Fun topic -- Why did you choose your TDI?

[RDC98tdi]

The beam axle recall is only if you have been in a rear or side collision that could have damaged the real axle. If you have never been in an accident, it is supposed to be safe.

The recall I am p*ssed about is the ECM emissions one where they want to reflash the engine computer. I don't want my tune to be overwritten, I will pass.

 

[Coal Roller]

The recall I am p*ssed about is the ECM emissions one where they want to reflash the engine computer. I don't want my tune to be overwritten, I will pass.

Don't blame you a bit.
After driving PUs and vans since 1973 and with my latest 2004 Silverado getting 16 mpg I decided it was time for a "daily driver" that got crrrazy mileage. Did a lot of research. Been a dyed in the wool GM buyer for years. But "Gubment Motors" has left a bad taste in my mouth. Perhaps a Colorado with the 4 cyl Duramax. But they weren't going to debut that until 2016. When I saw that those "half trucks" were starting at $30K the choice was clear. Looked at the Cruze diesel. When they said "no spare tire for YOU" due to the AdBlue tank location that didn't set well. The Opel engine was another "deal killer". Never owned an "import". So all those factors pointed toward VW. The fact that the Audi TDI prototypes were kicking everyone's backside at LeMans added to my thinking to "go German". The local dealer had a left over 2014 with all the features I wanted for $24K. The rest is history. Just hope that VW doesn't end up standing for "Venereal Witch". All is GOOD so far

 

[DubFamily]

40,000 miles a year.

That's why

 

[Pedalpower]

Cross shopped Hybrids and other cars and this was the most fun hypermilage car. With care driving I can get in the 50 mpg's.

 

[manny_c44]

I had been driving a 2004 Civic Coupe 5mt until just this past winter when the Takata airbag problems surfaced. The airbag recall work was really dragging (took more than a month by the end of it all)...in the mean time I didn't want to risk shrapnel to the face and I figured I'd got my money's worth out of the civic so I went car hunting.

I thought about budget performance cars like the Fiesta ST or the GLI but they were less reliable than average (especially the FiST). The new Golf had just hit the lots and I had been keeping my eye on the Jetta so I went to the VW dealership. I became weary of quality control of the Golf in it's first year of production at Puebla (the silk blue car on the lot has mismatched paint texture between gas-cap, body and bumper!) and I much prefer the 3-box design of the jetta.

I knew only one jetta trim level had everything I wanted: soft-touch interior dash, IRS, 5 spoke alloys, German-built engine and transmission and chrome accents, that trim was the TDI. I gave it a test drive and even though it was slower than the 1.8t cars, the low down torque was really impressive. The 6MT coupled with the tdi was just so smooth and stout. The car felt substantial and airy inside, as opposed to cheap and tight like the Mazda 3 I test drove. Afterward I just stood there looking at it saying “this is a proper car”; after 3(!) days of negotiation it was mine.

Right before I sold my civic I drove it around for a bit and I had to laugh, felt like I was riding a bicycle compared to the VW. Also I have to echo Coal Roller on the Le Mans effect, really made me more interested in the TDI.

 

[beam_panhard_tdi_2013]

The beam axle recall is only if you have been in a rear or side collision that could have damaged the real axle. If you have never been in an accident, it is supposed to be safe.

The recall I am p*ssed about is the ECM emissions one where they want to reflash the engine computer. I don't want my tune to be overwritten, I will pass.

Just now I physically received the emission "service action" (not recall!) letter. Seems like in order to make EPA feel better in bed, vw decides to reflash our ECU.

I feel I'm no longer the owner of my tdi jetta --- I'm renting it from EPA.

 

[Mark Hubley]

Did my research over the winter and purchased the Jetta TDI on March 31. The key factor: It is one of the few cars (and perhaps the only one in the price range I was shopping--$20-$30K) that can be had with a proper manual transmission and upscale options.

Mazda 6 was a close runner-up, but a stick can only be had in the lower trims. That would mean no heated seats and no satellite radio. Maybe I wouldn't have cared about the heated seats if I wasn't shopping in February and March??? Ford Fusion had some appeal, but no stick in a 2015, and only in the lower trims on a 2014. Even the lower trims on the Fusion were considerably more expensive than the Jetta, and I didn't see any advantages to the Fusion.

I also like the size of the car. I am 6'4" and occasionally carry multiple passengers. That eliminated most compacts. For example, I drove a Ford Focus ST, and with the driver's seat where I wanted it, there was literally no room for a person behind me.

I'm fortunate to own a 2000 911 for fun, so super performance was not necessary. The Jetta will be perfect for my commute, and I'm already loving the fuel efficiency. And I tell you, the peak torque from my Jetta is not far off the peak torque of my 911! When I get on the throttle, the TDI comes through. Of course, I can keep that torque going on the 911 much farther up the tachometer than the TDI, but the TDI is a great value in terms of fuel efficiency, performance, and price.

 

[DubFamily]

I'm fortunate to own a 2000 911 for fun, so super performance was not necessary.

Any time you are giving "driving lessons" just let me know, I'll be there...

 

[Mark Hubley]

Any time you are giving "driving lessons" just let me know, I'll be there...

Here's a teaser for you. Me driving with PCA at Summit Point a few weeks ago. I'll be at Watkins Glen in June if you want to meet me there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgDuTpkqMzk

A really good driver in the Club normally tracks a Cayman. While the car was having some work done last year he took to the track a few times in his late-model GTI. He really enjoys driving that car. Though not as much as the Cayman.

 

[doctorx]

I drove Dad's 2005 vw diesel bug and fell in love with it. I gave up waiting for him to give it to me so i bought a 2013 Jetta tdi premium/nav.

 

[steve1479]

My weekly commute just to work and back is 650 km's, seemed like a diesel really was the only way to. However, my commute may be dropping to about 150 km's a week and now I'm upset I didn't get the GTI...

 

[NewYorkBuck]

When I bought my first one in late 2005, I was intrigued by the technology and mileage. I knew I wanted a German car, and this one filled bill with a twist.

Loved that car, and that good experience made me want another when it came time for a new one.

 

[snakefart]

Bought a new TDI Jetta in 2000, it had a few warts but served me fairly well for a couple of years. Now, I have 150 mile a day commute, tired of stopping for gas every other day and crappy mileage with my Subaru. Now I have a new to me 2013 Jetta TDI 6mt! I will keep the Subaru around for winter, but the Jetta will see the most of my commute miles.

 

[ZippyNH]

I bought my 2015 Jetta SE TDI and traded in my 2005 mini cooper S that I had for 10 plus years because and decided to get a vw because I wanted
1) more space..our daughter is now 8, and while the mini COULD work, it was tight....
2) more highway comfort
3) more mpg+range
4) something a little bit different than the typical Honda/Hyundai
5) more tq than my modded, tuned mini, and no CVT..ruled out many cars...
6) auto or DSG...hate to have one, but my wife will NOT drive a stick...and the MINI was...so not being able to swap cars if needed was a real pain....
Test drove the Jetta TDI Jetta on a whimm....And liked it...would have preferred the golf TDI perhaps, but was too much $$$ IMO for what it is....
In the end, I decided the deal I worked out with a VW dealer was simply too good too pass up...i had initially been looked at getting the "s" TDI...got the dealer down to $19,200....then the color I wanted was going to be a couple weeks in coming...so wheeled and dealed to get a similarly good deal on the SE in the showroom that was the right color, the silk blue (would have been happy with dark silver, aka metallic gray)...
In the end, I am happy I sent the extra $1800 or so to get the SE, nicer interior and radio....
It is s great highway cruiser, and in the first week is getting great mpg!! My wife is OK with driving it when the CRV is in the garage, and I am much more relaxed after the drive home!

 

[opelgt21]

After putting 260k on my mk4, I traded her for a '12 mk6 TDI. I was not initially happy with the car, but for the money it was still a great car until the paint started falling off of it. Turns out it was in a "delivery incident", so after several not so pleasant conversations with VWoA and the dealership they agreed to an even trade on a '14 TDI. I like the '14 mk6 much better than the '12 I like the handling better and it is a bit quieter on the highway. My only gripe is that damn intercooler that should have been recalled in 2012 and fixed by MY14 .

 

[RDC98tdi]

I had the new intercooler TSB installed after an incident. The biggest difference I noticed (and I'm tuned though) is the performance difference between a cold day (30-40 degrees F) vs 60-70 degrees is much larger before with the factory intercooler. Since the new IC was put on, I can hardly tell the car is tuned when it's cold, even with the engine up to temp. But once it hits 70* plus, it pushes you into the seat pretty hard.

 

[n1das]

Here's my story in an old but related thread:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=997524&postcount=52

I fired the genset up over the past weekend and gave it a 1/2 hour maintenance run. I was a little nervous about starting it given that it is still running on its original and now 31-year old timing belt. Getting parts for this system is a bit of an issue. I have cell phone video of it running which I might post up on YouTube.

 

[RDC98tdi]

That was a great read! I would love ti have that motor to put in a project car or truck. 73 de KK4CUL

Oh and those are three of my 4 favorite hobbies: diesel engines/cars, ham radio, and electronics. The other is audio gear, and Counterstrike:GO to a lesser degree.

 

[Lencher]

My wife and I got our Jetta instead of the Passat because we really felt like we did not need extra space. The Passat also felt a tad underwhelming with the same engine and output numbers. The Jetta had a nimble and quick feel. I really liked the Golf but my wife hated the difference in the seats so the Jetta just kind of ticked all the boxes.

 

[CODE4LS1]

Got our TDIs because I have personally owned a VW diesel almost all my life.
First vehicle was a '81 Diesel Caddy 4 spd....spent countless hours and trips to the junkyard turning it into the cleanest Caddy I've owned to date. Got another '81 Caddy (bought from junk yard), then moved on to a '85 Jetta TD. Put over 200k miles on that car and it never gave me 1 problem.
Upgraded to newer gas cars (financed) until 2012 when I found a '84 Rabbit diesel coupe. Fixed it up, sold it and bought a '91 Jetta Diesel. Fixed that one up, installed a factory turbo on it, sold it and bought my 2015.

None of my VW diesels ever broke. That's why I bought mine, and why my wife has a 2011 Sportwagen

 

[Rodmiser]

My First VW

Go for it!

 

[Rob_TDI_13]

Bought My 2013 TDI because i wanted something that got great fuel mileage. Haven't looked back. Bough the vehicle brand new in July 2013 and currently have 76k miles on it. I drive 700 miles during the work week along just traveling back and forth to work and average 1000 miles a week overall. Its been an awesome car and has saved me a lot of $$ in fuel cost.

 

[atenza_freak]

We bought our 2013 jetta brand new in march of 2013. Loved the look of the mk6 jetta's. Loved the reviews the TDI was getting. My v6 fusion and my wifes 05 impalla v6 got terrible gas mileage. So we traded in both for the jetta and loved everybit of it. It has that nice torque so i can do spirited driving in the hills with it's r32 and gti brothers. I get to auto-x it once a year to see how 140hp rear beam suspension sedan holds agaisnt vette's and evos. We've put on 50k miles in little over 2 years and we love it. I wish it never got hailed out, but i hope to drive it well past 120k.

 

[zg812]

Well,

I live in Central PA and I've owned a Wrangler for the majority of my driving experience (I'm 25). So I've always had a 4wd because I always thought I needed one. Love driving a Wrangler, but they just aren't everyday driving material (lifted, of course) being that they get 13mpg city/13mpg highway. Owned a '04 Wrangler 4-banger, 4" lift and 33" tires. Thing was an absolute dog, but it was amazing on the trail. Latest was an '05 Rubicon, 2" lift with 31" tires. Again, loved driving it but ~230mi. range on gas SUCKED.

I'm about to graduate college and I was planning on buying something new over the summer, but I was planning on it being a four-door Wrangler. Long story short, they are f'n expensive, and practically the same fuel effeciency.

Went to Florida with my dad over Spring break and ended up with a '15 Jetta SE as a rental. Drove the thing something like 1300 miles around Florida. Absolutley LOVED it. Kept telling myself if I didn't need 4wd, I'd be buying one (winter is pretty harsh and I live on a mountain).

So anyways, I'm looking at Wranglers online, and I decided to check out what a '15 Jetta runs, just for ****s and giggles. Started looking at Jetta SE's and was amazed by how relatively cheap they were for the price. Went to Jetta TDI SE's, and then it snowballed from there. Realized a TDI SEL was within my price range and I figured if I'm buying new, I might as well get exactly what I want. Went with a '15 Jetta TDI SEL with Lighting & Driver Convenience package in Platinum Gray with 6MT (had to get a manual; Wranglers got me hooked on a manual transmission).

I've had it about 2 weeks now. Got a pretty good deal on it. MSPR @28,992. Financed @26,300 after everything. Averaging 42mpg since I've had it. Couldn't be happier. I'll be interested to see what winter is like, but I plan on buying some studded tires (looking for advice on winter tires, btw) for the front.

So yeah, that's my story. Would definitely recommend TDI's to anyone and everyone. Fun to drive, amazing effeciency (~600mi range), beautiful car inside and out, plus you just cannot beat that new car smell.

 

[DubFamily]

If you need studded for your area then I'd recommend Nokian Hakkapelitta

If you don't need studded and just a good solid winter tire will do; I'd recommend Nokian Hakkapeliitta

Yep; they are that good