[dremd]

Unfortunately my Golf TDI met an untimely demise last year due to a hit and run.

Many of you guys know my affinity for vehicle features and how much troubble it is to get a TDI VW with them, so this time I've decided to buy a Loaded (GLS Premium) Jetta wagon and swap a TDI 6 speed manual drive train in to it.

The wagon is clean -> super clean 03 Reflex silver with power memory light gray leather interior, climatronic, Electronic Stability Program, auto dimming miriors, automatic wipers, monsoon stereo, steering wheel controls, larger brakes (I know, more rolling mass, but I like them when towing), and all of the regular goodies that you get on a VW. Dealer maintained with a scary stack of receipts that I would never have paid.
$6500 in Cedar Rapids.

I Flew up on American Airlines (watched pilot cruise at 550 mph to arrive 30 minutes early, only to sit on ground waiting for a gate and realized why they go bankrupt so frequently.) the owner was super concerned I would freak over some scratches in the rocker panel from a wheel chair bound husband that I later covered up with some rino liner. I then set off for home 1200 miles away on a 1 1/2 day time schedule, so I was stuck driving at (or +1). Mileage was (and still is) terrible 24-25 mpg. Made it home with no issues.

I Found a 250,000 mile ALH at what I considered to be a great deal, and have been tearing it apart. Cylinder walls still show cross hatching, cam still shows cross machining marks except for 1/8" at peak of ramp up (I'm thinking about replacing it. The main bearings were well within new spec, but I replaced them because they had a spot where they had worn away the coating, all new stretch bolts, new oil pump to replace one sheared off in accident, new oil pan with oil temp + level sensor, exaust wrap on turbo manifold, a new oil bypass filter setup, and a few other bits.

Also got a DRW 6 speed and associated bits.

I'm pretty busy in spring, so the swap will have to wait until early summer, hopefully soon because this mileage is killing me.