Wife needs new car

[goglio704]

Hi all,

Not sure where to post this. Thanks to another driver who doesn't know the difference between a green light and a green arrow, my wife needs another car. My wife is fine, but I'm pretty sure the insurance will total the 96 Camry wagon that she had been driving for two years. She can't (won't) drive a stick - so my Maximas are out. They might be slightly eccentric for her anyway. I guess if one of them was automatic we might give it a go, but I doubt I have time to find an automatic diesel Maxima for sale. Yakima being a little far to go. If it was driveable it could be a fun trip though... What I'm really looking for is some firsthand knowledge on the VW diesels. Passat, Jetta, something like that. I don't know that it would have to be a TDI, but turbo would probably be good. An older Mercedes might be another option, but I've always understood they can be money pits.

[asavage]

Well . . .

I've owned two diesel Rabbits (which is going back a few years, as they stopped selling the Rabbit in '85) and I wouldn't own another one, due to the high interiour noise level. Extremely good fuel mileage though and very easy to drive, they were never sold in the US with an AT. Neither was the Jetta for a long time, but I think that changed later.

Though I don't like working on the later VWs, they are highly regarded by a lot of people. If you want a diesel, your choices are somewhat limited, esp. if you have a small budget. Have a look at this list of diesel vehicles I put together a couple of years ago (you'll have to scroll down a bit). It kind of stops at around 1990 and is skimpy on VW info, but may give you some ideas. For example, Camry diesel (though not nearly as nice a car as your current '95), Escort diesel, Tempo and Topaz diesel (with Mazda engines), etc.

Maxima diesels with AT are out there, some for not too much money but the big issue isn't *which* diesel, it's how old they are, and for anything newer than ten years old, you are pretty much talking a truck or VW. In some states, you can buy a Jeep Liberty too, but now you're in a whole 'nuther budget altogether.

The MB diesels . . . are slow. And worn out. They tend to look nice, because MB does a good job on paint and interiours, but a 20-yr-old MB is going to be pretty worn regardless of how shiny it is. And they're slow, even the TDs aren't real speedy.

[goglio704]

There is a Cadillac on Ebay right now with the 4.3 liter V-6 diesel. No firsthand experience with the 4.3. Plenty with the 5.7 though. The later revisions weren't bad engines. I've always heard good things about the 4.3, but they are rare. I'll be following the new Jeeps with the 2.8 CRD, but they are too rich for my blood right now.

[asavage]

While the early 5.7l diesel was a real lemon if not meticulously cared for, by 1983 it was in its fifth major design change and can be considered "OK". Not much in the power dept. but good mileage for its class, relatively smooth.

1985 Seville diesel on eBay

I don't mind the Seville styling, but I can't stand black interiours.

The 4.3l diesel in the Olds Cutlass Ciera (ie front wheel drive) is a grenade. I don't know anything about the RWD and 4.3l diesel. I can't find it on eBay, do you have a URL?

[glenlloyd]

There is a Cadillac on Ebay right now with the 4.3 liter V-6 diesel. No firsthand experience with the 4.3. Plenty with the 5.7 though. The later revisions weren't bad engines. I've always heard good things about the 4.3, but they are rare. I'll be following the new Jeeps with the 2.8 CRD, but they are too rich for my blood right now.

I've only seen one 4.3 V6 diesel powered car, they were used in the FWD models (Celebrity, Century, Ciera). The 4.3 L V8 diesel was used in the RWD cars and is same design as the 5.7. None were very robust in the HP department and none of them seemed to fulfill the mpg that GM had hoped for.

I would classify a 4.3 6 cyl diesel car as even more obscure than the LD28 AFAIK, but that might not be true everywhere.

I agree with Al on the interior noise on early VW diesels, but the A2 (85-92) are better than the Rabbit. The 91/92 in particular are good for insulation.

VW stopped bringing Golf diesels in 1987, the Jetta continued although limited, until 1992 and there were variations and different power plants.

1985-86 Golf D only, no turbo
1985-86 Jetta diesel and turbo diesel
1987-91 Jetta diesel and turbo diesel (all were special order)
1991-92 Jetta Ecodiesel - limited production of 700+ units, small turbo and catalyst, no LDA on IP.
1982-5 Quantum turbo diesel, no NA diesel on the big car. A wagon 5 speed would be a good car if one could find one!

Other options:
Audi 4000 diesel / turbo diesel
Audi 5000 turbo diesel.

VW didn't import diesel after 92 in the US in anything (except in Canada), until the 1996 Passat TDI and then in 1997 with the Jetta TDI. The Passat, revised for 1998 did not include a TDI so the Jetta ran alone in the US until 1999.5 when the Golf IV got TDI and then in 2003 (maybe) the Passat returned with the TDI but discontinued with the most recent revision. The Canadian 1.9 D and TD engines(1993-97) are known to have crank timing sprocket bolt issues and if it hasn't been fixed it's a lot of money. The A3 has been criticized but it's a really good platform. Right now they're bringing a fair amount of money on Ebay.

The Golf and Jetta in both the A2 and A3 platforms are really pretty easy to work on but there are some issues that aren't pleasant. For instance, if you have to do tranny work you really need to pull both engine and tranny as a pair. I've heard of people not doing it but then later finding out they've buggered a motor mount.

Anyway...I do hope you find something for your wife, I've blithered on long enough.

steve a

[goglio704]

Here is the link to the 4.3 liter Caddy. If it were closer, I might look at it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... RK:MEWA:IT

Never mind, even if it were closer it is at 3,650 already! I appreciate the input guys - keep it coming. I hadn't even thought about an Audi. Although I would really like to put her in a diesel, that might be a long term project, and I've only got a short timeline.

[asavage]

Yeah, that's the Ciera diesel engine in the "new" FWD Cadillac body. I didn't think Cad did that in '85 though -- I've seen the "old" RWD Fleetwood in '85 (I thought) with the Chev 350 from the factory.

I know the '86 version of that chassis, my Aunt has one ('86 Eldo, same car) and I've put a new 4.1l gas V8 in it a few years back. You need the FSM for anything on that car. The seat base is formed (not cast) aluminum and breaks.

That Cad looks OK. The price may be in line for that area -- not too many nice looking 20-yr-old Cads in that area, dsl or not. I do have to laugh at the "38 MPG hwy" quote though.

That car with the 4.1l V8 (about 250 ci) moves out OK, but I doubt if the V6 dsl is "responsive". The 5.7l V8 dsl isn't all that "responsive" either. Uncle had a (much heavier) '81 Eldo with the 5.7l and it would accel OK at low speeds but forget passing.

[glenlloyd]

I hadn't even thought about an Audi. Although I would really like to put her in a diesel, that might be a long term project, and I've only got a short timeline.

There was a very short time ago on cars.com a Audi 5000 TD, vintage 1981 or 82, for sale down your way, $500, needed a battery, but as it was I knew it would go fast, and it did. The listing evaporated within a few days.

The 5000 had the 2.0 L 5 cylinder TD engine and shares components with the 1.6, and the 2.4 used by Volvo in the 240 / 740 series in the mid 80's. In the 4k and 5k the engine sits longtitudinal rather than transverse like the 1.6 does in the A1/A2/A3 ((Rabbit)Golf / Jetta). The Quantum was same as 4k and 5k

Another option, although rare, is the BMW 524TD from 84/85, they were good cars and a nice sized sedan in RWD.

[asavage]

You can't buy that vintage Audi with an AT. They all died horrible deaths. I owned an '80 5000S, liked the car but when the trans got soggy 2-3, I sold it for cash immediately. It wasn't diesel.

Just try to find an AT for an '80-84 Audi 4000/5000. With MT they're OK though.