Hi gents.
I am on the market for a 1.9Tdi daily and I notice that the Mk4 Tdi and the B 6 A4 Tdi are in the same price range. I tried googling what the fundamental differences were between these two cars but could not come up with much. I like both their shapes so im thinking maybe if i knew what differences there were between the two it might help to sway my decision.

Jetta4 has a VE engine (old injector pump type) 81kw if im not mistaken..

The audi has a PD engine, i only know the S-Line that has an Avf engine that pushes out 96kw..
The audi also has a better feel in my opinion - handling wise and interior wise. And if im not mistaken it has more features to it aswell (climate control, steering functions, audi concert sound is nice too). I think it also looks better lol.

I would take the audi over the jetta4 any day.

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The a4 is a much nicer car in terms of ride. It is quite a class up from the golf4. But so it comes with more expensive maintenance items.
One of the common things that you would need to do on a high km a4 is suspension bushes in the front because they Wear and that is kinda expensive.
But I'd take it anyday over a mk4.
The fundemental differences are that they are completely different cars.
Golf is a transverse mount VE engine.
Audi is a longitudinal mounted PD engine
From there the audi is an audi and basically shares NOTHING with the golf at all. It is a completely different platform. It has multi link suspension , the interior is nicer, the brakes are better the gearbox is better and it's just a nicer place to be overall. Just go drive them and you'll know immediately which one you like more and that is all that really matters - not because anybody tells you how they differ mechanically.

Two completely different platforms with different engines from almost different era's of the VAG stable. If it were my money and I were looking for a daily run around to get me to work and back, I would take the Jetta as it will be cheaper and easier to maintain. If you are looking for something to go away in, haul the family around, etc. then I would take the Audi.

I agree with much that is previously been said.

Essentially the VE 1.9 is not as refined as the PD engine and is a "typical" diesel. The PD uses more modern technology and is much easier to live with in terms of a daily.

To compare apples to apples you would have to compare the Audi with a Golf V rather than the Mk4.

As Panic has said the Audi is expensive to maintain, its a luxury car after all, so if it was me, I'd look at a Golf or Jetta for a daily. That said PD engines are also not the most economical to look after vs a similar era petrol, so be prepared to spend a bunch on preventative maintenance upon purchasing your chosen vehicle to avoid trouble later.

On the other hand the older Mk4 also has a few downsides to consider. Age is one thing and whether the maintenance and repairs have been kept up properly. A newer vehicle would potentially have less issues in this regard, although that may not be the case as many mechanics can testify to.

Good luck with your deliberations.

Hmm okay well the reason i assumed they shared the same platform is because on the registration papers of my previous Golf Mk4 Tdi (which my brother borrowed after writing off his altea while waiting for his insurance claim to be finalised a year and a half ago and never gave it back) it said golf /a4 and on a lot of the engine spares as well so i guess i kinda assumed they shared a platform. Well, what I like about the Golf / Jetta is that most of them came with the heated seats whereas im yet to see the B6 A4's with the heated seats. The Jetta is probably lighter as well if im not mistaken?

Oh If seat heaters is the thing that makes it a better overall car then definitely the audi is off the list for you. Very few audis had seat heaters in SA.
Yes a jetta 4 is probably easy 200 kg's lighter than a B6 A4. If those are your definitions of a better car then don't bother with the looking at the audi for sure.

The weight of the Range Rover is the only reason why I don't drive one. A Kadett is a lot lighter.

Interesting what some people find important. For me the exact reason I drive a very heavy touareg is that I am then by law allowed to tow a heavy trailer with another car on. Oh and the huge V10 that makes 750 nm

billionairebum wrote: ↑Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:34 pm The weight of the Range Rover is the only reason why I don't drive one. A Kadett is a lot lighter.

Huh?

panic-mechanic wrote: ↑Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:48 pm Interesting what some people find important. For me the exact reason I drive a very heavy touareg is that I am then by law allowed to tow a heavy trailer with another car on. Oh and the huge V10 that makes 750 nm

If I were like you, I would also have something like a Touareg V10 TDi or A8 4.2 V8 as a daily drive, unfortunately I cannot afford the down time or cost of one of these cars being off the road and don't have the space to have multiple cars that I can rely on. Sure, a MkVII Golf R isn't exactly an ideal daily drive but its a great compromise between sensibility and performance for an everyday car.

Guess we all have different things we look for in a car. But seems like your mind is made up about the Mk 4. Then you should go with it, cause you going to live with the car in the end. Personally I would have probably gone with the B6.

DJ7 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:06 pm Guess we all have different things we look for in a car. But seems like your mind is made up about the Mk 4. Then you should go with it, cause you going to live with the car in the end.

Agree

Neuk wrote: ↑Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:01 pm

billionairebum wrote: ↑Wed Jul 11, 2018 12:34 pm The weight of the Range Rover is the only reason why I don't drive one. A Kadett is a lot lighter.

Huh?

Kak Praat. Just buy the Audi. /thread

I agree with neuk's first reply