My Current Jetta ALH TDI 01M vs Gen 2 Prius?

[Andyinchville1]

Interesting thread

I'm a delivery driver doing mostly Highway run and I was in the same basic predicament TDI Jetta 5-speed or Toyota Prius.

I ended up going TDI and having fun modifying it..

It's a daily driver often putting on 200 to 300 miles a day.

Finding a good Guru is not too terribly difficult they work on my car for me when needed but it's not very often typically only every hundred thousand miles or so
..

Gasoline is cheaper than diesel but if you run W 85 it's basically free .... w85 is waste motor oil cut with 15% regular unleaded gas centrifuge to Micron / submicron level .

One big thing I did like about the Prius was that it is somewhat quieter than the Jetta but I will be doing some sound insulating soon ... of course that may be partially neutralized by my soon-to-be free flowing down pipe and straight through exhaust!

[ukiltmybrutha]

Originally Posted by Andyinchville1

Interesting thread

I'm a delivery driver doing mostly Highway run and I was in the same basic predicament TDI Jetta 5-speed or Toyota Prius.

I ended up going TDI and having fun modifying it..

It's a daily driver often putting on 200 to 300 miles a day.

Finding a good Guru is not too terribly difficult they work on my car for me when needed but it's not very often typically only every hundred thousand miles or so
..

Gasoline is cheaper than diesel but if you run W 85 it's basically free .... w85 is waste motor oil cut with 15% regular unleaded gas centrifuge to Micron / submicron level .

One big thing I did like about the Prius was that it is somewhat quieter than the Jetta but I will be doing some sound insulating soon ... of course that may be partially neutralized by my soon-to-be free flowing down pipe and straight through exhaust!

Wow....my predicament is a bit different since I have the 01M but close enough in a way. Thanks for the data. I have no interest in modifying mine since I have much faster cars but the thought of modding sure is interesting.

I am running redline C+ in the trans. Some quasi anecdotal data shows that is bees knees for these transmissions even as opposed to redline D4. C+ kept the awful transmission in my Caravan alive forever.

I love the sarcastic sound of the Jetta especially at idle. On the highway I can hardly hear it. This is getting good. I need some popcorn.

[rmay635703]

I owned the exact car you have,

While a Prius may or may not need a battery in the near future
The Jetta can need lots of parts,
Ours needed (in a short span)
1. Glow Plugs
2. Timing Belt
3. Full Wheelends with brakes (Rusted out)
4. Injection Pump
5. Transmission started surging On the highway at 120,000
6. Glovebox failed and needed replacement

We cut our losses and sold the car shortly after we suspected a transmission replacement in our near future.

I agree with others to set a budget run It into the ground limiting how much maintenance you are willing to pay for.

[ukiltmybrutha]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

I owned the exact car you have,

While a Prius may or may not need a battery in the near future
The Jetta can need lots of parts,
Ours needed (in a short span)
1. Glow Plugs
2. Timing Belt
3. Full Wheelends with brakes (Rusted out)
4. Injection Pump
5. Transmission started surging On the highway at 120,000
6. Glovebox failed and needed replacement

We cut our losses and sold the car shortly after we suspected a transmission replacement in our near future.

I agree with others to set a budget run It into the ground limiting how much maintenance you are willing to pay for.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by ukiltmybrutha

When I say "timing belt" I meant the whole ordeal/experience of changing it.

It's really far from being the most pleasant task, but it's not so bad as trying to change a "sealed" chain while overhauling some engines.

[ukiltmybrutha]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

It's really far from being the most pleasant task, but it's not so bad as trying to change a "sealed" chain while overhauling some engines.

Yeah! Lol. Just burned out with working on cars....and getting old.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by ukiltmybrutha

Yeah! Lol. Just burned out with working on cars....and getting old.

Nowadays I am prefering small-displacement utilitarian motorcycles due to their purchase cost and the mechanicals more easily accessible, but runner's knees prevent me from getting one.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by ukiltmybrutha

Yeah! Lol. Just burned out with working on cars....and getting old.

I hear you there. In the not to distant past I did almost all the work on my vehicles because I couldn't afford to pay a mechanic. Now that my finances have improved wasting a nice weekend wrenching on a car has lost it's appeal. I still do standard maintenance but I'm not to keen on troubleshooting and tracing mystery issues.

The position switch recently stopped working on the campervan so it is stuck on defrost and feet. I could spend hours (maybe days) tracing vacuum lines but I think I'll take it to the local independent shop instead and let them have that fun.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JSH

In the not to distant past I did almost all the work on my vehicles because I couldn't afford to pay a mechanic. Now that my finances have improved wasting a nice weekend wrenching on a car has lost it's appeal. I still do standard maintenance but I'm not to keen on troubleshooting and tracing mystery issues.

Sure it's a PITA to deal with some "unplanned" maintenance while you would rather spend your time on something else, and certain procedures are quite exhausting. But depending on the problem, I'd still rather do it by myself instead of paying for someone else to do, even if I would end up doing some makeshift either for budget savings or due to not having patience to do the proper procedure.

[skyking]

Diesel guy responding
I have had 3 MKIV with 5 speeds.
I'd say, since you have jetta in hand, roll with it. at $500 it does not owe you much.
Feel free to ask questions here or send me a PM if you'd rather not deal with the "Enthusiasts at TDIclub forums.
Here's an email I got from rockauto clearance sale the other day, and all MKIV suspension bits are the same.
https://www.rockauto.com/RSS/vehicle...l=en&html=true

I know you don't want to wrench, but if you needed brakes for example, those prices are crazy.