VW Jetta Durability Project... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 12-28-2007, 10:32 PM

This project will be known as the VWJDP project. People say these are good cars lets put that to the test:

The subject, 1995 VW Jetta 2.0L 4 banger. Recent timing belt and major tune up. Runs like crap, skips stalls, ect. Problem unkown. Suspected failed EGR, disconnected vacuum line, no change. Most electrical components are spoty, you need to hit a good pot hole in the morning to get the speedo working, and I pound the dash to get the left side speakers working. Talk about quality!

I'll post pics of the subject tomarrow, shes pretty!

Thesis: is a VW as tough as a MB, my hypothesis is no.

Experiment:
First the VW is on a zero maintenance policy, IE I'll pop the hood to add washer fluid and check the oil, thats it. But I cannot guarantee that I will check the oil, however I am confident that I will only be able to ignore the lifters ticking for awhile. The radio only goes up so loud!

I'm going to treat this car like I treated my beater 300SD, I will show it no mercy. Well the W126 did get washed and oil changes, because well it's like royalty compared to this car.

I will concede that VW's are tough if the car lasts until April 1, if it doesn't I get to drive the SDL. So if it dies sooner I win, but VW has a fair chance. The 300SD lived through much less abuse, but it did it for 2 years, and wasn't any worse for the wear. Can a VW endure for only 3 months??? Thats the queston!

How will I answer this pressing queston? Will when I started the SD it needed a few rev's to get going so I would bring the rpms up to about 2k. Gas 4 bangers rev to like 1billion RPM, compared to an old diesel, so I'll bring the the VW up to 5k upon start up. Its only fair. Start procedure for the SD was to glow it twice, crank until it caught and bring the rpms to around 2k for a bit so it would stay running. Very hard in the winter with thick 15w40 oil. The Jetta has 5w30 in it which is like water, so I will start it by first flooring it then cranking.

The SD had a trans that was slow to engage and would clunk when it did so. The VW does not, so to be fair I will only shift if RPM's are above 2k, to prevent stalling.

The 300SD rammed many things, and the bumper held up perfectly. Many shopping carts fell victom to that tank! So I have been ramming the Jetta into snow banks or well ice banks now to simmulate this. So far testing is inconclusive.

So can a VW endure the usage that a 300SD laughed at? Time will tell...

Before anyone lectures me I got this thing for free because the PO was going to junk it. So I'm just giving it some more life before it gets crushed. I'm calling the flat bed to hual it off to the crusher by April either way. I will dance with joy if I get to do it sooner, this car was a mistake its never going to run right so I'm cutting my losses.

Hatterasguy · #2 12-28-2007, 10:32 PM

Stock photo until I post mine! Look at that sexy beast! Oh yeah!

iwrock · #3 12-28-2007, 10:35 PM

LOL!!!

Hattie, I got an extra headunit somewheres if you wanna put it in the VW.

Hatterasguy · #4 12-28-2007, 10:42 PM

Nah I don't want to spend time on it, the currant headunit works like crap. But if I smack it, it works. Quality electronics!

I'm working on getting my friends $800 Pioneer headunit that he took out of his truck for a song, and putting it in the SDL.

I'm not spending another second of my time or penny of my money on that POS. I'm cutting my loses! I have $150 and 2-3 days into this POS, I could have put that time and money into my business! What I waste!

Here is the projects theme song, very fitting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imUnHTE9Ir0&feature=related

iwrock · #5 12-28-2007, 10:44 PM

You planning any J-Turns?

Yanking the E-Brake? Burnouts?

Hatterasguy · #6 12-28-2007, 10:47 PM

Of course!

What I am trying to do now is break the E break. The headlights come on for some reason when you realese the E brake, daytime running light BS.

So if I snap the cable I can keep the handle up and the headlights off. I would just keep the E brake up all the time, but I kind of want the rear drums to keep working for a bit longer.

Unlike Mercedes when you hit the brake pedal on a VW very little happens, I am sure the disc's are as large as a soup can, the the calipers are as big as a paper clip.

Whats really fun is yanking the handbrake up as hard as you can and flooring it. Kind of claws forward dragging the rear like a dog dragging its butt!

Most entertaining!

Brian Carlton · #7 12-28-2007, 10:50 PM

I'm sure the Jetta will do just fine mechanically, provided you don't run it out of oil.........like the typical moron.

As far as the durability of the body and structure, it's not exactly a fair comparison to expect a 2500 lb. shell of a vehicle to have the same impact resistance as 300SD. They are two completely different vehicles and there isn't much of a comparison.

iwrock · #8 12-28-2007, 10:52 PM

Ram away hat!

You should hook it up to that tractor, and nail it! See how long it lasts.

Hatterasguy · #9 12-28-2007, 10:55 PM

I'll keep the oil filled up, doesn't seem to be burning any. At least it hasn't moved on the dipstick since I started driving it 3 weeks ago. Leaks trans fluid like crazy, and PO of course never changed it. So it kind of looks like oil thats been in a 617 for 5k+ miles!

Keep and eye on that!

Its kind of like sitting inside a beer can. The whole thing creaks, and since the wheel base is so short it rides very hard and bouncing, strange.

The doors need to be slammed to close, and must weigh 2 pounds.

I just hope CT doesn't send me the emissions letter, NFW this thing will pass. The cat rattles like crazy and the CE light is on.

Hatterasguy · #10 12-28-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

They are two completely different vehicles and there isn't much of a comparison.

Thank God! I was sitting in my friends S320 yesterday and he was like WTF are you doing, I said reminding myself what a real car is like inside.

iwrock · #11 12-28-2007, 10:57 PM

You should drive the snot out of it, and trade it in for an S-Class in April....

Make it a challenge. See if they will give you $1k for it trading it in.

Hatterasguy · #12 12-28-2007, 11:02 PM

I wouldn't have sold enough by then. No newer MB for me until the fall at the soonest.

Unless something happens and I get a job that I have been kind of working on. Well see, there is a CLK320 down the street that is sweet and I can get for like $13k. Hattie wants.

iwrock · #13 12-28-2007, 11:07 PM

Put a fart can on it... Sell it as a rice rocket. You could make like $1k with a car like that over here.

Hatterasguy · #14 12-28-2007, 11:18 PM

Some dude in a riced Civic actualy tried to race me!

I was like dude there 4 bangers its like watching paint dry, he flipped me off!

rwthomas1 · #15 12-29-2007, 12:49 AM

If it doesn't run right then you just don't know how to work on gassers OR you don't wanna get shmutz on your Zegna..... Unless you do something dumb I'm afraid the engine will easily last through your test. RT