Thread: 300tdi vs a td5?

Originally Posted by manic

Speed limit is likely 110kph or less for those long drives through Canada. My TDIs love to cruise at 115kph on the GPS and have done for 100,000s of kms.

Funny you mention 145kph in a tdi. I did the same in mine down hill 'passing a truck', except the TDI felt completly comfortable and at ease. This was with a fully loaded rack and the cargo area packed up to the rafters, heavily laden.

The difference in confidence is probably down to the gearing and perhaps general condition of the car, suspension/bushes/steering ujs etc etc.

If you are in a Defender screaming along at high revs, little to no sound proofing, driveline vibrating and steering wandering all over the place - YOU will limit your speed.

A TDI powered defender in all round good shape and well set up by previous owner will drive better than a neglected TD5 powered defender. So see whats on the market, LHD/RHD, test drive a bunch. If you are lucky you will find a gem (TDI or TD5)

Thanks Manic,
its good to hear your real experience with giving the 300 tdi a "flogging" , and your confidence in the engine, Its very reassuring. ( are you still running standard gear ratios?)

My car always steers well etc, and was heavily loaded at the time, I think they feel better on the road loaded than not. But I do recall when doing 145 k-h thinking it sounds very busy down there. about 3700 rpm I think.
The defender transfer case gears don't help they are pretty noisy.

I'm now running a disco-2 TC and its a lot quieter, when i first drove it I thought there was a window open, I could hear "wind noise". (I don't have any extra soundproofing)

with my roof rack on at 110 km-h, (2400 rpm), I'm at 14-15 lbs boost and about 450-470 c egt, but the egt can climb up to 600 on the long hills, 650 C is my self imposed maximum, and i'll only sustain it for a short time. but notice the load goes up quickly over 100 k-h, as expected.

There's no escaping the aerodynamics of the defender, and roof rack makes a noticeable increase in drag, compared to driving without it.
Maybe I'm too gentle with mine,

cheers simmo

Originally Posted by manic

Speed limit is likely 110kph or less for those long drives through Canada. My TDIs love to cruise at 115kph on the GPS and have done for 100,000s of kms.

Funny you mention 145kph in a tdi. I did the same in mine down hill 'passing a truck', except the TDI felt completly comfortable and at ease. This was with a fully loaded rack and the cargo area packed up to the rafters, heavily laden.

The difference in confidence is probably down to the gearing and perhaps general condition of the car, suspension/bushes/steering ujs etc etc.

If you are in a Defender screaming along at high revs, little to no sound proofing, driveline vibrating and steering wandering all over the place - YOU will limit your speed.

A TDI powered defender in all round good shape and well set up by previous owner will drive better than a neglected TD5 powered defender. So see whats on the market, LHD/RHD, test drive a bunch. If you are lucky you will find a gem (TDI or TD5)

Yes, my Tdi never felt stressed or like it was about to explode, it just revved cleanly to the limiter and went really well with the 255/85's and stock gearing suiting highway driving with loads. Towing was better with 235/85's though.
Apparently 200Tdi's can feel a bit agricultural