TDI Performance

Hello all. I have become very interested in the Golf and GTI line of Volkswagens, as well as the Jetta also.

I'd like to know how well does the TDI run? Does it retain it's fuel efficiency if you mod it? Is it possible to mod it?

Is the handling on par with semi agressive driving or is this just a plain fuel efficient boring car?

The torque available is a diferent kind of power, and there are sevaral performance mods available. The suspension is the same as the gas versions, drive one & see if you like it.

performance mods are available. as for fun to drive, its just like any other golf/jetta, just with a TDI motor in it

Theres not really much you can do to increase "performance" on a tdi. Intake and exhaust wont help more than 5hp at most. different larger injector sizes help a little. Disableing the EGR helps alot. About the only good performance mod is chipping it, but that lowers the life of the turbo greatly. Performance costs...

Thank you for your replies but I have decided to go with a 4 door 94 - 98 Integra Sedan for performance, reliability and fuel economy.

I've gotten from too many people how quirky and *off* VW's are with reliability concerns. It's a shame because the Jetta is such a damn sweet lookin ride :(

Greg

and we lose another one... i dunno if this is good or not

Doing a search on Google with the above mentioned topic returns a maelstrom of confusion.

The most prominent return the search provides is "Great car, lot of fun, poor reliability" "Questionable reliability" "Nice car, poor design"

I'd love nothing more than to have a great looking car with good power and excellent fuel economy but if I get one, I'll be getting two, one for me and one for my fiance.

She knows absolutely nothing about cars. Even if some minor stupid thing goes wrong, it will leave her stranded. But, agreed that can also happen with any other car, so I guess I've just got my work cut out for me :(

I know diesels are tougher than gasoline engines and get twice the fuel economy. But, come on..what's the real deal with the VW TDI cars? Is it such an intermittent anomoly equating to playing the Tdi lottery?

One in every 4 or 5 that will have decent reliability? Maybe One in 3..given the number of Google returns that are pro Tdi and the amount of enthusiast backing it's earned for itself..there is no denying there is obviously *something* to this vehicle.

Greg

Also consider this: The 94 + GSR Integra 4 door is a great looking car, with very good performance and getting 28/33 Mpg city/hwy ?? I'll trade roughly 15 mpg for a more mainstream vehicle.