200/300 driving experience

I've got a manual 200tdi and today I drove a manual 300tdi, 2 years younger ('95), same miles. Apart from it being gutless, which I'm sure a good pump tweak, egr/cat removal will sort, it felt heavy and ponderous.

Steering felt quite a bit different, stodgy, less direct - I thought they were almost identical so I'm assuming it's probably bushes/tyres.

I assume 300's are a little bit heavier, but didn't think it was significant.

What are other peoples experiences - I was only changing car to get AC, but I'm now seriously considering looking more into retro fitting AC to the 200 or getting a classic RR.

Unless it's simply a matter of worn parts and that normally they're the same from behind the wheel.

Cheers,

Nick

So, you are comparing your 19 yr old TDi 200 with a 17 yr old TDi 300 and you are drawing conclusions between the two.

You don't think that condition is likely to play a HUGE part in that do you???;;


Bear in mind that the final drive ratio on TDi 200 is shorter than TDi 300, so will make it feel more nippy, but will rev higher at the same cruising speed.

LR claimed that TDi 300 was more refined bit when comparing 17 yr old + vehicles, that refinement has long gone.

TDi 200 is noticeably better of fuel in my experience: Day to day 36; long run 40; best ever 46mpg.

TDi 300 is probably 15% worse on mpg overall.

thebiglad said:

So, you are comparing your 19 yr old TDi 200 with a 17 yr old TDi 300 and you are drawing conclusions between the two.

You don't think that condition is likely to play a HUGE part in that do you???;;

Click to expand...

yes I am, and yes I do - thought I'd made that crystal clear, but thanks for your insight, didn't know about the final drive difference.