"jminer" (jminer)
12/02/2018 at 14:40 • Filed to: None
0
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"jminer" (jminer)
12/02/2018 at 14:40 • Filed to: None | 0
| 28 |
So OPPO, a hair over 2 years ago I bought a 2012 5 spd focus hatch that I thought I would drive until the wheels fell off of it, put them back on and drive some more. It’s about to roll over to 100k and needs nearly much work as it is worth though and I’ve frankly fallen out of love with it. The car needs a new cat, bunch of other emissions gear, windshield and then when thats done I’ll still have he same car that’s ok, but no longer tickling my fancy. Also the quality on Fords in our experience has really dropped over the years (just got rid of my wife’s Flex for similar reasons)
Early 8” snowfall a few weeks ago
I commute about 50 miles round trip but gas is cheap right now. I work downtown and park in a garage so don’t really want anything that large. I’m a large guy (6’ 2” 200#) and don’t fit in a Miata so that’s out.
I’m a big outdoors guy and love to kayak, camp, hike, hunt and explore as much as possible. I take long road trips to interesting places and my focus hatch has seem more gravel, dirt and mud than most Jeeps do. I’d love a 4Runner but they’re expensive and I’m cheap. I’ve test driven a few Subarus and like them, but don’t love them and new is out of my budget and used they’re not great values...
Lot of gravel roads and a few low water bridges to get here
Long story short I’ve been mulling this around for a few weeks now and last night while searching I came upon something interesting...
Apparently a local dealer group has recently bought a large amount of VW TDIs and has literally 400 of them listed right now. They’re cheap ($8-12k depending on miles and features) and I’ve always liked them. I test drove a Jetta sedan TDI a few years ago and definitely enjoyed it. Sedan’s don’t to it for me but either a golf or sportwagen TDI would check basically all of the wants outside of AWD (and I can live without that).
Mmmmmm..... diesel wagon.....
So this is a long winded way to get there, but does anyone on OPPO have experience or recommendations on things to look out for on a TDI sportwagen? I know there are a good deal of GTIs around here and I’ve seen a few that have tempted me in this search too. There aren’t many manuals (even though I’d love one) so I’ll probably end up with a DSG model. They’re all old enough to be out of warranty (or will be soon) but low miles and I’m not afraid of turning a wrench, but I also don’t want something that breaks down regularly as my daily/road trip vehicle (I have my Scout for that!).
If I don’t buy one of these I’ll probably buy a base model lightly used Frontier instead, all other trucks are either crazy expensive or bigger than I want.
Thanks for any input OPPO!
HammerheadFistpunch
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 15:27 |
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we liked our 6 speed manual before we sent it back. i know the fuel system can be an issue. we had 10k worth of warranty work done when the hpfp went and took the rest of the fuel system went with it. not sure if it's anything you can look it for though
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jminer
> HammerheadFistpunch
12/02/2018 at 15:32 |
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Fuel systems are always the weakest point on a diesel. I’ve owned a couple old NA diesels and things like surge pumps, high pressure pumps, injection pumps and so on were always expensive as hell to fix when they broke.
E92M3
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 15:36 |
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I think you’d quickly be in the same siut ation again if you bought a VW. What about a japanese hatch, or a TSX wagon?
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HammerheadFistpunch
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 15:43 |
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yeah, i think the trouble is the lift pump (or the actual hp pump) are prone to going
RPM esq.
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 15:51 |
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If they’re
Dieselgate-era
TDIs
, they’ve almost certainly
had the emissions
“fix” performed (should be a sticker somewhere)
, which means a lot of engine and emissions components have a new extended warranty. Not included in that coverage, however, is the fuel system (and specifically the high pressure fuel pump). That’s the one known issue
I’d worry about on these.
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 15:51 |
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The Mk7 generation is a vast reliability improvement over the Mk6, at least when it comes to GTI’s.
AM3R, lost another burner
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 15:58 |
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What about a new wrangler 2 door? With how nice jeeps hold value.. I’ve been thinking about just picking one up to see if I’d like it.
Tristan
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 16:02 |
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I owned a MKIV BEW PD TDI (lots of letters). Bought it with 150k, sold it with 250k. Just tires, oil changes, a timing belt, a new vacuum line to the brake booster, and a driver door latch module. We loved it. The torques and the EmPeeGees!
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jminer
> AM3R, lost another burner
12/02/2018 at 16:17 |
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I do like them, but they have less space inside than my compact hatchback.
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jminer
> Tristan
12/02/2018 at 16:18 |
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That’s what I’ve heard from a few others and exactly what I want!
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jminer
> RPM esq.
12/02/2018 at 16:21 |
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Yeah, emissions warranty is extended to 84k on them I believe.
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jminer
> E92M3
12/02/2018 at 16:25 |
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I was actually looking at the new corolla hatch, it’s tempting. I was honestly looking exclusively at Japanese cars until I stumbled across this huge batch of cheap TDIs. I may go back that direction anyway, probably going to buy something in the next couple weeks.
Captain of the Enterprise
> E92M3
12/02/2018 at 17:06 |
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I want a TSX wagon
VW Max
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 19:36 |
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I've got a 2012 TDI wagon with a dsg, ama
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RPM esq.
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 20:02 |
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No, it’s much longer:
T he greater of:
• 11 years or 162,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle’s original in- service date; OR
• 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the date and mileage of Phase 2
Also, it does cover the fuel system after all.
Eric Thompson
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 21:38 |
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Tdi's are awesome, NY gal and I both drive them. If you get one....EGD delete and Malone tune.....you're welcome.
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jminer
> RPM esq.
12/02/2018 at 22:15 |
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Damn it even covers the turbo!
That makes it seem like an even better idea than before...
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jminer
> VW Max
12/02/2018 at 22:16 |
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Any regrets or common issues that have caused you problems?
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jminer
> Eric Thompson
12/02/2018 at 22:18 |
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Do you mean EGR delete? Unless it’s on an old car I’e never found that to be of much use.
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Wild
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 22:43 |
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In the multi-million dollar aftermarket garage I work in we suddenly stopped seeing them for maintenance and repairs. Only the absolute cheapest tires if absolutely necessary. We did sell a few quarts of conventional oil over the counter. But overall the owners that took the buyout knew as long as it drove in the cash was good and they had ZERO long term interest. Many have also been sitting in random parking areas rotting away for years.
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VW Max
> jminer
12/02/2018 at 22:49 |
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The car has only 35k miles and hasn’t had any problems yet. However, since getting the dieselgate fix, the car waits a bit before shifting from 3rd to 4th when the engine is cold. It’s kinda loud so I usually manually put it into 4th. This goes away completely when the engine is up to temperature though.
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jminer
> VW Max
12/02/2018 at 23:31 |
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Other that the transmission has behaved? Never owned a DSG before. Any strange eletrical gremlins crop up and cause issues with the car?
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jminer
> Wild
12/02/2018 at 23:34 |
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That’s honestly my biggest concern, why does a 4 year old car only have 20k miles on it...? Sitting doesn’t do long term good things to a car.
To be fair on maintenance though, most owners don’t give a shit about their car and treat it exactly like you’re describing above anyway.
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VW Max
> jminer
12/03/2018 at 02:23 |
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Other than that the transmission has been perfect. The way the dsg creeps is great too.
I haven’t had any issues with the sunroof or other electronics, but one of the rear windows was slipping down a few years ago. (I think some small plastic pin failed and it wasn’t that expensive to fix. I was like 14 then so I don’t remember lol ).
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VW Max
> jminer
12/03/2018 at 02:26 |
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My average over the past 1000 miles is 36 mpg, but I've seen it creep up to 47 on an extented section of 55 mph highway.
Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!!
> jminer
12/03/2018 at 04:50 |
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We had a 2014 TDI DSG wagon that was bought back. Great driving car, comfortable with very good use of space inside. Fun to drive too. I’d buy it again in a heartbeat. I keep seeing the TDIs back on VW lots and have to fight to keep myself from stopping to look.
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jminer
> VW Max
12/03/2018 at 18:35 |
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Thats pretty damn good, my focus only averages 30.
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jminer
> Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!!
12/03/2018 at 18:37 |
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That’s an excellent endorsement, in going out of town for a few days thia week, but I’ve got to get out and drive one soon.