[Vwdiesel] RE: A4 handling issues

[greg rich]

First, my daily driver is an 87 Jetta diesel with 300k miles and showing it, 
her daily driver is a 2000 Jetta TDI fully loaded automatic with 120k miles 
(bought new), my Mom has a 2001 the same.
I agree with some of the statements, the TDIs are now a luxury car but that 
means you can use them as family cars and not feel cheap! You could also opt 
for the GL model without all the power stuff (if they still make them...).
I find the A4 handles better then the A2 in most situations, the A2 just has 
more road feel. The A4 will drive over rough roads much faster without 
noticing (until you bottom out on your oil pan) and be quiet and efficient 
but the A2 feels faster, noisier and harsher riding. I find the A2 will 
understeer in snow, the A4 does not and will drift into oversteer (much more 
fun!). The A2 will corner an on ramp more conifidently due to the feeling, 
my only real complaint with the A4 is the body roll, hopefully a new 
suspension kit will fix that. The A4 is superbly reliable, we have had very 
few problems, one MAF and one bus bar, still has the original brakes! The A4 
doesn't get the fuel economy the A2 does (I get 600 miles to  tank always, 
sometimes 750), she gets 500-600 miles per tank at best BUT we dont drive 
the A4 55 mph like the A2, you get flashed and beeped at too much!
I am on the fence over the straight line handling, the A2 is great up to a 
point, you simply get worn out driving it over a certain speed due to noise 
etc. Her A4 is not that great in a straight line, but my Mom's is perfect, 
even in snow it never deviates off course or requires corrections, I think 
VW still has a alignment problem (since the Passat came out in 1991). Since 
there is little adjustments it is obvious there is a difference between the 
cars that cannot be fixed.
I do find the A4 seats horribly uncormfortable on long trips (over 4 hours), 
it is impossible to get comfortable (I drive at least once a year out west 
or south for 30-40 hours straight, well, no over night stops) but the A2 is 
easy to live in. I have had each car from the east out to the west and south 
to Florida too, the A2 wins hands down if you have time...
Greg

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