Volkswagen Beetle diesel, what do you know about them

[Heavy Duty]

Well, I may be in luck. My credit union just took a '02 Jetta back off lease. only has 36,000 miles and still has one more year on the warranty. Going to look at it tomorrow and if it is what I want I'll take it. Only bad thing is it has an automatic. Anyone have one with an automatic? If so are there any problems with the auto behind this little TDI? Just think the Dodge may have a baby brother (or sister) soon.

 

[JeffreyHahn]

Warranty

Not sure about the newer ones, but, my 01 has a 100k powertrain warranty (can't remember how many years). That is only good for the original owner. It drops to 50k for 2nd owner. Read in the owners manual or warranty manual or check with a dealer to make sure you are getting a warranty w/car.

 

[Eric Kahn]

The rest of the world pays $5 a gallon because of $4 a gallon in tax on fuel, not because the actual gas cost that much, and they know it is because of tax

 

[LarryB]

#ad

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The automatics behind the TDI's are not all that bad.



Kerma has put his through hell and back. Last I heard - it still shifted okay.



The OEM converter is a joke - just like the Dodges... . but Kerma is working with DTT for an aftermarket unit.



Matt

 

[Heavy Duty]

Originally posted by HoleshotHolset

The automatics behind the TDI's are not all that bad.



Kerma has put his through hell and back. Last I heard - it still shifted okay.



The OEM converter is a joke - just like the Dodges... . but Kerma is working with DTT for an aftermarket unit.



Matt

Thanks HoleshotHolset. I test drove the little beast last week. For an little bitty diesel it did have some pickup and go even with the automatic. Still tryig to decide to buy it ot leave it alone. $15000 for a car is a lot. My old van is paided for and gets ~25MPH when the transmission decides to go into OD. I think I may hold off until it dies.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I bought the TDI Beetle to try and save on fuel... and get something a little more comfortable than my '94.



In the end, as others have mentioned - you don't really save much money. I had to keep full insurance on it (had a loan... ) and had to keep clean fluids/filters in it.



It sure was a fun car to drive - I'll miss it. It went to a good home, though.



Matt

 

[SSwanigan]

Basic maintenance is easy. I had an '02 NB TDI. I put 48k on it in two years and drove it hard. I pulled an average of 46. 4 mpg for the entire 48k.



The later timing belts are rated for 80k. If you ever change a belt just get the latest and greatest.



Biggest drawback, VW of America service sucks. That can't be stated enough. I'd say they're on the verge of being crooks, at least the ones I dealt with around Seattle. I gave up after they wanted to dump Syntec in mine and demand I come back in 3k miles for another $60 oil change. Heard another dealer selling a customer $3000 of new brakes for her car with only 13,000 miles or so. Even when I supplied my own oil they returned it to me at the add oil mark.



Only interior fit and finsish problems I had was a broken window regulator. They won't replace them until they break, lucky for me mine crapped out in summer!



I tried a variety of oil in mine and settled on Amsoil Series 3000. With the Amsoil it consumed about a quart every 10k miles between changes.



I only got rid of it after having my first child, they're just too small. With his car seat in back no one would fit in the front passengers seat!

 

[hammersley]

OK - somebody mentioned that they are a Girlie Car -

Hard to argue with a car that comes with a flower vase on the dash!



Sorry guys - even the Car Talk Show with Click and Clack http://www.cartalk.com/ said that they indeed are a girlie car AND you don't have to worry to much untill you start ordering hairstyle or decorator magazines... ...



On the other hand I ran across a guy last week at the Fry's Store and I was asking him how he liked his big and he wasn't very happy with the thing - it was a 2003. He thought it had way to many problems and he was a VW guy... so maybe a lemon.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I'm not ready to completely call New Beetle's 'girly cars'... mine was an awesome sleeper. If it wasn't for the boost/EGT gauges over the speedo - it would have appeared completely innocuous...



Mine ran like a freshly violated ape when I was done with it. :-laf



I'd own another TDI in a heartbeat.



Matt

 

[KL]

I look around Fred's TDI page once in awhile. The new 2004 and 2005 models with the PD engine seem to get about 2-4 mpg less than the earlier models. If you want mileage stay away from an automatic TDI. Most members with a Automatic TDI PD engine can't even get 40 MPG. KL

 

[KERMA]

The automatics behind the TDI's are not all that bad.



Kerma has put his through hell and back. Last I heard - it still shifted okay.



The OEM converter is a joke - just like the Dodges... . but Kerma is working with DTT for an aftermarket unit.



Matt

One thing about the automatics- they have the coveted 11mm injection pump that has higher injection pressure than the 5 speeds 10mm. More power potential. But that torque converter...



The 01M auto in that car is pretty damn stout. Either they break under warranty- and THAT is usually the transmission computer not mechanical, but the dealer usually mistakes it for mech problem first- or they last forever. Even longer if you change the fluid every 30k or so, that "lifetime fluid" stuff is utter nonsense.



OEM torque converter is fine with stock power. Chip and injectors, though, you're looking at major slippage, just like the Dodges. Too loosey-goosey. Bill K made me a few prototype tight stall converters, but it gets really expensive changing them out all the time, so that project is on hold for now! Meanwhile my mystery switch works just fine, thanks to TDR for the idea.



Kind of hard to believe, but guys are putting down almost 200 whp and STILL getting close to 50 mpg if they keep it real. A guy in Europe just dynoed his daily driver that started as 90 hp stock, modified put out 215 hp to the ground...



(Ahem, injectors, cough cough... )

 

[av8r]

My VW diesels

My wife drives a '01 TDI Jetta, and I have a '86 n/a diesel Jetta.



Her's averages better than 50mpg for $18,000

mine averages about 45 for :-laf $600 :-laf . (42hp at the crank :{ )



We have 60k on the TDI without problems, and my n/a has 275k now and runs great. The Cummins has been semi-retired for 2 years (since the 86 came along). When the Libeerty gets here the '86 will go. Anyone interested?



http://members. tznet.com/alzak/vw's.htm

 

[CGriffith]

There is no doubt that I would buy a TDI if I wanted a gas mileage car, but I just can't see putting anyone I care about in something that small. I lost a good friend in an accident that shouldn't have been serious. He got hit in the door in an intersection by a explorer doing less than 40mph. If he had been driving his truck he'd still be around. I haven't owned anything smaller than 1/2 ton since. All that money saved on fuel doesn't do you any good if someone sticks a buckstop through your window at 35+. Just my $. 005

 

[HoleshotHolset]

When the Libeerty gets here the '86 will go. Anyone interested?

Consider it sold. Let me know when you want me to come and get it.



Matt

 

[av8r]

Okay

When the CRD-Liberty arrives, (the whims of the wife may change, you never know) I'll throw up a post for it.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Sweet. I'll be in the market for a diesel VW come late spring or so... getting it early is okay too.



Matt

 

[KERMA]

There is no doubt that I would buy a TDI if I wanted a gas mileage car, but I just can't see putting anyone I care about in something that small. I lost a good friend in an accident that shouldn't have been serious. He got hit in the door in an intersection by a explorer doing less than 40mph. If he had been driving his truck he'd still be around. I haven't owned anything smaller than 1/2 ton since. All that money saved on fuel doesn't do you any good if someone sticks a buckstop through your window at 35+. Just my $. 005

The 99. 5+ VW golf jetta beetle are built like tanks- VERY stout structure. Six airbags too. It's hard to think of a safer car in that size.



Trouble with being built so stoutly- it adds weight- my Golf weighed in on the truckstop scale at 3260 lb with me in it. That's several hundred pounds heavier than a tin can civic.

 

[KYLE4]

Bullydog makes some performance parts as well a ecu upgrade I think there good cars for commuting 50 mpg and it's not even some hybrid

 

[KERMA]

Sweet. I'll be in the market for a diesel VW come late spring or so... getting it early is okay too.



Matt

Whoa, time for some R520 injectors, a pd150 turbo, and RC4! It will be good to have you back in the fold, Matt!