TDI life in CY

[Khyron]

So I might be looking at the new TDI sportwagon as a companion to the Jabba. The MPG has huge appeal as my commute is pretty much 70k/day along with kids and camping/biking etc.

Aside from not warming up by just idling, what other "cons" are there to the diesel up here? Easy to find? I have no plug ins at work but I do have an attached garage.

Of course the 2.0T would be my fallback choice which is fine too.

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

of course plugging in is always preferable, but a strong battery, and good glow plugs will go a long way. I love my TDI! I've put about 130k km on it in the last 4 years, and I don't think I've had any more problems then any other VW person on here.

[Kor]

Re: TDI life in CY

I would love to have a TDI daily driver :(

Basically the perfect daily driver engine for Canada.

[Bubbleboy]

Re: TDI life in CY

My 05 TDi was the best starting VW of the 8 VWs I've owned, and it did not have a block heater. My only complaint was the lack of heat in -30 when driving in the city. If I was highway driving, even at -40, warm up times were short and there was tons of heat. I also wouldn't pass up a tip TDi too, as it did pull hard....even though I bought a 5 speed, but that was out of spite....LOL.

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

just make sure you have seat heat!

[RobG]

Re: TDI life in CY

After a drive to Nanimo with 4 people and a loaded trunk on $56 of diesel, It's hard to look at cars that run on other fuels.

[Red90]

Re: TDI life in CY

If you are talking about the new ones (2009 models), well they will be a lot more fun to drive than the gassers. Seriously.

[nismodrifter]

Re: TDI life in CY

No problems starting in cold weather. Ever. Both of our TDI's have started EVERY single time whether it be here in Calgary or in cold as hell weather in Saskatoon during the school year.

TDI Dub: I made a fully loaded trip from Naniamo to Calgary as well on one tank haha. Did that trip wayyy back in the day in our 300SD Turbo Diesel, it couldn't make it all the way home though....started sputtering at the intersection of Sarcee/37th street right where the new casino is hehe. My record distance was 1247kms with a decent amount of fuel left to spare (Calgary->Kelowna and back).

TDI FTW.

[Vulcan]

Re: TDI life in CY

I enjoy my diesel but there are a few things to be aware of...

1) No heat in the winter if you are doing the 1st gear grind in heavy traffic
2) Oil changes are $$$
3) The price of diesel has gone through the roof which takes away some of the economy of driving a diesel.

[Red90]

Re: TDI life in CY

1) No heat in the winter if you are doing the 1st gear grind in heavy traffic
2) Oil changes are $$$
3) The price of diesel has gone through the roof which takes away some of the economy of driving a diesel.

1) I never see that problem.
2) Intervals are double the gasser, so not really and besides, you SHOULD be using just as expensive an oil in your gasser as your diesel....
3) Diesel prices are always higher in the winter. They will drop in the summer. There is only a 2.5 cent difference as of today... http://www.calgarygasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D

[Bubbleboy]

Re: TDI life in CY

I enjoy my diesel but there are a few things to be aware of...

1) No heat in the winter if you are doing the 1st gear grind in heavy traffic
2) Oil changes are $$$
3) The price of diesel has gone through the roof which takes away some of the economy of driving a diesel.

Oh ya, dawn the kevlar reinforced underwear when it comes time to do the 100000KM service. If I remember it's $1600 or so. Timing belt, water pump....blah blah blah......but never skip you scheduled maintenance!

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

price not so bad at a shop like Tunedub. and yeah, 16,000km oil change pretty much negates the extra cost of synth oil.

i think the new 2.0TDI is a 15-16,000km change as well

[Khyron]

Re: TDI life in CY

Yah I already do my own oil with 5/40 synth, so I pay the price. And 90-100K timing belt/waterpump was 700 or so on a gasser.

So the heat issue isn't really an issue after all? What about the gas gelling or whatever in really cold temps? I know it's not often but we do get a deep freeze every now and then and the car can be outside for 10-12 hours between starts...

[stefan]

Re: TDI life in CY

if its really cold, my car will start dropping from regular operating temp if i sit at an idle, or am in slow traffic.
the winter diesel we get after around october-ish (i think its october anyway) prevents most gelling. (little worse mileage in winter because of this).

[Stonewall]

Re: TDI life in CY

Personally I rarely see the temp drop and never has it become uncomfortable. The 100K service is only about 800$ at tunedub so it is a normal issue too. I guess the only real major maintenance issue is having to change the fuel filter every year or so other then that every thing else is pretty comparable.