[Vwdiesel] TDI's

[Travis Gottschalk]

Mother has an 03 passat 4motion. Trust me it gets the same MPG as a chevy 1/2 ton truck that was traded in for it thinking we were going to get better MPG. It didn't. I wouldn't own a gas VW at all. I think those were the reasons why VW has a higher costomer compliant list was from the gassers. The diesels we like. Brother and father have a few issues but they do say they out pull a chevy car any day of the week (our previous cars) and if and when we ever crash everyone feels safest in the VW's. Another comparison is to end of motor/tranny/body life on a car. Most gassers have the engines die around 250K just because the full is dryer it will lose compression and start burning oil. And the timing chains in most cars start failing as well and isn't worth the cost of replacing. The trannys also fail in the old slush box style around 150-250K. And the bodys in a lot of other cars fail from rust at this time as well. 
 
The new tdi's (MK4 and newer) have galvanized bodies with over a 10 year rust warranty (meaning-they didn't plan on them rusting). The worst I have seen is the front fenders due to a foam insert causing it to rust (brother had that issue). Nothing close to the rest of the rust belt vehicles. The engines have been getting up to if maintained (timing system, oil chain and possibly pump, turbo, injectors and possibly cam-no matter the tdi) 600-700K miles and counting. That means same crank/pistons, rings, valves, head in the car. The tranny if you don't have wheel hop and keep it full of oil will last all of that as well with likely one clutch change (and lossing the DM flywheel and going to SMF) and change the oil every 100K. I don't know many gassers that will last this many miles so you would end up buying yet another car. If new you pay the bank and sales tax yet again. But if you don't drive a TDI to end of life then the cost won't work in your favor as much as the diesel car has a price premium and diesel does cost some more but still works out if you get good enough MPG. I just got 53.2 last fill up on almost 500 miles of driving and a full car. The MKIV car has a lot of upgrades/parts you can change/add so that gen is a good one to work with. The new ones they are finding issues just like the first ones did at first. TDI's are like wine and get better with age. 
 
Reason for my comment on finding a TDI first and then reading the problems. I have read of many people crashing there TDI's in one way or another and they have to fight with there issurance to get a high enough payment to get a comparable TDI of close to the same year/gen and miles. So getting a good deal means looking hard and wide. Also a pre-04 with an auto tranny can be a good deal if you don't mind putting a manual in it which can be done and is done often. About $1500 in parts and more in labor gets you there but then you could have a lower mile car that you got for cheaper because no one wanted the dreaded auto slush box. If you get a PD inspect the cam lobs before buying. Easy to open up the cover and if they are bad knock the price down $1500 or walk away. Car isn't ruined with a bad cam but the cam, lifters and likely oil pump needs changing which is around $700 in parts plus more in labor. 
 
Travis G