new used DD, TDI beetle

[skyking]

traded my well worn toyota for a TDI yesterday. 5 speed GLS with sunroof. Obligatory crappy cellphone picture:

First manual transmission in the family in 7 years or so.

 

[orenero]

traded my well worn toyota for a TDI yesterday. 5 speed GLS with sunroof. Obligatory crappy cellphone picture:

First manual transmission in the family in 7 years or so.

They are amazing cars!! If you need a good resource my recommendation is to not go to the VW and dealer find a good mechanic and check out tdiclub.com as its the #1 resource for TDI's.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=130044

The thread for mechanics by state recommendations.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Tint those windows!

 

[skyking]

Tint those windows!

hadn't thought of doing that.

 

[thedarkwolf]

What year?

I've had my 04 jetta wagon TDI auto since around Nov and have been pretty happy with it. I don't drive it the way it needs to be driven for mileage but have averaged 30ish mpg so far. That is still 6mpg better than anything else I've owned for the same kind of driving. Those few 40mpg tanks were nice though.

 

[skyking]

It is an 03, last year with the ALH engine.

 

[T2urtle]

Which motor was better? I have egr coolers for both motors if u need them. They both were sonic cleaned and hot tanked. I got them covered in junk and got it cleaned out 99%. But they shop never came back for them.

I love the beetle but I hate replacing headlights on them. That release tab breaks often.

 

[thedarkwolf]

ALH
The Pump Duse engine are known to eat cams. Luckily the one I bought had just had it's cam replaced. I think the ALH get a hair better mileage too.

 

[ViviTheMage]

ALH is known to get better mileage too!

 

[skyking]

So far I have not driven it much, the wife has claimed it for now
I do have plans <evil laugh>
Pretty much anything you do to turn these up will kill the stock clutch, so I wait patiently for the clutch to give out.
New nozzles, bigger turbo, and finally a tune if needed.

 

[skyking]

Tint those windows!

Getting tinted as I type. Thank you starbucks wifi.

 

[mmntech]

I like the new, new Beetle. Though they're a bit pricey for what they are. TDI is VW's best engine IMO.

 

[skyking]

got a tank through it, 47.8 MPG. It was a mix of wife's commute and a road trip at 65~70.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Just makes me wish mine was a 5 speed manual that much more.

 

[skyking]

I've been driving it this week, and forgot what a pain in the ass a clutch can be in certain circumstances.
I go from 500' elevation to 5000', with a ton of 25 MPH hairpins. The diesel is all torque, but I still end up rowing 3-4 about a bazillion times.
I could drink coffee on that stretch in the old car

 

[halik]

got a tank through it, 47.8 MPG. It was a mix of wife's commute and a road trip at 65~70.

wow

 

[NAC]

I had a 2002 Golf TDI. It was perhaps my favorite all-around car. Fun to drive, economical, refined, and so incredibly practical. I averaged about 44 mpg the entire time I had it.

My current wish list is for a new beetle TDI convertible.

 

[skyking]

I had a 2002 Golf TDI. It was perhaps my favorite all-around car. Fun to drive, economical, refined, and so incredibly practical. I averaged about 44 mpg the entire time I had it.

My current wish list is for a new beetle TDI convertible.

we have had this less than two weeks, and my wife wants one too

 

[Auric]

I expected the Beetle to be much the same as the Golf of same generation but found it weirdly bestilted and relatively disconnected for some reason -somewhat akin to those faux SUV on car platforms.

 

[skyking]

Nothing I have noticed, but then again, I have not driven a golf.

This car is far more than a replacement for a 30 MPG Camry.
My wife had wanted an SUV for years and years, and I was able to talk her out of it for the first 19 years or so. Then she made up her mind and got a brand new 2005 Honda Pilot.
She loved it, the high seating position, huge carry capacity, good footing on ice and snow.
It drinks gas like there is no tomorrow. 18 MPG average

She felt bad about that, but rationalized the decision with how she felt about the "positives".
We have had the TDI two weeks now, and she totally gets it. She loves how it drives, and is thrilled to be saving fuel. I am so pumped!
I drove it 4 days up the mountain and put 480 miles on the tank, and she took it to work today. We will fill it Sunday and see how it went, and next week is my commute partner's week to drive. She gets the car and loves it.