicated race car... thats like me pulling out an F1 vehicle and comparing it to something.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Dont know what else to tell you DIESEL engine are notoriously better than gassers and last longer

[Sticky]

excellent car for commuting but I can't take disels as very serious performance vehicles... this car traps 88 mph

But look at what it traps and the ET for the HP.

[Sticky]

correct but that is a dedicated race car... thats like me pulling out an F1 vehicle and comparing it to something.

The illustration is that a diesel can be a performance motor. And it sure can be.

[Q4P]

The illustration is that a diesel can be a performance motor. And it sure can be.

why don't I rephrase, show me an example where a comparable performance diesel and gas street car are sold and the diesel outperforms the gas motor?

[Sticky]

why don't I rephrase, show me an example where a comparable performance diesel and gas street car are sold and the diesel outperforms the gas motor?

Gasoline pretty much always makes more HP. Diesel pretty much always makes more torque. Provided equal HP and weight, diesel will usually have an edge namely off the line.

[Q4P]

Gasoline pretty much always makes more HP. Diesel pretty much always makes more torque. Provided equal HP and weight, diesel will usually have an edge namely off the line.

thats a nice way to phrase it, but i want examples

[Sticky]

thats a nice way to phrase it, but i want examples

Diesel motors usually don't have equal HP so I can't provide a direct example for example look at the diesel and gasoline SQ5. The gasoline motor should be faster but it has more power although less torque.

[Q4P]

Diesel motors usually don't have equal HP so I can't provide a direct example for example look at the diesel and gasoline SQ5. The gasoline motor should be faster but it has more power although less torque.

lol thanks man... in the end, hp/tq aside... the performance numbers never match... closest case in point 335i/335d. 0-60, 1/4, trap and for the hell of it weight goes to the 335i. One has 40 less hp but 125 lb ft more tq. The 40 hp seems to do more for performance than the tq.

[Sticky]

lol thanks man... in the end, hp/tq aside... the performance numbers never match... closest case in point 335i/335d. 0-60, 1/4, trap and for the hell of it weight goes to the 335i. One has 40 less hp but 125 lb ft more tq. The 40 hp seems to do more for performance than the tq.

That and also the 335i has a much higher redline.

[Q4P]

That and also the 335i has a much higher redline.

lol yeah... but lets not talk about high revving redlines haha

[Puerto Rican 335d]

oh well I still love my DIESEL over any gasser I will try never to go back to them the mpg and torque has me hands down!!