2003 tdi

[Russell]

I have been debating whether or not to put this in project cars. I hope not to have to work on this car! It is difficult for me to find a daily driver. It must be comfortable, have a manual transmission, four door, get good mileage. Oh and I am depreciation adverse. I hate spending a pile of money on something that goes down in value. Well the TDIs seem to hold there value better than the average used car, they can last a long time, and it meet the other must haves.

So I picked up this 129k mile jetta Friday.

[tardis454]

I hope not to have to work on this car!

Seriously?

[Bob Holmes]

Picture?

I'd enjoy hearing how this goes. I've frequently thought about getting a TDI given that I drive about 35k a year, on average, to work and work related travel.

[Russell]

That was rich wasn't! I have a picture on my phone but I can not get it to up load! Uploaded it to my photobucket. My tablet died so until it charges or get to a computer... no pic unless you can find it. Oh I could text if you really can't wait.

Finally got it to copy and paste the photobucket link.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I just bought one of those too... a 2009 with 48k. Needed a door and a bit of body work... in the process

it also needs to figure out why the computer doesn't shut off with the ignition (fans stay on)... no worries, it has a warranty for 2 years and 25k miles

[Barry Donovan]

I even see the newer ones in maine, I am interested to see how it goes as well. A little more bangshifty is drilling an injection pump and slapping a turbo on an old Mercedes 4,5, or 6 cyl... but modern does have a big precise brain.

[Beagle]

I have been researching the TDI a little, also looking at the Benz's somewhat. 2004 went to the "pump deuce" which I think they mispelled "pump douche" seems more appropriate. A 2k3 is the "last of the good ones" that won't inexplicably decide to eat itself. I'm still on the fence, but I did ride in a buddy at work's TDI Jetta that had some stuff done and that little bastard made steam for a 45mpg daily driver. Good luck with it!

[Russell]

The PO claimed 50 mpg. First fill up came out to 44, I can live with that there is no way an old MB will get that mileage. My wife likes it, she is driving it today, I am back in <----- if I can keep the suburban parked I am sure I am fuel ahead. The VW is nice but I think the fox is more comfortable. No heat and loud mufflers and worse mileage are keep it from being my #1 road trip choice.

[DanStokes]

I hope this works out. I'd like one for ME when the HHR goes to car heaven but my worry with German cars is always the same....... BOSCH! Consistently bad electrics. Maybe they learned something from Nippon Denso (which they own but refuse to learn from). We Americans are used to bulletproof electrics and so are spoiled. Usually German stuff is OK as far as the engine, etc. - it's the electrical bits that'll drive you nuts.

Dan

[milner351]

If I didn't work for Ford, I'd be driving a TDI. Dieselgeek had one that he tweaked a bit for better performance, as with just about any car, there are forums of guys playing with TDI's. I hope it serves you well for many miles!

[Bob Holmes]

They actually road raced them in the TDI cup. There should be some fun parts around.

[Russell]

Thanks guys, I will let you know how it does, but more than likely this will be a no new is good news type of thing. The plan now is to keep it stock, and just stay up on the routine maintenance. I am thinking about sending an oil sample off when I change it. I have never done that before. The one thing that I am still on the undecided is whether or not to run Biodiesel? I have a great source of B99 really close to the office.

[milner351]

I would consult your owner's manual on the use of biodiesel - and do some googling.

As I understand it - biodiesel is a good cleaner - just like E85 - so it tends to break crud loose in the fuel system which may lead to problems. I'm not sure there is a compatibility issue with rubber hoses in the fuel system as there is with E-85.

[rightpedal]

One of my customers likes to try and run biodiesel in his truck. 99 ram much like your old one. It is fine in the summer but below 38-40 deg it starts to thicken. in the 20s it wont pull through the inlet screen. If you cut it with reg diesel it is a lot better but is still hard to start in the winter.

Do some serious research before you go this route. Kind of curious to see the out come.

I need you to give an honest mileage report. Kels new car (2014 jetta wagon tdi) gets 38 mpg with her behind the wheel. I thought it was just her driving but I didn't do much better. 41 mpg driving on eggshells and under the speed limit.

I think the 50 mpg thing is a bunch of crap. That or something is wrong with her car.

BTW i love VW seats

Steve

[Beagle]

50 is the speed he was travelling when he got 50 mpg likely. I almost ran over his brother on I-45 yesterday morning. Going 50 in a 75 mph zone is foolish for 10% reduction in fuel consumption. 75 here means 85... not 50.

45 is about right for the top side of "normal" driving based on real world reports from non hyper-milers.

youtube Dieselmeken and Polo if you want to start a divorce. What I'm hung up on is the electronics in the later models. They are married to the instruments. It looked like the guys on the MegaSquirt forums were working on standalone controls for them but I heard something like 3000 dollars and thought "that will buy a lot of petrol."

The reason I would like a VW diesel is the Acme adapters to a Toyota 22r version 5 speed. Something light to put it in, say a old 318 BMW (E30) or a first generation RX7, I bet you could get some mileage out of the big go kart and it might be entertaining with 200 hp worth of diesel.

What do they have the redline at on your car? I was surprised to find the passenger car mills at 5000 rpm and the hoons running them up to 6k. I thought diesel burned slower than that!

I wouldn't trust my filtering for WVO. I think my fuel is gelling up or something already anyway. I'm looking for something additive because I think there is a bio-pool in my tank. I got down to 1/8 tank yesterday and it picked up something that it didn't want to run. With a multi-thousand dollar fuel system like your VW has in it, I'd be very leary of WVO.