Date:         Fri, 2 Nov 2012 11:33:21 -0500
Reply-To:     Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <kupcinski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jarrett Anthony Kupcinski <kupcinski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Phrydae Question: Who drives a TDI?
In-Reply-To:  <CAOiGwgXQ3P3Ef1vHLW_1teVMPbsuYiOUsVk95Ea7ZrLLYvmcMg@mail.gmail.com>
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> 
>> 
>> Just wondering how many other list members drive Passat or Jetta TDI's and
>> their opinion of them?

We purchased a 2005 Jetta Wagon TDI new, and love it, more so now that it's paid for. We've got around 120K on it, done all the regular service and it runs like a champ. Wife gets 30 city 40 highway... I get more because I don't have a lead foot. Got to replace the radio, though. 

When it was newer and diesels were more rare, we used to get unsolicited buy offers stuck to the windshield. One of the best moments of owning a diesel car was during the evacuation of Houston in preparation of hurricane Rita. We had travelled for 6 hours and gone 30 miles. We were hot, irritated, and had about a quarter tank of fuel. I met another group of travelers who had been on the road longer, and who were carrying the deceased family dog in the car with them (the beloved dog had died during the evacuation). I decided to get us off the freeway to see if we could at least find something cold to drink and then decide if we were going to just turn around and stay home. Found a gas station which was out of gas... but luckily had diesel. We pulled in, filled up, and waved at all the people who pulled into the station but drove away in dismay when they found the empty pumps. About 7 hours later we arrived at our friends' house outside San Antonio. And the hurricane? It decided to change course and hit Louisiana instead.

On Nov 2, 2012, at 10:21 AM, Frank Lee wrote:
> 
> A must for long engine life  -- VW spec oil. *EVERY MILE*
> AND join   http://www.tdiclub.com/

I second the vote for tdiclub.com. Good info there. Unfortunately VW Spec oil (especially 505.01) can be very hard to come by. I used to use it, but recently decided to change over to Mobile 1 Turbo Truck Diesel (available at my FLAPS) and have noticed no ill effects. There's a group over at tdiclub.com calling themselves the TDT mafia who have made the switch and claim to have put significant miles on their engines without problems. YMMV.

I think a bigger issue for that generation of TDI's is the replacement of the timing belt at appropriate intervals. 

-Jarrett
89 Westy powered by Bostig
05 Jetta Wagon TDI