Help me replace my Jetta Sportwagen TDI (because I might need to :( )

[Otter74]

Since March 2020 my primary car has been a 2013 JSW TDI that I bought as a CPO car with 36k miles. Objectively it's a terrific car, and the best and most usable all-around "normal car" I've ever had. It's big enough to easily fit a bike(s) and other lare stuff, no bigger than it needs to be, fun to drive, fuel efficient, etc. Recently some of the Stupid German Car S**t started appearing, which wasn't a shock, but not enough to sour me on the car. It's now at 70k, stock, and the Dieselgate warranty runs out on 1/1/25.

However, it also has very very tasty catalytic converters on it. These have now been stolen three times in nine months. First time it took a while to get fixed because the dealer ****ed up ordering parts and the car was perfectly driveable in the meanwhile - so quiet you don't even notice anything is amiss save for the CEL. Second time was immediately (6 days) after I got it back. Third time was a week ago. I went to drive it to work Tuesday morning and was met with a glow plug light, CEL and battery light. Drove the Saab to work, assumed this was probably some emissions-related issue, verified still under warranty, scheduled an appointment to have it towed to nearby dealer. Got home, hooked up VCDS and did a scan, got a couple of O2 sensor-related codes that did not make sense as a cause of a no-start so I looked underneath and....motherf***ers. I had a theft-mitigation device added the last time and, well, it was stolen anyway.

I suspected the ECU got shorted this time and that was the cause of the no-start. Confirmed when the service manager called me back yesterday - estimate to repair as it was is TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. Needs a new ECM, DPF, both cats, and those are all multi-thousand-dollar parts. I paid $15k for it in 2020 so obviously that's an instant insurance total. I wanted a clean car and it was still under the powertrain warranty, which was why I did not do a tune and delete the last time. I didn't want some other mega-$$ part like the HPFP to take a dump and be left holding the bag because it wasn't stock. Now I don't care - I just want a car that isn't constantly getting vandalized. I was advised by the excellent indy shop that replaced the clutch (!@&&!) that a used ECM had a high probability of not working and that it was highly advised not to do that and that it needed a new ECM. A tune and delete runs around $1500 for parts and software (for example https://www.rawtekinc.com/products/dpf-egr-delete-exhaust-eco-kit?variant=1004180527). So fixing the car that way would run probably about $4500-5000, which is about what it cost the first two times. Those were both insurance claims.

I give all that detail because it's therapeutic to get it out and maybe other JSW owners will chime in. This will be an insurance claim, too - no way can I do this out of pocket, especially after the damn clutch vacuumed up all my spare cash. I'm aware there is a high risk that State Farm will drop me afterwards, even though none of this is my fault. If I get it fixed I'm going to try to make sure it gets through that I'm fixing it in a way that removes the theft incentive, but underwriting and claims are separate domains so good luck with that. My agent will appeal for me if they do, but he's not optimistic about that working out.

All of this means that there's a high probability I will need to shop for something else. This sucks for many reasons, including because this is a great car that I was planning to keep for at least a decade. When I bought this, the only two cars on my radar were this car and the next-generation Golf wagon and Alltrack. I decided I didn't need to spend the extra money for those.

I don't really know what my budget is since I don't know what I'd get for the Jetta, but let's say $12k at the top.

I want something that is a wagon or spacious hatchback that can effortlessly carry my racked and fendered bikes - just fold down the seat, open the hatch and insert. This means load floor length with the back seat folded of 5-6 feet.

I want something with a manual transmission. This is going to be a tough one. I'm flexible on this for the right car.

I think I want a sunroof - I've always loved sunroofs but might be flexible on this.

I want something that has, at worst, not-bad fuel consumption.

It has to be reliable, and if it's older it at least has to be easy to work on. I really want to still have one car that doesn't need my attention (my old cars get all my wrenching time - I like having a car that I can just take to the dealer for basic maintenance once or twice a year) but I may have to give that up.

I want something that's nice to drive.

Ideally I want something ~2010 or newer. If I can't have that I may just consolidate the "normal car" (the VW) and "fun older car that is also practical" (my '85 Saab 900 SPG) parts of my fleet into one car that is like 90s or maybe 2000s, not too expensive and reasonable to work on.

Anything I buy will be a year-round car in Chicago.

I don't know if I can have all of these. Cars that come to mind include:

2015-2019 VW wagons of the non-diesel flavor. I do kind of wish I'd gotten an Alltrrack in 2020, but now they're still too expensive for me. There are other varieties.

Um...I'm really reaching for something that's newer. This is where I'm looking for suggestions.

We have Ford C-Maxes in our fleet at work and they're really nice cars but I don't think I can bring myself to drive one for myself.

Volvo 700/900 wagons - I grew up with one and think they're great, they're terrifically practical, and there's the iPD catalog.

BMW E30 or E36 wagons. E36 functionally better. I'd want to find one that wasn't so nice that I would feel bad wintering it, because anything I get will be a year-round car. Like a 318i or 320i from northern Europe that was mechanicall tip-top but had already lived in winters.

A Mazda 6 wagon or hatchback is great but in that spot where it's too old as a modern car and not old enough to be an old car.

Acura TSX wagon? Advantages of Honda but not the most practical wagon. Automatic only.

BMW E46 wagon? Great to drive but maintenance-intensive.

Ideas? Thoughts?

[Dixie]

Originally Posted by Otter74

I don't really know what my budget is since I don't know what I'd get for the Jetta, but let's say $12k at the top.

My initial thought was a 2014-ish Cadillac CTS-V. I think they're sexy looking, and with 550hp they're pretty fun. Especially if you can find one with a 6-speed manual. Problem is, it's way out of your budget.


So how about a 2012-ish MB 350 wagon?

[wildthing]

Really strict criteria here. Spacious wagon or hatchback that's nice to drive with decent fuel economy and works year round in Chicago and relatively easy to maintain... If it were me I'd ditch the wagon/hatchback requirement and go SUV. But that's me. Across the pond there are more wagons available.

[Eric Hahl]

Subaru Outback.

[oldE]

I was at the shop yesterday getting the rear brakes on the wife's '16 Golf Sportwagon replaced and noticed he had a couple of Alltracs for sale for about 19k Can. and less than 100k km. I'm not sure what that comes out to in US$, but it can't be too far off your budget.

Best
Les

[bleucamaro]

2014-2015 Merc GLK 350.

Drives good.
23 mpg
300hp
not too high off the ground.
handles winter like a champ.

I bought mine w/ 70k miles. Its now at 178k and drives great. only a couple small issues with it.
I plan to keep it at least another 50-100k miles.

[KNS]

I would stretch for the Alltrack (without the sunroof, too many issues). I have a manual trans Alltrack and it's a great all-round car, I'm keeping it as long as I can.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by Dixie

My initial thought was a 2014-ish Cadillac CTS-V. I think they're sexy looking, and with 550hp they're pretty fun. Especially if you can find one with a 6-speed manual. Problem is, it's way out of your budget.



So how about a 2012-ish MB 350 wagon?

Funny that you mention those two in particular. A few years ago one of my friends from school called to ask for advice about a family wagon. He was shopping CTS wagons. I suggested that exact E-class would be a better option for him and he ended up agreeing and buying one, and has been very happy with it.

Originally Posted by wildthing

Really strict criteria here. Spacious wagon or hatchback that's nice to drive with decent fuel economy and works year round in Chicago and relatively easy to maintain... If it were me I'd ditch the wagon/hatchback requirement and go SUV. But that's me. Across the pond there are more wagons available.

It doesn't seem strict to me, but we do have an unfortunate shortage of wagons. By "works year around in Chicago" I really just mean that if it's old, it's not so minty that I'd feel bad getting it salty. If it's newer, I don't care. I could daily my Saab, but no way in hell am I ever driving that in snow and salt because it's way, way too nice. Plus I want to sell it. I could daily it 9 months of the year if I went ahead and replaced the suspension rubber and took care of the axle drivers, I suppose.

Originally Posted by Eric Hahl

Subaru Outback.

Good suggestion. I thought of an XC70, too.

Originally Posted by oldE

I was at the shop yesterday getting the rear brakes on the wife's '16 Golf Sportwagon replaced and noticed he had a couple of Alltracs for sale for about 19k Can. and less than 100k km. I'm not sure what that comes out to in US$, but it can't be too far off your budget.

Best
Les

That's under $14k US. I'd be thrilled if I could find a nice, lower-mileage Alltrack with a manual for that. It sounds unicorn-y.

Originally Posted by bleucamaro

2014-2015 Merc GLK 350.

Drives good.
23 mpg
300hp
not too high off the ground.
handles winter like a champ.

I bought mine w/ 70k miles. Its now at 178k and drives great. only a couple small issues with it.
I plan to keep it at least another 50-100k miles.

I was talking about cars at lunchtime with another good friend from engineering school. He used to have a JSW TDI and also thinks it was a fantastic car. His wife drives a GLK like this so if he starts ripping me mercilessly, or says yes, I'll give it some weight

[Dixie]

You know you want.

[Otter74]

HE’LL YEAH BORTHER (SISTR)!!!1!

Ima pull some sick wheelies with that.

[fintstone]

Sounds like you don't need a different car so much as you need to move to some place where folks respect the property of others.

[speeder]

I have the same Jetta Tdi Sport Wagon, (JSW), 6-speed manual as the OP and I've never had an issue with theft of any kind but holy ****, it has broken a lot. When it was under dieselgate warranty, who cared because I'd just take it to the dealer whenever the CEL came on and they would fix it. It got the entire fuel system replaced under warranty due to shrapnel from the HPFP detected and the DPF as well as other stuff. It would have been totaled otherwise at dealer repair prices.

I have just recently bit the bullet and replaced suspension struts, shocks and bushings plus a clutch and DMF flywheel as well as installed a used DPF, (a new one was $3k or something). It's running well but still throwing a couple of codes, I'm going to get it running right and then probably get rid of it.

[blucille]

I recently picked up a volvo v60 R design with polestar tune. Well under 20k, drives great. Better handling than. I expected. Great great seats, mute utility than an suv or cuv and just better looking.

Surprisingly easy to work on with affordable parts. And the 3.0l inline 6 is known to last a lifetime, timing chain without needing to replace them.

Overall, I love it. No complaints. And it doesn’t stand out, but the guys who know, know that it’s special.

[1990C4S]

Porsche forum and you missed the V6 manual Cayenne on your list? Might fail the fuel consumption test.

V70 manual? I have a high mileage R and it's a very very good car. Trailer hitch, sunroof, decent fuel consumption (not great), and 300HP.

[Otter74]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Sounds like you don't need a different car so much as you need to move to some place where folks respect the property of others.

Chicago is hardly alone in having a cat theft problem - I love Chicago and I'll take its problems with what makes it great to live in. But yeah, this totally blows. I've been in my neighborhood for 16 years and this blows up now.

Originally Posted by speeder

I have the same Jetta Tdi Sport Wagon, (JSW), 6-speed manual as the OP and I've never had an issue with theft of any kind but holy ****, it has broken a lot. When it was under dieselgate warranty, who cared because I'd just take it to the dealer whenever the CEL came on and they would fix it. It got the entire fuel system replaced under warranty due to shrapnel from the HPFP detected and the DPF as well as other stuff. It would have been totaled otherwise at dealer repair prices.

I have just recently bit the bullet and replaced suspension struts, shocks and bushings plus a clutch and DMF flywheel as well as installed a used DPF, (a new one was $3k or something). It's running well but still throwing a couple of codes, I'm going to get it running right and then probably get rid of it.

Yeah, I've been feeling that. I don't wrench on this car because I bought it as a car I wouldn't have to wrench on, plus I don't even have enough time for all of my old cars let alone a daily. Last fall I had to have the heater core replaced, and just in May it needed a new clutch, PP and clutch slave to the tune of $5k. It definitely made me miss the 2003 Accord that preceded it. I'm going to ask the dealer that has it now to check the fuel filter and the quantity valve for any signs of metal. If there's anything at all, I'm walking away from it. If not, then fixing it is at least an option.

I've assumed it's going to need a new ECM because the success rate for used ones is rather low (it needs to be coded to the VIN, then introduced and matched to every other module in the car) plus I think some of the software changes in the emissions fix make it harder to reuse an old one. But my friend did let me know about a place he knows that diagnoses and repairs bad ECMs. Lots of diesel truck work, also cars.

For now I'm driving my '93 Sentra SE-R again when I need a commuter. The whole car is like one big muscle memory for me.

[1990C4S]

An ALH engine TDI wagon is a great option. But in the Chicago it would be a rust bucket. All the benefits of diesel, with bulletproof reliability (the engine and the car).

The answer is obvious. Buy your car from insurance and install an ALH drive train. Cover the cost with your YouTube channel.

[GothingNC]

I had a 2011 JSW TDI in the past and loved it, turned it in during the diesel gate buyback, got an offer I could not refuse at the time and about 5 years ago I purchased a 2012 Golf TDI, so far no major issues other than two repairs under warranty:
Intake manifold replacement and the auxiliary fuel pump.

If I had to do it again i would find a JSW with the 5 cylinder 2.5 liter gasser motor, fuel economy may not be the greatest but it is mostly a bulletproof powertrain and that in itself will make up for the fuel savings from the TDI.
No worries about a timing belt, DPF, EGR clogging and HPFP failures.

My brother has a 2016 Golf gasser TSI 1.8 Liter with a 5 speed and it gets close to 38 MPG on the highway.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by GothingNC

I had a 2011 JSW TDI in the past and loved it, turned it in during the diesel gate buyback, got an offer I could not refuse at the time and about 5 years ago I purchased a 2012 Golf TDI, so far no major issues other than two repairs under warranty:
Intake manifold replacement and the auxiliary fuel pump.

If I had to do it again i would find a JSW with the 5 cylinder 2.5 liter gasser motor, fuel economy may not be the greatest but it is mostly a bulletproof powertrain and that in itself will make up for the fuel savings from the TDI.
No worries about a timing belt, DPF, EGR clogging and HPFP failures.

My brother has a 2016 Golf gasser TSI 1.8 Liter with a 5 speed and it gets close to 38 MPG on the highway.

I had to replace the intake manifold on my JSW TDI as well...is there anything that does not break or fail on these powertrains??

I'm sour on VW now, after a lifetime of owning them. I'd possibly consider a Mk6 GTI but Japanese cars are suddenly looking really good. FWIW, that 38 mpg your brother is getting is very close to the maximum highway fuel mileage I ever got from my TDI, which was 40 mpg. It averaged high-20s in city driving. Not good at all.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Otter74

Chicago is hardly alone in having a cat theft problem - I love Chicago and I'll take its problems with what makes it great to live in. But yeah, this totally blows. I've been in my neighborhood for 16 years and this blows up now.
...

Maybe not Chicago alone...but not an issue anywhere I spend time (as far as I know). Never had one stolen or heard of anyone I know having one stolen. Of course, I have had packages sitting on my front porch for months when away and never had one stolen. I hear that is an issue in the big city as well.

I have never lived in Chicago. It must be pretty special if one can love it with so much crime. I hope the police gets this under control. It is such a shame that lowlifes can so easily disrupt one's life. Sadly, buying another car really does not solve the problem (unless a pre-cat model).