Joined the TDI club

[lt1fire]

Well Andrea did at least.

It was supposed to be my turn for the new vehicle but someone decided to graciously give me her Mazda and butt in line. (gotta love the wives )

She's always wanted a Jetta but since gas VW's are normally as reliable as a swiss clock (that was made by a chinese factory and then taken apart in Mongolia and put back together in Russia, and then sold in Mexico with a little of colored swiss flag on it) I've always used the veto power........ buuuutttt a guy at my work was selling his mothers TDI 05 that was in great condition for a steal and with the diesel I can overlook some of their gremlins.

So we got it.... only one known problem with the TDI's that year and luckily the solution is a new cam made by a german company that gives it better mpg and 40 fl/lbs over stock.... so in my eyes it isn't a huge thing and an upgrade i'll be looking to do in the next year or so. I had it checked out for the defect by a TDI mechanic and there isn't any showing of it as of yet anyway.

So here are the pics.... 5spd with just about every option that year

 

[Mtbcoach]

We have loved both of the VW TDi's we've owned, hope you guys enjoy it as much as we have ours...

 

[Burt88]

That car will make a trip out to Colorado cheap. Say... first week of May? Haha

 

[FJinTegaCay]

I support your gas VW comment based on my experience with Laura's Passat. It had so many issues that I sold it to CarMax rather than sell it myself.

Best wishes with the TDI. Looks great and loaded to boot!

 

[CruizerHound]

I like the color. How does it sound?

 

[lt1fire]

like a very well tuned small diesel sewing machine...... Reminds me of the diesel Vauxhall I used to drive overseas.

the Chinese Russian thing is just something my old auto shop teacher used to say. I've spent many a day helping tune friends golfs back home. I do like VW styling, I spent a while searching for a 03 golf tdi since those are the most rock solid diesel years. Couldn't find one that was a 5 speed and for a good price though.

oh year that was the other thing, Andrea wanted an auto but I made sure it was a manual. VW autos are very expensive to replace and in the mileage range we saw it would lost likely be an upcoming expense.

 

[JohnVee]

VW autos are very expensive to replace

Yeah they are.

--john

 

[lt1fire]

will post her mpg numbers when we get them.

Johnny, Joe, Jerry what are you guys getting in your different years

 

[Mtbcoach]

When I drive our '12 Golf 6sp manual TDi, I have a hard time getting UNDER 40 mpg. I've got to drive really aggressively to get below that. My best was 50.4 mpg from Cary to Asheville and back, Regina topped me getting 54.5 over the same trip, admitted later to driving AT the posted speed limit while I set the cruise at +5-7 mph over posted limits. Going in for the 30k service Mon, 0 issues to date...

 

[JohnVee]

Our '02 Jetta AT got a high of 49 a number of times. In town varied 29-37 depending on how dirty the whatchyamacallit thing that fills with carbon and has to be removed and tanked was. Don't let VW work on it, but I'm sure you knew that. We liked it for the most part. Lots of room for its size and handled well. The cup holder over the stereo was a bad idea that resulted in more than one warranty replacement.

--john

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Welcome to the VW cult

Our black 03 MKIV is a 1.8T MT, and we gets 33mpg highway with it. It's got some good power though, damn.

Our old 1.6 N/A MT MKII got ~40mpg city and ~35mpg highway. The IP had been replaced and I was convinced that it was not timed properly, but it got wrecked before I could fix it.

Jim C told me this summer that he used to get 50 or so MPG out of his turbo 1.6 that he tuned himself.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

Nice TDi

Looks real clean for the age & welcome to the VW / Audi club.

Sent from my iPad using IH8MUD

 

[little_joe]

I'm at 37mpg overall for the 28k mi I've had mine, but it is DSG (auto). Problem I have is the damn thing is so fun to drive due to its torque, it's hard to go slow or easy on the throttle. My best tank was 45.5mpg driving from RDU to Cincinnati. I do use an additive every tank - Northern Tool has Stanadyne Lubricity additive which I use since the CR's seem to have a fragile HPFP, but that is no problem on yours.

 

[lt1fire]

I'm at 37mpg overall for the 28k mi I've had mine, but it is DSG (auto). Problem I have is the damn thing is so fun to drive due to its torque, it's hard to go slow or easy on the throttle. My best tank was 45.5mpg driving from RDU to Cincinnati. I do use an additive every tank - Northern Tool has Stanadyne Lubricity additive which I use since the CR's seem to have a fragile HPFP, but that is no problem on yours.

Funny you mention the HPFP Joe, a friend back home just had his fail 8k in total damages but got it all done under warranty, luckily.

The 1 real problem with the PD engines is premature cam wear.... same thing that happened to Jason's VW toureg.

Pretty easy to check for on the 1.9 though and like I said the fix is an upgraded cam that gives it quite a boost in TQ numbers at the same time.


first tank is 38.67 MPG...... not as good as I had hoped but i'm going to chalk that up to Andrea's lead foot, the cold weather and her short commute so the TDI never really gets a chance to warm up right like diesels do. Maybe a block heater is in order.

 

[little_joe]

Block the grill/radiator - foam, cardboard, whatever. It'll help with mpg and cabin temp. Yeah VW is covering the HPFP's even out of warranty, but I am sure that will end at some point.