VW TDI Questions

[AMcCormick]

So if you have or had one would you do it again? What years to look for? Common problems? Actuall mpg? We are looking for a smaller daily driver and seriously considering a Jetta TDI. We do not want to spend more than 15k$. I have seen an 03' fully loaded for 11. 5K$ does this seem about right? Is there much in the way of aftermarket parts? I think that AFE does some stuff as well as Edge? Bottom line is that we want a reliable good mpg small quick fun car that seats four adults prefered with a manual.

 

[PMould]

I bought a new 04 jetta tdI 5sp. good fun car I went 122mi used 2. 2 gal at55mph. went to NC. from CT. last month 48mpg down 49mpg back. trunk and back seat loaded. 55-75mph. not bad! more push on the go pedal less mpg. all stock no problems in 5 yrs. needs special oil vehicle specfic. stuff. check out the audi tdI v10 american lemans race cars ITWON Last week at SEBRING. I say buy one.

 

[JLEONARD]

Wife drives a 99. 5 5 speed. Bought it used. gets an easy 45 + mpg when being driven hard on the expressway. Never checked in town mileage. Should be better.

Had some troubles with the engine controls. CEL stayed on for 2+ years. Finally dealer replaced the turbo(120K miles), no CEL but a little less power, still plenty though. Won't win every race but won't get embarrassed either.

Not a bad car.

Personally I won't drive it as a commuter... coffee holders really suck.

 

[Mishkaya]

I have an '06 purchased new. Wasn't thrilled about the thought of having a PD engine, but didn't want the emissions stuff on the CR cars. Have a little over 60k on it now and have been very pleased with it. Only in once for warranty and that was for a driver's door switch. Around 35mpg in town, 45 mpg or better on the highway. There is not a ton available as far as bombs go, but if you are looking for mileage, you won't want to go crazy either. I only had it chipped, and that was enough for my needs, after all I have the truck to play with. I would do it again without hesitation as it has proven to be a very nice little car, great for road trips...

 

[CKelley1]

i have a 09 it is nothing like the previous models it is very responsive and powerful a 6 speed manual getting 50+ at 65mph

 

[AMcCormick]

I see that the body style changed for the 06, what are if any changes in the drivetrain from generation to generation. I've found an 09 for 22k, would rather spend less but if we can get a new car for not too much dough then maybe. Thanks for the replies keep them coming.



Thanks

 

[Jefff929]

We have an 02 auto ~43 hwy, could be higher but my hwy driving is from ~250' to over ~2500' and back to sea level and around corners that would be great fun on a bike.



We then bought an 09 with 6sp, it is my mrs. DD. She consistently gets 34-36 in town and about 43 hwy also. She is a very conservative driver, no rabbit starts or anything. She has way more patients than I do. I drove the car one day as I do the 02 and the dash computer said I was getting 43mpg. I could easily have done much worse, the added hp in the 09 is like adding a Smarty L9 to my 01 CTD compared to stocky. Only you will not be able to get the VW to smoke in stock trim.

 

[jeepit]

My wife has a 2006 Jetta. She drove the other day and I was riding shotgun. She beats the livin snot out of this thing and complains when she gets 40 mpg. If she would drive it like I do she could get 46 easily.

We have 60,000 on it, very happy with ours and so far no probs. easy to work on too.....

 

[AMcCormick]

Can you run bio in the post 03' engines?

 

[Jefff929]

Can you run bio in the post 03' engines?

:-laf

Yes, the regular 5%, that has been in place for all vehicles since 1995, is listed in the owners manual.



I have no problem using it in either the 02 or 09, although with the 09 I'm chicken to go to the higher %s yet. The 09 has a thing like the 6. 7 DPF.

 

[AMcCormick]

We drove an 09' auto and an 06' manual yesterday. The 09 felt quicker hard to say as I wasnt driving. I dont think that she ever really held it open long enough to get spooled up. I drove the manual 06. I would like just a bit more as I was on the floor a few times. But considering the mpg that these are getting it is very happy balance. The 09' powertrain warranty only runs 60k. This seems short to me? Package 2 fully loaded listed at $25K. The 06' was asking $16. 4K, are going to look at another 06' loaded asking $13. 8. Any one have problems with the cam wear on the 06'?
Thanks, Andy

 

[AMcCormick]

Drove another 06' package 2. Really nice interior liked the seats. The car was a little buggered up but not too crazy bad. The left rocker panel was smashed up the left front corner bumper was busted and something spreared the bottom of the plastic grill. Inside the broken bumper we found a a safety "push down and turn" cap? The oil was black as black can be. I beleive that these engines do have a sort of egr system? Would this cause the oil to go black really quickly or has the oil not been changed. Lastly the ac was really loud. It is however a couple grand cheaper than anything else we have found.

 

[Regcabguy]

Buy the '09.

I see that the body style changed for the 06, what are if any changes in the drivetrain from generation to generation. I've found an 09 for 22k, would rather spend less but if we can get a new car for not too much dough then maybe. Thanks for the replies keep them coming.



Thanks

Buy the '09. My friend's a dealer and is getting nowhere near the warranty problems as previous years. Three years maintenance thrown in too. I've driven many of the previous years and this new one,emissions and all tops them.

 

[JLEONARD]

 The oil was black as black can be

Ours gets black very quickly as well. I don't worry about it.

 

[AMcCormick]

Ya I know that the egr stuff dirties it up pretty quick. Salesman claimed that the oil was just changed. With my truck the oil will stay clean for a short while after a change as I dont have any of the egr stuff. Drove an 03' that had 100k this afternoon with the auto. Not bad just a bit more used than we are looking for.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I have a 2005 A4 body (previous style) with about 45K with the auto, around 30 in town and as high as 47 a couple highway trips, but driving very conservative I can't break 50 MPG. A buddy has a A5 body 2005. 5 (current body style) with the DSG transmission and gets better mileage than me, breaks 50 MPG on the road.



Been a good car but the new 2009's are tempting, pretty well loaded for about 25K, and by all accounts better in every respect including mileage despite the EPA stuff.



I have done all my fluid changes and the oil is coal black within 5 minutes of a change! Mine has an EGR, not sure what year that started.



SHG

 

[AMcCormick]

Well there is a black speacial edition 06 jett tdi dsg in front of the house. The misses is stoked as this is the nicest car she has ever had. Car just had a 70k mile service done with a transferable 100k warranty. We have two diesel vehicles and diesel is back in as the cheapest fuel at least for now. I am curious as to what mpg we will get. She drives very mellow and relaxed. We will be driving to SanDiego and back later this month about 1200miles, should get a good idea of what to expect.

 

[moonranch]

AMcCormick, Congratulations on the car. I just got an '01 Golf TDI 5spd with 58K on the ticker. I used your thread to help with my purchase, Thanks. I have not gone through a whole tank yet, but MPG is looking good so far. I sure like the '06 Jettas, but didn't have that much $ to spend, Mama capped my at $9K.

 

[AHolt]

I just had new tips put on my injectors. The shop told me not to baby car.

shift at 2000 not 300. You can find any information you need at tdi forum.

Instead of a chip, get yourself a Ross tech Vag-Com, you will need this

to work on car yourself.

 

[AMcCormick]

So far mostly good. There is a grinding going on on the rear driver side brakes. Only at slow speed light braking. VW techs say all is good, trying to say that it is the moring rust rubbing off of the rotors. I will be having a look as soon as possible. Brakes work just fine. So other than that it is a very nice car. I like having the different modes with the auto. Standard drive she shifts about 2k in sport she shifts about 32 and down shifts much sooner, tiptronic works well. It is a nice balance of a car. We ripped down the I-5 staying well over 70mph until the south side of the grapevine then LA traffic. The first tank got us from San Rafael to San Diego with 1/4 left after a bit of city driving. 42. 77 mpg. next few gallons were 45. 7 mpg, 58 dollars and we still have a half a tank after 1205 miles of pretty quick highway an city driving. I think high forties low fifties would be a realistic goal if you stayed under 65mph, there were lots and lots of miles with low 80's mph driving.