Sister wants a TDI - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SirNik84 · #1 07-13-2006, 02:24 PM

My sister has wanted a Diesel car for a while, I gave her an 80 300D that I was given for parts, her and I have worked on it, but she has given up on it... mainly because she wants even better fuel mileage now that she moved farther from work, and is now commuting about 60 miles one way to work.
So she found her self a 2000 Golf TDI. My Dad will be financing the car for her, and he has asked me to look into the car and make sure it’s a good buy. I drove the car last week and I really liked it. I own an old Toyota Tercel wagon, and I love it, and the Golf was awesome because it’s like the best of both my cars, a German Diesel (like my 300SD) and small wagon (like the Toyota).
I was thinking that a lot of you guys know more about Diesels then me, and maybe some of you guys are TDI owners and could tell me what I should be looking for to make sure this is a good buy for my sister.

Wolfsburg · #2 07-13-2006, 02:37 PM

Try looking on the tdiclub.com site. It is a site strictly for VW diesels..I have 2 of them and they are great. If mileage is over 80K then have a timing belt done right away.(unless you have documented proof showing otherwise) Good Luck

SirNik84 · #3 07-13-2006, 02:41 PM

My sister just sent me an e-mail, she just started a thread over there.

Nate · #4 07-13-2006, 02:43 PM

BUY THE TDI!!!

Love the golf's

auto or stick? Color, options... that stuff. Describe the car
i dont know anything about it, but if i got a good deal on one, I'd buy it asap
~Nate

barry123400 · #5 07-13-2006, 02:44 PM

When getting in the middle of a deal for your relatives you want to be sure. How many miles versus price and condition. Consider having a good current volkswagon guy go over it. May improve your barganing position if he finds some items. Also make positive of when the timing belt was last changed with proof. About 500.00 to change it properly. They require this service about every 100 thousand miles for sure. Sixty thousand on the automatics. I personally would not buy the automatic. It gets a lot less fuel milage and is very expensive to replace if it goes bad. If you do not get any information the belt was done you have to assume it was not done and have it done if the milage indicates. Also look at the computor codes to make sure a bad turbo is not hiding in there. The volks guy will do this. With that year back bushings may need replacement but again the volks guy will catch it. The basic thrust is your sister is counting on you to not get a bad deal. You may never hear the end of it if you recommend a bad car. Save your posterior by getting an evaluation.

In your case that is smart money spent.

TheDon · #6 07-13-2006, 02:50 PM

im going to start looking at TDI's since im going to college next year and will drive their from home every day since its community college(going for first 2 years then transfer to a state college etc) and the 300D just doesnt get the greatest fuel economy.. IIRC the TDI's all came with 5 speed. ive never seen an auto TDI

SirNik84 · #7 07-13-2006, 02:59 PM

Yeah is a 5 speed manual. They do make autos, but she wants the stick. It’s a really pretty car, its forest green with tan and black interior. I really like the car. She was thinking about getting it checked by a shop, maybe we should take it to the VW dealer so they can plug in to the computer... with all the up to date TSBs.
Barry, is there a high failure rate for the turbos? I was kind of surprised that when I drove it, it accelerated like my SD... I was expecting a quicker launch because the car is so much smaller. I didn't drive bad, and it was peppy, for a diesel, but it was on par with my SD.

sailor15015 · #8 07-13-2006, 03:05 PM

I'm getting a TDI if I make it to med school, about fifty miles away one way. I'm suprised to hear about them being slow off the line. That's ok though, there's a lot of mods available for them that can be found on tdiclub.com, which seems to be a good forum. My mom's going to get some kind of wagon TDI soon but she wants an auto.

I keep trying to talk her out of it but my dad is really anti-stick shift for some reason.

greasybenz · #9 07-13-2006, 03:06 PM

Should have it checked over. NOT by a VW dealer mechanic but by one of the TDI mechanics on the TDIclub forum. The only real issues ive read with the cars are auto trannys that can tend to litterally eat themselves apart. So fluids in the tranny should be replaced! Also an oil analysis is in order as well, some owners neglect to put the correct oil in as these take in specific 505.00 oil which are group 3 synthtics. Like rotella 5w40 synthetic or the german ELF oils. unless they have service records that show theyve put the correct oil type in.

Also be sure to check electrical, the golfs,jettas,and beetles actually arent german vehicles. They are german engineered but are manufactured in mexico. So electrical problems are common.

other then that they are fine vehicles. a 2000 TDI has the more fuel efficent ALH engine and they alot less fuel sensative so they take in biodiesel well(thats if interested in bio)

good luck!

uberwgn · #10 07-13-2006, 03:10 PM

Yeah, the auto trans are not the high point of any VW. Expect a lifetime of around 100k miles. OTT, the TDis are great cars. Our 1996 wagon convinced me to unload my 1995 E300D after experiencing the performace and economy offered by the TDi design; the 1995 car was pale in comparison.

rrgrassi · #11 07-13-2006, 03:18 PM

How many miles are on it?

Also, make sure there are no interior rattles when the engine is idling. Check the engine mounts as well. We have a 2005.5 Jetta TDI that my wife just loves. It's her daily driver. The 1.9 is pretty stout.
Our TDI is really quick of the line, and it is the 6 slush box (automatic). We are getting 52 hwy and 48 mixed city/hwy. I have seen it as low ar 38 in all city driving, but it is still way better that the 2000 Altima. We only get 28 hwy out of it.

Compression ignition beats a gasser and a hybrid anytime in my book!

SirNik84 · #12 07-13-2006, 05:26 PM

My sister called and told me the according to the carfax report the car has a salvage title. I think we are going to start looking for another TDI. I'm not sure where to start looking, i told her to call the dealer, because at least she can get an idea of what they will sell the cars for. she found the last car on craigslist.org, so i'm sure she'll be looking there. and now shes a member of the TDIclub forum.

catmandoo62 · #13 07-13-2006, 05:34 PM

the 04 ups with the PD engine take special oil,and it ain't cheap.do a check on the top of the tdiclub page and find someone in your area that has a vag-com.this is basically the equivilant of the vw computer software.this will give you the t-codes.also stick with the stick.mine has 285,000 miles and still has the original clutch.definately make sure of the t-belt and waterpump.some places only do the t-belt.the waterpump runs off the t-belt so if it goes there goes the belt.they had a recall on falling windows(regulator),i also just got a recall on my 2000 jetta for the hazard switch.make sure it has both key fob's they will run you about 150 bucks.also look underneath at the bellypan,if it's pretty busted up it's bottomed out and they have very fragile oil pans.the golfs were built in brazil,jetta's in mexico,jetta wagons in germany and passat's in germany.one other thing if it has a sunroof make sure in goes forward and back,this is a big problem with these,they will almost always go up and down in the back.and the glovebox doors are good for breaking the right side hinge.and the whole console has to be removed to replace the door.what kinda price they asking for it??tdi's are like gold right now

SirNik84 · #14 07-13-2006, 05:48 PM

The guy is asking 10000 for it, which after looking around itsn't a bad proce, but with the salvage title, i don't know what its worth. she also is looking at the Jetta TDI wagons, knowing that they are made in Germany makes me want to push her in that direction.