Volkswagon Diesel

Isn't VW about to have their feet held to the fire?

I own one and another poster here has three VW diesels.

I run 36-46 MPG depending on town or highway, have hit 47-48 MPG a couple times, BUT usually run in the 42-46 range highway.

I have had virtually zero issues in 10 years, there are of course years that were more reliable than others, BUT 115K on my early 2005 (A4 body) and virtually nothing done to it other than routine maintenance. Timing belts are critical and varies by year, mine is every 80K.

Oil change interval is 10K on mine AND requires a specific oil, doesn't have to be VW branded oil, BUT you also probably aren't going to buy it at a typical Wal Mart or auto parts house. There was some early cam failures from failure to use correct oil, so this isn't just a recommendation, it is a must!

The DSG transmission has 40K service intervals and is kind of pricy. (on reread, you are looking at a manul, ignore the DSG comment)

If you go for it, welcome to the club, I can recommend a few websites for a forum and places to buy the common items needed for service, etc. online.

SHG

I've got 170K on my Jetta TDI, and have the same mpg as Shelby. No complaints.

Volkswagon TDI engines are in hot demand here for conversion in light trucks. Considered bulletproof.

They are probably gonna suffer some extra costs to get them on the road in the future for lying about emissions.
As far as dependability, they are setting the bar very high.

I have the 5 liter TDI, but, I get 30 on the highway in a +6000lb vehicle, I don't think that is too bad

What kind of light trucks? Wouldn't it have to be a smog exempt vehicle (pre 1972)?
Were not too many light trucks back then. I guess a Ford Courier or Toyota?

Many people put the old Cummings diesel engines into older full size trucks.

They get the Amarok there I believe, I wish we did

imaudigger, post: 342113, member: 7286 wrote: What kind of light trucks? Wouldn't it have to be a smog exempt vehicle (pre 1972)?
Were not too many light trucks back then. I guess a Ford Courier or Toyota?

Many people put the old Cummings diesel engines into older full size trucks.

A diesel Chevy Luv?

Chevy Luv...maybe..only made one year that is pre-smog in California.

Dad had a 2x Ford Courier, then a 4x Chevy Luv, then a 4x Datsun, then a 4x Nissan. Still drives the Nissan with 600,000+ miles on it.

Diesel Nissan 4x4 would be awesome!!

I have seen Ford Courier's with small block V8 289's in them. Didn't do very well at the strip because there was no traction (even tubbed with wide slicks).

Zoidberg, post: 342126, member: 8841 wrote: A diesel Chevy Luv?

when I said Light Trucks I intended that to be the opposite of Heavy Trucks... over here, Baja Ca. Mx. the applications are for anything under say 1 ton pickups and vans. The TDI is compact, so it fits most anything space wise... and it is high RPM so highway speed is fine.
Yes we do have annual smog checking, but it is the actual emissions that are checked, not some funny numbers in a computer somewhere.
I have been considering a TDI transplant for my Unimog. I would gain power and torque as the original 6cyl OHC gas engine is 82HP and runs 4,500RPM on the highway... but I will probably have to cross the border to get one at a reasonable price.

imaudigger, post: 342113, member: 7286 wrote: What kind of light trucks? Wouldn't it have to be a smog exempt vehicle (pre 1972)?
Were not too many light trucks back then. I guess a Ford Courier or Toyota?

Many people put the old Cummings diesel engines into older full size trucks.

when I said Light Trucks I intended that to be the opposite of Heavy Trucks... over here, Baja Ca. Mx. the applications are for anything under say 1 ton pickups and vans. The TDI is compact, so it fits most anything space wise... and it is high RPM so highway speed is fine.
Yes we do have annual smog checking, but it is the actual emissions that are checked, not some funny numbers in a computer somewhere.
I have been considering a TDI transplant for my Unimog. I would gain power and torque as the original 6cyl OHC gas engine is 82HP and runs 4,500RPM on the highway... but I will probably have to cross the border to get one at a reasonable price.

The Cummins diesel is too big and heavy, and parts are too expensive
(there is no G in Cummins)

I didn't realize you were in Mexico. I thought you were from Southern California (sorry :'().

Toyota trucks are apparently VERY popular in Mexico. Depending on the time of year, the Hispanic laborers are either driving a Toyota north to Washington for the apple crop, or driving south with a Toyota towing a Toyota with the bed full of parts.

A Unimog! Pictures or it isn't true.

Peter Ehlert, post: 342152, member: 60 wrote: when I said Light Trucks I intended that to be the opposite of Heavy Trucks... over here, Baja Ca. Mx. the applications are for anything under say 1 ton pickups and vans. The TDI is compact, so it fits most anything space wise... and it is high RPM so highway speed is fine.
Yes we do have annual smog checking, but it is the actual emissions that are checked, not some funny numbers in a computer somewhere.
I have been considering a TDI transplant for my Unimog. I would gain power and torque as the original 6cyl OHC gas engine is 82HP and runs 4,500RPM on the highway... but I will probably have to cross the border to get one at a reasonable price.

The Cummins diesel is too big and heavy, and parts are too expensive
(there is no G in Cummins)

Unimog's are cool! More of a tractor than a highway vehicle though. You have the VW Amarok down there don't you?

imaudigger, post: 342054, member: 7286 wrote: I'm looking at buying a used Volkswagon TDI Golf 4 door hatch back.

Anybody here own a diesel VW?

This particular car has the 1.9L TDI engine and should not be affected by the emissions recall.

36-38 average gas mileage and up to 45 MPG highway will be a huge cost saving to me as I currently only get around 10 MPG.

Just wondering if anybody has a horror story or are pleased?

This one has a 5 speed manual, so there shouldn't be any transmission problems.

I have a 1981 Rabbit TDI five speed. It has 175,000 miles and has been all over the USA. I have driven it to the west coast twice, to Kansas City a number of times. Used it to go to the big EAA Airshow five or so times and to Florida for the Big EAA Airshow down there. I got it used in 1982 used it to commute to Raleigh from Rocky Mount for my flights to New York for overseas flights with TWA. I retired from TWA in 1991 and put it in the garage for about fifteen years and finally decided to take it out and get it running again. It cost a pretty penny to get her going again and that is when I started taking long trips. In 2008 I got a late 2005 Jetta TDI it had 40,000 miles on it and drove it all over the place. It now has 178,000 miles. It isn't caught up in the VW Flap for Diesels. I got a 2010 Jetta TDI a couple of years ago that had 40,000 miles and now it has a bit over 90,000 miles. It is caught in the flap about the TDI engine. I'll keep on driving it till they make me stop. So as Shelby said I have three TDI vehicles and have had real good luck with them all. No major mechanical problems. I don't push them hard, my wife hates them, she hates to take a trip with me because I crank up and drive till I need fuel, about 600 miles with a good reserve before I stop. So about 95% of my travels are Solo which I like. Both Jettas have 6 speed automatic transmission. The Rabbit has air conditioning and if you need to pass somebody it becomes necessary to turn the A/C off to get enough power to get around somebody. It isn't the vehicle if you want power. I enjoy playing the torque curve and getting good mileage. I know it's not fast and neither am I, we get along just fine.

Once upon a time I owned a VW Rabbit diesel. Great mileage. When I bought it the salesman warned me to have the timing belt replaced every 10,000 miles. He didn't say just why and I was too young and stupid to ask. Of course I didn't take that advise seriously. Until not too long after 10,000 that belt broke and left me stranded a long, long way from the nearest town in central British Columbia. Not to be melodramatic, and not wishing to go into details, but I do believe that that night was the authentic low point of my adult life.

Luckily some nice people helped me pull through. The Rabbit, not so much. Seems that when the timing belt breaks the pistons strike the open valves. Very expensive lesson.

imaudigger, post: 342154, member: 7286 wrote: I didn't realize you were in Mexico. I thought you were from Southern California (sorry :'().

Toyota trucks are apparently VERY popular in Mexico. Depending on the time of year, the Hispanic laborers are either driving a Toyota north to Washington for the apple crop, or driving south with a Toyota towing a Toyota with the bed full of parts.

A Unimog! Pictures or it isn't true.

'63 404.1 ragtop Doka

Norm Larson, post: 342155, member: 7899 wrote: Unimog's are cool! More of a tractor than a highway vehicle though. You have the VW Amarok down there don't you?

true that, they are not intended to be primarily highway machines, but street legal and rated for 1.5 tons payload... however I have towed big heavy stuff for great distances very S L O W L Y 🙂
I used to haul 4 or 5 barrels of water up on top of a 3,500 foot ridge that only gets horse and dirtbike traffic, a slow grind over basketball size cobbles. no wheel spinning or other theatrics. once I pulled a stuck military Hummer up out of a gorge, the soldiers were astounded. capable but not flashy.

the VW Amarok? I saw one once, probably a tourist.

I had a VW Rabbit diesel too. I miss it too. Bought it used in 1988 and drove it til it quit. Not even sure how many miles I put on it. I used in nightly to deliver pizzas. Greatest car to deliver in. Work all night and put 3 dollars of diesel in it. Could go weeks (600 miles) before having to fill it up. Of course this when diesel was half the price of regular gas. I believe those germans built one he!! of a diesel engine.