4x4

I am very interested in these little diesels.
Anyone have info on: personal experience, bombing, reliability, ect...
Also are they mechanical or electronic?
Any advice appreciated.

4x4

(To moderators: I just picked a general diesel discussion, does that matter?)

wannadiesel

Oh, no! We aren't going to have to add a VW forum, are we? Then we'll need a Volvo forum and an M-B forum, too. > Oh wait, we could lump the M-B's in with the Dodges!

4x4

Calm down :-[. It's just that there are three different "General Diesels" .

4x4

4x4

So??

Mostwanted

I am interested too. I talked to the owner of one at the pump yesterday. I think it was less than a year old. He said he got close to 55 mpg out of that thing . Very impressive. The styling was nice, being a Jeta. Plus it was a 5 speed. Said he gave $20G for it.

wannadiesel

If you're talking the old non-turbo ones, they are mechanical, the new TDI ones are electronic. Reliability on both is alleged to be excellent. There are boxes for the bombing TDI, the older ones use a Bosch rotary pump similar to the 1st gen Cummins, which can be tweaked with a careful eye on the pyro gauge.

dodgeram

I had a 96 jetta turbo diesel with the old mechanical 1.9 liter ...........it was nice, but kind of lacking in power got about 40 mpg

my mom bought one of the "new" TDI 1.9liter turbo diesels ...........it's electronic like our 24 valves

makes awsome power (150 lb/ft @ 1800 doesn't sound like much, but in a little car it's great) and gets 55mpg .........I wouldn't even consider the old style mechanical if I had a chance for a newer one

as for reliability it just turned 230,000 km (143,000 miles) ......... and it still runs like the day it was new ...........my mom was never sorry she bought that one

as for bombing it can be done .........one guy on the tdi forums had close to 300hp with drugs out of his tdi but he kept tearing transaxles out left and right

4x4

Could you get an old mechanical and put a new TDI's turbo on it?
Thanks for all the answer.

4x4

dodgeram

as far I know the my mom's tdi has the same turbo as my 96 had ..........

the big difference is the electronic controls and the new direct injection system .........

AlpineRAM

Well I may throw in some cents.

The 1.9 VW TDI engine came in these flavours:

1,9, Standard turbo, mechanical injection(distributor pump) non intercooled.

Then the same thing intercooled

Then +variable geometry charger

Then electronically controlled with VG charger

Now- pumpjet direct inj. VG, fully electronical, 130 hp.

Over here they came out with a new 2l TDI that is a completely new engine (Better block, better tranny flange etc)

I do not know what models are imported on your side of the pond, but I'd wait to get the 2l. Much more torque over a wider powerband than the 1,9

AlpineRAM

dodgeram

canada and the us get one tdi flavour ............the orginal 90hp 1.9L intercooled unit ..............we don't get all the cool ones over here

AlpineRAM

And you don't have the 180hp 2,5l V6 TDI, no 275 hp 4,0 V8 TDI and no 313hp 5,0 V10 TDI
Tsk Tsk... over here they tell us that these buggers were made for the US market.
There are some really silent limousines on the market that will get good mileage (around 10-11 l/100km) and will take less than 7 secs for 0-100 km/hr. Stock.

AlpineRAM

spots

I have a '96 Passat TDI and I can tell you 50 mpg is the norm. 200k on it now and still running well. www.tdiclub.com has tons of info. Also I believe Liteman on this board is up on the VW's. PM him. I am waiting for this fall and gonna get a new Passat TDI (supposed to be here this fall in North America) Got 3 offers on the old '96 from neigbours and friends.

Lightman

I have a 2002 Jetta TDI (for sale actually) that has been a tremendous car. 50mpg is the norm, and from what I can tell, and from the oil analysis reports show, 300k shouldn't be a prob for this little thing. The power is surprising, and especially after a few mods. I still haven't figured out why you guys prefer the term 'bombed', it doesn't make much sense to me. Mine has an Oilguard oil bypass filter, wetterauer chiptuning (from 90 to 120hp, and 155 to 195tq), EGR/CCV mods, Dieselgeek larger oil cooler and short shift kit,etc, etcetc. I highly recommend getting a TDI, and if I didn't need to make room for my new CUMMINS in a month or so I'd certainly keep it. In my case I have to get rid of one vehicle, the VW or MB. I love the Jetta but lets not be crazy

They are electronically controlled, and I highly recommend an A4 TDI, which is the newest body/config, which started I believe in 99 or 2000, not sure. Overall very very reliable, with a few small known issues, such as bad MAF sensors and window switches.

AlpineRAM

Well, if any one of you needs chips or stuff for the VW I could help out. We have more than 50% of the sold VWs configured as TDI.

The term bombed derives from Better Off Modified Baby.


AlpineRAM