Test Drove '99 Jetta TDI. Turbo?

[DrunkCanuck]

Hi there,

I went and test drove a '99 Jetta TDI and was wondering if anyone could help me out.

I took the jetta for a spin, and seemed to have alot of "get up and go" in 2nd, 3rd, and the first part of acceleration in 4th gear. Now, in my experience, 5th gear is overdrive and there isn't alot of acceleration to be had. Usually if you wanted to pass someone, you drop to 4th gear and then shift back once you were up to passing speed. NOW, as I said, I took the jetta out for a spin and hit the highway to test it out. I had the pedal to the floor and 4th gear topped out at about 120km/h (75mph), and it took about 30 seconds for 5th gear to top out at 140km/h (87 mph). So, my question is......is this normal for the new age (turbo) diesel engines to top out at 140 km/h and take THAT long to get there?

My first car was a 1985 Mercury Topaz diesel 5 speed, so I have some experience with diesels in the past. I remember how long it took to get up to speed in the higher gears (also speeding up as you go down a hill to make sure you had the speed to make it up the other side, lol), but I wonder if it just seemed too long (and I question if the Turbo is working properly) because I have been driving gasoline cars too long?

Is there a way to test if the Turbo is working properly?
I am taking it in for the "premium" inspection before purchase, will they figure that out?
I know I need to make sure the timing belt is still good or get it replaced, hopefully the inspection will check that as well.
I was thinking about getting a compression test as well (an extra $200). Is it necessary?

Any advice from the people that have dealt with stuff before would be appreciated.

Oh, and it has 250k kms on the odometer (I know diesel engines can go into the 550k+ pretty easily if taken care of).....the dealer is asking $7900, but there enough little things wrong ie. there is a chemical stain of some kind on the driver door mirror, driver vanity light doesn't work, plus although the rear driver side window works, the switch on the driver door console won't operate it, I found duct tape on the air intake hose under the hood, and the factory installed 6pack CD player sliding latch won't open.....I could probably get the dealer down to $7200 pretty easily. Any opinions on if this is a decent deal? I'd appreciate some honest responses from people that know what’s going on.

Thanks,

DC

[VR 4 LIFE]

let me clear it for uopcorn: 95 hp 172 ft/lbs torqe, about some it up for u, and if its atumatic, the auto;s have self learning trannies, maybe the owner before u was a old person , who drove to aldies now and then, not trying to get on the Atobaun

[veedubmechanic]

2 problems the car has-

1- egr and intake system clogged bad ($500usd to clean and fix)
2- Turbo is shot and needs replacement ($1800-2000 to fix)

IF the car has not had its timing belt replaced every 80K miles thats another $1100 to replace.

[DrunkCanuck]

Just a follow up.....I didn't purchase the original '99 Jetta TDI that I test drove. I have since test drove another '99 Jetta TDI, and a '02 Jetta TDI....both of which was more what I was expecting from a "turbo" diesel. When I was out on the highway, I could hit 180 Km/h (112 mph) pretty easily in 5th.

[veedubmechanic]

but who drives 112mph on the highway theese days