Should I buy a 2004 Jetta TDI?

blackmega3500 said:
What's your main goal? Just a diesel commuter and family car? If so, highly recommend buying a 2014 535d if it fits the budget and slap a good aftermarket warranty on it. Reason being 1 the 5 series gives you a lot more over the 3 series, and just basic crap breaking on a BMW can be a tough pill. I know a guy with a stock 535d with 140k miles and it's got a ton of life left in it.

X5D would be a fun one I still believe and can be found for <20k with reasonable miles on em.
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I just want something to drive back and forth to work, doesn’t have to be all that nice, and can’t really be very expensive. This cat saved me about $300mo over driving my 04, if something can’t save me that much money, or close to it, there is no point. I’d rather drive my truck than any of these cars.

My plan is once my youngest gets out of daycare, I will buy a newer truck and just drive that everyday.


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Just buy a smaller gasser, it will get upper 30's, and put the money you save on the initial purchase in an investment account.
 
SPEEDSHIFT said:
Meh, I really hate cars all together. I may just go back to driving my truck.
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HAHA that works as well. I purchased a 2003 pontiac grand am GT. Had 101K on it, gave $500(said it had a sticky throttle) changed the throttle body, fuel pump, heater blower resistor, window switch, set off winter tires/rims, found a different front end to fix a crack. I have $1000 in it, so far put 16K miles on it, get about 33 mpg on the highway, about 24mpg around town.
 
I found a couple complete engines for $500ea... but if I have the engine out I might as well rebuild it... and the transmission... and port the head, balance the rotating assembly, and install the taller 5th gear. :doh:
 
SPEEDSHIFT said:
Meh, I really hate cars all together. I may just go back to driving my truck.
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That's kind of where I've been at. Since my 12V was my DD and started getting less street friendly, I've had a Jeep, Audi, Mustang, and Ford Focus. The Jeep was really cheap to maintain, modding the Audi was fun, and the Mustang is a great car out the box, and the Focus is great for distance, but I ultimately moved back to a truck and couldn't be happier. I dd my mostly stock 4th gen, pay $120 a week to fill the tank, and feel back at home.
 
I'll suggest the X5 with the diesel. Sits like a truck, gets 26-30 depending on how you drive and fuel quality, comfy ride and fairly quick (quicker with a tune). In 20k and 20 months, I've dropped just over 1k in maintenance/repairs.
 
I am currently looking for a good head and or a longblock for this car, if anyone has anything please let me know. Not looking to spend much though. Around $500 is what I have been seeing for complete longblocks.
 
joefarmer said:
I'll suggest the X5 with the diesel. Sits like a truck, gets 26-30 depending on how you drive and fuel quality, comfy ride and fairly quick (quicker with a tune). In 20k and 20 months, I've dropped just over 1k in maintenance/repairs.
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Thats not bad, I dont think ill spend that much for a beater though. Id rather just put that towards a newer truck.
 
I love my 01 and 03 tdi Golfs. They are cheap to mod and can push the MPG into the high 40's low 50's. $35-40 to fill up and get 6-700 miles.
 
SKYNYRD said:
I love my 01 and 03 tdi Golfs. They are cheap to mod and can push the MPG into the high 40's low 50's. $35-40 to fill up and get 6-700 miles.
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Thats good mileage, I got high 30s before the tune and turbo then went to low 30s afterwards. I would get about 450 miles per tank.

I found an engine about 3hrs away, I may go pick it up during the holidays. Id really like to rebuild it and the transmission if parts arent too expensive.
 
Getting 43 myself on winter blend. 06 BRM 5sp.
I am toying with the idea of a Malone tune.
Already did the cam and put a single mass flywheel on it.

SPEEDSHIFT you may already know about https://www.tdiclub.com/
lots smart guys there.
 
SPEEDSHIFT said:
Thats good mileage, I got high 30s before the tune and turbo then went to low 30s afterwards. I would get about 450 miles per tank.

I found an engine about 3hrs away, I may go pick it up during the holidays. Id really like to rebuild it and the transmission if parts arent too expensive.
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That's low for that car!
 
Got Smoke? said:
That's low for that car!
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Yea, it may need a MAF sensor. I have read that is a common culprit of low mileage. It does have a K&N air filter also, which is supposed to eat the MAF up as well. Either that or me driving 85mph everywhere. lol
 
I will be picking up an engine this weekend. Its a complete long block that originally came from LKQ with 160k miles. What is a good timing belt kit? I will probably put it back together and sell it.

Kinda over the whole car thing now.
 
SPEEDSHIFT said:
I will be picking up an engine this weekend. Its a complete long block that originally came from LKQ with 160k miles. What is a good timing belt kit? I will probably put it back together and sell it.

Kinda over the whole car thing now.
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I my stuff from idparts.com
 
ID has a nice kit. It's the one I had installed several years ago. They got my clutch here in 3 days.

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How bad are the pistons? I’ve read that most of the time the tiny a$s valves don’t really hurt the slugs. Just a head and send it?

To add I have no idea how I’d make it Texas way but my daughter is getting close to her permit age, whatcha asking with the LkQ in the trunk? Text me if you’d like, 623298859one
 
Whatever you do, put a SMF and clutch in it. I didn't get a pic of the flywheel, but the two pieces were turned about 15 degrees out of phase from one another. I bought the g60 vr6 clutch for mine.
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