[Vwdiesel] tdi suggestions

[pmdolan at sasktel.net]

Travis et al:

No question that the older gassers used a ton of fuel to get a tiny job 
done, but the newest direct injection (TFSI) engines are phenomenal for 
mileage.  Our eldest daughter recently bought an '09 Passat DSG 
variant, and it will come withing a 20% of her Mother's ALH Jetta 
(when, in reality, I find most "economy" cars burn nearly DOUBLE what 
the ALH does when driven as hard). 

Pat

On Fri, 6 Jan 2012 15:12:34 +0000, Travis Gottschalk 
<tgott at hotmail.com> wrote:

> 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 c
>  ar 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          
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