('11+) Trade '12 Impreza for a Jetta TDI

[sgoldste01]

For me, I wish there was an inexpensive diesel car that's also reliable. As I said earlier, I'd love it if Subaru would bring their diesel boxer engine into the USA.

I've also heard rumor that Mazda is bringing diesels to the USA, probably placed in a Mazda6 sedan and also the CX-5 crossover.

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[Oceanguy]

LOL - stumbled on this - http://www.change.org/petitions/suba...-north-america

maybe if we wait long enough, Subaru will have an option? It seems to me that with the required fuel efficiency standards, more manufacturers will have to bring their diesels to the US market to meet the requirements.

[Ladeef]

Originally Posted by sgoldste01

From Consumer Reports:



'Nuf said.

Oh, wait, not quite. Here's a good thread to read, too:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=299854

Great info, I wouldn't think twice about trading for that car, in the long run the money you'll save on gas will be offset by the repair bills.

[sgoldste01]

Just signed it.

[sgoldste01]

Originally Posted by Ladeef

Great info, I wouldn't think twice about trading for that car, in the long run the money you'll save on gas will be offset by the repair bills.

Yup. The charts indicate a 65% reliability spread between the Golf TDI and the Impreza. If that's not statistically significant, I don't know what is.

[ST Eye]

sgoldste01, did your HPFP go on your TDI? Among all the problems you listed, which ones did you experience?

[sgoldste01]

No, my HPFP did not fail. But here are the failures I experienced, in order:

• Driver's seat fabric fraying.
• Water pump leak (this required two trips to the dealership to fix; they replaced the coolant reservoir first, but when it continued to loose coolant, I crawled under the car, removed the plastic belly pan, and took pics of big pink stalactites hanging from the bottom of the engine). Total time at dealership: 2 days.
• Non-start due to frozen intercooler. Missed a very important meeting as a result. Had updated intercooler kit installed. Dealership would not provide a loaner car during this 3-day job. Had to bring car back to dealership immediately because the headlights didn't work.
• Major fuel leak while driving from MD to NY. Car leaked 5 gallons of fuel all over itself while driving on the highway, before I could get safely off the road and shut it down. I'm surprised I didn't get any warnings on the dash from a lack of fuel pressure. Unfortunately, this occurred on a national holiday, so closest dealership in (how ironic is this?) Mechanicsburg, PA was closed. Car sat soaking in its own fuel for 30 hours because all businesses were closed until the next day. Owner's manual says that fuel must be cleaned from all plastic, rubber, and painted parts IMMEDIATELY to prevent leaks and serious damage, but that wasn't possible. In the end, VWoA agreed to have a small list of obvious parts replaced, but wouldn't replace things like CV boots, brake lines, seals around windows that got wet with fuel, etc. PA dealership fixed leak after I was stranded in PA for 3 days, and I drove car to my normal dealership in NY to complete the repairs. When I asked for an extended warranty on all plastic, rubber, and painted parts that weren't replaced, VWoA declined, but offered to treat me and my wife to dinner instead (I'm not making this up). Total time at dealership: 2.5 weeks. I drove the car home from dealership on a Thursday evening, immediately took pics of it, wrote and posted a brilliant ad on Craigslist, and watched its new owner drive it away two days later on Saturday.

I loved that TDI when it was running correctly. No, really, I loved it. I was truly misty-eyed as I watched the buyer drive it away. I felt like I just sold my beloved dog.

But when I take loving, meticulous care of a car, I expect it to reward me with reliable service. I can't accept numerous failures. I can't accept VWoA not willing to provide me with peace of mind by extending the warranty on the affected parts that weren't replaced. And I can't accept VWoA offending me by offering to buy me dinner as a way of making me feel better. It didn't work, and only made me even angrier than I already was. And I couldn't accept wondering if/when the HPFP, DPF, EGR, exhaust valve would fail after the warranty expired in 6k miles.

As you can see, this situation still pisses me off.

[sgoldste01]

ST Eye, you might find this post of mine interesting:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...postcount=2177

[ST Eye]

Originally Posted by sgoldste01

ST Eye, you might find this post of mine interesting:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...postcount=2177

Thanks for the post.

If I bought this car, I would only keep the car while it has a warranty. I don't tend to keep cars that long, not a choice because of the potential problems the car has.

[sgoldste01]

Originally Posted by ST Eye

Thanks for the post.

If I bought this car, I would only keep the car while it has a warranty. I don't tend to keep cars that long, not a choice because of the potential problems the car has.

All the problems I had with my TDI occurred while it was under warranty. So VW picked up the tab, but there was no compensation for the inconvenience. Many trips to the local dealership. And I missed three days of work while I was stuck in PA.

If you're determined to buy a TDI, I would recommend that you wait until the MK7 TDI comes out in 2014, and then give it a year to see what people are reporting on the TDI forums. I just think the MK6 has too many known serious issues to recommend it.

[ST Eye]

So they are completely redesigning the Jetta next year? The mk6 has only been around for 3 years.

[sgoldste01]

I'm not sure about the Jetta. I know the MK7 Golf is available in Europe now, and will come to the USA in 2014. Sometimes the diesels lag behind the gas version, but I don't know if that will happen with the MK7.

With the MK6 generation, the Jetta lagged behind the Golf by at least one year, and was de-contented when compared to the Golf. The MK6 Golf has a much nicer interior than the MK6 Jetta. I don't know if that will still be true for the MK7.

Both MK6 Golf and Jetta TDIs have the same reliability issues, though (HPFP, DPF, intercooler, EGR, exhaust flap, blah blah blah). It will be interesting to see if the MK7 resolves these issues, without introducing new issues.

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by sgoldste01

I'm not sure about the Jetta. I know the MK7 Golf is available in Europe now, and will come to the USA in 2014. Sometimes the diesels lag behind the gas version, but I don't know if that will happen with the MK7.

With the MK6 generation, the Jetta lagged behind the Golf by at least one year, and was de-contented when compared to the Golf. The MK6 Golf has a much nicer interior than the MK6 Jetta. I don't know if that will still be true for the MK7.

Both MK6 Golf and Jetta TDIs have the same reliability issues, though (HPFP, DPF, intercooler, EGR, exhaust flap, blah blah blah). It will be interesting to see if the MK7 resolves these issues, without introducing new issues.

As long as they keep using that 2.0 tdi I don't think the problems will go away

[sgoldste01]

Originally Posted by flyboy1100

As long as they keep using that 2.0 tdi I don't think the problems will go away

I don't know that I agree. The current Passat TDI doesn't seem to have the same issues as the MK6 Golf/Jetta Sportwagen/Jetta sedan. I don't know how VW radically improved the reliability of the HPFP in the Passat, but it seems that they have. As for the intercooler freezing issue, the Passat uses a water intercooler instead of an air intercooler, which eliminates the freezing problem.

I don't know how the Passats are doing with regard to the DPF and EGR issues. The TDI Passat has only been around for one year, so it's hard to know for sure how it will do once the fleet gets more miles on it.

But at least the HPFP and intercooler issues are greatly improved on the Passat. If someone pointed a gun to my head and forced me to buy a VW TDI today, the Passat is the only model I'd consider.

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by sgoldste01

I don't know that I agree. The current Passat TDI doesn't seem to have the same issues as the MK6 Golf/Jetta Sportwagen/Jetta sedan. I don't know how VW radically improved the reliability of the HPFP in the Passat, but it seems that they have. As for the intercooler freezing issue, the Passat uses a water intercooler instead of an air intercooler, which eliminates the freezing problem.

I don't know how the Passats are doing with regard to the DPF and EGR issues. The TDI Passat has only been around for one year, so it's hard to know for sure how it will do once the fleet gets more miles on it.

But at least the HPFP and intercooler issues are greatly improved on the Passat. If someone pointed a gun to my head and forced me to buy a VW TDI today, the Passat is the only model I'd consider.

so it isn't quite the same 2.0? interesting

[ST Eye]

Originally Posted by flyboy1100

so it isn't quite the same 2.0? interesting

It is the same 2.0 (Common Rail Engine), however I think the fuel pump is different.

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by ST Eye

It is the same 2.0 (Common Rail Engine), however I think the fuel pump is different.

i bet they don't move it to the jetta/golf because it costs more and don't want to raise prices.

[sgoldste01]

Originally Posted by flyboy1100

i bet they don't move it to the jetta/golf because it costs more and don't want to raise prices.

I agree with this for the remainder of the MK6's manufacturing run (and is why I'm advising ST Eye and anyone who will read this to avoid MK6 purchases, both new and used).

The question is whether or not the MK7s will get the improvements that are already shown in the Passat. It will take at least a year to get the answer to that question.

[flyboy1100]

Drove our 2006 mkv 2.5 jetta today attempting to see if the brake switch (common problem ) I replaced last night actually fixed the issues, so far so good.
Issues:
1. Brake lights stuck on and draining battery
2. Brake override killing cars throttle, my wife was at steady speed and it would start to coast. Very dangerous in traffic..... all due to the faulty brake switch..

Vw's are electrical nightmares. I learned in resesrching this that there is a separate computer just to control the lights of the vehicle, even though there are all the normal switches..

Things I miss:
1. Torque
2. Much less noise on the highway
3. Torque
4. Seat is more comfortable and the materials are nicer

But I will still never buy another vw product.

[sgoldste01]

I concur.

[ST Eye]

I am holding off until they change the fuel pump design. Perhaps a 2013.5?

[sgoldste01]

I don't believe the MK7 VWs will hit our shores until 2014.

[flyboy1100]

Originally Posted by ST Eye

I am holding off until they change the fuel pump design. Perhaps a 2013.5?

in the past when they have done .5years it was to keep an old design going, ie 2006.5 TDI was really a 2007 with a 2006 drivetrain to get around emission changes

[djupstromj]

go for the jetta you rather have the turbo power with the economy of an 80 rabbit

[ST Eye]

Originally Posted by djupstromj

go for the jetta you rather have the turbo power with the economy of an 80 rabbit

The issues with the HPFP ruined my hopes for getting the current Jetta TDI.