recommendations on a beetle TDI for mom? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 01-20-2003, 02:13 AM

i am looking to put my mom into what will most likely be her last car. she would not be very happy in the 82 300 turbo i have, but...

the guy i bought my prior 300E from that is an indy that sells mostly clean MB dealer trades (and i trust very much) has a VERY nice 99 beetle TDI with 55K that i could probably get for 8.5 to 9K.

her father drove beetles from the late sixties until he was unable to drive in approx 87. it just so happens that she expressed interest when the new beetles arrived in 98. and this car is blue, which is very close to the only color my grandfather ever owned.

i know this car will grab her heart, but; my question is if the TDI car should be expected to grab my checkbook with any major unexpected repairs?

i have gathered some info from some TDI forums, and know the obvious things to look for such as timing belt replacement and the importance of oil/filter maintainence. (sound familiar?)

any thoughts or suggestions from all you diesel heads here?

your input greatly appreciated. - benton in atlanta

#2 01-20-2003, 07:27 AM

First and foremost, check out Fred's TDI page at http://www.tdiclub.com. This is a great site dedicated to the VW TDI platforms.

I have owned two 2001 Jetta TDIs and was extremely happy with the TDI motor. I drive about 130 miles round trip to work and was averaging 48-50 mpg, and I drive about 75 the majority of the way. My daughter is driving my TDI because I found my E300 TD in September 2002.

We have had some VW quality control issues, mainly regarding the power windows, but VW has addressed and corrected these problems. The TDIs are also sensitive to the crappy diesel fuel we are forced to feed our cars, but this is not just a TDI problem. Fred's should provide the basis for you research into this vehicle.

I am very fond of our TDIs and even talked my mother in law into purchasing a Golf TDI!

dieseldork · #3 01-20-2003, 07:57 PM

Dittos on that SPANNMAN...

Go about this as if you were purchasing a MB. Look at service history, and records. Talk to the PO if you can. If you do buy it, find someone other than the VW dealer who knows TDI engines, and can work on it if you are not able to. Chances are, you will need something worked on at sometime and it's best to have someone who knows the in and outs of these little engines.

The cars are very reliable, but when they give trouble, it can be difficult if you are working with someone who wants to throw parts and dollars at it not knowing what the real problem is.

You will find some previous VW owners who will tell you to run as fast as you can away from these new VW's. Many of these people have had bad experiences with dealers and mechanics that don't like to sell and don't like to work on TDI's.

I have driven my 01 NB 52k in 20 months. It will be two years old in May. I have only had 1 cel, and that was a glow plug that I fixed myself. My niece has had plenty of trouble. Lots of sensors and glow plugs replaced on her 99 model. After my brother-in-law was done with the VW dealer, we took the car to our local MB/VW indy and the car was fixed right up. VW never did fix it and the dealer ended up giving him his money back. ($600 worth)Like I said VW tried to throw their parts and his money at it not knowing what the real problem was. The mechanics hook it to the computer and then stand on the phone with VWAG waiting for them to tell the mechanic which part to change next. Lots of wasted time, parts, and money. VW just doesn't train well on these motors. ( I'm getting down off my soapbox now)

The guys at Fred's TDI page are the best source I have found for VW information anywhere. They rank right up there with this bunch on this forum. Lot's of MB drivers over there also!!

Best of Luck!!!

Chris in Indiana

Howard Shedd · #4 01-20-2003, 08:57 PM

My wife has a 2002 Jetta TDI and loves it. Excellent drivability, economy and power. I'll even jinx myself and say it has been problem free thus far - - 12k miles.

Lance Allison · #5 01-20-2003, 09:59 PM

I have a 98 Jetta TDI with about 217k miles on it. Aside from timing belts ~60k, tires, battery, brakes, etc, the car has been flawless. The cosmetics are stock, but it has several performance modifications that make the car a LOT faster without sacrificing reliability or fuel economy.

The only major item I've replaced was the clutch at around 160k miles. I had too much power and the stock clutch didn't have enough clamping force. The disc itself looked fine, it was the springs that were worn.

I second visiting forums.tdiclub.com There is a wealth of information there.

Good luck!

#6 01-20-2003, 11:18 PM

I own a 2000 Silver TDI Beetle, and I love the car. The only complaints I have are along the lines of everyone else, problems with the dealer, and also some niggling problems with interior components, i.e. my power window toggles for the passenger side broke off on both sides of the car, some of the plastic trim is peeling, but the parts are easily replaced. Fred's TDI forum is excellent, I will daresay as friendly and helpful as the people on this forum! I got the 300TDT I am driving now since my mom has been in chemo and she doesn't like putting seatbelts on when sitting in the front, so she rides in the back. I am due for a timing belt change since the book recommends one at 40k, and at that time I will probably address the trim issues. Good luck!

md21722 · #7 01-21-2003, 10:01 AM

Biggest problem will be the timing belt. Many dealers can't do it correctly and charge $600. If its a 5 spd its due at 60Kmi. I would check on it before purchase, or try to make the dealer perform the maintenance with some warranty of at least a few thousand miles.

#8 01-21-2003, 10:02 AM

Is it an automatic or a manual. Makes a big difference. VW automatics have a history of being troublesome. With the TDI engine, it also means the difference between 40K mile timing belt changes and 60K mile changes, with the manual going farther. I would look into getting the power windows updated to the new design as it is supposed to fix the repeated and way too common failures with the power windows, where the glass literally falls out of the tracks and down into the door, or they refuse to roll up or down totally. At 55K, if it's a manual, then look into getting the belt done immediately. NEVER exceed the interval on that belt. There have been reports of failures even a few miles past the interval. If an automatic, then look for receipts indicating that it's been replaced, if none, replace it anyway.

As for driveability, I have a friend and co-worker that owns one. He absolutely loves his Golf TDI, and has had zero problems with it. The TDI is a great engine - if taken care of correctly of course.

Diesel 924 · #9 01-21-2003, 11:58 AM

I wish I had spent the $22,000 I blew on my 2002 TDI Jetta on 4 more W123's. I just had my first injection pump replaced at 16,000 miles. This after using name-brand fuel with Power Service at every fill-up. Stupid thing still doesn't start right. When I first got the car it had a rear main seal leak that it took 3 tries for the boobs to fix. I keep wondering what's going to go when the warranty is up.

johngray · #10 01-21-2003, 01:11 PM

I like diesels but I don't take the attitude that they are for everybody. How much does your mom drive in a year? If she is not a high mileage driver she will miss most of the benefits of owning a diesel. Under 12-15K miles a year the money saved on fuel will be negligible compared to a gasoline New Beetle. Diesel owners also need to be a little more obsessive about maintenance and being careful not to misfuel at the gasoline pump. Seems to me the prices on used diesel New Beetles are somewhat higher too. Maybe she would be better off with the gasoline version.

#11 01-21-2003, 07:49 PM

Just looking at the lack of space between the timing belt side of the engine compartment causes my knuckles to instantly have many bloody scrapes.

That's what kept me from buying one, all I had to do was look at the lack of access for the timing belt and then drive hard on a clover leaf exit ramp to feel how squirrelly it handled when I threw it hard into a curve. That made me drive it back to the dealer and drive it back to the dealer and tell them thanks for the test drive.

Good luck,

johngray · #12 01-22-2003, 08:39 AM

Larry,

On my 1984 Escort with the Mazda diesel the service manual is very explicit. You MUST remove the engine to replace the timing belt. Looking at the clearances I think that must be right. I have heard from someone who replaced the belt on a gasoline Escort without removing the pulley and he said "it was like flossing your teeth". Also, it drives very squirrelly also. That combined with its small size is why I don't drive it anymore on my 750 miles a week commute anymore, although it would be a natural for that with its phenomenal fuel mileage. I was fed up with being at the mercy of every dumbass in an SUV.

dieseldork · #13 01-22-2003, 06:47 PM

Speaking as a dumbass who drives a SUV, a VW and a MB, I was very impressed with the advanced safety features on the new VW's. They not only have front air bags but also side air bags. I was told by the salesman when I purchased mine that it has break a way motor mounts and a collapsible steering column. (keeps the motor out of the front seat) In addition it also has four wheel disk ABS and some newer models have a breaking system that senses the speed on each wheel and breaks each wheel independently to maintain control of the car. I don't remember what they call that.

The dealership I purchased my car at had sold a New Beetle to a lady a few weeks before I purchased mine. This lady ran her new car into the back of a stopped trash truck at 55 mph as she came over a crest in the road. She walked away with a broken toe. The car didn't fair as well. Sure these cars are not as heavy as our MB's but I would much rather be driving my TDI than a toyota or honda hybrid that weights half as much as a lightweight VW.

chris in Indiana

johngray · #14 01-22-2003, 07:23 PM

You are right. The New Beetles do score very well in crashworthiness tests, especially noteworthy considering their small size. There are a lot worse cars to be in when some cell phone blathering dumbass in an SUV plows into you.

engatwork · #15 01-23-2003, 07:40 AM

Well said Matt. I would add a Honda Accord to that list that you mentioned. Our CRV has 120k+ miles and all it has ever had to had outside of oil changes is new front brake pads, a new battery, tires (once) and a new timing belt at Hondas recommended 110k miles (it got new seals and a water pump during the timing belt change too). The check engine light has never even come on.