Time for New Car Golf TDI? Freeper Input Appreciated!

12.12.12 | Chickensoup

[Chickensoup]

Time for another motor in the house. Last vehicle I bought I ran by the Freeper Auto-Guys and it worked great. Time for a different kind of transportation.

Looking at a new two or four door Golf TDI in Red with manual transmission. No sunroof, no nav package.

Test drove it twice and like the manual transmission. Dealer giving 300K warranty with serviceing Q10K at dealership. Your thoughts.

[CORedneck]

I thought of a VW TDI especailly with gas prices but I would consider a different color besides red though. I owned a red car one time but the color was a real pain to take care of especailly when it started to oxidize after a few years. If I buy new, I go with white since it won’t show oxidation and it stays cool in the Summer.

[RegulatorCountry]

The way it was put to me when I looked into it was that they have urea “packs” that have to be replaced periodically, and good luck finding anyone who can do it other than the dealer. So, it’s expensive.

[VeniVidiVici]

You can check http://www.fuelly.com to see what folks are getting for their own mileage.

Here are a few:

http://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/prius

http://www.fuelly.com/car/volkswagen/golf

http://www.fuelly.com/car/mazda/3

[Nuc 1.1]

A long block is an engine, complete to the cylinder head(s). A re-manufactured or rebuilt long block is usually what non-gear heads put in their car to address major engine repair issues. All accessories like alternators, intake manifolds , bolt on items from the engine being replaced are usually reused. Properly installed this is a good way to restore your ride.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Is the Xterra wore out,....is it a four wheel drive,...

?

[Vendome]

300k mile warranty???

Free service every 10k?

Even I’d buy that.

[NoCmpromiz]

I'll jump in here as a TDI owner, although a bit outdated. I have a '97 Jetta TDI with the AHU engine, manual, four door. 477000 miles. Replaced the turbo at around 300k. Clutch at 425k. Timing belt replaced religiously (including idlers, water pump, and serp belt at same time - not because all those items needed it, but since you have to do the labor to remove all that to get to the timing belt, might as well replace.) Consistent 45 mpg with very little mileage hit for stop/go driving vs. highway.

Depending on how you are with a wrench, you can do a lot of stuff yourself. Newer models have a lot of sound insulation that makes working on them more difficult, but you where given a link somewhere back there to the TDI forum.. they are a wealth of help. Don't know about the reliability of the newer autos. Back when I bought mine about a half mil miles ago, the auto version wouldn't make 450k miles w/o major repair/replace.

If you have a good mechanic around (remembering that dealer pricing is premium) and you keep the timing belt replaced, you should be able to wring many 100thou's of miles out of one of these. If you like to tinker, you can get the VAG-Com software from Ross Tech and do your own computer diagnostics.

Only thoughts on the two door thing - I had a '91 Jetta diesel 2 door. Was ok for driving to work, but when we would pack it with family for vacations the two door thing became a pain (but at 47 mpg on that one, of course we drove it for vacations ;)

In the end, it's still your call, but from experience as a VW Diesel owner (going back to a 1980 Dasher) you can't go wrong especially if you intend to keep it until it rusts away. (Every one of my VW diesels had over 300k on them before I sold them and got a newer one. Gave one of them to my son when I got the '91 mentioned above - it had 350000 on it. He drove it at least another 100k and would be driving it today if some drunk hadn't run a stop sign and T-boned him in the passenger door..)

[Enten]

Had a 2001 TDI...sold with 104,000 miles....car was OK, but every time I had to take it to the dealer I felt as though I needed a shower when I got home....reason not to buy another VW

[FreedomPoster]

It’s not a “pack”, it’s a bottle of liquid. “Diesel exhaust fluid” is the generic term, Adblue is a trademarked name you’ll hear. The tank for DEF should be topped off during routine maintenance.

You need a diagnostic computer hooked up to the car to check levels, apparently - there is no dipstick on the (rather large) DEF tank. So for most drivers this is not a DIY operation like checking your oil level.

Here’s a video of a Passat being filled.
http://youtu.be/1h9hWlvg6sM

They talk about using VCDS, a DIY diagnostic software and cable setup, to check level. If you’re a serious DIY mechanic these days, you have to have it to work on modern cars. I’ve had the setup for around 10 years now.

[FreedomPoster]

IMPORTANT!

The 2.0 TDI in the Golf does not use Adblue DEF. So scratch any reference to that.

What’s confusing is that the Passat 2.0 TDI DOES use Adblue.

I got to reading up on things at myturbodiesel.com, and learned this.

Also, chickensoup, if someone hasn’t posted this link from there in this thread already, you really need to see this:

2010-2013 VW Golf TDI FAQ, forum, and buying checklist
http://www.myturbodiesel.com/1000q/a6/2010-2011-VW-Golf-TDI-buyers-checklist.htm

Tons of useful information for you there.

[Fresh Wind]

VW is on the verge of introducing the next generation (MK VII) Golf. It’s already on sale in Europe (or will be very shortly), but there always seems to be a lag for the US.

There are said to be significant improvements in the new version.

Word is that the current generation will go out of production early in 2013.

With the caveat that buying an early version of a new model can be risky, unless you have to buy right now, it might be worth waiting a while to see if you like the new one.

[Fresh Wind]

I thought of a VW TDI especailly with gas prices but I would consider a different color besides red though. I owned a red car one time but the color was a real pain to take care of especailly when it started to oxidize after a few years.

I owned a red 2000 Golf for 10 years. It was never garaged, and there was no paint fade whatsoever.

[Gay State Conservative]

The DEF urea (aka “cow piss” to industry insiders) is about 12 bucks a gallon at WM. Similar to motor oil prices. On big rigs it is consumed at about 2% rate of the diesel fuel consumed. Not sure about the VW.

No,it's $12 for a 2.5 gallon jug.And my car gets about 18K miles (mostly highway) on a 6 gallon tankful of DEF.I just refilled mine for the first time in August.And,IIRC,the Golf TDI (unlike several TDI models) doesn't require it.

[Chickensoup]

Gregarious, attractive young professional woman seeks gentle carpenter/VW diesel mechanic as life partner...object: building me a castle and stable of Volkswagens.

Must be able to appreciate a large variety of ethnic foods and Rock-n-roll, blues and Zydeco music. Must have your own tools and having a good sense of humor and the ability to water houseplants occasionally wouldn’t hurt either.

Long walks on the beach and reading poetry are bogus.
_________________________________

Funny and cute!

[Chickensoup]

I live in the woods so I need a car that can go the distance. No city life for this chicken.

[Chickensoup]

Yes it is four wheel drive. No, not worn out, I hope not to need it so much so it is going to the son who is buying it at son-price, and who I suspect will trade it for a sorely wanted truck.

[Chickensoup]

No no no. Not FREE service, get service every 10K at their place.

[Chickensoup]

I tend to keep my cars until they are towed to thier final resting place. So this is one of the reasons I am looking at the Golf.

[Chickensoup]

I tend to keep my cars until they are towed to thier final resting place. So this is one of the reasons I am looking at the Golf.

Any Golf versus Jetta thoughts?

[Chickensoup]

Had a 2001 TDI...sold with 104,000 miles....car was OK, but every time I had to take it to the dealer I felt as though I needed a shower when I got home....reason not to buy another VW

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