Just picked up a 2003 Jetta TDI

[Shaners]

Yesterday I just bought a 2003 Jetta GLS TDI 5-speed for my son. The car has 117K miles on it and the maintenance is unbelievable. This car was owned by a Certified Master Mechanic and if the car even seemed like it might need something he replaced it! I know VW's have lots of little electrical gremlins (I have had a TDI before) but the diesel engine just runs forever and delivers great MPG's. This car will easily get my son through his last 2 years of college.

[Zembonez]

Congrats. The TDI cars do run forever.

[SnakeEyeSS]

I would say have fun with it....but it seems like you won't drive it....so

 

congrats on the find. I think those years can run on bio diesel stock?

[Porter_]

congrats, i've heard good things about TDI's. i owned a 2003 VR6 (so a different animal than your son's TDI) for just 18 months and it was a nightmare. maintenance in general was ridiculously overpriced for an economy car. Oil changes were $90; 5 quarts synthetic, bastardized canister-less filter that was insanely expensive and a pain to find in stock. i kissed a parking curb ever so lightly pulling into the grocery store, the kind of 'bump' that is so subtle you think to yourself "did i just hit the curb or did something shift in the glovebox?" turns out i damaged the electric fan but no biggie, it's just a fan. $600 later in repairs and i was on my way. when the hydraulic clutch assembly started leaking (an $1800 repair) a couple months after the fan, that's when i traded it in on the GMC Sierra. car had 58K miles on it when i traded it in.

 

don't let my story put you off. you can find them all over the web about any brand of vehicle, not just VW's. just giving you a *possible* forewarning. hope you have much better luck

[Morgan1986]

I heard only good things about those cars .

[Shaners]

In the last 4k miles the previous (mechanic) owner replaced the timing belt and water pump. New clutch, new "heavy" flywheel, throwout bearing and slave cylinder. All fluids were changed (brake, power steering, coolant etc...). Intake was cleaned. 4 new glow plugs and heavy duty glow plug wire harness. All new tires. New brakes and rotors all around. Tie rods were done and 4 wheel alignment. And the list goes on...

 

My last TDI Beetle had little electrical gremlins like blown lightbulbs and frail wires that would break so I am expecting the same with this car. However, all the major mechanicals have been gone through on this one so there should be another 100k miles with very little issues.