Great Site!! Little question?

[VW4Ever]

I have a 1995 golf 2 door 2.0/gas. Mint shape bad automatic.
 I was going to drop a 5 speed in it off a donor car.
But after many hours of reading about VW Diesels I am thinking diesel all the way.

So time to scratch the Golf. Time for a new ride!!

My job: I travel on my route 260 miles a day 6 days a week delivering auto parts to Advanced Auto stores.

I run my own car 1997 Jetta GL/2.0 auto I get 26-27 mpg.

Now the big question I can buy a 1992 Jetta Ecodiesel rather cheap which prob gets upto 40 mpg.

Or do I find a early Rabbit?? like 1980-1984 diesel.

I need the max MPG. I travel mostly highway around 74-80 mph.

What is the best VW for my job?  I am a very good with a wrench and can get
auto parts for like 60% off
If need be  

Simple answer and reason please. Performance is no factor MPG is!! I pay for my own gas or soon to be diesel.

Thanks for your time reading this
And what a great group to join.
Love your forums guys!!! I am not a troll no more )

[Vincent Waldon]

Both your options are worthy choices... recognizing that no matter what the car your right foot still ultimately determines the overall fuel economy.

T'were me I'd go for the 92 Jetta, for a couple of reasons:

- second generation chassis design... more comfortable on the highway, probably safer
- parts slightly easier to find
- if equipped with a turbo, will have the power to pass when you need to.  Don't need the power?  Don't ask for it with your right foot!!
- probably less wear-and-tear on a 1992 car than a 1980's one.

Both will get great mileage.

I would *definately*stay away from an early Rabbit with the 1.5l engine... gen 1 design with known faults, rebuild parts getting hard to find, and in my mind too far down on the horsepower curve to be much fun keeping up with traffic on the highway.

[VW4Ever]

 Thank you for your response!!
Some very very good points!!

Guess after seeing this:Sipster video I was leaning towards the Rabbit. Prob a dream
Project Sipster

[Vincent Waldon]

Actually other than the Rabbit-specific aerodynamics most of what they would have done to the Rabbit would work for a later-model Jetta... on the other hand, $7K buys a lot of diesel. 

[rallydiesel]

Nice thing about the mk2 is that you can toss in a common gasser trans (ACN) without any mods and you can usually find one for cheap or a trade. The gearing is a bit better than the diesel trans for highway driving. Then you can swap in a .71 5th gear and cruise nicely at 80 mph (with a turbo of course). The Rabbit mounts are a bit different so you'd need a mk1 trans or modifiy the mounts. A lot of the Rabbits are 4 speeds too.

[VW4Ever]

 Ok didn't want to explain this but might help me on this problem. Like 5 years ago my mom passed away. And she loved my black 1995 golf 2 dr. I put over 300k miles on it doing courier work. Yes the 01m automatic lasted 300k!! No problems other than filter/fluid change. I had a good 1. Long story short like 3 months after her death the automatic tranny went out. I have stored my 1995 Golf ever since then. It is close to mint condition. How hard would it be to convert it to a diesel. Right now i have the motor out and was going to go to a stick but diesel seems the way to go for this car. I  have so much sentimental value on this Golf. If I could get this 1995 golf to get 40-60mpg i could save like $500 a month on fuel cost which i am paying now plus drive the car I would never part with.

Ty for helping me out!

[Syncroincity]

I was going to say... why not convert the car you have now?

Depending on where in PA you are, you shouldn't have to worry about emissions inspections, but you should probably try to get hold of a similar model... which in your case means an 1.9TD AAZ-powered Jetta or Golf from Canada, or a '98 Jetta TDI from the states, there's lots of them floating around. A TDI Passat 96-98 would also work, but I don't think it's a direct swap as far as axles and trans, I'm not sure.

A Canadian model would be easy to get hold of, but you'd have to take it apart before you bring the parts across the border... but it would be pretty much plug 'n' play as long as you got all the right parts

[VW4Ever]

I am like 2 hours from Canada and 15 mins from NY.
 Emissions in PA where I live don't exist yet.
If your fuel cap holds presure when you release it,that's our only test.
Time to hunt up a 96-98 VW diesel for a donor car.


I like that plan better!!

ty very much

[Syncroincity]

Keep us updated, there's lots of very experienced folks here that can help you out with a project like this, and quite a few up in the Great White North, too. Good luck with the hunt! Post a wanted ad in the "for sale" section.

Perhaps someone could help out with a list of td/tdi bits you'd need from the donor vehicle... The TDI is a little more complicated, but as long as you get all the wiring harnesses & electronic modules, you're good to go. I'd get the complete dashboard, if it matches your interior, that'll save some work. If you get everything in one shot, there shouldn't be much wiring to do.

[Vincent Waldon]

One complication to keep in mind is that TDIs are drive-by-wire, so you'll need to swap out the entire pedal cluster as well.

Certainly can be done...just more plumbing to keep in mind.

[VW4Ever]

 The transfer of parts I feel rather at ease with. Plus what a great learning lesson.
My concern now is finding a darn donor car. Like to find a wrecked passat diesel/5sp  )

Been hunting like a fool

ty very much on your thoughts and warnings!

[macka]

The transfer of parts I feel rather at ease with. Plus what a great learning lesson.
My concern now is finding a darn donor car. Like to find a wrecked passat diesel/5sp  )

Been hunting like a fool

ty very much on your thoughts and warnings!

http://stcatharines.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-1990-VW-Jetta-TD-W0QQAdIdZ148803659