VW Diesel

[biggieou]

I'm looking at possibly getting a VW Jetta TDI. I have done searching on here and have found the website TDI 101 and will begin looking at it soon. I was wondering if any of you have updates on yours from previous posts. Any problems? Also how is the maintenance on these things? Can I work on it myself, because I absolutely hate stealerships.

 

[CochranD]

mexican volkswagons suck

Well good luck to ya. My Volks Jetta is the biggest disappointment Ive ever had. Car and stealership have been a huge PIA! Warranty is a joke . Mines had everthing under the sun go wrong. Im buying a ty-ota next time .

 

[biggieou]

What year is yours? Can you tell me what's gone wrong with it?

These cars seem tricky, either they are great cars with no problems or they are nothing but problems.

 

[RGardner]

We have an 02 vw diesel bug that has been a very good car. 46 mpg day in and day out.

 

[Katman]

Currently I have two 2006 jetta tdi vehicles. One just passed 30,000 miles; the other has about 1,000 miles. Both have the DSG (auto) transmission. Other VW diesels I've owned include an 85, 92, 99 (pretty sure that was the year. Wife's car, so I didn't pay much attention) and 2002. the 85, 92 and 99 were al sold after they past about 150,000 miles. They were all running strong and looked good. I traded the '02 on the '06. I got a couple of weeks ago. It only had 80,000 miles and I should have kept it. But, it was going to need tires, timing belt service, and brakes (sometime before 100k). I'd feel like replacing the struts when I did the brakes. So, instead of spending the money I sat down with the local dealer and got a pretty good deal on the 06 and decided to do it. That way, I'd have a fresh jetta in the stable when I'm ready to sell the forester and get a diesel Tourag if the come in with a smaller engine.



Everyone has different experiences, but the only thing I've done to my VWs is change the oil & filters and other routine maintenance. My three porsches were about as reliable as the VWs, but they did require more servicing. Can't say that for the mercedes vehicles I've owned or the U. S. brands. Never had a japanese car--just don't like the road feel. Come to think of it, I did replace the alternator in the 85 at about 140,000 miles.



You can do a lot of the work youself if you have the tools, the time and the interest. The TDI club site you seem to have found has some great information and their are other resources. I use to do a lot of my own work, but I just don't have the time anymore.

 

[CochranD]

Maybe Im being tough on VW, but the recalls ( about 10 so far ) and the things not recalled , like the airbag light on the dash is lit all the time, begins to weigh on me .

The airbag thingy really make me mad because it went right after the warranty was over . The warranty was only to 24k. The cars a 2000 5sp. and from what I was told that winding in the stearing colum ,behind the bag, is a PIA to do. Most garages didnt even want to do it. I just recenty got the ck engine light off, its got 98k on it now.

Actually it burned oil from day one, but now it seems like it fixed it self... ??

But now I think it has a crankcase venting issue, after 2500 miles ,the oil looks like chocolate, with the filler cap having a wipped ,froofy,creamy oil on the bottom.

Im sure that it not water and not a head gasket issue.

 

[CAT 385]

I have an 06 with the 6 speed auto, The only trouble I have had with it is when it gets below 0* it will not start. My neighbors does just not mine, the closest dealer is 4 hours away s othey load it up haul it down there and of course it is 20 degrees warmer and it starts right up. (can not duplicate problem) Then I have to drive down and get it, 8 hour round trip. I will put a block heater on it next year.



The bottom line is the car gets 40 to 50 mpg and goes as fast as you have the balls to go and passes everything except a fullsize diesel going up hills. Show me any car with those numbers. Ya, I love it and it is small enough to valet.

 

[wxman]

We have a 2002 Jetta 5-speed. Have about 80K miles on it now. No problems other than having to have the window regulator units replaced.



Gets about 47 mpg local driving on B20 and as much as 58 mpg on extended road trips.

 

[biggieou]

Ok so I went and drove that '06 Jetta today. Nice overall car, just too small inside. My knee hit on the radio console. Very peppy diesel.

I then went and test drove a Beetle TDI. There is a lot more room inside of that then there is in the Jetta. It was really amazing! Any of you have experience w/the Beetles? This one is an 04 w/14k miles on the clock.

 

[NCovey]

My wife drives a 2000 Beetle 5-spd. We bought it with 138,000 miles on it, and it now has 145,000. Runs great, 40-47 mpg. I did replace the timing belt on it when I got it, simply because i didn't know when it had last been changed. It takes a $325 tool kit and a $275 belt kit that has a 100,000 mile change interval. I bought them at dieselgeek.com. I also recomend getting the MK4 Panzer pan to protect the oil pan, radiator, condensor, core support, and cooling fans from parking curbs, and small animals. Ours was all busted when I bought it.

 

[JHerr]

Here is my family's TDI stable:

- Parents: '00 Golf TDI auto with 80K

- Brother: '96 Passat TDI with 170K

- Sister & BIL: '96 Passat TDI wagon with over 200K

- Me: previous '97 Jetta TDI & previous '00 Golf TDI



Do you think we like these cars? TDIs deliver fantastic fuel mileage and deliver a great driving experience. All have been relatively trouble-free vehicles and we have a great dealer 45 minutes away. Local dealer is truly lousy in my opinion.



Stay away from the older 4-speed automatics, in my opinion. It feels as though the engine and the transmission do not communicate. The newer DSG (direct shift gearbox) 6-speed automatics are getting rave reviews... so much so that I will likely buy a DSG automatic on my next TDI. For me, this is nearly heresy!



TDIClub.com is a website very similar to this one. There is a tremendous amount of online knowledge out there with lots of dedicated, hands-on people.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

My family and I have had a number of VWs over the years, bugs and a van. I was really interested in a TDI or diesel robbit . But when I got to looking at how crummy the Consumer Reports rating on the reliability and repairs on the newer VWs I decided to forego a TDI in favor of a Subaru Outback. my . 00002

 

[FATCAT]

I have a 2003 Jetta 5-speed TDI and it runs great. I take good care of it and it takes good care of me.

I have 126,000 miles on it now and it still goes strong.



PS: Definitely don't believe everything you read in Consumer Reports (I wouldn't believe anything in that leftist rag). CR HATES any diesel and have orgasims over Honda and Toyota. CR has been bought and paid for by the greeny-wenny leftist crowd.

 

[JHerr]

I respect Consumer Reports opinion:



What they DON'T like, I usually do. When I go to Barnes & Noble and need a good chuckle, I'll pick up a copy and leaf through it.



I agree with FATCAT, despite CR bragging about their lack of advertising enabling them to be "objective", I think that they have an agenda... and a deficient art department!



Drive a TDI and then make a decision for yourself.

 

[DSpencer]

My 2003 Jetta 5sp has been almost problem free. The back passenger side door lock refused to unlock last year but other than that its mid 40's in mpg driving in city traffic and 50 + on the highway. My wife drives it daily and it has just over 70 thousand miles. I was one of the last 50 or so 2003's available in texas when we bought it in October of 2003.

I would get another one.

 

[Todd G]

We just turned 50k on our 2004 Jetta with no problems. Average mileage has been around 45mpg, mostly city driving.

 

[biggieou]

Well I made a big decision. I'm passing on the VW's. I just didnt want to spend 18 grand on a car. I tend to get bored w/vehicles easily, so locking up long term to a vehicle is probably not the best idea for me. Instead, today I went and looked at an 84 Mercedes-Benz 300SD. It's turboed and super, super plush at 5K. Fresh paint and the guy that has it is a MB nut. It was awesome talking to this guy, he knows everything there is to know about MB's.



Thanks for all your help about the VW's, I really appreciate it.

 

[JHerr]

I have seriously considered Mercedes in the past as a daily commuter. SOLID cars with great longevity. Two reasons for me passing on them:

1) Fuel mileage wasn't that much better than my current Ram and I was used to 45-52 mpg on a VW TDI.

2) Lack of a manual transmission except on the old, slow and scarce 240D.

 

[biggieou]

They definitely wont win any races, or go the furthest on a tank of fuel, but they are such solid cars it's unreal. This big 300SD I'm looking at still pulls 23-25 in town and close to 30 on the highway. Definitely not as impressive as what the VW gets, but then again the VW is a shoe box on wheels and the MB is a land yacht. I also liked the fact that looking at the MB, it seems like it is relatively easy to work and honestly the engine reminds me of a Cummins in terms of ease of maintenance.

 

[Katman]

I had an '82 300 SD. It was a nice highway car.