CD Article: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

[CD_Editor]

Today's First Drive:
Scheduled to arrive in the summer of 2008 as 2009 models, the new Jetta TDI sedan and wagon will feature a new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine that meets stricter emissions standards.  "It's much quieter and significantly more powerful," says CanadianDriver editor-in-chief, Greg Wilson.
 

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[turbodiesel]

Finally, a Tier 2 Bin 5 certified diesel car!

btw, the engine is DOHC (twin-cam) instead of SOHC (single-cam). even the Spanish car site www.km77.com said "4 válvulas por cilindro. dos árboles de levas en la culata." (4 valve per cylinder, dual overhead cams)

[rrocket]

I expected better fuel mileage though.....

[mmret]

I agree, this is a little bit disappointing in terms of mileage.

But expectations were high, and all that German engineering weighs lots.

[articsteve]

Might have missed it, but no mention of timing CHAIN or timing BELT.  That's a big technical issue, IMO.  Other than that it sounds great. 

[mmret]

I don't recall reading many car reviews that mention timing chain vs. belt...is this something of a greater concern for diesels?

[articsteve]

Only for the owner's wallet.

[rrocket]

Nah....Steve's just nit-picking.c   


I have yet to either see a timing chain or belt break.  Even on stupid-high mileage cars.  Even asked the local Toyota dealer mechanic if he's ever seen one break.  He said "no".

[AVToller]

The timing belt on my Escort broke before reaching 96k. Fortunately it was a non-interference engine.

[articsteve]

Nah....Steve's just nit-picking.c   


I have yet to either see a timing chain or belt break.  Even on stupid-high mileage cars.  Even asked the local Toyota dealer mechanic if he's ever seen one break.  He said "no".

Ask a VW mechanic.  VW has a long history of FAILED timing belts.  1.8T gas motors were/are right at the top of the list.  Google VW/Audi 1.8T

The thing is that ppl always refer to a FAILED belt as "broken"  What  often occurs is that the mechanicals that drive the belt fail and then the belt slips off and the valves bend.  But, it's always just refered to as "broken belt".  In my type Porsche it's always a tensioner or roller that seizes and derails the belt.

So who needs this aggravation on a motor that is suppose to run huge mileage .  Who needs to worry that the belt system will fail early just outside of warranty.  Who also wants to replace a water pump just because it's part of the belt system.  Who needs a $1500. bill from VW every 100,000 km.

Timing belts suck.  They were life in the 20 century. Not now. 

[Mitlov]

Nah....Steve's just nit-picking.c   

Or maybe just trying to sell more Toyotas by bashing random details of non-Toyota cars which nobody was talking about to begin with (anyone else remember the tangent about heater cores in Bimmers?).

[rrocket]

^^^^Unless he has a point.  I know the belts on the Toyotas aren't failure prone.  Are they on VWs Mitlov?

[Mitlov]

^^^^Unless he has a point.  I know the belts on the Toyotas aren't failure prone.  Are they on VWs Mitlov?

No problems with mine, but then again, I don't drive a cancer-curing, puppy-saving Toyota, so I'm sure it'll burst into flames any day now.

So does anyone else want to talk about the Jetta?  The fuel economy isn't knock-you-down amazing, but considering the MkV's roominess and solidity, and the respectable acceleration it delivers, I still think it's a good package for many. 

I'm super-excited about the six-speed manual in such an eco-friendly car.  A rare find in an age when eco-friendly tends to also mean soft suspension and CVT transmissions.

[articsteve]

Or maybe just trying to sell more Toyotas by bashing random details of non-Toyota cars which nobody was talking about to begin with (anyone else remember the tangent about heater cores in Bimmers?).

Mitlov, get to bed it's past 10.  Your babbling.

[articsteve]

No problems with mine, but then again, I don't drive a cancer-curing, puppy-saving Toyota, so I'm sure it'll burst into flames any day now.


Your wife drives an 07 Taco   

[rrocket]

No problems with mine, but then again, I don't drive a cancer-curing, puppy-saving Toyota, so I'm sure it'll burst into flames any day now.

So does anyone else want to talk about the Jetta?  The fuel economy isn't knock-you-down amazing, but considering the MkV's roominess and solidity, and the respectable acceleration it delivers, I still think it's a good package for many. 

I'm super-excited about the six-speed manual in such an eco-friendly car.  A rare find in an age when eco-friendly tends to also mean soft suspension and CVT transmissions.

It was a serious questions.  I honestly don't know and figured you may have heard a thing or two about it if you frequent any VW specific sites...

[articsteve]

You know Rocket that in many VWs/Audis, Passats being one of them, to change the timing belt requires the front bumper to come off, the rad out, the AC fluid recovered, the condensor out BEFORE one even starts on the engine mechanicals.    Wild sh*t huh!

The POINT IS, timing belts are a real waste of resources.  In a high mileage unit like the new 2.0T VW diesel Passat having a non regular maintenance cam chain is VERY significant.  Personally, I would never buy a daily driver with a timing belt.  All the manufactures are dumping them.

So, does this new 2.0 TD have a belt or a chain 


You like this link:

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng35.shtml

[rrocket]

Yea...maybe for certain cars they aren't reliable.  But I know on the Toyotas they are reliable.  How many belts have you heard break on a Toyota?  Same thing with Lexus.  You should see the belt on my Supra.  It's a pretty stout piece.   

Now my Echo is a timing chain, but it still requires the valve clearance to be checked/adjusted......

I think it's a blanket statement to say that all timing belts are failure prone....




WOW!!!  That would suck to have to remove the bumper to get to the timing belt...LOL....

[PJungnitsch]

This is the timing belt on my Mazda pickup. It broke eventually at around 200,000 km, before my time. Luckily it's a non-interference engine, so the belt was changed and the engine kept chugging on. And with a fairly uncluttered engine bay it's not a big deal to change.

A problem with diesels though is that they are all interference designs AFAIK because of the high compression involved, so a broken belt destroys the (extra expensive) engine.

[tpl]

Whatever. Belt or Chain.   Why is there not a good old, sold in millions all over the world, GOLF( Rabbit if you insist)  HATCHBACK TDI coming to us.   The real car. The one everyone else buys except us dumb North Americans.   Grrrrr.