Why do You Still Have Your MK4 TDI?

[aztecducky]

Where is that? the NCS always feels like it has more in common with a Kia Forte than any other Volkswagen product.

I can tell you that the sunvisors and the vanity lights are the same as a mk4!
There are other parts in common too, but not that many.

 

[bart_dood]

I got an old bug Tdi for several reasons..

• It's a good manual car to teach my son stick shift
• Although I've had to fix a lot of things on it since it's been sat for so many years, each thing is much simpler and easier than a modern car to repair
• I don't want a car payment for a daily driver, I'd rather invest my money than watch it evaporate to keep up with the joneses
• I can go the salvage yard for some spare parts or eBay
• It should get good fuel economy
• It should last a long time
• I'm a "car guy" but modern cars are awful, ugly, dull, not great engineering anymore but packed full of tech, very difficult to fix and expensive. Just look how they depreciate in value now
• All I want is cruise control and heated seats, I don't need tech
• I had an old 1985 300D Benz and it was a tank, so solid and well engineered. However AC is a no go and fuel economy was only around 29mpg
• The bug is pretty cheaply made and the interiors fall apart, which is the biggest negative of this car

 

[BobnOH]

The bug is pretty cheaply made and the interiors fall apart, which is the biggest negative of this car

Only fault with my 2003 bug, everything else, especially the road feel is superior.
Biggest problem, they're getting old!

 

[MattRabbit]

I sold my mk4 almost 6 years ago, and I have to say I really miss it. The mk7 is a nice place to be, and it runs and drives extremely well, but there was just something about the mk4 that was so much fun. Maybe it's the simplicity or 90's styling. Who knows? If I had kept it, it would have around 470K miles on it by now.

I will say this, the mk4 wasn't nearly as big a pain with water ingress as the mk7. That thing was a pain for a little while until I figured it all out.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

My son called me two days ago, brake pedal went to the floor on his '02 Golf. Fluid reservoir empty. He limped it to a mechanic he knows, although not our first choice, to see what's wrong. We had a discussion about how to proceed, depending on what's wrong. Brake line? Booster? failed front caliper (rears are new)? If it's anything serious we'll pony up for the 120 mile tow to our guru. But at 510K with disappearing rockers, one wonders when to stop.

However, he prefers driving the MKIV to his Sportwagen. And it gets much better FE. It's hard to say good bye to these cars.

 

[csstevej]

Triple A Plus gives up to 100 miles in towing and usually the rest can be submitted to your insurance.
Had my sons 2000 golf towed back home when the valet at the Marriott smoked his clutch with my wife there for a school event. ( couldn’t park it yourself, had to use valet in Philadelphia).
That was a 115 mile tow.

 

[BobnOH]

Should not need an expert to repair brakes, just a good, honest wrencher. Good Luck!

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Triple A Plus gives up to 100 miles in towing and usually the rest can be submitted to your insurance.
Had my sons 2000 golf towed back home when the valet at the Marriott smoked his clutch with my wife there for a school event. ( couldn’t park it yourself, had to use valet in Philadelphia).
That was a 115 mile tow.

I was just allowed back into AAA Plus. Got kicked out a few years ago for too many tows from Western MA to the Boston area when both my sons and their TDIs were living out there. It included towing my son's first Golf back after he took a trip off road in an ice storm.

Another reason I like MKIVs: He walked away from that accident.

 

[irvingj]

Had a very disturbing dream early this AM.... was traveling in a strange area, coming back from a restaurant and couldn't find my beloved MKIV Wagon.... Gone! Then found a bunch of MKIV bodies, stripped... no sign of mine anywhere, however. Woke up with a start!

I think this qualifies as a genuine nightmare....

 

[PakProtector]

Had a very disturbing dream early this AM.... was traveling in a strange area, coming back from a restaurant and couldn't find my beloved MKIV Wagon.... Gone! Then found a bunch of MKIV bodies, stripped... no sign of mine anywhere, however. Woke up with a start!

I think this qualifies as a genuine nightmare....

That is a 'shot of burbon old enough to vote'-level nightmare.

Glad you woke up.

The Super , Joe Pesci

Douglas