VW TDI Settlement - buying a TDI now

kyfdx

stickguy said:

How about an x3 35i?

http://www.royaleasing.com/detail-2011-bmw-x3-35i-used-15354672.html

That's really cool.. You saw the post about my last BMW repair? Same model, but with the cheaper engine...

qbrozen

ehhh... maybe. I've found plenty of v8 Cayennes with lower miles for less money, though, and, from what I have read so far, the Cayenne seems to be more reliable, too. Of course, I'll probably make up for that in fuel costs.

stickguy

well, I wasn't really paying attention to the price. that is your department.

Ky, I did. Would have given me heart failure.

qbrozen

Logical replacement for my JSW TDI, no??

Although I'd prefer this color.

stickguy

404 error on the first link.

nice color. I have no real desire for one of those.

stever

Should be fixed - some, er, elf got to it. If not, try this.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

404 error on the first link.

nice color. I have no real desire for one of those.

I never did, either, but the performance/dollar equation is tough to ignore. Still, in the end, I've always said I would not buy another 2-seater. I don't feel comfortable having it with me in case an emergency arises and I have to pick up the kids, for example.

qbrozen

Seems like a heck of a deal.

qbrozen

Interesting

breld

Miles on that RX-8 are crazy (low)! I test drove several of them back in the day and always liked them - I personally wouldn't have the stomach for the potential pitfalls of the rotary engine, but you're much more mechanically inclined than I am.

breld

28firefighter said:

Once the A3 goes back, it'll likely be high time to start shopping for the Escape replacement.

I'm thinking maybe a used Q5 TDI, if I can find one.

I obviously love the SQ5, but coming from the X5 35d, I would've liked to have found a Q5 TDI. Hard to come by though, as you say. Plus, I like all the "sport" package stuff, like the seats and steering wheel, which makes it even harder to find. That's partially why I went with the "S" version - all those things are standard.

28firefighter

Well that, and I really don't want to get rid of the A3 so quickly...but wife swears it won't be enough space when baby arrives...

stickguy

Q, you find interesting stuff. Gonna have to put you to work on that for me next year.

I like the TT. price is good. Not sure I trust the seller, but you are savvy enough to know if it is on the up and up. Though not sure where the kids go in that either. certainly not behind you, if they have legs.

Nice looking RX8. though as is, always gives one pause. Should go without saying. With the miles, probably worth the money. But who knows what happens when you start using it all the time.

henryn

qbrozen said:

henryn said:

Diesel engines produce power at lower rpms than gasoline engines. For this reason, the transmission is programmed to allow operation at lower rpms. This feels like “lugging”, but it really isn’t.

The DSG transmission is different than anything I have ever owned or driven before. Quite different. But different is not bad, I kind of like it actually. And the engine is torquey, I like it more than the base 4 cylinder engine in a CR-V or Soul. Would I rather have a big V8, a Mustang GT or a Genesis? Well, yeah! But for an economy car, this is actually fun to drive.

The Passat itself is a very good car. Solid feel to it, the way the doors shut, the very low noise level inside. And lots of room, big trunk, big back seat. A very nice feel on the highway, you can cruise all day in comfort.

There is a delay in accelerating. When you punch it, there is a pause waiting for the transmission to downshift and the turbo to spool up. It is not 2 or 3 seconds, as someone here had suggested. But it is perceptible.

Maybe something is wring with mine because it most definitely is a delay measurable in seconds. Maybe not 3 secs, but damned near 2. It isn't a downshifting issue because it even happens in manual mode. And I'm not sure it is all turbo lag because even if you are rolling only slightly, she'll take off with authority when you reapply throttle. I think there may be something in the trans or even throttle programming when you come to a complete stop. Possibly they programmed it to avoid so much torque from a dead stop. It would be rather rough on the drivetrain. 


Hmmm... My Passat will burn rubber from a dead stop. Maybe this thing has had a "tune"? Interesting thought. Anyone else with a Passat TDI, will yours burn rubber taking off from a dead stop?

28firefighter

I have a delay, but its maybe a half second - it behaves as I expect a VW DSG transmission to behave. It certainly does not burn rubber, but it is quick.

andres3

mjfloyd1 said:

It seems like the DSG in my TDI lugs at some lower speeds. Is that what you mean?

I agree the DSG tuning and programming you find in a TDI is NOT the same quality as that found in a gas GTI, A3, or other DSG equipped vehicle. It seems designed to maximize efficiency via gas mileage, and not really caring all that much about anything else. S-mode helps, but not quite as personality altering as in gas models.

henryn

I have that same short delay. But after it kicks in, this thing will scoot!

andres3

stickguy said:

Good mileage, but not really that much better. My daughter routinely gets 39 driving between jersey and NC on the 1.8t sport. And not all that slow. Supposedly the 1.4t gets a few more mpg. CR tested one, and also said it largely made the TDI redundant.

Well, in CA the last couple of years Diesel has been significantly cheaper than RUG. Right now they are floating at about equal. So the TDI is never redundant depending on market conditions which vary the price of fuel.

andres3

henryn said:

qbrozen said:

henryn said:

Diesel engines produce power at lower rpms than gasoline engines. For this reason, the transmission is programmed to allow operation at lower rpms. This feels like “lugging”, but it really isn’t.

The DSG transmission is different than anything I have ever owned or driven before. Quite different. But different is not bad, I kind of like it actually. And the engine is torquey, I like it more than the base 4 cylinder engine in a CR-V or Soul. Would I rather have a big V8, a Mustang GT or a Genesis? Well, yeah! But for an economy car, this is actually fun to drive.

The Passat itself is a very good car. Solid feel to it, the way the doors shut, the very low noise level inside. And lots of room, big trunk, big back seat. A very nice feel on the highway, you can cruise all day in comfort.

There is a delay in accelerating. When you punch it, there is a pause waiting for the transmission to downshift and the turbo to spool up. It is not 2 or 3 seconds, as someone here had suggested. But it is perceptible.

Maybe something is wring with mine because it most definitely is a delay measurable in seconds. Maybe not 3 secs, but damned near 2. It isn't a downshifting issue because it even happens in manual mode. And I'm not sure it is all turbo lag because even if you are rolling only slightly, she'll take off with authority when you reapply throttle. I think there may be something in the trans or even throttle programming when you come to a complete stop. Possibly they programmed it to avoid so much torque from a dead stop. It would be rather rough on the drivetrain. 

Hmmm... My Passat will burn rubber from a dead stop. Maybe this thing has had a "tune"? Interesting thought. Anyone else with a Passat TDI, will yours burn rubber taking off from a dead stop?

What ya'll are experiencing is Audi/VW's advanced artificially intelligent "learning" computer driving the transmission programming. If your VW was mainly driven by a 85 year old grandma that thinks 0-60 in 20 seconds is fast, you will experience a transmission used to driving around like a Toyota. If your Audi/VW was driven by me for the majority of its recent life, it will burn rubber from a dead stop. They are supposed to adapt to your driving style. I'm used to buying new, so I haven't experienced one that was broken in entirely incorrectly yet, to see how long it takes to re-learn the way it should work.

stickguy

I have never seen diesel that cheap in Jersey. Most of the time it is at PUG or above cost. Though recently I think I saw it closer to RUG (maybe mid grade level).

just fired up gas buddy. at the same station, Diesel is about 10-15 cents more than RUG.

andres3

28firefighter said:

I have a delay, but its maybe a half second - it behaves as I expect a VW DSG transmission to behave. It certainly does not burn rubber, but it is quick.

Try S-mode on the DSG... I'm certain I've got the wife's SportWagen to spin the tires around that way.

andres3

28firefighter said:

Well that, and I really don't want to get rid of the A3 so quickly...but wife swears it won't be enough space when baby arrives...

The A3 is surprisingly roomy in 5-door versions. If no one is over 6' tall and you don't yet have more than 2 kids (including the new one) you should be fine. Use the "compact" strollers.

28firefighter

andres3 said:

28firefighter said:

Well that, and I really don't want to get rid of the A3 so quickly...but wife swears it won't be enough space when baby arrives...

The A3 is surprisingly roomy in 5-door versions. If no one is over 6' tall and you don't yet have more than 2 kids (including the new one) you should be fine. Use the "compact" strollers.

That is the TDI we have right now - a 5-door. She just compares it with the space in her escape which is downright cavernous in comparison.

qbrozen

Played with it more today and S mode does shorten the delay. I tried timing with a stopwatch between stepping on the gas and the car thrusting forward. It is about 1.5 secs in D and a bit under 1 sec in S. I can't, for the life of me, understand why manual mode is as slow as D from a stop.

stever

Heh, my minivan will easily burn rubber from a stop.

That reminds me, my tires are in and I need to make an appointment to get them mounted. That'll fix the squealing at the stop signs.

kyfdx

Diesel and RUG were the same price, when I filled up, yesterday. PUG is +60cents.

stickguy

premium has been crazy expensive lately around here. often 50-60 cents plus over regular. Definitely makes looking at cars that need RUG a priority.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

premium has been crazy expensive lately around here. often 50-60 cents plus over regular. Definitely makes looking at cars that need RUG a priority.

Every gas car we own uses Premium. Read a local news story that the wholesale price of Shell Premium is $0.54 higher than regular.

stickguy

they either need to make more premium, or I need to make sure to own only cars that don't need it. The RDX is "recommended" but not required, so I usually use RUG, but put in premium when I find it cheap.

stever

The place I try to get gas has "out of order" signs on the premium and midgrade buttons. Filled up tonight for $1.87 a gallon.

Diesel was 2.03 across the street, no idea what premium is going for.

kyfdx

http://www.pendletonpikeauto.com/mobile/mdefault.aspx

Good return on this low mile Passat. Near Indianapolis. No picture

Michaell

RUG was $1.999 at the local Kroger. Filled up the Elantra for the first time in 24 days. Not delivering pizzas has cut way down on the miles I drive.

henryn

kyfdx said:

http://www.pendletonpikeauto.com/mobile/mdefault.aspx

Good return on this low mile Passat. Near Indianapolis. No picture

Yeah, you're right, I'll buy it!

Wait ... it's in Indiana? Never mind.

If any of the adventurous members of this board want to take a road trip, I'll pay for the fuel and you can drive it down to Houston. You're on your own getting home though!

xwesx

henryn said:

Wait ... it's in Indiana? Never mind.

If any of the adventurous members of this board want to take a road trip, I'll pay for the fuel and you can drive it down to Houston. You're on your own getting home though!

I need a little more down time.

kyfdx

Passat near Indy is already off the dealer's website

henryn

I went ahead and ordered brake pads for my Passat. These "grabby" brakes are annoying. On my 2008 Passat, you had to have a vag-com (VCDS) to release the parking brake (EPB = Electronic Parking Brake) in order to change out the rear brake pads, but this 2013 does not have an EPB. I took a good look at the rotors, and they are very clean with almost no lip at all. I plan to just slip in the new pads without removing the rotors. And yes, I have the special tool for compressing those rear calipers.

Amazon Prime, about $81 for all wheels, Wagner Thermo-Quiet pads. Interesting that the rears are ceramic and the fronts are semi-metallic.

I was looking around, and Discount Tire will sell me a set of 4 new tires for $347 drive out. Ohtsu which is apparently a house brand, but they have good user reviews. If I'm going to keep for 2 years, I will do this.

The tires on this unit may be the OEM tires. Hankook Optimo, which is apparently what these cars came with new. The fronts look like they might be original with 67k miles, the rears still look surprisingly good. I could easily make it to November on these, but if I'm going for 2 years, might as well have new tires all the way around.

Decisions, decisions.

corvette

My Sportwagen is at Carmax. I test drove it today. It's comfortable, has good torque and visibility, and lots of engine braking when you let off the gas. The shade on the pano roof is not 100% opaque, and this is irritating on 90+ degree days like today, especially with a black interior. I will pick it up on Monday.

When he asked why I picked this particular vehicle to be shipped from far away, I told my Carmax salesman about my plan to take the buyback in short order, and he said he had the same idea and discussion about buying a TDI to get the buyback money with one of the other sales associates there.

I guess I picked the right vehicle as my "keeper," because I prefer my Murano overall!

kyfdx

@corvette Congrats!

jpp75

I'm still looking around. The red Jetta nearby had major damage, which didn't bother me but the dealer called yesterday and said it was a write off and they wouldn't be selling it. Not sure I believe them but it is what it is.

There aren't any others around here but I'll keep an eye out as I travel for work, never know when one will pop up.

henryn

I check Craigslist at least every other day, what I'm seeing now are "wanting to buy". I don't think there are going to be any more deals, at least not around here. Oh, well, I got one, no need to be greedy.

That is, unless you can get away with it!

qbrozen

hmmm... I'll have to look for those ads. They are welcome to buy mine!

stickguy

I should have just done it. Really liked that brown Jetta!

qbrozen

Could make a couple grand on this one.
About 3 Gs on this.

jpp75

henryn said:

I check Craigslist at least every other day, what I'm seeing now are "wanting to buy". I don't think there are going to be any more deals, at least not around here. Oh, well, I got one, no need to be greedy.

That is, unless you can get away with it!

I found a couple on Craigslist near here, but it looked like a scam. One was an hour and a half north of here and had Montana plates. The second was the exact same house/background but was an hour south of here with the same phone number.

stickguy

Getting down to the old, miled up ones I see. Might be afraid to drive the one that has 161k on it. And seller doesn't know the color.

qbrozen

Good return on this one. About $4k.

Stripper Golf with a manual trans and a few grand upside.

This super low miles 2-door is worth about $19k buyback.

BTW, Autotrader shows 28 within 100 miles of me. These are just a few that stood out.

stickguy

surprised a base 2011 golf would go for 19K. Hate the tint. and not the best place to be located. But, if it qualifies, about $4k profit potential.

henryn

If that 2012 Passat was near me, I would be all over it. Best I can tell, no Sunroof!!!!

Based on their asking price of $15,888, after TT&L (approximated) I could see a net profit of nearly $3.3k.

And did I mention no sunroof?

qbrozen

yup. no slider, no nav.

kyfdx

http://www.hublerchevyauto.com/VehicleDetails/used-2011-Volkswagen-Jetta_SportWagen-4dr_DSG_TDI_SportWagen-Indianapolis-IN/2822454833

$15,400 buyback
$12K asking