90hp TDI Jetta

Look at the torque specs instead.

If you buy it hold back 350 bucks go get it chipped and hold on. The best 350 dollars I have ever spent.

I'm just doing a cursory search for Jetta TDI wagons and none came up in the DC area.

Regarding that chip - I looked on Upsolute.com and I didn't see anything come up for Jetta TDI.

Can you point me to some information that shows this?

Thanks again.

Here ya go. The Jetta is called the Bora over in Europe.

http://www.upsolute.com/database/english/sheets/362.html

-Rob

Ah, I didn't know that. So I'm guessing that only an Upsolute specialist can put this chip in?

I did check out the torque, as recommended.

0-60 in 12.8 seconds seems kinda slow. This was advertised on the VW webpage. I thought it'd be faster than that.

I'm just gonna have to test one.

Thanks for the info.

An Upsoluted TDI will run circles around an identical car with the 2.0 gas motor. Even stock they're pretty close, but the TDI feels faster.

-Rob

Hello,

I'm considering a fuel efficient car, and a car that can get up and go, so the Jetta Wagon TDI sounds interesting. I noted that it's only 90hp.

I know nothing about diesel engines. I haven't test driven a Jetta either.

I just want someone to comment on what kind of power this is in relation to a normal gas engine. I read about this TDI having power, but I was drawn back by the 90hp associated with it. Can this thing pass? Can this thing mooove out?

Please educate me

Thanks in advance!

Yes, it can.

The best thing you can do is go to a dealer and drive one. You'll say to yourself, "90 hp huh?"

From your posts it doesn't seem you are a candidate for a TDI. A TDI is not about speed or 0-60 times. It is about an overall pleasurable, efficient driving experience, while being just a bit different from the other guy. A more mature, responsible approach. Sure we modify our cars for more speed, but it is not speed in absolute terms, it is more for the pleasure of personalizing our cars within the design limitations for an overall rewarding drive.
Go buy a Honda or Acura, and in a few years when you get tired of the "stop light grand prix" you might better appreciate a TDI. This post was not meant to offend, just my honest opinion.
There is a guy in my office, about 62 years old, drives a WRX and must race EVERYONE away from stoplights. Not a day goes by when he doesn't say, I raced a BMW, Audi, etc. this morning and beat them. I wonder if the other people knew they were racing? Anyway, the point is, he is not a TDI candidate either. TDI ownership is a bit of a hassel if you are not a diesel enthusiast. Go buy a Civic SI, you will be happier. Just my opinion.

[ August 17, 2002, 02:41: Message edited by: WOOCHOW ]

Woochow

Perfect reply! I've wanted to reply to similiar posts in just the same way. Good job.

Joe

Woochow,

I think your post was meant to offend me and you're only kidding yourself by saying that it isn't.

You could've easily stopped after your first paragraph to get your point across.

I obviously know nothing about this car, as I pointed out in my first post. I posted for information, not for degradation.

This is what I hate about forums - people who just look to put other people down. Try some constructive criticism sometime. You can still get your point across that way.

Thanks.

Maybe I can be a little nicer. As an owner of a Golf TDI and a Passat 1.8T I can say this:

If you want a hot rod, buy a 1.8T.

If you want a fairly powerful car (especially when chipped) and want/need to get about 45mpg, get a TDI.

My chipped TDI can easily keep up with, if not beat, most average performance cars it her class (including my Passat). Mainly because of the amount of torque she has.

In the gasser world, all you hear about is HP. But in the diesel world, the numbers that matter are the torque numbers.

So I convinced the wife to come out and test a Jetta TDI with me.

Results: I dig it.

No emissions are required for it in Virginia, which I didn't know. They also mentioned that I get free inspections through the dealer as long as I own it.

I'll probably get a wagon, when the time it right.

Thanks.

I bought the TDI because I needed a new car and it was during the sky-high gas reaming of 2001. I wanted fuel economy and reasonable performance. I don't know exactly what it is, but the TDI is just so damn nimble. Just in day to day driving I can't believe the 0-60 is north of 10 seconds (normal driving not the C/D method). I've never found my stocker to be lacking in reasonable performance around town or on the highway going 80+

I agree about looking at the performance stats. They are every bit as important as economy, reliablity, and durability. It's basic guy instinct to want a car that blows the doors off of anything on the road, and it's intelligent to pick a car that is fuel efficient.

Have your cake and eat it too.

Just Drifting: I started out looking at 1.8T's, looking at Golf pocket-rockets. I hadn't considered a TDI, but it's just different enough to wind me up. Ended up going all the way wacko, and bought a TDI New Beetle (hey, you going to be different, be really different, you know?).

I lurked in these forums for over three months before I finally realized that I what I wanted was a TDI. And the range of knowledge and experience that you'll find on these forums is immense- it's an added benefit that I don't think exists on any similar forum devoted to any other type of engine technology. The folks out here are passionate, dedicated, knowledgeable, helpful, and have a pretty good sense of humor- the kind of folks you'd enjoy hanging around with just kicking things around a bit.

Beyond a test drive, you'll be very suprised at the how quick off the line the TDI can be (especially with a manual trans). I have a bone stock unit, and have no problem getting out ahead of traffic, nor entering freeways. The next suprise you will have is when you're motoring at 65 MPH or so and find you need to pass some slower traffic- no downshift from 5th gear necessary- all the power is still right there. I'm convinced that a TDI could climb trees.

The power is all in the low RPM's- the torque maxes out around 2000 RPM, unlike the 1.8 which doesn't max until much higher. Once you change your thinking around- and your shift patterns- I think the TDI will meet or exceed your expectations for performance.

Finally, all of that performance is still there- with fuel usage in the mid 40 per gallon range.

If you like to wind out an engine to the redline, and like high RPM driving, buy a 1.8, or a Civic, or Ford Focus, or something. But once you really drive a TDI- and not just a test drive from the dealer, I think you'll be hooked- and you'll be one of us.

Good luck.

-Tapokata

for 90 horsepowers..it's pretty powerful, in a 5 speed., the auto is a bit sloer

Yeah, well I wish I could just borrow one from the dealership for a week and really try it out for commuting in the 95/495/66 DC area and also for family stuff too.

I just don't see any wagons available. I only test drove a TDI sedan.

I was told that I'd have to pre-order a wagon and they don't sit on the lots.

My buddy has a 5.0 Mustang '93, somewhere in the 300hp range... I can burn him off the line in my TDI for like 1.5/2 seconds, maybe even 2.5 seconds sometimes! ... then he just laughs and books it up the street.

What's this about chipping a TDI? What kind of increase in torque are we talking here, and how does it effect the economy of the car?

I'd love to go and test a 1.8 GTI and see how much different it would be.. Car n Driver said the car goes 0-60 in 6.5 seconds? mmm sounds good.

Originally posted by Just Drifting:
Yeah, well I wish I could just borrow one from the dealership for a week and really try it out for commuting in the 95/495/66 DC area and also for family stuff too.

Click to expand...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">well - i don't have a jetta. i drive a beetle, but i do commute into atlanta every day. i do about 100 miles per day going back and forth to work. i find the tdi to be an excellent commuter vehicle. it's no problem to accelerate and merge into a stream of traffic running 80 mph, even when the ramp's uphill. passing is not a problem, and it will run as fast as i dare. driving 70, it routinely turns in 43+ miles per gallon doing this (mine's an automatic.)

i recommend them highly, especially if your commute is a significant distance. if it's 3-5 miles of stop and go, you may want to look at something else.

good luck!

mark

I just came from VA yesterday. Had my 80k belt put on but a TDI forum member. My TDI drove fine on 95/295/695/83 yesterday. Had no problems with the traffic and zipping in and out. Best car I ever drove hands down once you consider the mpg and how it drives. My neighbor was kinda skeptical buying one when he was told the HP. Dealer through him the keys and said take it for a spin. Bought the car the same day. The guy is in his 60's and says it's one the best cars he's ever had. It's actually his wifes car but that's about all they drive. They have owned just about every kind of diesil MB around. You should see the diesel RV they own. WOW!! WOOCHOW made some good points even if he offened you.

Just Drifting - Check Sharrett VW in Hagerstown, MD. I know it's a little far from you, but I'll bet money the have a few TDI wagons for you to choose from. Sharrett sells ALOT of TDIs - probably more than any other VW dealer in MD. They can do Va. tax/tags/title too.

I got my Jetta TDI from Sharrett and have been very pleased with their service.

One more word of advice - get a 5 speed.

Sharett VW - http://www.sharrettvw.com/

I enjoyed autocrossing my 914 Porsche (now sold). I took my 97 Passat TDI one day to watch and thought, what the heck. They put me in H/Stock with LT1 SS Impala, Saab 9000, Audi 5000, Olds Aurra, etc. When the announcer called my name and ride, he chuckled, "A Diesel!"

First round I had the 2nd lowest time 51.+ (H/Stock bug with R rated tires stayed fastest).

Second round everybody watched because they thought the first run was a fluke - - 2nd fastest 50.+

Third round - 2nd fasted 49.+

Nobody got below 50 except the Bug and Myself.

It has torque! I could come off the corners harder that the big Irons could get in there rev's.
My dealer had a fit and was proud too.

The Passat is pure stock with no chips or changes.
But if some SS 396 gets on your back bumper, don't romp it and leave him. Just romp it and cover him with soot!

2002 Pontiac Montana
1997 Passat TDI with 187K
1974 Porsche 914 (gone, snifle)
http://www.jcknows.org

You really should research HP vs Torque. In most applications, you have mistakenly driven the torque of a car and credited HP solely.

Your HP is a factor of RPM and torque. It is the ultimate measure of how fast your car can deliver power (RPMs (engine internal velocity) X torque (workload). If a car puts out alot of torque, it has nice acceleration and good "power" feeling. The problem in this equation is the RPMs, the TDI motor redlines at about 4750 (very low in gas standards (for cars). The HP is then rated very low as it does not produce a high RPM. It also requires frequent shifting if it cannot span across a wide RPM. The shifting time and powerloss during shifting time (no power goes to tires when shifting we all know that) has alot to do with the pitiful 0-60 times. But, it is quite a lot of fun to pass cars on a whim because my TDI has a nice torque output. If I delivered pizza, I might want a little semi sporty car to "pull off the line". But I commute an hour to work, I accelerate twice to highway speed that accounts for less than 1% of my drive time, I'd rather have torque at my disposal. Sure I can't beat them 0-60, but it is quite competitive from 50-80.

I know I picked the right car for me. Look at what you want, and see if you can find the right car for you. I hope it is a TDI, but as long as you are happy what does it matter...

The TDI is the most utilitarian car you can get in the US. Reasonable performance and economy are its virtues. It's also for car geeks or wierdos who want to spend time fawning over their cars and talking about them on the web. This is my second diesel and everyone thinks I'm nuts to like a diesel, i.e. more noise, harder to get fuel.
But, I enjoy taking it to work evry day; I even go a longer way and I still beat the piper. It's one of my hobbies.
My only complaint is that its handling isn't as great as I'd like on curvy roads.

I emailed Just Drifting that Sharrett does have a silver TDI wagon setting on the lot right now. I don,t think it will be there long.

My 1997 Passat TDI is the 5th diesel car I have owned.

1980 Rabit Golf - Engine turned 3,700rpm at 70. Thought it was going to blow up it was so buzzy. Got 43 mpg no matter how I drove. Had it for 170K. Rear tires wanted to cup.

1983 Peugout 505. Great car, the worse the road, the better the car handled. 35 mpg. Terrible engine. Engine broke down 3 times in 160k. Each time was for $1,500

1985 Jetta Turbo Diesel. Nice car. 37mpg at 70+ mpg only lasted for 275K. 3,200rpm at 70mph. Rear tires wanted to cup.

1987 Volvo 740 Turbo Diesel. Great Car! Volvo tradition. Terrible in the snow. 35mpg. Died at 225k (no compression)

1997 Passat TDI Best of all so far. 49+mpg at 70+ mph. 2,600rpm at 70mph. Once drove 910 miles on one tank of fuel and put in 18.7 gal at that stop! Usually drive 850 miles between fill ups. now have 187K on odometer. On my 4th set of tires. No cupping.

The new TDI are suppose to be even better than the TDI that I have in the Passat. A very good car that is hard to beat on value. I don't know how many miles you drive each week, but I only fill up every 800 miles or where ever the price is the best. Nothing like owning a car for a quarter million miles before trade in time.

2002 Pontiac Montana
1997 Passat TDI
1974 Porsche 914 1.8
http://www.jcknows.org

Just Drifting,

Welcome to Fred's.

If you manage to snag a TDI Jetta Wagon 5 speed, consider yourself way lucky. They're usually quite difficult to locate.

As for performance, even unchipped TDI's are usually found in the fast lane, passing people. Maybe it's part of the personality type that buys one, or maybe it's just cuz ya CAN. Go figure.

Chipped, you'll notice a HUGE difference in the 75-110mph range. The power comes on RIGHT NOW and is handy when a tailgater won't quit being a jerk.

All other gears are also suitably enhanced, and you won't see a significant difference in your mpg if you keep your foot out of it. Even if you exploit the added power all the time, I don't think you'll drop below 40mpg.

Oh, and just for fun let me mention a bonus aspect of going diesel...

b-i-o-d-i-e-s-e-l

The feel good factor of driving an environmentally and politically responsible, performance diesel is uh-mazing.

Check out www.biodiesel.org.

Even if you don't go bio immediately, it's good to know that it will almost certainly play a role in your future.

Just Drifting,

If you are near Reston, VA, I can let you try out my wife's 2003 Jetta Wagon TDi automatic. I picked this one up back on 2 August. I think Rule of Staunton, VA, has several 2003's still in stock.

hey just drifting . . . if you have to ask the damn question then maybe YOU DON'T GET IT ABOUT A TDI. The guys in this forum aren't being mean-spirited.

so, go drive a HONDA ACCORD DX and leave us auto enthusiasts alone! oh, and take your skirt off!!!!!! <- now THAT'S mean-spirited.