Looking for a vw - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

amosfella · #1 06-12-2011, 11:15 PM

I was looking for a vw diesel pre 2002. Does anyone have advice on what to look for in them, as well as better points in them. I'm looking for my sister who has a long commute and a ****ty paying job....
I think she'd prefer a station wagon, but if it has the self leveling shocks like the mercedes, I think that would be forgone... Or is the sls system pretty good in them??

Aquaticedge · #2 06-12-2011, 11:31 PM

the SLS system when working is wonderful. there's a couple things that can go wrong (accumulators (cheap) or shocks or pump (more expensive but less likely) )

PaulC · #3 06-12-2011, 11:39 PM

Why not a gas Civic?

Angel · #4 06-13-2011, 12:17 AM

VW TDI's retain their value pretty well. Withing 100mi of cinti there are 3 TDI's for sale, none for less than $2k, and the 2k one has 252k miles on it.

Yes, they get great fuel economy, but here is where it hurts:
intermittent electrical problems - lotsa people dump their TDI's becuase of this (a brother and a friend, 2 different machines...), it goes into 'limp' mode and you get 30mpg instead of 50. Those electrical gremlin's (fix = replace wiring harness, that might work...) add a lot of heartache.
Diesel still costs more than gas. This makes balances the scales further in the direction of the Civic or Corolla (I'd buy a Kia/Hyunday if it later than 2006- they got their act together...)

edit - wagons are even more rare, and will command more money when available. no SLS on VW's that I know of.

That being said - the BIG TDI forum is www.tdiclub.com - they have classifieds and all the wisdom.

I'd get a non-TDI diesel if I was that hard up (1980 to 1992 Rabbit/Golf/Jetta). If you can find one without terminal rust, you'll get the same fuel economy with none of the check engine lights =)

-John

Txjake · #5 06-13-2011, 12:46 AM

for non TDIs, I'd check out thesamba.com

tjts1 · #6 06-13-2011, 12:52 AM

Cost per mile will be lower with a Civic/Corolla burning 87 octane.

rs899 · #7 06-13-2011, 07:45 AM

I have a couple of non-TDI VWs, an '82 Rabbit Pickup and a '91 Jetta. They each get in the high 40s when driven lightly. If you can find an IDI turbodiesel, that's the one to have (but they are rare). The IDI's are slow, like a 240D.
But parts are cheap, repairs are easy as everything is mechanical.

Being in Canada, you probably have a better selection of them than we do down here.

amosfella · #8 06-13-2011, 08:51 AM

She would like something newer than the non tdi's. So, I"m looking for the pre cali emissions models...

cscmc1 · #9 06-13-2011, 12:15 PM

I'll second the recommendation for the tdiclub.com forums. They have a nice buyer's guide FAQ there. Good luck with your search!

rs899 · #10 06-13-2011, 01:05 PM

The place I hang out VW-wise is here

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum

They have a TDI section- not as big a forum as TDIclub.com
but there are a lot of Canadians on it so you might find some local help.

Hatterasguy · #11 06-13-2011, 01:23 PM

A VW? Owning one would be slightly less fun than getting a cavity drilled without novocaine.

Getting the tooth drilled would be better because the experience would end faster.

I recommend buying a good car like a Honda or Toyota.

dlssmith · #12 06-13-2011, 01:46 PM

I had a 2003 Jetta TDI for about a year and actually wish I hadn't sold it. Returned around 48 mpg when babied on a long trip. Comfortable and fairly quiet for such a small car. I put around 30k on it so my experience isn't vast, but with the power of it, and how quiet it was, I'd recommend it. Don't know what the older ones are like, except that the early 90s versions were noisy and are mostly rust buckets by now - here in the midwest anyway.

compu_85 · #13 06-13-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

A VW? Owning one would be slightly less fun than getting a cavity drilled without novocaine.

Ya, but with the Benz you get the teeth yanked out, then the doctor tells you to bend over

No VW TDIs (except the V10 Touareg) have self leveling suspension. I'd also forgo an old 1.6 as a daily driver. They're fun cars and cheap to fix, but just like an 80s mb they're getting on in years at this point and probably need a good bit replaced. I guess I'm picky but when the suspension clunks and pops, and you have to slam the doors to shut them I start replacing things until it's like new. If you can DIY a lot of those repairs it's not so bad, but a shop will want an arm and a leg to go all through the car.

IMHO shoot for a 2000+ Jetta or Golf with a manual transmission. The Mk3 cars from early 99 and before rust really badly, but the Mk4s are fantastic... excellent rustproofing. Automatics are a weak spot.

The engine management on the 1.9 VE pump TDIs (2003 and before) is very simple. I've never heard of wiring harnesses needing replacement, except in cases of coolant migration which is a very uncommon problem.

Beware of 1.9 IDIs and early (99 and before) 1.9 TDIs with high miles: The crankshaft sprocket bolts were not tightened enough at the factory and can work loose, allowing the pulley to wobble which beats the crap out of the end of the crankshaft, ruining it. If you catch it early you can just replace the pulley and re-torque the bolt, but if it goes on and on you have to replace the crankshaft.

If your goal is to spend as little money as possible get a Geo Prisim.

-J

PaulC · #14 06-13-2011, 03:38 PM

...just don't get an Aveo...

elchivito · #15 06-13-2011, 04:10 PM

I'd love to find an old Rabbit diesel pickup. Do they all smoke like that though?