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Should I get a diesel Volkswagen Golf VII?
I want to buy a three/four year old Volkswagen Golf VII for around £10,000-13,000, which has covered about 30,000 miles. Which engine and fuel type do you recommend? We cover around 10,000 miles a year with regular long (250 mile one way) journeys and short runs in between. Diesels have so much negative press currently but I am still tempted to get the 1.6 TDI because it seems to dominate the used car stock. Does the DPF still present issues and what is your view on the DSG system, is it still causing problems? Is it true that the 2.0-litre diesels are fitted with the better 5 speed DSG which is less problematic?
Asked on 31 January 2017 by Chris Barber
Answered by
Honest John
I.4 TSI 140/150 ACT. Avoid the 7-speed dry clutch DSG that is still having problems and, despite being designed as non maintenance, now requires a change of oil every 40,000 miles. The 6-speed wet clutch DSG with 2.0 litre petrol and diesel engines is more reliable and is in the process of being replaced by a better 7-speed wet clutch DSG across the range. Public opinion is turning against diesels generally and Volkswagen in particular. Though the current EA288 1.6 and 2.0 TDI emit less NOx, they use more fuel than the old EA198 TDI.
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