Anyone ever own one of the older insights? I'm thinking about sadly trying to sell the cabriolet and get one of these. Regardless if I move or not I really cannot afford the less than great mpg of the cabriolet.


or maybe just get a TDi and keep my man card

Member frosty owns one... Who here drives a hybrid?

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

I think a good TDI will be better in the long run (don't have to worry about batteries), and girls love Jettas. At least they're not butt ugly like the Insights. A good question would be whether you are mostly city or mostly highway. An older TDI will hit 50mpg on the highway, the insight will hti that in the city.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Get a TDI.....if know how to drive efficiently you looking north of 45MPG easy.
My everyday transport is 2002 5sp Golf and over the last 17 months my average is 52.7 MPG. Enough said....

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Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

I drive probably 80-85% highway.

The cabriolet is sellable now that the top hydraulics are rebuilt and not leaking. It's in great shape (I need to repair the odometer.. yar).

In this case TDI is the only way. In simple terms, Stay under 2200 RPM, accelerate slowly, learn your route, avoid harsh stops, fast accelerations. Power band is between 1800 to 2300, stay on top gear as much as you can (if manual), pump your tires 25% more of recommended, just seat back and relax. If you can drive smooth you will see 50 MPG with not even trying too hard.
If you need info what to look for drop me PM and I will try to give you as much info as I can and help you buy a good one.

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Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

I've read a lot about high mpg TDi's. Thanks I'll pm you if I have a question

I know about the timing belt(water pump, other timing components), but rollers? what do you mean?



I'd like a 5 speed golf TDi at least a 99-2002 (those are the good years apparently). I'll just have to learn how to drive a 5 speed better than I can now. The hard part of all of this will be selling the cabriolet and finding a golf locally

I have found a few insights

The manual is not hard to drive, consider the fact that your gear changes are far and few between because of the torque available from very low RPM, you idle on 900 and the torque is available from 1750 RMP, the engine revs out at 4300/4450 so the best is to keep it around 2000 RPM, this is why you don't need to change gears so often. If you drive at let say 1900 RPM (just under 60MPH) and you need to overtake, just put your foot down, you will be amazed how fast the car pulls. 50 to 70 MPH is faster than Golf GTI

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Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

don't go newer then 03 on the tdi go with the manual trans and make sure the timing belt and rollers have been done.

I second that, if you can find mark 3 is even better, very simple to look after and you still looking 50 + MPG

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Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

I like the MKIII, what year were those out?

I would like for the car to have OBDII so I can run a scangauge

Everything after 1995 got OBDII. Golf changed from MK3 to MK4 during the years 99/2000 so if you find a good well looked after 1997/99 don't let it slip. Don't be afraid from 200K + cars if they are well looked after. The rollers are called pulleys as well, I am sure now you know what he meant on the earlier post.
It is important to verify that the water pump has been replaced as well.
I know that it is hard to find one, but look around and you will. Some of them are with 100K timing belt kit, so if everything is done you looking for at least 80000 trouble free miles.
My Golf is just over 145K and it is strong as new I've replaced the ORIGINAL clutch at 142K
I know guys with Jettas on the north side of 400K .

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Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?

Fail.


I have been commuting in an SL600. O_O

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

the rollers are not pulleys,they are just that rollers,about the size of a 3/4 socket with a bearing in the middle there are 2 of them up on the top end between the cam and inj pump pulleys.most places don't replace em. and if your serious about it get a vag-com cable and download the free software and you can do lots of stuff the obdII scanner couldn't dream of,you'll need it to check the timing for one.mine is currently setting at 426,000 miles.original clutch went at 375,000.

Couple points:

B4 Passat: 1996-1997
Mk3 Jetta: 1997-1999.0
Mk4 (Jetta, Golf, New Beetle) 1999.5+, and 1998 for the buggies. \
Note that around the time of the switchover 1.9 IDI cars were available in Canada. These are not TDIs (no computer) and don't match the later cars power or fuel economy.

All but some 1996 Passat TDIs are OBDII compliant. 1996s were not from the factory, but many had a TSB done in 1997 to turn off the 5th fuel injector on the catalyst. In that TSB they replaced the EDC12 computer with an EDC15 one, which has OBDII.

Mk3s are great cars, but beware of rust!!! The Mexican built cars from 93-99 rust like none other. Worse then a Mercedes. And just like a benz they'll be all shiny and pretty on top with no rockers or floors left. Note that the 96 & 97 Passats came from Germany and are not as badly affected by rust.

IMHO go for the New Beetle. They come from the factory with a sportier suspension, and didn't hold their value as well as the sedans or hatches. Plus the 4th gen platform is stiffer, safer, and more comfortable. Plus the rust proofing on these cars is fantastic (yes, they are made in Mexico but they fixed the problem for the 4th gen cars).

The timing belts are a bit easier to do on the 3rd gen cars then the 4th gen, but the 4th gen cars can have one installed which goes 100,000 miles. 3rd gen is limited at 60k.

Also beware of fuel injection pump leaks. I've seen this a lot with the older cars. Good news is the seal kit is not expensive at all, and it's easy to take the whole thing apart on the bench, install new seals, and put it back together. Then it's just a matter of re-calibrating it using VCDS, which you need anyway to set the static timing.

An ex-coworker just picked up a clean 1996 Passat with a leaky injection pump. The previous owner got the $2000 estimate from his mechanic to replace the pump and decided to dump the car. A timing belt kit and seal kit ($300 in parts?) and the car is running like a top. Deals can be had, you just have to look for them and be willing to drive to get them.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.