OT: used vw tdi,'s
 

Been contemplating getting an 8-10 yr old tdi to use to commute to my new job. It looks like I'll be driving 30,000km per year. Are people really paying. $4000.for a 2002-04 jetta with over 300,000km? I'm looking for stick and leather interior. Peter

Yes, the price of the used TDIs keeps going up and up. Don't get leather but instead, cloth with heat. I had TDIs since '04. At around 250 000km the entire suspension needs to be changed. They use only about half as much fuel as a 4cyl gas engine....at 125km/h, so they are a real money saver. Get one that had moat of the suspension replaced, and the timing belt/water pump has been changed recently. At 300 000km the original clutch can be near the end. If you have any TDI questions, just ask and I'll try to answer them.

Thanks Imre,

I currently have a '02 Jetta 1.8T with 226,000km and the odo seems to be climbing daily. Currently I am getting 7.85L/100km on my commute.

With my 30,000km yearly commute, I estimate I would save about $1100 or so per year in fuel. I currently projecting a $3,100 bill in premium to get to work with the 1.8T

My 1.8T has the APR chip, and a neuspeed rear swaybar, 17" tires with 225/45r17 allseasons, and winters on 15" rims.


Did you go with OEM suspension or Monroe type stuff?

Peter

I think the replacement joints were all trw or something simmilar in quality. We have 2 TDI. Up until June they were both mkIVs. In June I sold the '00 with 550 000km and bought an '06 TDI with 200k for the wife. My DD is a '99.5 TDI with 550k kms but I only had that car for less than 2 years. The previous owner replaced most of the suspension and even the engine but the replacement engine had a cracked exhaust valve so I got it for $900. I can't be happier with our TDIs.....the more you drive it the less problems they have. However sice you have a 1.8t, and in good running condition and low kms. I would keep it if I were you. My father has an '02 1.8t with 425 000km and the engine vas never openned, the turbo is still original too. His is chipped too but thats it, rest is stock. Used to be my neighbour's car and then he sold it to me when it was time to buy a new car. So....keep the 1.8t as 30k/year is not worth the savings to deal with a TDI. Diesels don't like cold weather

The older 1.9 Tdi's is the one to find - they are almost bullet proof. The new ones ,'11 - clean diesel - are problimatic right now. Alot of sensors have been added as well as a flap type exhaust which constantly seizes up. Talk to a VW tech - not the service advisor or manager - the techie will tell you just how reliable the new Tdi's are...

Also, the older ones 99.5 - '03 with the AHL engine are the most fuel efficient of them all too. 5.5L at 125km/h or 4.5L at 100km/h.

I was originally looking for 10yr old jetta diesel around the $10k mark with reasonable mileage (Less than 160k), and I could not justify the cost of the car vs the savings in gas. Bought a 944 instead (with less than 90k). Saved $5k on the price of the car, which more than makes up the fuel savings I would have seen over the time I expect to use the car. I put on 45k/yr all highway commuting to work. Wala I now drive a Porsche every day, and when used up, I can throw the 44 away, and still be ahead of the game. At least thats how the math works out for me, and yes I ran the math lots of different ways. (I can also do lots of my own maint)

Yeah at this point it looks like I'll be keeping the jetta 1.8T. And hope I can get another 100,000+km out of her.

Oh man reconsider

I bought an 03 TDI last NOV. 189 xxx, stick, leather, every option except traction control. Paid $5500. It is honestly the love of my life, rides nice, amazing on fuel, i never seem to remember the last time i filled up, seriously. A guy at my work bought one not too long ago with 524 xxxkms. What other car is worth anything at that amount of kms other then the TDI. Go with a 1999.5-2003 TDI

I don't think traction control was available on the Mk IVs. My '00 was fully loaded too and a blank plug where the traction control button is on the other engine models.

some of them came with it.

I think 98-02 MK4 Turbo Models (1.8T & TDI) they had ASR as Standard which is a Previous Version of ESP. My 2000 1.8T had ASR and i think TDI also must have ASR as its Turbo too but the 2.0L did not has ASR as Standard (Optional)

ESP was introduced in 2003

how are the auto trannys on those cars? Or should you get manual?

pretty sure theres solinoids that are the weak part of the auto tranny's

manuals work great and are roughly 150kms more per tank of fuel

Stay the HELL away from the '99.5 - '03 automatic TDI. Their transmissions will fail and the only replacement is a brand new one from VW. It's not a question of if but when they will fail. Go with the manual.