zookeeper

I'm thinking about buying a economical vehicle for back and forth to work and around town trips. It'd be used and hopefully a diesel. Right now I'm leaning towards the VW Golf TDI - hopefully the 2 door model and want to hear from anyone who may have any experience with them. For that matter, if there's another model that folks are sold on. I like the idea of 45+ mpg and it not being a hybird. I think I'll let the hybirds be for a few more years. 45 mpg beats the 18 the Dodge is getting.

farmer dave

If you are looking for something cheap look at some of the old volvos or a VW rabbit. My friend had a couple of the rabbits and he got around 45 mpg but he said it was like running, real slow pickup.

Bud Light

I had a 2005 Passat TDI and put 50,000 miles on it in a year it was amazing. Though you might want to wait starting in 2007 you are going to see most of the car manufactorers have a diesel option in many cars in thier line up. 2007 or 08 will be the year of the diesel in this country.

rocketguy

I have a friend who runs a TDI golf. 200K miles - primarily highway. 45-50 mpg. The only problem she's had is the EGR soot issues. Not a sports car, but a decent driver.

zookeeper

I had a Golf when I was stationed in Germany and liked it a lot. For a diesel, it had good pick-up and was fun to drive. I like the 02 through 04 Golf now but they are few and far apart when I try to find one. I figure any diesel won't be a sports car but if it looks good, is comfortable to drive and isn't a dog, it may be worth it. Don't know about any other kinds and thought others may chime in on models, years to look for or stay away from, maintenance costs, etc... I've heard both good and bad about the Passat.

cheff

My budy just bought a Jetta TDI and he loves it so far. When my wife gets a new car I will be getting one of these.

derek840378

i've wanted to drop a 4banger cummins in a dakota for a while

Patrick Campbell

Sounds like you have the right idea. Get a pre-04 and get a 5spd.

The 04 is the new "Pump Deusse" motor that only takes $6/quart "special" dealer only oil.

We have a Jetta (heavier) and automatic and get about 40 MPG in the city.

mainer

tdiclub.com for any questions. I had a 91 turbo and that thing went like a rocket ended up selling it. I just picked up a 84 non turbo that is slower but still gets 50mpg. You cant kill a VW diesel as long as you change your oil.

COop

Baja

My wife has a 03 VW, TDI, 5sp, wagon. Loves it! It gets about 42 going 80 with the A/C on. We averaged that to a trip to Moab, Utah and back during the summer. I put in a upsolute chip which boosts the hp to 110 or so, and it makes a huge difference. It pulls like crazy, very good acceleration, handles well, can't say enough about it.

manganos

I've got a 2005 Jetta TDI. 5 speed and at 75 mph I avg. a tad over 47 mpg on the last tank. I'd buy another.

joefarmer

Um. I just killed a 1981 Rabbit with 166k miles. Blew a hole in the radiator the first time it got cold this winter. Replaced the radiator and as soon as it got to operating temp the engine locked up. Oil looked good, it turns out the coolant had been pressurized by a cracked block, cracked head or headgasket.

Having said that, I'd buy another and another. Although I'd rather have a turbo'ed model than NA.

brandon.

Hyspeed

I just gave my 1990 Jetta Diesel to my son in law for his daughter. It has 160K miles on it and I loaned it to my daughter 2 years ago who promptly blew the engine. I had another engine but when we tore it down we found that it needed to be rebuilt. I ordered $400 worth of parts.
The old engine was in pretty bad shape but still got 42mpg. The no 1 injector must have been loose because the seat in the head was gone and the precombustion chamber was loose enough to beat against the piston.
I told my SIL that he could have the car if he paid for the parts, I've been paying taxes and insurance on this car for the entire time it's not run.
Too bad too since the car lived in a garage all it's life and is in great shape.

In 1979 I bought a new Rabbit diesel off the transport truck at a dealer. They were hard to find back then. Drove it for 200k and then it started running bad and I dropped a gas engine in it's place. The diesel was in my neighbor's garage and he pulled the head to use on his car. Found that the exhaust port on #3 cylinder was plugged with soot...so that's what was wrong with it. I did have to replace the head gasket once as indicated by the overpressure in the cooling system.
That little Rabbit diesel got 48mpg town and 53mpg on highway at 70mph & A/C.

Good luck in finding a good diesel car, I think you'll like it when you pull up to the pump.

Hyspeed

ridofpwrstroke

I am leaving tomorrow to fly to seattle to pick up our new jetta tdi. My wifes 98 12 valve was awesome(wished I had it in my 02) because 40mpg is better than 20. I still have a twin turboed cummins.

Patrick Campbell

It is hard to offset the cost of fuel by buying another vehicle when you add in payments/fuel/maintenance/insurance of the new vehicle. Fuel is about 3K a year @ 25k a year.

The benefit is really kicking in most now that i have taken my truck 100% off the road, no insurance no maintenance no fuel. I don't have to fight the urge to drive it because it doesn't run

It's funny, I broke my ECM and my APPS in 1 night and taking it off the road is well paying for the parts replacement in just a few months just in insurance,gas.

Anyway... Enjoy the 06.