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m3shane
m3shane None
12/13/09 3:07 p.m.

I'm thinking of 2001-2004. What should I look for, what should I be aware of, how much should I expect to spend for one with less than 100K mi?

Specifically I'd like to know about the reliability of the 1.8T. I know the non-turbo 2.0 will last forever, but I'm concerned about buying a used turbo. This car needs to last to 200K miles.

HiTempguy
HiTempguy Reader
12/15/09 10:06 p.m.
m3shane wrote: I'm thinking of 2001-2004. What should I look for, what should I be aware of, how much should I expect to spend for one with less than 100K mi? Specifically I'd like to know about the reliability of the 1.8T. I know the non-turbo 2.0 will last forever, but I'm concerned about buying a used turbo. This car needs to last to 200K miles.

Don't get a 2.sl0w. I had one, did some work to it. They are SLOW, and I got worse gas mileage on a 5000km trip to Vegas and back then my buddies in their chipped 1.8T's :( There is no reason not to get a 1.8T now, since their prices have come way down. Spring for an '03 or newer (bigger turbo).

I've actually found MOST MK4 VW's to be very reliable. And if they have an electric problem, the VAGcom is great at telling you what the issue is :D

SpeedTheory
SpeedTheory GRM+ Memberand Reader
12/15/09 10:14 p.m.

What should you look for? A different vehicle.

The dash does look very holiday-themed on them though, typically it could be mistaken for a Christmas tree with all the lights on/flashing.

Travis_K
Travis_K Dork
12/16/09 1:28 a.m.

The only person i know that has one doesnt like it much.

Rufledt
Rufledt Reader
12/16/09 2:27 a.m.

yeah electrical problems. my brother's MKIV had manual roll windows for that exact reason- one of the few newer cars i've seen with manual windows.

DukeOfUndersteer
DukeOfUndersteer Dork
12/16/09 8:33 a.m.

Well, if you get a Mk4 1.8t, go for the 2001.5, thats when the wideband O2 sensor came out, alot easier to tune. In 2002, the 1.8t had a horsepower bump from 150 to 180hp, so id say a 2002 and up Mk4 1.8T, then i could flash it for you and get you 210hp!

Ian F
Ian F HalfDork
12/16/09 9:03 a.m.

I've occasionally thought of a 1.8T GTI as a track-beater, since after 200K miles in my '03 Jetta wagon, I'm familiar with how they drive and removign most of the interior bits would greatly reduce the number of places for the gremlins to nest... Prices haven't quite come down enough yet...

IMHO, buying one of these will be a crap shoot... for every person that tells you it'll be an electrical and CEL nightmare, there is someone like me who has driven one 200K miles since new with nary an issue. However, I'm no fan-boi to the point of saying they aren't without their possible issues...

That said, aftermarket support is good and DIY support is great. If they have one major fault for a performance application it's a somewhat less than optimal suspension design.

slefain
slefain Dork
12/16/09 9:15 a.m.
m3shane wrote: This car needs to last to 200K miles.

The engine will last 200k, but the rest of the car won't. Manual transmission is a requirement, try to find one with non-power everything. The fewer toys, the happier you will be.

gimpstang
gimpstang New Reader
12/16/09 9:22 a.m.

Get the VR6 motor. Less tunable than the 1.8T but fewer issues and a much more drivable engine. I've had my 03 GTI with the 24 valve VR6 since new and have only had two problems with it.
1. Serpentine belt broke while on track, fixed it and im good. 2. Alternator went out, fixed it and im good also.

132000 miles and still in great shape.

wheelsmithy
wheelsmithy GRM+ Memberand New Reader
12/16/09 9:36 a.m.

What's a VAGcom? Sounds dirty.

Ian F
Ian F HalfDork
12/16/09 9:38 a.m.

Interesting. We had a VR6 for awhile... swore I'd never lay a hand on one of those blessed lumps again...

93celicaGT2
93celicaGT2 SuperDork
12/16/09 9:43 a.m.

The VR6 is god's left hand of V6s. The right hand is the KLZE.

scardeal
scardeal Reader
12/16/09 12:04 p.m.

Well, then His Right Foot (the one that does the stomping and smashing) is a VQ...

EricM
EricM Dork
12/16/09 12:15 p.m.

I had one, a MkIV VW. Get a scan tool because you need to clear the CEL every week.

Stock up on Coil Packs, even the replacement ones die randomely.

they are a little "pigish" as in heavy. So even though the 1.8 turbo can be tuned, you still have to haul around a tank.

And mine ate wheel bearings. Even with a Bilstein Set up (PSS9) and a rear Anti-sway bar it still pushed something fierce. The "Monsoon" sound system sucked to high heavon as well. Other then that they are kinda fun.. I guess.

m4ff3w
m4ff3w GRM+ Memberand Dork
12/16/09 12:17 p.m.
93celicaGT2 wrote: The VR6 is god's left hand of V6s. The right hand is the KLZE.

Alfa V6 > KLZE or VR6

81gtv6
81gtv6 GRM+ Memberand Reader
12/16/09 12:23 p.m.
m4ff3w wrote:
93celicaGT2 wrote: The VR6 is god's left hand of V6s. The right hand is the KLZE.
Alfa V6 > KLZE or VR6
  • a bunch
Ian F
Ian F HalfDork
12/16/09 4:42 p.m.
wheelsmithy wrote: What's a VAGcom? Sounds dirty.

Laptop diagnostic tool sold by www.ross-tech.com. You pretty much can't seriously do DIY wrenching on a VW without it.

digdug18
digdug18 New Reader
12/16/09 10:32 p.m.

i dunno about you guys but the quattro a4's are getting damn cheap in the 2.8 trim now adays.... yeah the 2.8 has a E36 M3 load less support the the 1.8t, but then again it cost less to get to the 200k mile mark as well.

Andrew

DukeOfUndersteer
DukeOfUndersteer Dork
12/17/09 7:40 a.m.

the 2.8 V6s are terrible motors...

Ian F
Ian F HalfDork
12/17/09 10:01 a.m.
DukeOfUndersteer wrote: the 2.8 V6s are terrible motors...

Yeah... wish I'd known that BEFORE I bought my (used) A4... that blew up on the drive home from the dealer...

HiTempguy
HiTempguy Reader
12/17/09 5:47 p.m.
digdug18 wrote: i dunno about you guys but the quattro a4's are getting damn cheap in the 2.8 trim now adays.... yeah the 2.8 has a E36 M3 load less support the the 1.8t, but then again it cost less to get to the 200k mile mark as well. Andrew

2.8L Audi V6 != 2.8L VW VR6

aussiesmg
aussiesmg SuperDork
12/17/09 6:06 p.m.

Can you say M.A.Z.D.A.

Ian F
Ian F Dork
12/17/09 8:54 p.m.
HiTempguy wrote: 2.8L Audi V6 != 2.8L VW VR6

Umm... I hope "!=" is supposed to mean "not equal" as the Audi 2.8 is not a VR6.

Treb
Treb Reader
12/17/09 9:34 p.m.
DukeOfUndersteer wrote: the 2.8 V6s are terrible motors...

Not to threadjack... but why?

Somewhat closer to the topic...the sound from a VR6 has always struck me as weird. (Odd firing pulses?) Matt

Helterskelter
Helterskelter Reader
12/18/09 12:58 a.m.

VR6 has the firing pulses of an inline 6, I believe.

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