i have been thinking about changing my 300tdi 90 for a td5 now my 90 is not a mint exsample its not a shed tho just a few dinks here and there not bad at all for its age only done 120,000 miles inside seats are like new.
i dont use it evey day as i have a work van and my other half has a impreza sti that she uses, we go camping walking the dog and green laneing, i want to pay and play but never managed to get the time.
i have been looking at 2002 or newer with the newer dash is it worth it?
Only you can answer if its worth it or not.
As for others... well you'll get all the old stick in the muds whinging and whining about the Td5 and how much better the Tdi is.
Truth be told it comes down to this:
-Both vehicles as a whole are almost identical
-The newer dash isn't really that new, just more plasticky looking with less usable storage space
-Td5 might have air con which you might like
-Td5 is quiteter and smoother
-Td5 makes a better noise
-Td5 is more powerful stock (although stock tune is ****e)
-Td5 more tunable
-Td5 might have TCS, which if you do off road can make a huge difference
-Some Td5's (forget which year) have a better designed door top frame and seals
-a Td5 will be newer
-arguably Td5's body panels are thinner, always look more flimsy
-it won't actually be hugely faster to drive or better
-it won't ride any better
-it won't be any better off road bar the optional TCS system
-it's not going to be built any better or rust any less
It's really very much the same, but slightly different
If you want to change to get a newer, less miles tidier 90, then it makes sense.
If you want to change to get the Td5, then it makes sense.
If you want to change to get TCS, then it makes sense.
However if you want to change because you think it'll be a night and day difference then you'll be disappointed.
Arguably the amount of money it'll cost you to upgrade to a Td5 you could spend on the Tdi (or a lesser amount) and probably dramatically change the vehicle.
The only real difference is going to be HP and refinement. A Tdi will never return the same horse power as a tuned Td5 and the Td5 will always sound better and be smoother and more refined.
TCS isn't something you can retro fit to a Tdi either (well ok you can, but not really worth it). But you can buy lockers or a similar if you wanted too.
