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+--- Thread: TDIs (/showthread.php?tid=7812)
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TDIs - balactm - 11-17-2008
what do people know about VW TDIs? I'm thinking about buying one as my next car so i can run biodiesel but i don't want it to fall apart. are they reliable? relatively quick? upgradeable (new turbo)?
Re: TDIs - CaptainHenreh - 11-17-2008
87jdmmr2 Wrote:are they reliable? relatively quick? upgradeable (new turbo)?
No.
- Ginger - 11-17-2008
It'll fall apart.
But it'll give you a really good light show as it does.
- .RJ - 11-17-2008
Dad has one with a ton of miles (150k now?) and no issues other than intake manifold sludge from time to time.
I've driven it - its not quick, and its so slow I wouldnt even bother upgrading it. Drives pretty well though, if you can get past the diesel-y throttle response.
- Jake - 11-17-2008
Edmunds' long-term staff has been reviewing a used 05 Jetta TDI for a while, and they're now running it on Biodiesel. The blog posts from staff are pretty interesting. Seems pretty reliable, but I'm guessing you might want older than an 05?
That blog is here.
- balactm - 11-17-2008
what's a good diesel that won't fall apart then?
- Mike - 11-17-2008
I know a few with tdis. None of them seem to complain of the typical vw bullshit. I can't explain it. Are they built somewhere else?
- Dave - 11-17-2008
87jdmmr2 Wrote:what's a good diesel that won't fall apart then?93-06 F250 :lol:
If you've got the desire to make another project, grab an old Toyota truck or 4Runner and throw in a Hilux diesel motor and you'll have the ultimate, indestructible, unstoppable vehicle.
I too have also like the TDI b/c it's a good looking car and would be a good veggie conversion candidate, but I've never done the research to determine if it's worth it.
- 95-GT0-MR - 11-17-2008
How bout benz diesels? I don't know much about them, but it seems as if they are reliable. (I see many 20+ year old ones all the time.)
- .paul - 11-17-2008
I have a v10 TDI, its awesome, from what I read super reliable, I get about 600 to the tank, every fill up has been about 21 gallons at 3.09 for diesel.
I think my truck is pretty damn quick, granted I have only had it for 500 miles thus far, I am extremely pleased, and it seems that other v10 TDI owners have had nothing but good things to say.
- ScottyB - 11-18-2008
get an old Merc 300D. there is a reason so many taxis in europe and beyond are these cars. they are slow, smelly tanks.
on a different note, my friend's elantra was hit by one of these in the rear and his car was crumpled all through the rear sheetmetal. the merc had a scratched bumper and nothing more.
- .RJ - 11-18-2008
.paul Wrote:I have a v10 TDI
I dont think a college student with a 20 year old MR2 is looking for a V10 egg
- BLAIR - 11-18-2008
my dad has a jetta tdi wagon.. love it.. 50 mpg all the time.. not fast, but it gets the job done.
paul you got a v10 tdi.. WOW.. post up some pics.. those are SICK
- CaptainHenreh - 11-18-2008
Well, my parents had a 2000 TDI Jetta and it was nothing but trouble from the get-go. They followed my advice and got manual windows, so there were no problems there, and the engine always ran fine.
OTOH, the car would lock itself at random, refuse to crank at random, the front driver's brake would drag, the radio would work about 60% of the time, the glove box would fall apart if you opened it (but nothing appeared to be broken?) the seats were uncomfortable and oh yeah, it was a total dog.
RJ didn't give you full disclosure that his dad is a VW mechanic, so yeah, his probably doesn't give him any trouble.
I would either get an older ECODiesel or Rabbit diesel or something...at least then the problems are solvable.
- D_Eclipse9916 - 11-18-2008
ScottyB Wrote:get an old Merc 300D. there is a reason so many taxis in europe and beyond are these cars. they are slow, smelly tanks.
on a different note, my friend's elantra was hit by one of these in the rear and his car was crumpled all through the rear sheetmetal. the merc had a scratched bumper and nothing more.
I agree, my mom has a 1989 300TE station wagon and that thing is awesome, I was like geeze this car has never seen anything other than regular maintenance. Then my mom said no, ive had major stuff, a wiper arm was suggested replacement......I was like....serious.. and she wanted to stick with mercedes, I was like umm the new ones are not gonna be like this one. The thing still closes doors with the like new solid thud and the interior is almost mint.
She loves the thing to death though, even though she is buying another car, she is keeping this one too, it just wont die, weve been test driving new cars for her for....goddamn since I was like 15.
This is my mom's car, of course hers has the top engine and is white, but same condition. DEFINITELY WATCH THIS VIDEO! They even blow it up at the end....lol
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=trying+to+kill+mercedes+300&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f&aq=f#q=5th%20gear%20mercedes&hl=en&emb=0&start=40">http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=t ... 0&start=40</a><!-- m -->
Basically what im trying to say, old mercedes diesel > ALL!!
OOPS that was part 1, this is part 2...
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=trying+to+kill+mercedes+300&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f&aq=f#q=5th%20gear%20mercedes&hl=en&emb=0&start=50">http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=t ... 0&start=50</a><!-- m -->
- .RJ - 11-18-2008
CaptainHenreh Wrote:RJ didn't give you full disclosure that his dad is a VW mechanic, so yeah, his probably doesn't give him any trouble.
Dad works on Jeeps and Subarus
I wouldnt worry about the drivetrains on those cars, but there are the electronics issues to be concerned with - I had problems with my GTI, but it also had a larger turbo, ecu program and bunch of other mods on it - probably not a fair comparison. Seems to be hit or miss with the VR6 and TDI's - endless problems for some, no problems ever for others. Buy one with miles and history on it if you're set on one.
My GTI would've been a great car if not for the electronics going apeshit and suspension in full self destruct at 90k miles
I miss the turbo oontz a little.
- ScottyB - 11-18-2008
D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:Basically what im trying to say, old mercedes diesel > ALL!!
i like to think of them as the crown vic of europe.
.RJ Wrote:My GTI would've been a great car if not for the electronics going apeshit and suspension in full self destruct at 90k miles
dammit if you just would have gotten the right tune it probably would have been fine. weren't you running a K03 program for a "BPU" K04? as for the suspension, well i have no idea.
i thought it was kind of a cool car personally. i drove a properly tuned K04 setup in an '01 A4 and it could dip the F out.
- .RJ - 11-18-2008
I dont think the ECU tune had anything to do with the dash lit up like christmas
It was a APR K04 Program on the ECU though - it hauled some serious ass.
- ScottyB - 11-18-2008
.RJ Wrote:I dont think the ECU tune had anything to do with the dash lit up like christmas
oh, sounds like you did have the right tune then. don't mind CEL lights in VW's...it's more like a light to just confirm the engine is running
- .RJ - 11-18-2008
"Check Engine" Light. Yes, engine is present. Light on.