I brought a golf 2.0 tdi to tow the Fleetwood miro 920kgs laden 1200kgs
The golf spec is 236 torque, weight 1451 and max tow weight 1400kgs
We have once towed once and did really well. Problem is the golf is giving me mechanical problems and I might change it. Im now looking at the mazda 3 2.2d sport
The figures are 295 torque weight 1525 and max tow weight 1500kgs
I know the golfs are good for towing but what about the mazda 3?
The Mazda looks better on paper and I'm sure it will be a lot more reliable. Mazda's seem to be a pretty good drive nowadays.
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Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
Stay with the Golf or it's variant with a Skoda badge on and also very good Haldex traction.
Skoda Octavia Estate 4x4 2.0TDi, Torque 236ft/lb (320nm) at 1,750-2,500rpm, 138Bhp this is the common rail VW/Audi engine, lots of smooth power and torque, 33-35mpg towing
Mass in service/K-weight 1,495kg, towing limit 1,600kg.
Only a suggestion
I don't like big cars tho, the golf is big enough, but the turbo packs in after 60-80mph, clutch release bearing make a horrible noise somethimes and now the bonnet catch has gone grrrrr
The mazda has a rubbish ford engine, as ford now own them
The Octavia is not much longer than the Golf, but the boot is like the grand canyon.
I think you will find its the MAS thats packing in not the turbo, you could check your air filter is seated correctly, and the clutch release bearing could be the dual mass flywheel on the way out, cheapest option if its the 1.9 tdi is to get the single system fitted at under half the cost at around £350 to £400 depending on the hourly rates
skoda Bob, think you have hit it spot on, the MAS does play up on me. After reading today the DPF on Mazda's do. And the main reason why is because I do 4 trips a day of 2 miles, my golf is the 2.0 tdi. And that's my worst fear the dual mass flywheel going. I think its time to get trade in , I need a petrol
talking about dual mass flywheels, i had one go on my 1.9tdi passat, had the single mass flywheel and new clutch for £500,and got slated on the vw forum saying it will snap your crank and destroy your gearbox, now i dont want to be a scaremonger, but there comments did worry me, but its still going fine and to be honest you can't tell any difference, drives smooth, and just done over 500 miles around wales, what i want to know is why didn't any crankshafts get snapped before dmf's came out
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Because the flywheel and crank damper are a matched unit.
When you take a heavy lump of DMF off one end of the crank and replace it with a flywheel that could be a lot lighter then the crank damper also needs to be replaced to match.
When you tune an engine and lighten it you need to make sure the crank damper suits the new weights.
Its rare for it to happen but it can and has happened.
Letting it lumber along at low revs labouring the engine and also using very high revs for a long period is what will kill it sooner rather than later.
i had a picasso and constantly had problems with dpf and turbo, egr valve i too do short journeys, these cars are simply not made for that, go for a petrol, cheaper to buy and if you average it out over 3 years probably not a lot of difference cost wise.
The DPF and MAS are 2 different things, the DPF is part of the exhaust and is meant to store and burn off the smaller particles.
If your DPF is regenerating it will show this as a light on the dash,
If its the MAS it means that the face of the unit could be slightly covered in road grime and the sensor is picking this up and restricting the airflow to the engine.
Now the good news look up Shark performance on the web, and you will see that they can completely remove the DPF and dial out the sensor, as its not required for an MOT, thats a thought it could just be the DPF sensor thats gone a cheap fix, even the AA or RAC can sort this at the roadside.
The single clutch and flywheel will make the car more responsive, even the economy improves slightly, had one put in my Octavia, ran it for over 200,000 miles
the trouble is they are often done on the same engine light!
they are such a pain i dont see any real benefit to having DPF other than a slight improvement in emissions. surely removing them could cause an mot failure from too high emissions?
Quote: Originally posted by marky-marque on 16/8/2013
I don't think my golf has dpf as its the 140bhp I think its 170 bhp that has it. im getting a vw expert to look at on Monday and see what he says
They can just plug it into a computer and it will tell them whats wrong You could go onto the Golf owners web site and ask if anyone in your area has a computer that they could plug in and inform you whats wrong just for a few beer tokens
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Topic: Golf Or Mazada
and also very good Haldex traction. 
, I need a petrol
