The girlfriend needs a car so I wanted to get a 2012 jetta wagon 2liter diesel that i came across. Has the DSG tranny too which is super smooth, I was all set to make the deal and then I got confirmation that the recall hasn't been done on it and my local Diesel mechanic told me to stay away from it if it has 230 000km which i thought was not much as mine has almost 400k. As he mentioned that the Turbo's go on them regularly and the DPF is an expensive fix as well and way more convoluted then the MK4. So my question to you guys is would you buy your car again if you could? Should i buy this car or just get something else if so what do you recommend for the same gas mileage and same space. Thank you. !
Used cars are a crap shoot. The post 2009 TDI's are way more complicated and expensive to fix than ALH. The issue with the CR TDI's are the hand-grande modes...
1) HPFP fails and puts metal into fuel system taking out a lot of other components. It is at least $5,000 to fix. There is a modification (not approved by VW) to retrofit a better HPFP with no history of failure. There is another modification that adds extra filters to isolate metal contamination.
2) When the Turbo goes it can dump oil into the complicated exhaust system.The exhaust system, DPF, EGR valves, coolers, catalytic will/may be damaged. I am guessing this is another $5,000 bill on up. There is no other modification except proactively replace the turbo or upgrade turbo to a bigger CR170. Changing things requires reprogramming the ECU. You are now going down the expensive hobby road of car modification. Other owners remove some or most of the "After Treatment", like the DPF, EGR system, CAT. Of course this is against Federal Law.
My 2010 is still under warranty for 4 years and 40K miles, because I had the modification done in March this year.
I don't know if VW will fix (MOD) this car and give you that extended warranty? If they will do the modification at no charge with extended warranty, then yes this would make a buy less risky. (You may not be elegable since you did not own it and apply when the whole diesel gate went down.)
HOW MUCH IS THE CAR? If they are giving it away? Of course there are many factors in buying used cars, especially diesels. If your GF does not drive far or very much a year, she is likely to forget to put diesel fuel in and not GAS... hates the smell of diesel fuel, then don't buy it. Get her a nice used Honda, Toyota, Hyundai... lower cost of ownership and way lest risk of extraordinary maintenance cost. German cars are just more expensive to repair and one can argue less reliable. A nice Japaneses/Korean used car can be had under $10K and is way more likely to be trouble free for 10 years than the VW. Again CR TDI's are complicated and expensive to repair... you were warned. The good news is they drive great, have tons of torque...
So yes TDI's are great cars but don't judge it on your earlier Gen TDI which is 1970's farm tractor simple. If you can find her an OLDER TDI great. However the newer TDI has more airbags and is safer, more comfortable.
I got $6000 in restitution from VW, and my 8 yr 105K mile car will be under warranty until 12 years and 145K. As I said the modification came with 4 years and 40K mile warranty covering the HPFP, Engine and exhaust. I am happy. Once the warranty is up, I will likely keep the car and do things to make it reliable, change and/or upgrade of the HPFP and turbo. I like to see 250,000 miles before I think of getting rid of a car. It is far cheaper to do preventative maintenance than let them fail. However a used Honda RAV4 or Hyundai Elantra hatch back... will not need any of this effort.
noise vibration harmonics
I love normal mechanical engine noises. Of course the CR TDI's 2009 and on are pretty quite. The only time I am aware of fantastic diesel sounds my TDI makes, is driving into storage unit facility. The metal storage units about 20 feet apart, with concrete drive between the metal buildings, windows rolled down, sound of engine and turbo echoed around. Love it. The older TDI's were of course louder. But the later model ones post 2009 are very quite.
As far as harmonics, the CR TDI has some excellent serious higher order harmonics damping in the design of the engine. In other words, what vibration are you talking about? Older TDI's not sure about.
Don't people loves sound of drag cars?
Sound of Harley Davidson Motorcycles?
P-51 Mustang WWII fighters V-12 Merlin short exhauststack engine?