Considering buying a new VW TDI - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

diesel don · #31 02-01-2005, 09:59 PM

I should mention that I purchased it from a nice, one owner couple in Pittsburgh (100 mile round trip per day) with 150k on it. I paid $6200 and feel like I got a great, tight car.

Don

miamimike · #32 02-01-2005, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lietuviai

Thanks for all the replies on the TDI. I've got lots of 2nd thoughts about the car. Just seeing them on the road being as small as they are makes me think twice. The thing is I need to get my wife a smaller car since she drives a Tahoe for her main transportation needs. We both realize this is ridiculous for a daily driver but the main reason we have the "tank" is so we can get in and out of our place during the bad snow and icy conditions we sometimes get every winter. I'm not totally sold on how the TDI would do in the bad winter situations since it's only a front driver. We had a Camry and it was terrible. My 300D is also terrible in any snow as well so I'm stuck driving the Tahoe on those bad days. We may just look into some kind of AWD like a Subaru since there aren't any diesels out there that are AWD except the Tuareg but I don't feel like shelling out that kind of money for any kind of car, especially a VW. I don't really like the Subaru's because I have a hard time getting in and out of one and I'm only 6'2 and they have almost no leg room for passengers in the back seat. We have too many cars to just keep the Tahoe around for only when we need it.
This is a dilemma that we'll have to work out some how.

I purchased my VW TDI-New Beetle(GLS) a year ago on eBay -it had 117K miles on it. I have did some major service work on the carTB and all related items, replaced a starter, had a few electrical glitches. Some things I do not like are interior quality issues-it could be better but then again I noticed the same quality issues on some VERY Expensive MBs. Electrical wiring was a complaint but my mechanic pointed out the same cheap wiring on a $90K MB so I don't feel so bad.

I had a 81 300TD MB before and granted the quality of the old MB was no comparison--much better and more durable.On the other hand-the VW has anti-lock brakes, airbags, get 45/50 mpg. It accelerates like no tomorrow, pretty nice car on the road and great in the city. Love the 5 speed. I have had VWs since '68--this is 4th and by far the best. Has a great heater and A/C--not so on the older VWs. Mechanics-another issue--not everyone has the expertise on these motors and that is really my biggest problem-going to have to learn more DIY tasks. I paid $6,000 for the car on eBay so I won't get whacked on depreciation--it probably has bottomed out on this issue. Considering what I paid, I don't have too many complaints. Had I paid a new retail price of around $ 20K my opinion would no doubt be different-as many new owners have issues with the dealers on covered warranty work. One the space issue--this car SHINES, my buddy is 6'2" also and he was amazed at the head and legroom my VW Beetle has-he actually said it had more room then his bigger SUV!!Good Luck.

lietuviai · #33 02-01-2005, 11:55 PM

I personally have not had much good luck with owning newer cars. They've all had problems in which I have regretted ever owning them. The worst thing is when you pay so much money for them it really magnifies the disgust I have in owning them. It's different with older cars that are a headache. You don't feel so bad when it comes down to getting rid of the beast since the initial investment wasn't so much and the loss is minimal. A new car can on the other hand can become a financial disaster if its a lemon. I know, I had a Nissan 4X4 truck in '92 that just couldn't be fixed right by the dealer. It had problems right from the start. I got rid of it 8 months after I bought it and lost nearly $5K because I lost patience with those @#!%'s.
I almost feel that the TDI is not the car for us since I'm afraid to lose patience with it. But I don't want to buy a used car for my wife as I feel I need to get her something that is dependable. She does not posses a McGiver-like aptitude for fixing things in desperate situations as I do so she would end up stranded if something were to go wrong.
The TDI looks like it would be dependable in early on, but our goal is to keep the next new car longer than 10 years.

#34 02-02-2005, 12:23 AM

The Jettas and Golfs are a bit small, especially for someone like myself who is 6'4". I'd like to test drive a new Passat 2.0 TDI, since those fit me a bit better. Unfortunately, the Passats only come with an automatic transmission right now.

I do miss being able to go twice as far on a tank of fuel than I can in the SDL. That was too cool, especially on cross-country trips.

Interesting tidbit of into: a 90 HP TDI engine (ALH engine code) can idle for 7 days on one 15 gallon tank of fuel.

miamimike · #35 02-02-2005, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VeeDubTDI

The Jettas and Golfs are a bit small, especially for someone like myself who is 6'4". I'd like to test drive a new Passat 2.0 TDI, since those fit me a bit better. Unfortunately, the Passats only come with an automatic transmission right now.

I do miss being able to go twice as far on a tank of fuel than I can in the SDL. That was too cool, especially on cross-country trips.

Interesting tidbit of into: a 90 HP TDI engine (ALH engine code) can idle for 7 days on one 15 gallon tank of fuel.

VeeDe--that is interesting on the above-idling 7 days on a tank!!!!

#36 02-02-2005, 12:46 AM

Yup. When you hook the vehicle up to the diagnostic computer (called Vag-Com or VAG1551), it will give you various readouts, including fuel consumption in Mg/Stroke and liters/hour. Field testing also confirms this, although I didn't let it run for a full 7 days.

lietuviai · #37 02-02-2005, 04:28 PM

I think the mileage is the only reason we gave the TDI a second look at the auto show. Nothing else even came close to the figures that VW had on their window stickers. I guess it comes at a price.

oldnavy · #38 02-02-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Who would sell a good car that isn't that old?

I would sell about anything if the price were right, including the wife's Jetta.

’02 Jetta GLS, Silver Arrow Metallic, Automatic, Cold Weather Package, TDIHeater, Tinted Windows, Perfect Fit Bra, Turbo Diesel Badges, Audi TT Lift Pads, Hella E-code Headlights with fogs, Euro Switch, 5 Brake Light Mod, XM Radio, OEM Steel Skid Plate, OEM Fuel Line Shield, Intercooler Screen, Modified Screenectomy, Ventectomy, CCV Filter, Engine Cover Kit, CAT 2 Micron Fuel Filter, Mobil Delvac 1 in the crank case. Approxmently 47,xxx miles on the clock now and no issues. Clocked at 131 mph with GPS (odo was 127) running 50+ cetane B2 fuel one morning last year. 51 MPG was highest mileage achieved, never over 69 mph on the trip. I was escorting a 240D.

Only thing this 6'5" guy doesn't like about the Jetta is it too small for my large frame. For me I equate it to wearing a pair of shoes one size too small. I don't have that problem in my Magnum with it's 120" WB and 199" overall length.

tomm9298 · #39 02-02-2005, 07:08 PM

Try the TDI Beetle. More head and leg room than the Jetta or the Golf, and even the Passat. My daughter has a 1998 TDI Beetle 5 speed. Gets about 51 MPG highway. GREAT car.

oldnavy · #40 02-02-2005, 07:48 PM

I had a '00 NB TDI and put 65,000 on it before I sold it. I had plenty of head room even with the moon roof, but no real side to side room or foot room. Also it had no real adult passanger room in rear seat or much trunk room either.

With the Magnum I can run the seat all the way back, pull the steering wheel al the way out, adjust the brake & gas pedal all the way forward then stretch my legs out straight and gluide on down the road.

Not to mention I would still have room to sit in the back seat behind mine.

miamimike · #41 02-02-2005, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lietuviai

Thanks for all the replies on the TDI. I've got lots of 2nd thoughts about the car. Just seeing them on the road being as small as they are makes me think twice. The thing is I need to get my wife a smaller car since she drives a Tahoe for her main transportation needs. We both realize this is ridiculous for a daily driver but the main reason we have the "tank" is so we can get in and out of our place during the bad snow and icy conditions we sometimes get every winter. I'm not totally sold on how the TDI would do in the bad winter situations since it's only a front driver. We had a Camry and it was terrible. My 300D is also terrible in any snow as well so I'm stuck driving the Tahoe on those bad days. We may just look into some kind of AWD like a Subaru since there aren't any diesels out there that are AWD except the Tuareg but I don't feel like shelling out that kind of money for any kind of car, especially a VW. I don't really like the Subaru's because I have a hard time getting in and out of one and I'm only 6'2 and they have almost no leg room for passengers in the back seat. We have too many cars to just keep the Tahoe around for only when we need it.
This is a dilemma that we'll have to work out some how.

**** I'm not totally sold on how the TDI would do in the bad winter situations since it's only a front driver. We had a Camry and it was terrible. My 300D is also terrible in any snow as well so I'm stuck driving the Tahoe on those bad days.****

Until 1987,I lived in the Mountains of NC Penna and we got snow- and Lots of it. I have owned various 4wd vehicles while living there. I also had a FWD Ford EXP in the same time frame as the 4WDs. Honestly-my little Ford FWD EXP would get me anywhere on PAVED roads my 4 WDs would get me.If the snowstorm(visibilty) was that Bad-I shouldn't have been out on the highway in the first place

. WIth Good Snow tires on my Ford Exp, I zipped along at 50 mph on unplowed Paved roads with up to 4-6" of fallen unpacked snow--the car was literally amazing in snow. Only one time I got the front End hung up on a snowbank was in a parking lot and lost traction(my dumb fault-not the car's fault) and as My 4WD could not have done any better--maybe worse as they 2wd-and all RWDs. My 4WDs shined in driving the unplowed and muddy logging roads in Deer season but upkeep was high on these rigs. Don't let the fact that it is a FWD car deter you if its for winter driving on snowy/icy Paved roads--they do just fine and at a much lower cost then 4WD. Here in miami I like the FWD for severe rainstorms we frequently experience and it has great traction.

rwthomas1 · #42 02-03-2005, 12:26 AM

If you are going to use a FWD car for winter driving tire selection is very important. Low profile/wide tires even with a M&S rating will just suck. Skinny tires with an aggressive tread is what you want. The fatter tires just ride up on top of the snow and spin/slip. My experience has been the same as miamimike's, a FWD car correctly setup will go anywhere on pavement a 4WD will until is gets really nasty, like 10+inches on the ground and no plow. But you shouldn't be out in that anyway... RT

miamimike · #43 02-03-2005, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

If you are going to use a FWD car for winter driving tire selection is very important. Low profile/wide tires even with a M&S rating will just suck. Skinny tires with an aggressive tread is what you want. The fatter tires just ride up on top of the snow and spin/slip. My experience has been the same as miamimike's, a FWD car correctly setup will go anywhere on pavement a 4WD will until is gets really nasty, like 10+inches on the ground and no plow. But you shouldn't be out in that anyway... RT

Rwthomas--wish I had a dollar for every 4WD vehicle I saw hung up on the logging roads in NC Penna-I could have retired a long time ago. These 4WD Rigs, in the hands of inexperienced drivers, are lulled into a false sense of Security in that they can go anywhere and that simply is not true. They take way too many chances and overdrive the Vehicle's ability. Used to see the same on our paved roads where these guys roared by on ICY(black ice) roads only to see them spin out of control a piece down the road. Once you lose control on Black ice that 4wd doesn't help one little bit. Only thing that helps is to chain up and slow down. Thankly I don't have to contend with that black ice in Miami.

FrankM · #44 02-03-2005, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamimike

Rwthomas--wish I had a dollar for every 4WD vehicle I saw hung up on the logging roads in NC Penna-I could have retired a long time ago.

I would like 50¢ for every 4wd SUV I see flipped over or off the road or both when the snow is on the roads.
I could settle the national debt.

Dana B. · #45 02-03-2005, 11:42 AM

My VW '00 Golf manual TDI is fantastic. Superior mileage, at up to 800 miles per tank. Fun to drive, a lot more responsive than my diesel MB. Good looks. And still looks new at 100K.

Only issues: a few bulbs, an MAF and tranny synchros swapped under warranty. Can't say much for the dealers, though they did the TB change and synchros correctly.

Am up for another TB. Fortunately, there's a good indie in my area, a national TDI expert. TDIs are much easier to modify; am finally going to get a chip, or larger nozzles.

I LOVE the car. The MB, though a keeper, has cost $$$ to maintain.

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