OK: time for your TDI best/worst features

[TDiSkater]

Worst
Agree lady screaming at me to make my call choice
Having to look at my tach before shutdown in an effort to not interrupt a regen
Multi step fueling (incl D2 and B11 combo)
Freakin Sirius cutouts constantly
All strange cold engine noises and stuttering
Fearing the dreaded hpfp failure hits my car
Limited upgrade options

Fun
Transmission with a personality. Albeit bipolar at times
Peepy pick up
Driving a cleaner car for environment
Uniqueness of car
This forum for learning

 

[ajkreider]

Likes

Torque
Handling
Wheels
Classy Interior
Seats are the best I've ever had

Could be betters

Pillars are big - poor visibility
Clutch takes some getting used to - at least 4 stalls
Wipers seem a bit cheap
No leather option

 

[DieselNerd]

maybe the cheaper plastics and other materials dont resonate as well. they might have even cut out some sound insulation?

My car is whisper quiet. Too quiet in fact. Can barely hear the engine once it's warmed up.

I'm a bass player (hobbyist, not a pro), so I tend to enjoy a thick bottom end. The stock sound system isn't horrible, but it really needs a sub.

 

[marc77777]

Your blessing sounds more like a curse. I love the music--not the voice/hands-free lady--that comes out of my speakers; along with the DSG/TDI combo. My favorite thing of all is that this is my first Jetta and I do not have anything to miss from previous models. Ignorance is bliss in both topics I suppose.

Well put...with the exception of the dsg thing.

 

[Jamus]

Well put...with the exception of the dsg thing.

Bah, your "Well put" was well put...with the exception of the "dsg thing".

I am assuming you have a manual and while I hear great things and have nothing negative to say about it, I love the DSG. I have driven a 2011 2.0--a dealer car when recieving work on my car--with the basic automatic transmission and I was entirely unimpressed in comparison; it was like every other automatic. When comparing the dealer car's performance to other (A) transmissions there are little differences, but the DSG is in a class of its own. This is my opinion.

You cannot go wrong with a manual, almost never. The DSG or Manual is a matter of preference but I must say that the DSG should always be a "pro" when compared to the standard (no pun intended) automatic. The opposite only being if your frugal and can't take the maintenance costs, but then why did you buy it .

My only "Con" is the customer service/dealership I am stuck with and the small side mirrors. I liked the bathroom sized mirrors affixed to my Titan doors but do not want to look like Dumbo if the same sized mirrors were on my car; at least my big mirrors didnt whistle .

 

[dbwill]

Best:
Getting to drive like I stole it, guilt free
Nifty all-windows-up/down features
Love VW manual trans, even with longer throw than my '79 Dasher had
MDI really teaching me about what burns and save fuel

Worst:
Large blind spots. had some scary merges where whole cars were invisible
Flimsy sounding hatch closing. license plate holder? plastic shield around locking pin?
Excessive wind noise/booming when back or front window is down but not both

 

[Minners]

in city driving i tend to use sport mode which typically shifts 2800-3200 rpm under light throttle. depending on speed limit, sport mode sometimes cruises around the 2800 mark. to drop it to what i find is the sweet spot i just sqeeze the throttle a bit to pick up a couple of hundred rpm and then back off to pick a higher gear, you can also do the same thing to drop a gear. it behaves more like a manual in sport mode as the engine braking is more pronounced.

I have been doing the same thing. Especially in stop and go traffic on the freeways.

 

[LordHz]

Pros
Considering the size/style/look of the car, it can move.
Interior fit/finish/look
DSG!
MPG!!
Bluetooth
Touch-screen radio with Sirius (I used to DJ techno/trance and agree with others, needs a sub. But since I am now >40 and my hearing is shot, maybe not. )

Cons
A/C is slow to cool down (I live in "Hot"tlanta and 5 minutes before it really starts to really chill)
Odd hesitations with DSG when cold
Slight knocking when cold
Drivers side mirror whistle with windows down, however in the south that doesn't happen often.
Drivers side seat "clunks", might be a loose slider or poor design. Dealer will review next time I'm in.
Lack of HID lights as an option.
Independent rear suspension. I will be looking into swapping the Audi A4 or VW Jetta GLI rear into mine at some point.
Auto On/Off headlights.

 

[Lexington]

2011 Jetta TDI LE:

Best:
1. Torque
2. Satellite radio
3. DSG
4. Armrest (That's right. It's out of the way. A full regular armrest will give me a shoulder and neck ache. I'd rather my arm hang naturally.)

Worst:
1. Climate controls. Can do lower. Can do upper. Can do lower and windshield. Can't do lower and upper together. Who though that was a good idea?
2: No adjustable lumbar support.

 

[TDiSkater]

+1 add to mine. Agree climate control. My wife was making fun of it's simplicity tonight (meaning lack of flexibility and feedback)

 

[DieselNerd]

My armrest works perfectly. Of course, I have my seat all the way back courtesy of my 36" inseam.

 

[Jamus]

My armrest works perfectly. Of course, I have my seat all the way back courtesy of my 36" inseam.

Amen ...

* 6'5'' and counting ... *

My pants may not cover my ankles but at least my arms are well rested

 

[mwayner69]

2011 Jetta TDI LE:
Worst:
1. Climate controls. Can do lower. Can do upper. Can do lower and windshield. Can't do lower and upper together. Who though that was a good idea?

You can do upper and lower together. There is a dot halfway between upper and lower, turn the knob to there. It just doesn't have a picture for it. Same thing with upper and defrost or if you want more defrost and lower, or more lower and defrost. (if that makes sense). They are simplistic, but my other 2 vws are the same way.

 

[JThiessen]

Amen ...

* 6'5'' and counting ... *

My pants may not cover my ankles but at least my arms are well rested

Ditto this! It was the ONLY "econo" car I could fit into. Fortunately, I really like the car.

Pros:
MPG, Styling is good enough, General Comfort. The DSG is a really good tranny - nice shifts, sport option, manual shifting option...

Cons:
The owners manual is really kinda crappy. Remember - this is coming from someone completely new to VW's. Wind noise with window open. Lack of options (but that did save me a little money). Rear seats dont fold flat.

 

[SoTxBill]

best..
dsg
mpg
bluetooth
trunk
space
handling
comfort

worst..
noise at 70mph
knob on sun roof
paint colors are grey, silver, grey silver, silver grey, green grey, grey green, black grey, grey black, flat grey, gloss grey, and grey grey. along with the required white and red.
noise at 70 mph

for those of us who will pay 28k or more, we want a quiet jetta or passat tdi...

 

[BarnyardsTDI]

DieselNerd,

I am a fellow bass player and couldnt agree with you more!

 

[DieselNerd]

I'm 6'5" as well. Plenty of room for me.

Barnyards....be careful trying to fit your cab in the back seat. My hand slipped and I ended up with a nice dent in the rear quarter panel. Thank goodness for paintless dent repair!

I guess if I could figure out a way to power my amp, I could put my 410 cab in the back seat, roll down the window, stick the bass neck out, and play while I drive. 500 watts of pure G&L goodness slamming me in the back of the head would be fun.

My rig fits in the Jetta quite nicely. Cabs in the back seat. Basses and gig bag in the trunk.

 

[JSWTDI09]

Just a couple of things that I feel were missed:

Best:

-Availability of non North American parts like Blind spot (aspherical) mirrors, Under seat drawers, Euro headlight switches, etc.
-Availability of Sportwagen version
-Availability of VCDS to change lots of default behaviors


Worst:

-Euro switch not standard
-Fragility of HPFP

Reiteration of things already mentioned:

-Torque & mileage combination.
-Handling
-Interior room (I'm 6'8" and I can't drive a LOT of cars comfortably)

Have Fun!

Don

 

[Highline Driver]

Worst
Having to look at my tach before shutdown in an effort to not interrupt a regen
Multi step fueling (incl D2 and B11 combo)
Freakin Sirius cutouts constantly

Hi TDiSkater,

I am new to VW and diesels. Can you tell me what a regen is and why one should be on the lookout for it?

Also what is Multi step fueling?

And finally, the Sirius thing is happening to me too. I am going to drive with a stopwatch and time it. Its like it skips every 30 seconds or so. I don't know if it is Sirius or the radio. If its the radio hopefully there will be a firmware update for it.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[oxford_guy]

Hi TDiSkater,
I am new to VW and diesels. Can you tell me what a regen is and why one should be on the lookout for it?
Also what is Multi step fueling?
And finally, the Sirius thing is happening to me too. I am going to drive with a stopwatch and time it. Its like it skips every 30 seconds or so. I don't know if it is Sirius or the radio. If its the radio hopefully there will be a firmware update for it.
Cheers,
Mike

Because manufacturers like Bosch say diesel engines should have fuel with a maximum wear scar of 460, many people use biodiesel blends. Biodiesel has better lubricity (lower wear scar) than plain ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel, or D2). Since the current TDI engines used by VWs in the USA (CR engines) can't have more than 5% biodiesel (total percentage in the fuel tank), and many stations offer only higher percentage fuel (like B11 and B20), some people will fill up their tank from two different pumps in order to achieve 5% or less biodiesel level in their tank. Too high a percentage of biodiesel causes the engine oil to become too diluted. And, only 1-2% biodiesel is necessary to provide much better lubricity than the US fuel standard for D2, which is 520.

So, that's the explanation for multi-step fueling. Another way to deal with this, a simpler one, is to add one quart of B100 to a tank of D2.

The regen cycle purges the DPF (diesel particulate filter) of particulate buildup by burning it off. I suggest reading up on it.

 

[rockerdan]

Because manufacturers like Bosch say diesel engines should have fuel with a maximum wear scar of 460, many people use biodiesel blends. Biodiesel has better lubricity (lower wear scar) than plain ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel, or D2). Since the current TDI engines used by VWs in the USA (CR engines) can't have more than 5% biodiesel (total percentage in the fuel tank), and many stations offer only higher percentage fuel (like B11 and B20), some people will fill up their tank from two different pumps in order to achieve 5% or less biodiesel level in their tank. Too high a percentage of biodiesel causes the engine oil to become too diluted. And, only 1-2% biodiesel is necessary to provide much better lubricity than the US fuel standard for D2, which is 520.

So, that's the explanation for multi-step fueling. Another way to deal with this, a simpler one, is to add one quart of B100 to a tank of D2.

and for those areas(like where i live) that biodiesel is not sold(i wish) many will use a additive to help reduce the wear scar to help the HFPF live a long life.

Power service is found at walmart, 4 oz or so per tank and your all set. Many others additives out there too.

Dan

 

[oxford_guy]

Power service is found at walmart, 4 oz or so per tank and your all set. Many others additives out there too.

None of those are sanctioned by VW, and the closest thing we have to test results (2007 Spicer report) found that biodiesel is the most effective lubricity enhancer.

I think ordering B100, or getting it in bulk makes better sense. Just add some biocide, if the fuel doesn't already have it, and store it in a dark and cool place.

 

[rockerdan]

None of those are sanctioned by VW, and the closest thing we have to test results (2007 Spicer report) found that biodiesel is the most effective lubricity enhancer.

I think ordering B100, or getting it in bulk makes better sense. Just add some biocide, if the fuel doesn't already have it, and store it in a dark and cool place.

this sounds like it could cost alot?....never even heard of ordering b100 from anywhere.....can fuel be shipped?

i have read countless numbers of very happy power service users, and other additive users. Seems to me alot simpler to stop at walmart for this. I have read the "spicer report" many times in the past year....lots have changed with PS since 07. While I applaud the report i would like to see an updated report. No doubt the Bio is a great way to lubricate...if they sold it in NYS id be running it!

another thing is i have yet to see any HPFP failures in my region(western NY state) and my dads 09 is going strong so far. He fuels up at our local truck stop which has a huge turnover of fuel and I have seen their huge tank of additive that gets mixed in.... the power service is more for my peace of mind i think.

if you know of b100 shippers please let me know

thanks
Dan

 

[JSWTDI09]

if you know of b100 shippers please let me know

thanks
Dan

Here's one: http://hyperfuels.com/

There are probably others too.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[Lexington]

You can do upper and lower together. There is a dot halfway between upper and lower, turn the knob to there. It just doesn't have a picture for it. Same thing with upper and defrost or if you want more defrost and lower, or more lower and defrost. (if that makes sense). They are simplistic, but my other 2 vws are the same way.

Thanks. I took the images literally. The "dot" locations seem to work.

 

[TDI_Timmy]

Best:
first, I agree with all best features that have been mentioned.
Windshield wipers - when going at 35 or so and you switch from intermittent to always on with the wipers and then come to a stop it will automatically go back to intermittent.
Electro-mechanical steering

Worst:
Voice command lady COMMANDING me.
No full MFD


And just a radio comment - While I think the stereo is a good start I think the stereo could also use a bit more mids and lows. It sounds a bit bright to me and I can't quite get it dialed to where I want it to be. I am a classical musician and not looking for stomping bass but a more robust mid to low end to give it a slightly darker and more robust sound.

 

[JThiessen]

Just got back from a 400 mile overnight trip over the mountains and back. First time in 80 deg weather too. I have to say, the interior carries quite a bit of heat. Normally on a drive over there, I dont have to run AC at all unless its 90+ - definitley needed it this time. Even the normally frigid wife complained about being too hot (and no, I didn't mean frigid that way!).

Did like the 48.1 mpg......!

Handled decent in the turns. Decent power, although passing on a 2-lane does require a little more forethought than I am accustomed to.

General rant on Sirius raidios in factory cars....why dont they have a "replay" button like all the dedicated Sirius radios do????

 

[Surrylic]

Best:
Fun to drive
Wipers slowing down while stopped, neat things
Comfy for longer trips
Being able to blow people's minds when I tell them it's a diesel *after* they take a ride in it hah

Worst:
The number of engine/trans etc issues I and others have had with them. Two big things for me, so far unresolved.
My pants and belt leave stains on the cornsilk seats. Jeans dye comes out with scrubbing, haven't figured out how to get my leather belts black dye out of the seat yet :/
I live in a country area with a 55 mile drive to work, this jetta is amazing for this... Except for the bugs. With having to stop for fuel less often than my last car the bugs get scrubbed off less often (not really a con haha)

Side notes: being a music lover I'd like a nicer set of speakers/amp. I've noticed though that my chicks 2011 sounds better, and she doesn't have the touchscreen stereo like I do. Maybe something there?
The Sirius radio never cuts out on me like you guys mentioned, may be your areas signal or something with your stereo itself.

 

[KHill215]

My pants and belt leave stains on the cornsilk seats. Jeans dye comes out with scrubbing, haven't figured out how to get my leather belts black dye out of the seat yet :/

Meguires Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner. Works wonders. Originally found out about this when I had my MB with MB-Tex. I had jean stains that wouldn't come out and this is what was recommended. Works wonders on the Jetta too!.

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-M3916-Heavy-Vinyl-Cleaner/dp/B0000AY3SX

 

[Surrylic]

Meguires Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner. Works wonders. Originally found out about this when I had my MB with MB-Tex. I had jean stains that wouldn't come out and this is what was recommended. Works wonders on the Jetta too!.

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-M3916-Heavy-Vinyl-Cleaner/dp/B0000AY3SX

Thanks! I'm checking this out asap