Considering buying a new VW TDI - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Scott98 · #46 02-03-2005, 11:49 AM

I think every car has its problems and I doubt that the VW TDI is worse than the MB. Everyone has their horror stories and everyone has their good fortune stories. It seems like there is a great forum out there for TDI owners just like here and if you are a DIY'er you should be no worse off than wrenching on your old MB. You just have to know what you are doing just like anything else in life.

Just my thoughts...

Scott

hockeynut · #47 02-03-2005, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miamimike

**** 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.

The key is proper tires. I bought 4 snow tires last winter - unbeleivable! My OEM Michelins were all over in the snow, I put on 4 Dunlop sport snows (tirerack.com) and it was amazing. I run with the big 4WD pickups now, probably have better traction

I was passing them earlier this winter when we had a nice snowstorm. I travel all over in the winter due to a daughter that plays on a AAA hockey team - about 800 miles a week counting practices, and I would recommend 4 good snow tires to anyone that has a front wheel drive car in the snowbelt. I was so impressed I bought 4 of Dunlop's newer generation snow tires this year for my TL. For the Jetta I had purchased American Racing wheels, so I keep the Michelins on the alloys and the snows on my OEM steel wheels

Swap them out every spring and fall.

I was under the impression that most people are....all season radials are fine for the winter. Well I'll tell you, 4 snow tires make a world of difference, period.

rwthomas1 · #48 02-03-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott98

I think every car has its problems and I doubt that the VW TDI is worse than the MB. Everyone has their horror stories and everyone has their good fortune stories. It seems like there is a great forum out there for TDI owners just like here and if you are a DIY'er you should be no worse off than wrenching on your old MB. You just have to know what you are doing just like anything else in life.

Just my thoughts...

Scott

Thanks for hitting the nail on the head with a 16lb sledgehammer. Some just don't get it... I don't care for 4wd as I think in most cases it is unnecessary. There are very few times when a FWD car with snows won't keep up with a 4WD on pavement. The 4WD doesn't give you the telltale warning signs when things are getting worse. Sure they go forward better than other vehicles but they don't corner and brake better so you get into trouble quickly. Also, most 4WD's are more expensive to repair/maintain/insure. Good snow tires are much cheaper than a good SUV. RT

#49 02-03-2005, 07:06 PM

Scott98, you hit the nail on the head!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott98

I think every car has its problems and I doubt that the VW TDI is worse than the MB. Everyone has their horror stories and everyone has their good fortune stories. It seems like there is a great forum out there for TDI owners just like here and if you are a DIY'er you should be no worse off than wrenching on your old MB. You just have to know what you are doing just like anything else in life.

Just my thoughts...

Scott

miamimike · #50 02-03-2005, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwthomas1

Thanks for hitting the nail on the head with a 16lb sledgehammer. Some just don't get it... I don't care for 4wd as I think in most cases it is unnecessary. There are very few times when a FWD car with snows won't keep up with a 4WD on pavement. The 4WD doesn't give you the telltale warning signs when things are getting worse. Sure they go forward better than other vehicles but they don't corner and brake better so you get into trouble quickly. Also, most 4WD's are more expensive to repair/maintain/insure. Good snow tires are much cheaper than a good SUV. RT

Whats really crazy is the fact I see a lot of 4WD Vehicles of all sizes on our South Florida Roads--like you need a 4wd 8000lb. Hummer to transport yourself to and from work on very good clear roads.

. Some folks have AWD in their Volvo Wagons here and I suppose in our heavy rains they may have a purpose but how much better are they then a FWD vehicle for the increased cost??

In a really heavy rain you probably shouldn't be going much more then 25-30mph anyhow-as anything faster you are overdriving the car's ability(yours to) to stop and then 4wd is no help whatsoever. ABS, yes but 4wd--no. In Pa. a few times I chained up(metal--$35)in my FWD in really bad conditions and the car was unstoppable on paved roads with heavy snow/ice. One of the biggest problems with snow/ice driving conditions is not only going but Stopping and 4WD is NO help at all. Key is not driving so fast in the first place you you don't have those Nailbiting stops to contend with to start

. Guess the public has fallen victim to madison avenue advertising and sold a lot the buying public that 4wd are indispensable to everyday life.

bullwinkle · #51 02-03-2005, 08:15 PM

I agree with almost everything you guys say-my only exception is in extremely deep snow, the beaching/snowplow effect can strand you in a FWD; but, in ice a FWD with 4 winter tires is the way to go (my Dodge stays parked in any ice storms, but there have been times where it has saved the day). I also agree that it's not winter until you see the first rolled SUV on the interstate!

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