Wascally Wabbit
Active member
OK. So I have decided what to do regarding the buyback and my 2010 MKVI Golf TDI that has served me well for the last 125,000 mikes. The decision was to go with a newer MKVI Golf 2.5L. I made this decision because I don't want to pay for the timing belt replacement and the car is just starting to really show her age. I drove it to Alaska from Los Angeles (3800 mi) through 3 blizzards and she was a champ. I had it up there for 2 years and drove back at the beginning of this year. I love this car though but it just makes sense to sell it back.
So I decided to find a MKVI 2.5L with low miles and swap all the parts I love about the TDI to the 2.5L and visa versa before selling the car back. It will be a base model TDI and a TDI trim 2.5L. So I just happened to find a 2.5L a couple years newer with 50K that is my exact same car just a gasser. It has a dent in the front driver door and on the hatch but otherwise it's mint. I am goint to swap the door and hatch as those are the only two things that are mint on my TDI. I am also going to swap out the fog lamps, stereo, steering wheel, gear shift knob and rims and tires. So my only real dilemma is whether to swap the suspension. I put new struts and mounts front an back about 30k ago and the TDI is supposed to have "Sport suspension" vs the basic 2.5L; However from what I can tell via the specs they are really close to being the same and with the lighter engine may be so similar it is not worth the swap. I did the suspension myself before so I know what is involved but to do all 4 twice will be a real PITA.
So my question is is it worth the effort. I will say as it rides now the two are night and day, but that could be the bald tires and 15" steelies on the 2.5L more than anything. I am going to swap the wheels tomorrow and see what difference it makes but any feedback would be much appreciated.
Please don't hate on me for getting rid of the tdi. I will likely come back to the fold as this was my second VW diesel and I love the TDI's but want to see where things go after the dust settles with VW and between the HPFP issue and the Turbo (blew the turbo in Alaska and it was $5K to replace). The mechanic thought the dealership put in the wrong oil at oil change and caused it to go. It blew 15 miles away on the way home from the oil change the day before I was driving back down to SD. Turbos they be fickle. So bottom like I am just looking for solid cheap reliable transportation for a little while....and this way I recoup my $5K turbo and keep the settlement money. At least it will look like a TDI.
So I decided to find a MKVI 2.5L with low miles and swap all the parts I love about the TDI to the 2.5L and visa versa before selling the car back. It will be a base model TDI and a TDI trim 2.5L. So I just happened to find a 2.5L a couple years newer with 50K that is my exact same car just a gasser. It has a dent in the front driver door and on the hatch but otherwise it's mint. I am goint to swap the door and hatch as those are the only two things that are mint on my TDI. I am also going to swap out the fog lamps, stereo, steering wheel, gear shift knob and rims and tires. So my only real dilemma is whether to swap the suspension. I put new struts and mounts front an back about 30k ago and the TDI is supposed to have "Sport suspension" vs the basic 2.5L; However from what I can tell via the specs they are really close to being the same and with the lighter engine may be so similar it is not worth the swap. I did the suspension myself before so I know what is involved but to do all 4 twice will be a real PITA.
So my question is is it worth the effort. I will say as it rides now the two are night and day, but that could be the bald tires and 15" steelies on the 2.5L more than anything. I am going to swap the wheels tomorrow and see what difference it makes but any feedback would be much appreciated.
Please don't hate on me for getting rid of the tdi. I will likely come back to the fold as this was my second VW diesel and I love the TDI's but want to see where things go after the dust settles with VW and between the HPFP issue and the Turbo (blew the turbo in Alaska and it was $5K to replace). The mechanic thought the dealership put in the wrong oil at oil change and caused it to go. It blew 15 miles away on the way home from the oil change the day before I was driving back down to SD. Turbos they be fickle. So bottom like I am just looking for solid cheap reliable transportation for a little while....and this way I recoup my $5K turbo and keep the settlement money. At least it will look like a TDI.
