Now compare your 110 ft-lb@4500 RPM with my TDI's 177 ft-lb@1800 RPM (which ways only 3000 lbs), and you'll see which one is better at highway passing. Don't get me wrong, the Civic is a great car for what it is, but it doesn't even come close to the TDI's torque/economy combo.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I get that a lot. Yes it does snow and freeze here in Northern Nevada. Occasionally even down in Vegas, but it's generally a lot warmer there.

Yes, but I meant no separate differential from the transmission. They share the same oil pan/housing. One less fluid to worry about.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

It was also a good deal at the time. I paid about 1/2 what a new diesel Jetta would have cost me at the time and also diesel fuel was about 75 cents more than RUG.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

177 ft. lbs @ 1800 RPM is NOT what gives the car passing power. That is the part that pushes you into the seat back.

Horsepower is what gives you passing power. It is torque at higher engine speed that gives you horsepower. Horsepower is a calculated value, not a measured one. Making torque at high RPM shines more favorable on the result of the horsepower calculation.

Yes it does, particularly without downshifting. If you don't have good low-end torque, you can certainly compensate by downshifting and revving the engine really high to get some passing power, but you'll get lots of noise and fuel consumption. I'd much rather just depress the accelerator in 5th gear and let the turbo do its thing. Trust me, the top gear passing power in in my TDI is MUCH better than in our old Accord which actually had more horsepower but less torque. It's a night and day difference.

Yes, horsepower = torque * RPM * constant. Horsepower is great for racing. But it makes more sense for everyday driving to have maximum torque in the RPM range where you spend most of the time driving, i.e. the low end, especially if it results in better fuel efficiency as well.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Too bad you have PD engine. It does have a little more HP/ft-lb than my ALH but more problematic engine overall.

__________________
1993 Mercedes 300D 2.5

1987 Mercedes 300D 3.0

2000 Volkswagen JETTA TDI diesel 5 speed

2002 Lexus ES300

2006 Lexus GS430

They make a 100k belt for the ALH and of course you should be replacing everything else in the belts path ie; upgraded water pump, idler etc

__________________
1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

So far no problem with my PD engine. Oil analysis readings look fine too. The ALH was not immune to the premature cam wear problem either. There were some 2002 models that had a similar problem. I like the PD engine better because it's cleaner and a bit quieter in addition to having slightly more torque at the expense of some MPG's.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

My timing belt is good for 90K miles.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

The dealer tried to blow us off like we were nuts, Interesting. They have yet to tell us of this recall.

VW recalling 13,500 vehicles over transmission

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/GLENNE%7E1.KLI/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif[/IMG]
Thu Aug 20, 9:46 am ET
WASHINGTON – Volkswagen of America is recalling 13,500 vehicles to fix problems with a dual-clutch transmission that could lead to a warning on the dashboard.
The recall affects 2009 model year and a limited number of 2010 Jetta, Jetta SportsWagen, GTI and Eos vehicles built between September 2008 and August 2009. Volkswagen says some of the vehicles could have a faulty temperature sensor in the transmission, which could lead to the warning lamp lighting up on the dashboard. They said in rare cases, the transmission could shift into neutral.
Volkswagen officials say there have been no crashes or injuries reported. Owners will have their vehicles inspected and repaired if necessary. Customers can call (800) 444-8982 for more information

__________________

Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

Like I said, don't buy a DSG. VW has never, ever made a good automatic themselves, with the exception of the 010 3 speed from the 70s and 80s. I just did the timing belt on an 04 New Beetle DSG... and after just 100k its dual mass flywheel is coming apart

-Jason

My brother sent me this link to an ABC story about the Jetta Transmission....

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8378724

SB

__________________

Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

I avoid automatic transmissions REGARDLESS of who makes them. They are just something that require too much maintenance and they are too expensive when they break.

That said, I could drive a Hitler Wagon TDI with a manual transmission and probably get along with it okay in spite of the fact that I would be cussing my butt off every time I put a stupid timing belt on it. Where I would absolutely draw the line would be about one with an automatic.

If I bought one, however, I would be afraid that it would fall of the road before I could get it home and install the thickest rear sway bar that I could find for it. What a goofy handling car.

I don't understand why you guys hate timing belts so much. They're more precise over their life cycle, not hard to replace (way easier then a chain! Ya you can just roll in a new chain.. but what about the guides and sprockets that wore because the chain stretched?), and cost less to maintain in the long run then a chain. Ya they're nice on a car you only plan to keep for 150,000 miles from new, but some of us like to keep a car longer then that Speaking of that I think the interval on the new TDIs is something lke 140,000 miles? Crazy!

I'm sad VW is going to chains on all of their new engines. I bet a lot of the 2.5 gassers are going to be thrown away around 180k miles when the chains are due because the owner doesn't want to pay to have the transmission removed and the engine taken apart for the service!

-J

x2 solid reliable car (with the manual transmission at least. VW automatics... not so much) We've got more than 500,000 miles total on our 3 TDI's. Need the usual diesel tweaks about every 100k like new injector return lines, clean the gunk out of the intake manifold, etc.

With diesel VW's, the annoyances are usually stupid things like power window regulators, door handles, etc. that fail. The drivetrain is rock solid and can really deliver up to 50 mpg.

__________________
'98 E300 turbodiesel