Need information on older VW diesels

[peobryant]

Now that Dallas has a car I've been itching to get one as well. It's nicer to commute and since it's almost a 100 mile round trip to school (thankfully I only go three times a week) I need a car that gets good mileage.

So I stumbled upon this...

http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/2802843681.html

The thing is, I don't know anything about these older diesel. I'm assuming it's non turbo gutless wonder but I don't need anything powerful. Jon, you had an older VW diesel right? How are the tranny's and engines in these things?

I've also kicked around the idea of getting this...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... -parts-ect


Thanks guys.

[meby]

I own a 2000, but as far as ive heard, the older ones are decent cars. Probably the most gutless car ever, but will get good mpg (my best 57 mpg, my brother got 72 mpg out of his ). I know, not apples to apples with older car and you don't ever want to drive with my brother. He got that mileage on a 300 mile trip with an average speed of 50 mph.

I owned a 300 sd once. Decent car. 26-30 mpg (my best 32 mpg). To heavy to be fast or to get great mpg. It did ride nice and felt like a really solid car. Parts were probably even more expensive and hard to get than for the vw.

[1STGENFARMBOY]

My cousin has one he drives to work, it's a 4dr and older than that, he runs WVO and has
been trouble free for 4 years with exception of a reman head.

it not gona be fun to drive in the least, but it will be cheep transportation.


Dar

[oldestof11]

Well. I would still have mine except for RUST! They rust bad right where the front subframe connects to the unibody. Also rear hatch likes to rust.

Gutless wonder. You can turn down an old IDI ford and still out run this thing. However, maintaining 65mph on the highway wasn't really a problem till I cam to a steeper hill. 4th gear floored I only did 50mph.

Parts are cheap. Timing belt needs to be done asap like on a tdi. Also, putting the glow plugs on a buss bar with 10ga wire to each one and a small battery cable to a relay, then relay to bujss bar helps to get those plugs the correct juice it needs. Also, replace with genuine Bosch Duratherms. Those last 3 or so years vs the 1 from autolite. They are a pain to replace. You have to take the injection lines off to get to them.

If I were to get another one, an EGT gauge, an external lift pump (they pull the fuel from the tank with the IP), the gov spring mod, a 2.5" exhaust, and a slight turn up on the IP. They could get out of their own way then.

Best was 57.8mpg. Go to www.vwdiesel.net for the 1stgen.org clone of information for these things. The VWhoretex is over run with kids.

[peobryant]

Talked to him today and he said his absolute bottom dollar is $2k. Here are some pictures he sent me.







































Says there is no rust and it only has 160,000 miles on it. So, worth two thousand?

[PToombs]

I'd say so but I'm not really familiar with them. I'd buy it for 2k because there's no rust!

[CumminsPower59]

I'd buy it for 2k because there's no rust!

^X2!

I got a screaming deal on mine, 04 TDI Wagon, 5 spd. Bought it from the original owner with 166k on it. Still had that new car smell, immaculate inside and out. Always garaged, washed, waxed. Stole it for $5200

[oldestof11]

If everything works, including the dash and HVAC, its worth $3k or higher.

Things to check: thermal resistor on the blower fan goes out leaving high and off. Annoyance more than anything. Also it has the much more desireable "westy" front end making it period correct and no evidence of a accident. Later ones had the Eco or large square headlights. The front bumper cover is missing but the stupid VWhoretexers like the "big" bumper so the "small" bumper covers are easier to find.

Dam. I wish I had the money.

[Mark Nixon]

2k is a bit high, IMO, especially with all the random fire wiring all over the engine compartment.
Why is it there? What's it controlling? Did the C/O do the wiring?
Why is there RUBBER fuel line in the engine compartment(more than a few inches isn't good for fuel pumps)?
Rust and a beat up rocker means it'll likely rust much more.
The bottom of the door LOOKS nice, but rust on the seam is an indicator of real problems on the way, in short order.

Personally, knowing what I know about these DOGS, I'd never consider more than about $1200 for one similar to this.

Mark.

[peobryant]

Well, he sold it about an hour before I was going to look at it with cash in hand. And of course the IP on my truck has started leaking fuel now, just my luck...

The only other VW diesel around me is this,

http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/2782468833.html

Not to sure how I feel about that one though.

[oldestof11]

Run away