I drive a 2000 VW Jetta TDI. I bought it used 1.5 yr ago with 78k miles. I didn't know at the time but the injection pump was starting to go. I now have 122k miles running Schaeffers diesel treat and I am still on that same pump, but it is getting louder so its on its last leg. Worst tank has been 39.3 and best has been 49.1 mpg. I drive down in south Texas and drive pretty hard/fast. It is a 5speed manual. I hate the cup holders, air vents break all the time, always have a CEL for glow plugs and I have a lot of plastic interior rattles. I didn't buy it new, so I don't know how the previous owners maintained it. I can tell a female drove it because on top of the steering wheel you can see where her rings cut the leather and you can see all the finger nail scratches inside the door handle. Only mods are I turned off the EGR with a Vag-com, 2-micron Cat fuel filter, italian leather shifter and installed a Mann-Pro-Vent CCV filter. I need ball joints, brakes, timing belt, and an injection pump which will be $1400 doing the work myself and getting a used injection pump. All in all its been a good reliable car, and I wouldn't trade my girlfriend for her '08 Honda Civic.

Also, one thing to note is that the 2000 VW TDI's have the upgraded VR6 clutch. The 2002 are supposed to have less wiring issues, and have better cup holders.

 

Actually I spend $22 at Wal-Mart for 5-quarts of Mobil 1 every 8k for oil changes, the rest of the change (at a dealer) is $12. Plus my car cost $6200 a year ago and less $285 for BF Goodrich tires 8 months ago, in 28,000 miles of driving those have been the only costs associated. Highway mpg has been as high as 36 mpg, typically 33 - 35 on trips over 1-hour. It's still on it's original ball-joints & rear brake rotors, and according to service records the first owner provided, It has had one set of front rotors, 2 sets of pads, and a radiator & water pump with the T-belt at 105k. Nothing inside or outside squeaks, rattles, etc at 163.5k miles.

For me, it's made the most cost-per-mile sense, I looked at Jetta TDi's and decided I wanted something just a bit larger. Get what you like - this is America, if you have the option try to see how the previous owner kept it up - it' makes a big differance.

 

Just so it's clear, I'm as much of a diesel fan as any out there. I'm just leery (at best) of what the prices will do in the next two years with diesel fuel. Also - and please note this well - I'm probably one of the most passionate European car fans to ever own a Cummins diesel truck. I have owned 1 Saab 900 turbo, 1 Volvo 850 turbo, and two BMW 325i's. I still really miss the BMW's. But someone I once knew said it well regarding European cars - "It's going to break down, it's a question of when, not if. And when it brakes down - it's going to cost real money to get it back sorted out again."

Due to my current job & life situation, while I would really enjoy owning another European car, I can't make financial sense of it right now. When I do, it will be one that I really want to own, not one that makes practical sense.

 

2 years ago I found mine at an insurance auction with 88K miles.


A few weeks later I was driving it daily, yesterday I turned 115K.


My fuel cost went from $400 a month when diesel was $3.50 to $125 a month with diesel at $4.00, the savings have paid for the car.

Like most, the little things are falling apart but it starts every day and the mpg is consistant.

Someone once asked me if I liked driving it. My answer? "even if I did not, at 48mpg, I would learn to like it."

 

Nice work D1EZEL - practically looks like a new car.

If you ever look to sell that Passat - look up Alarm Detection Systems in Chicago, I think they have about 10 of that model, they prefer wagons, but they'll buy sedans too..

 

When I got the jetta the accord was my second choice the price between the too wasn't much at all. You can set the cruise and get a easy 42 mpg without trying!! The one thing I wont do is buy anything used.

 

Very true! If I was looking at a new one - which I did in 2003, and decided to return to graduate school instead, I would have considered a Jetta TDi instead. Good luck with yours...

 

We are a family of three TDI's,mine is a 2000 purchased with 118000,now has 219000,with are programed ECM it gets 40-43 with my lead foot.My sons 2002 stock and he drives like Grandma knocks down 50-53 .car was totaled by insurance from a winter slide into some trees,we bought it back had it redone with a salvage title ,now has 120000 and almost as good as new and both were ebay purchases from Texas.Dear Wife has an 04 Passat,35-37 mpg consistent,requires 505.1 motor oil for the cam actuated injectors which no off the shelf American oils meet the requirement,so I get Castrol from the dealer for it.She's wanting another Caddy now.
The Jetta's for a commuter are hard to beat with a stick,the auto's are a little quirky and cost 3-4 mpg. The only real sore spot for me are the door lock mechanisms,$120 each and fragile.
But I'd buy another in a second .

 

Have you looked at Mobil 1 0W40? I have been using it for several years now in my 2003 Jetta TDI and a friend uses it in his 2005 Gulf TDI.

 

Go to TDIClub.com and search "stupid door lock fix". I did this it cost me $10 and works like a charm.

 

03 TDI Jetta 46-49 mpg. 147k 1 timing belt, 1 alternator, 2 headlights, 1 fan belt a bunch of oil and filter changes, orginal brakes and clutch, I bought 1 set of tires and ready for another set.

Commute 100 miles a day for work 80 mph to work 10 mph home. Not the most masculine car I ever drove but it's the cheapest.

 

I filled up tonight 553.8 miles 11.3 gallons 49.00 mpg. Diesel was $4.91 per gallon.

 

Just a FYI... Last two tanks on the Jetta were 49.3MPG and 52.6MPG... AC has been running hard this tank (It hot down here!) we will see how much it affects... I imagine 2-3MPG

 

My daughter fishes the Womens Bassmaster Tour and just got back from Alabama. She and a friend drove with the car loaded as full as you could load one and the trip and driving around Gadsden all week netted 1600 plus miles and they used 32 gallons of diesel. The mpg came out to 50.9 mpg and that compared to around 60 plus gallons of gas they would have used if they had taken the Chrysler her friend owned.

The only problem I have had so far is a wheel bearing that was going out last week and I changed it out the day before they left.

 

I bought a 2001 Beetle TDI on eBay from a Dallas dealer. It had 129K when I bought it a year ago and now has 154K with no problem whatsoever. I am planning to get the timing belt at 160K. My co-worker laughed at me when I went to work and saw me driving a Beetle from a CTD. I drive 85 miles round trip on my work commute and I get right at 50 MPG. The higher the #2 gets, the more I save on fuel and the sooner the payback.