2004 Skid Plate

I am about to order a new skid plate for my 2004 TDI Jetta, 5 speed. There are multiple brands out there so I though I'd ask the encyclopedia of TDIClub what the best / favorite one is?

I had one on another car, and it was made of steel. It was on the car when I bought it, so I do not know where it was purchased from.

Anyone have a favorite?

I like the Panzer by Diesel Geek. They sell metal side skirts as well, but it seems like the bottom plate provides most needed protection.
Evolution has a nice one as well, I've heard.

I'll give it a look. Thanks....

11 years and counting with my Evolution Atlas here, no complaints.

I also evolutions on my Jetta and Passat. No complaints at all.

Just did an oil change on the Beetle. Had a look at my Evolution skid plate. Has a dent from a boulder I hit a couple of winters ago. I am sure that the oil pan would have been toasted from that hit and many others in the past.

Still looks good after almost 10 years.

The oil plug hole is great to reach the drain!

I'll give that a look as well. Appreciate the suggestions!

I didn't even realize that there was more than one shop making aluminum skid plates. I have a dieselgeek plate but kept the plastic oem skirts. I painted mine black because it matched the undercoating I used on the road side surface of the plate. I love it. I was one of the people who lost an oil pan to road debris. The panzer skid plate already bears the scars of road ice bombs so its doing its job.

Defender aluminum pan sure makes plowing through deep snow easier, not to mention the ice bombs!

I asked for suggestions here after I did my oil change last week. The plastic belly pan was badly damaged, and a chunk was missing from the corner of it. I carefully inspected the oil pan (no dents / dings) and tranny pan. All was good. So, I figure I really dodged a bullet here.

New aluminum pan on the way!

My 2 time totaled Golf is still running only because of this. I have the diesel geek one. Wife hopped a curb on an icy downhill road. Curb was tall even with a lifted car it was resting directly on the plate and it bend it some. Had to be dragged off as the wheels weren't touching. If the engine would have gone I wouldn't have bought it back from insurance. But it was running ONLY from that.

My previous Jetta had one on it when I bought it. No idea where it was from. Made of steel, and heavy as they get. It had a few dings on it, any of which could have proved fatal to the oil pan. Looking forward to the added protection when this one arrives!

I have the Panzer skid plate with the metal side skirts and it works great. If you are missing a side skirt, it will cost more to get the plastic replacements (and you still have to modify) than the metal ones.

Also, in the interest of trying to quiet my car the best I can I bought a roll of this and used this on the inside of the plate and skirts. For the side skirts I made paper templates first and then cut the material with sharp scissors.