Milestones for the Tdi

[Dieselworld]

Well so far so good, the '98 Jetta Tdi just turned 40,000 miles yesterday and runs like a top. I have had the car for 1 year and 3 months. Some thoughts and repair history: Only been to the dealer for the "free" maintenance. Only one "warranty" problem fuel shutoff valve, replaced under warranty. Achieved a best U.S. MPG of 55.39 highway. This car burns NO oil at all. Since the 5,000 mile break-in oil have been using Amsoil ever since. See my advise in the break-in thread for advice. Use the Amsoil diesel fuel modifier to help with the injector pump lubrication.(Those things are almost $2k) Rotate the tires every 5k and it looks like they have better than 50% tread left. Front brake pads are at half life and I am shocked they have lasted so long. Exterior washed every week or after it rains, Atlanta has very bad acid rain problems. Normal maintenance on every thing else. I have 4 years and 7 months left to pay off the car and I hope I will be close to 250,000 miles at payoff! If every thing goes well I should get 400,000 plus miles out of the Tdi maybe even better! Lets here some of your milestones on the Tdi!

 

[Clay]

I'm very pleased. My 97 Jetta TDi has almost 46,000 on it now & it will be 2 years old on August 27th. The car pulled to the left upon delivery, four trips to the dealer later, the left rear stub axel was replaced which corrected the problem. Got rear-ended in Oct 98, $5000 damage, no injuries except to the car. Around 35,000 miles the crank seal developed a small leak causing oil to get on the clutch causing a little slippage. Skipped the trip to the dealer & had a centerforce clutch installed. Wetterauer chips installed in May 98 with 18k on the car, no other problems with the car to date. I susally average around 40 mpg but I'll get 46-48 on long highway cruises at 75 mph. Did use some oil in the begining, but once I switched to delvac 1, I now use about 1/8 of a quart between changes.

I love this car! If I had to choose between
the TDi & my GTi VR6, I would keep the TDi without question. (I would miss the GTi though)

Clay
97 Jetta TDi mit Wett chips
95 GTi VR6

[This message has been edited by Clay (edited April 27, 1999).]

 

[cage]

I hope to keep this car a long time. I have a friend who had a diesel rabbit in their family for 14 or 15 years with 400,000+ on it before they sold it. I had an arguement with a guy who said that mercedes diesels last but VW's don't. My point was that a mercedes diesel purchaser is not buying the diesel for economy reasons they are buying it for longevity reasons. Your average VW owner can't afford a mercedes and buys the VW diesel more for economy reasons. Also if you have the mind set to purchase a Mercedes diesel due to it's longevity, chances are you are going to have all of the proper service and maintenance done to the car. That just hasn't been the fact with most VW diesel owners. Many perform their own maintenance, many think they don't need to perform any since "diesels never need tuned up" and they are, after all, economy cars that people tend replace more often than a diesel buying mercedes owner. My friends family is proof that if you maintain a VW like a Mercedes diesel you will get just as many of miles out of it.

 

[Peter Cheuk]

Hmmm, I bought my car last March, have 27,500 miles on it now, paid it off after two payments (mortgage company did not want to loan us money if we were in debt), had one seal replaced under warranty at the 10k service, got one door ding (!!!%$@#%$#), got best mileage of just under 50MPG, drove it to 110MPH, got the Hopa module at 25k, got a set of Teardrop alloys given to me and then taken away (long story, blame my wife).
Hmmm, uneventful so far.

If VW offers a Golf two door hatch with 115HP motor I'll be getting one of those, too.

 

[mickey]

The only milestone I've passed is the first service on my '99 NB. So far the car has been absolutely flawless. That's a pretty rare thing for any new car. My brother's new Honda Accord needed a trip to the dealer after only a week because the A\C didn't work! (Believe me, I'm rubbing it in.) I must admit that I had a very low opinion of Volkswagens in general prior to my purchase, and only bought the car for the fuel mileage. Hoping for "tolerable", I actually received "miraculous"! If VW would sell more (and stronger) diesels in the US, along with all-wheel drive, in a Passat wagon or a decent minivan, I'd be on board for life. Until then, I'm still a Toyota guy. (They're boring, but perfect.)

-mickey

p.s. How about a TDI-powered VW 4x4 pickup truck or sport-utility? Drool, drool. Get with the times VW! Why don't you have a sport utility or minivan in the US market? (Eurovans don't count. They're big, expensive boxes. No style.)

 

[Peter Cheuk]

Dezlboy, well, it's about d**ned time!! Just kidding. Congrats!

 

[VW Derf]

Ya sure, blame me..

Geeze, the sadest thing is I don't even have a

TDI

. I really, really wanted one, but as my web page says after like 2 years of waiting I couldn't wait any longer and settled on 2.0l Golf instead of the TDI... oh well, hopefully in 5 years or so when I'm in the 200,000km range I can trade it in then... maybe even for a 115hp stock....

(Wishing, hoping, praying

) Anyways, congrats DEZLBOY!

Fred

[This message has been edited by VW Derf (edited April 29, 1999).]

 

[mickey]

Fred without a TDI is a little like the Pope practicing Voodoo, isn't it? I picture the following conversation:

Fred's left shoulder: "Trade in the Jetta. Get a TDI."

Fred's right shoulder: "But you just got the Jetta. You can't trade already!"

Fred's left shoulder: "But think of the POWER! And the fuel savings!"

Right: "The depreciation would kill you! You'll never make it up with fuel savings!"

Left: "Drive the TDI for ever! Depreciation is irrelevant!"

Right: "But it would be wrong!"

Left: "Don't listen to him! You know you want it! DO IT! DO IT!"

I've had this same arguement with myself several times, and the little dude with the halo always looses. Give in to the Dark Side, Fred. You're one of us! It is your Destiny!

-mickey

 

[Sparky]

Poor Fred! He doesn't own a TDI and really wants one. Maybe, since all the TDI owners that have benefited from Fred's hard work with this website would donate a $5 contribution each, then Fred could trade up to the TDI of his choice. After all, Fred has been better to you than any of the Service Advisors at any of the dealerships, and you pay them quite a lot of money and only get half the truth!

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[This message has been edited by Sparky (edited April 30, 1999).]

 

[Tazzman]

I just got my 99 Jetta four weeks ago.
Its been great !
Great milage too
See milage....
What a joy to ride,
Question Right now Im letting the dealer use there oil an sin. Valvoline I think
Anybody know if this is good as the others?

 

[drayschap]

The info section at vanagon.com has some news on a potential VW SUV.

 

[VW Derf]

Hmmm... A donation fund to help me purchase the elusive to me Golf TDI...

I like the idea. However, I'd be the first to admit I couldn't take the money from you guys for something like that.

The best way to give back, if you wish is to help others with their questions, or if someone has some time. Perhaps update the Mini-Faq.... If you still wish to financially donate, I suppose I could always put that towards future upgrades to your forums. Anyways,

cheers,

Fred

[This message has been edited by VW Derf (edited May 02, 1999).]

 

[colucci]

Way to go Dezlboy! Soon the addiction will be irreversible...Boowahahaha!!!!!

I just hit 20k miles this weekend ripping through the two lane state Hwy.60 in WI. My only major complaint is that my cheek muscles get sore from smiling all the time.

Thanks to this site (esp. Clay) I learned about what mods to do to make my Jetta even better. With the purchase price and all my mods, I now have the original MSRP in the car. VW makes their cars comfortable for normal daily drivers. If you like to drive hard, some mods really help - chip (installed at 3k miles, $600), suspension ($800 installed), +1 wheels/tires ($500 used, $1000 new).

As far as quality goes, my rear seat belt no longer retracts (should be under warranty), my hood doesn't close easily, my sunroof makes noise in the winter cold and last but most concerning, my shift lever rattles in 2nd gear (I found a TSB and think it too will be covered under warranty).

That said, this is the best car I've ever had. Somedays I just wanna sit with a beer and look at it

The addiction is complete....

D'nardo

PS. I wrote VWOA and told them they ought to give Fred a cash incentive to buy a TDI. Maybe if others do as well, they might take a hint.

------------------
Smokin into the new millenium...
98 Jetta TDI mit Wetterauer chip

 

[Switca]

DEZLBOY:

Sporty is irrelevant.
Dirty is irrelevant.

Will it burn diesel? Will it have that evil pur?

 

[greentdi]

just passed the first week of owning my beautiful new green exterion/black interior gls. Other than a nightmarish experience with the dealer (i did get a good deal however, managed to get it under 'invoice'
despite the incredible rarity of the car) its been bliss!