[Vwdiesel] tdi suggestions

[James Hansen]

-----Original Message-----
From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On
Behalf Of Chris Geiser


Just make sure you're going to put the miles on to make the investment work
out in your favor...
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Chris makes a very good point.  Right now I am being screwed, blued, and
tatooed for diesel, it's 18 cents/l more than gas. 
Diesel is 1.31/l; gas is 1.13/l works out to diesel at 4.98/usg and gas at
4.29/usg.
If this continues, I may as well have a gasser. 
The new Passat cost quite a bit more in diesel 6 speed than a gasser.  I
don't care if it gets 65mpg imperial (54 m/usg) or not, there's not enough
capital cost payback at that amount of screwage for fuel to justify the
diesel...   but I really like the car.

I do really enjoy my 05 Passat.
I think it is probably the best handling of the stable, it is an audi A4
chassis after all.  The 2012 is great, don't get  me wrong, but the 05 is
somehow nicer on the highway, I just wish it had a standard, not that awful
slushbox.
It has been a very reliable awful slushbox, very much so, but there is no
joy in it.  That said, I would buy another 05 in a second, in fact because
of the depressed price of the 04-05 B5.5 Passat that is entirely due to the
huge internet squall about the balance shaft chain, I think you could
probably get one for a hell of a deal.  A few nights in your garage puts in
a new gear driven balance shaft module, for a couple grand, so it isn't the
end of the world.  If the chain does kiss the world goodbye, it is a pretty
major deal... think crate motor. You could go buy one off a lot or privately
with all the documentation about how horrible the thing is in your hands,
how bad it needs the "chainless mod" and talk the seller down quite a bit I
would think.  I was offered 12k for mine as a trade on the 2012 and turned
him down, but I know the vehicle history.   I may change balance modules and
such this winter when I do the timing belt... and put in the digi-pdi tuner
box I got from Hayden. and de-exhaust it. and reintake it. heh....

My 99 Jetta 5sp was a very reliable, good mileage car until it got totalled.
Handling much like the 89 jetta, good mileage, but not as nice to drive as
the 97 Passat.  I found the interior a tad confined being a passat guy. It
had a hard life before I got it, still was really reliable, and I made money
on it when it was totalled. (bought cheap)

Get a beetle if you don't plan on using the rear seat. ever.  They are cute,
fun to own, drive well, go like ten bears, but a 2 seater in reality unless
your family is all really short and slender. don't get a gasser beetle. No
joy.  Everyone I know that bought one has sold it and was glad to have it
gone.

I guess it's very much like Travis wrote, get one you are comfortable with,
buy it cheap enough so you can afford to fix one unexpected thing, and go
for it. Not like they are common.

If you embark on the path of tdi ownership, I strongly recommend buying VCDS
(formerly vag-com) from Ross-Tech.  It is a tool that you use to fix these
cars, just like wrenches or screwdrivers.  You can use an obd-II code
reader, but there is a lot more functionality to vcds than a code reader.
I'm a bit biased, being in it since the alpha test days (long ago), and
support by Uwe is well beyond anyone's expectations. Well well well beyond.
Uwe is one really cool dude.  He's in the process of replacing my
canbuss-hex-com cable that I've owned for 4 years for free because it won't
talk to the car. Without me asking for any favors.  Worth every penny even
if it just makes you smarter as you take the thing to the dealer to get
worked on.


If you decide on a specific car, let the list know, we might come across a
good deal on one.  With the new Passats out, there are a lot of A5 jettas on
the market now.

-James