TDI info

[tgebes]

Hey Guys,

The wife and I are moving to new jobs and we will both be commuting an hour one way, so to me this screams an opportunity for a diesel car! I sure could use some help figuring these cars out, the technology associated with each year, and the common problems.

Just for background: My wife will driving it, so it needs to be as trouble free as a car can be. I am certain it will be an automatic.

If anyone has any information or suggestions regarding these cars I would appreciate it. Thanks Guys!

 

[andy-stevenson]

Sub'd in the exact same situation and looking for similar info.

Any years to avoid? Things to look out for? Should high mileage scare me off?

 

[matt78]

My wife drives a cruze diesel. Been 14 months, car does great. Doesn't use much def, she drives 84 miles a day, 5 days a week in dallas area traffic. Combined mileage is around 38-42 mpg. Cars fine to me. Hope this helps.

 

[hondarider552]

Have 12,500 miles on my Cruze. Avg mpg is 42-45 best tank all highway was 56. No problems, added DEF for the first time few weeks ago. I love it.

 

[clrussell]

Love my wife's cruze.. It's not a diesel though.. Wish it was

 

[mike diesel]

My advice is stay as far away from Volkswagen as possible if you want trouble free. The TDI I'm sure is a better motor than my 2002 1.8t that's in my jetta. BIGGEST PILE OF GARBAGE. The only thing that has never had an issue, carbody/mechanical included is the transmission (it's an auto). The trans has never once in almost 5 years given me or the wife any issues.

Can't keep an alignment on the car, window motors crap out, sun roof has a mind of its own, center consol lid hinge is broken, glove box latch is broken, cup holder flap is broken, door switch is broken so it thinks the door is open all the time (plan about 10 hours to fix the switch, it's a joke)...coolant lines/fittings are plastic and crack dumping coolant everywhere..hmmm research shows 80% of the issues I have had are all very common. When the engine is running right, it runs great. Gets over 30mpg.

All I know is that I will never touch another volkswagen. I listed the damn thing for $2100 and in 4 weeks I had 1 person text me about it..I can't even give this thing away...but hell it passed safety and emissions 2 days ago no problem..not sure how but it passed:spit:

 

[prodiesel804]

I have an 02 Jetta tdi, 210,000 miles, auto. Never had any issues 2 sets of tires, 2 timing belts, 2 sets of brakes. Wife bought a 2010 put 98,000 on it never had any issues.

 

[Mike L.]

German cars are parts eaters. Doesn't matter if it's a Mercedes or a PS VW.
My shop used to specialize in exotic car transmissions and my wife always drove a Mercedes or BMW. She loved VW and had a couple of those. Every time it went to the dealer for an oil change it needed a C, D, or E service to go with the oil change. That cost anywhere from 700.00 to 1200.00. WTF ? She has been driving Lexus that last 10 years and when it goes in for an oil change; it gets and oil change and nothing else. Doesn't need no stinkin extra service.

 

[SmokeShow]

My TDI is kinda like the Cummins in the Dodge, the engine is great, the wrapper it's in leaves some to be desired. It's certainly no "fine German excellence" like many would like to believe. Like Mike posted about his gas one, my center console is busted, latch on the glove box broke OFF, rear drivers door doesn't lock/unlock electronically, more rattles than a can of spray paint & road noise inside is square-body-GM-truck-interior kinda loud. Well maybe that's an exaggeration but there is considerable road noise in the cabin. Most recently I have a lot of foam pieces spitting out of my vents. Hmm.

The TDI though! It's a tank of a little engine, much like a Cummins is regarded as. It has over 330k miles on it now and has had the head rebuilt but the short block is stock as day 1. Injectors have been replaced but idk if they were required or just desired. The clutch is stock!

I don't get the infamous 50+mpg many with the TDI get though. Mine, with a 5spd, gets 39-41 very consistently. I drive fairly spirited and half my commuting is interstate but I rarely run more than 72 unless I'm in a hurry. I think the interstate RPMs kill it (it's over 2600rpm at those speeds). 40mpg is still great IMO though.

It recently got rear-ended & "totaled" so I'm most likely going to get rid of it. I REALLY wish I could afford a used Dodge RAM 1500 with the ecodiesel! A more realistic option for me is a used Cruze diesel but they're just about as rare as the RAM 1500 diesel. I'd love a lil more backseat room for the baby & momma than the Jetta has but really need my DD to get at least 30mpg avg. so idk what I'm going to get.

Maybe I can find a high mileage RAM 1500 diesel to trade my truck in on along with the cash from the car total & be able to get the payment manageable.

 

[onebaddmaxxx]

at least if it needed transmission work, she knows a good person to go to lol

Mike, what made you switch from exotic cars to allisons?

 

[gmc502]

about the only years I'd stay clear of is 04-06,they were the pd motors.They love to eat cams and followers.
I loved my tdi passat but just replaced it w/ a 2013 Volt.for the most part I'm on electric and when I do go down the highway,it averaged 45mpg at 65mph,thats w/ the drive mode in "hold".so far I have a 146mpg lifetime average.

 

[Jakemax04]

My 02 jetta tdi..... The clutch exploded at 160k miles. Timing belt, water pump and all that, I replaced. Radiator started leaking, replaced that. I think the guy before me didn't maintain this thing. I hate working on the car that use to just get me to work, but all in all I can't complain too much because it is 12 years old and has started up everytime I turned the key. Except I wouldn't trust it enough for my wife to drive it everyday. Plus the interior just starts falling apart. The a/c literally blows foam out of the vents. I didn't pay too much for the car, so the 40 mpg is worth it for me. Overall I don't reccomend the vw.

 

[pizza pig]

Can you afford to buy new? Or are you looking for used? Everyone has good and bad experiences, like anything. Maybe Im a bit biased but I would not think twice about buying a TDI. If you're buying used, make sure you find someone who has maintained the car, like buying a Duramax. I've owned over 14 VW's over the past 10 years, all had their quirks, but realistically there is very little available at this time comparable to what you can get in a VW. Never seen less than 45MPG in a TDI that I've owned/driven, I guess theyre not all created equal.

 

[Jakemax04]

Its a love hate relationship with my car lol

 

[Max Attitude]

My advice is stay as far away from Volkswagen as possible if you want trouble free. The TDI I'm sure is a better motor than my 2002 1.8t that's in my jetta. BIGGEST PILE OF GARBAGE. The only thing that has never had an issue, carbody/mechanical included is the transmission (it's an auto). The trans has never once in almost 5 years given me or the wife any issues.

Can't keep an alignment on the car, window motors crap out, sun roof has a mind of its own, center consol lid hinge is broken, glove box latch is broken, cup holder flap is broken, door switch is broken so it thinks the door is open all the time (plan about 10 hours to fix the switch, it's a joke)...coolant lines/fittings are plastic and crack dumping coolant everywhere..hmmm research shows 80% of the issues I have had are all very common. When the engine is running right, it runs great. Gets over 30mpg.

All I know is that I will never touch another volkswagen. I listed the damn thing for $2100 and in 4 weeks I had 1 person text me about it..I can't even give this thing away...but hell it passed safety and emissions 2 days ago no problem..not sure how but it passed:spit:

Sounds like you like them as much as I do. Had a 06 with 192k on it…ate the lifters and cam, dropped a valve and destroyed the engine while down in FL for vacation. Had to ship home and I dropped a 86k mile motor in it myself …found out the turbo ate part of the valve stem so new turbo also. 4k later FOR SALE it went and that is one car I couldn't be happier to see leave my driveway!! Went back to an Acura TL gas car and couldn't be happier. I'll take 22-30mpg all day with little to no issues.

 

[SmokeShow]

I forgot I don't have my car particulars listed in my sig on this forum. Mines an 02 jetta tdi.


With all the fussing I did about mine, the leather seats still look new with no tears, drying out, etc even with the 330k miles. I doubt theres a leather seat in that good of shape in any GM with similar miles. They seem to rip/break/crack in less than 100k miles.

 

[duratothemax]

my buddy (schulte on here) has a 2012 A3 TDI (common rail) and he loves it...did DPF delete and it gets 50mpg. IIRC he probably has 60k miles on it so far and zero problems that I know of.

My girlfriend has an A3 as well (gas though) and Ive had two S4's...never any problems with either of them. I love Audi's/VW's personally. :thumb:

 

[Power Shift]

I have an 06 TDI jetta and enjoy driving it. With that said, there are known issues with any year of car. I would say if you can do your own maintenance and enjoying wrenching a bit (when needed) then I would not hesitate to buy a TDI.

I know when I was looking for mine I wanted a 05-06 with m/t for a couple of reasons:
(1) it is pre-emissions (DPF),
(2) anything older (pre-04) then parts are just asking to be replaced, possibly sinking a lot of money into a car that may or may not have been maintained,
(3) no worries of the auto tranny, and
(4) I figured on changing the cam, lifters, and timing belt when I bought it.

There as some common problems known with these cars, but if you address these problems or at least figure them into the price you should have trouble free miles.

 

[easyrider470]

I have a 2012 Jetta TDI and I LOVE THE CAR.

I got the 6 speed manual and the Fender Touch Screen radio and heated seats...DONE. the car has performed flawlessly in the 2 years and 39,000 miles I have put on it.

My fuel economy is right at 47 for my 80 mile round trip commute through 2 lane backroads and mild rolling hills and I don't baby it, i enjoy the curves and passing zones!

I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a fuel economy car for a fair price. You can pick them up used very well priced and you will not regret it. I bought mine brand new and do not regret a single thing. Fairly NEW in mileage life but the car gets driven every single work day of the year provided no heavy snow and I have not had an issue.

 

[tgebes]

Cool, thanks guys this what I needed to know. I knew the diesel Cruze would probably be a better deal. You know how wifes are though and she either wanted a TDI or Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid... I was trying my best to stay way from that, but it is what she wants and from the sounds of it the Subaru will probably be a better car.