My Passat resurrection has allowed me to keep my truck too!

Tony

 

The worst take full was 37 and that was this winter in sub 0 temps. Usually get 41-42 and from what I have read at the TDI club that is about what the manuals are getting.

 

My 2000 Jetta has 324,000 miles on it . It is a manual and has never got less than 48mpg and usually gets 52mpg. Beside regular maintance items car has never had a issue still on the original clutch even. I do a little side work on VW"s and I would stick with the A4 platform.

 

My dad has a a 99 tdi with 121,000 on the clock. The motor, transmission and body are great, but in the colder climates, the electrical systems are a nightmare. This winter, at -25 F, he's sitting at the lights, all the windows roll down, the horn starts blowing and the car shuts itself off and won't start. $1,400 to fix that glitch. In the last 6 years, he's gone through 3 wiring harnesses for the drivers door (thin wire in winter does not work well), $240 for each harness and another 250 to put it in each time. The CEL is still on, says the injectors are bad, but they are all ok. Then the speedometer and temperature gauge quit, tach and fuel still works, that was another $1200 for a new cluster. Currently its for sale and he's now driving the 05 dodge 1 ton as a daily driver. Its cheaper...

 

I have a '01 Beetle 5 speed and it's been a good little car. As far as power in the hills, we just got back from the Ozarks and could maintain whatever gear we were in as long as the rpms were kept above 1500. We pulled several 6% grades at 55mph and could have easily accelerated. From what I've read, 03 and newer use the more expensive oil that can only be bought from the dealer (I could be wrong on this) so that's why I went with the '01. Like I said, it's a great little car and gets excellent mileage (47 mpg last trip) but if your not secure enough in your manhood to drive one, you might want to stick to the Jetta of Golf.

 

My worst tank to date is 41.9 (lots of fast highway into 30mph headwind)... Best tank just over 55. Average 46-51..

All hand calculated, well excel calculated on my phone, vent the tank every time til there is fuel sitting in the neck.

 

My 03 Jetta TDI is great in the mountains of British Columbia. Very similar to what I am used to in my 06 CTD. We are not as high altitude as CO, but the Jetta certainly has no problem passing on the uphill grades we have here at 6500 feet. Amazing how much fun it is to drive with only 90hp!

 

I'm sure you are aware: It's all in the turbo! Before I had any real understanding of turbo dynamics, I made the observation that power in the Jetta did not fall off, like NA gassers. Then started reading and finally got the understanding that boost is boost. Basically, the turbo is compressing air to what the ECM tells it. No matter what the altitude (within reason).

Tony

 

We have had an 06 Jetta TDI 5 speed for 2 years and love it! We recently went down to Key West, drove 90+ mph the whole way (with Escort radar detector & police scanner) and still got 40mpg. I would definately recommend the manual tranny so you can use the excellent torque for the TDI motor. I wish I could afford the Touraeg V10 TDI!

 

I've had a 2000 Jetta TDI for 4 years; like my 1911A2, my feelings for the 'dub run about like "from my cold, dead hands". I love it. Running homemade B100, I average 47MPG (700+ miles on @15 gallons). The car is bone stock, dependable as an anvil. Had a CEL, but it was a bad MAF sensor (talented VAG-COM guys rule!).

 

You have to try the DSG its not a slush box at all like most autos. I know I will kinda screw this up describing but here it goes, when the car is in 1 st gear 2nd gear is ready to go and power is transfered threw a wet Disc and when you shift in 2 nd gear 3rd is ready kinda like two trannys in one 1st tranny is 1-3-5 and second tranny is 2-4-6. When you put it in manual mode it shifts when you tell it only diff between it and a manual is you don't have to let up on the throtal and clutch manualy.

 

These cars CAN be pretty good and realible for a long time, and if driven enough miles, the mileage will make up for higher initial cost, 50k timing belt changes, farily expensive oil changes, EGR cleaning issues, possible fuel system issues (I've witnessed two in person with dead injection pumps before 100k), electrical system issues, $4.35/gallon fuel issues...

I guess I'll stick with my non-turbo Accord, although even as 5-speed it's not got the torque to get up hills assertively. However, I live in Illinois....

 

Timing belt changes are 100,000 miles on the new VW. Oil changes are every 10,000 miles after the first change at 5000 miles. So oil changes are actually cheaper for the VW diesel then your Accord. Not to mention a extra 10 mpg from the VW

 

Yep Timing Belt at 100k... I change the oil every 15-20k (Very high quality full synthetic)

 

I live in Leadville and have an 03 Jetta Wagon, 5spd. I can drive it home from Denver in 5th gear, as long as no rigs pull out to pass on the tunnel approach at 50mph and slow me way down. It won't win any races(stock), but will zip right up the mountain roads and still get around 42-45mpg. I love that little car! Cold starts down to -15F too! TDI-Club.com is the info source for sure.