winter car? please advise!

avbcon12 · 10-13-2001, 07:53 AM

i found a 1990 jetta (4 cyl. auto) with 82000 miles, for only $1500. i want to know if the auto trans on these are good? i've heard nothing bad about the 5 speed but nothing on the auto.

could someone help me out with this. i cant find any information, and done know if i should buy it?

thanks for the help.
adam

Unit 5302 · 10-13-2001, 11:46 AM

I haven't heard much of anything on the trannies either.

I couldn't find anything like Mustangworks for the Volkswagen or Jetta people. Appearently, it's just too lame a car to do it for? LOL

avbcon12 · 10-13-2001, 04:19 PM

thanks Unit,

do you think it is a good deal? i drove it and it drove well. doesnt leak any oil or burn it. let me know if any of you have information.

thanks for the help

adam

Crazy Horse GT · 10-13-2001, 05:34 PM

dont take this the wrong way , but if you live in the north hell just get it for a winter car ,my son in law owns a newer truck than i do -f-150 of course, his is all rusted out , mine isn't but he wont wash it to get the salt ,etc off ,if it isn't using oil & run's ok get it ,dont want to rust out a good pony . later

------------------

avbcon12 · 10-13-2001, 06:44 PM

thats exactly what im asking about man,
is this car reliable enough to last me through the winter. have you guys heard anyhting bad about them?
i need a winter car so i dont have to drive the mustang.
i just didnt know itf anyone had an opinion about these cars?
please keep the replies coming.

adam

Crazy Horse GT · 10-13-2001, 07:57 PM

as far as i have heard most people that like german car's saY THE ARE THE fast car's as far as vw 's are concerened , i really dont know myself it's just what i have heard, like i said if it run's ok ,& doesnt eat oil , hey let it bust trough those snow drift's i'm pretty sure it's front wheel drive ,that is a plus in snow & ice etc . good luck see ya .

------------------

avbcon12 · 10-13-2001, 08:11 PM

thanks for the advice!

Adam

[This message has been edited by avbcon12 (edited 10-13-2001).]

quackenbush · 10-13-2001, 10:53 PM

Get the winter car if your worried about the rear wheel drive factor only. Front wheel or 4 wheel drive gives better traction no doubt about it. To prevent rust in the winter simply hose your undercarridge frequently to get the salt off, that is the real culprit. You can do this at home by driving over a sprinkler many times and changing its placement so it gets everywhere. Get a sprinkler with many small holes in it, thats the best. Also look into a reputable rustproofer, not underbody coating, these are two different things! Yes, by storing the car in the winter you will drive it less over the years but here you are really just delaying the normal aging process. But so what, the quicker you reach 100,000 or so the sooner you can put in a bigger engine with more torque and HP as found in every other page in mustang magazines. People often forget to service their " stored " car and it needs service even when not running. I havent bought a winter beater for any of the cars I had and they are great inside and out if you care for it, and I live in Wisconsin. Now if money is not a concern well then just get a winter car because you cant stomach the thought of a mustang in snow, but seeing as though your looking in the 1000 to 2000 dollar price range money must be an issue. Plus your gonna have to pay for potential problems with that car and insurance, and for that price you may get burned, be careful! There is a really good book out titled something like " How to drive your car forever" It has many incredable tips and covers many myths about cars. Even experienced mechanics could learn something from this book. Take the money and throw it into your new car or put it in a gas fund or upgrade your car insurance or save it for downpayment on your next roush mustang if its really burning a hole in your pocket. Thats all I gotta say.

84LX89GT · 10-14-2001, 03:15 PM

It sounds like a good deal if you just want a winter car. I'm not a volkswagen fan at all, but hell i'd drive one as a beater over winter and would be more than happy to drive it into a few ditches just for fun

.
The single most thing to make sure is that it doesn't have electrical problems. From what i understand, German cars, especially volkswagens, like to run alot of series and series-parallel electrical circuits so when things start opening and shorting (for whatever reason) you'll get some weird stuff happening. I have 3 friends with volkswagens and 2 of them have electrical nightmares on their hands.

avbcon12 · 10-14-2001, 07:17 PM

thanks a lot guys, keep the replies comming. all have been helpful towards my decision.

thanks:
adam

10-13-2001, 07:53 AM	#1
avbcon12 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 391	winter car? please advise! i found a 1990 jetta (4 cyl. auto) with 82000 miles, for only $1500. i want to know if the auto trans on these are good? i've heard nothing bad about the 5 speed but nothing on the auto. could someone help me out with this. i cant find any information, and done know if i should buy it? thanks for the help. adam

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10-13-2001, 11:46 AM	#2
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	I haven't heard much of anything on the trannies either. I couldn't find anything like Mustangworks for the Volkswagen or Jetta people. Appearently, it's just too lame a car to do it for? LOL

10-13-2001, 04:19 PM	#3
avbcon12 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 391	thanks Unit, do you think it is a good deal? i drove it and it drove well. doesnt leak any oil or burn it. let me know if any of you have information. thanks for the help adam

10-13-2001, 05:34 PM	#4
Crazy Horse GT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sale Creek, TN. C. S. A. Posts: 4,652	dont take this the wrong way , but if you live in the north hell just get it for a winter car ,my son in law owns a newer truck than i do -f-150 of course, his is all rusted out , mine isn't but he wont wash it to get the salt ,etc off ,if it isn't using oil & run's ok get it ,dont want to rust out a good pony . later ------------------

10-13-2001, 06:44 PM	#5
avbcon12 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 391	thats exactly what im asking about man, is this car reliable enough to last me through the winter. have you guys heard anyhting bad about them? i need a winter car so i dont have to drive the mustang. i just didnt know itf anyone had an opinion about these cars? please keep the replies coming. adam

10-13-2001, 07:57 PM	#6
Crazy Horse GT Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Sale Creek, TN. C. S. A. Posts: 4,652	as far as i have heard most people that like german car's saY THE ARE THE fast car's as far as vw 's are concerened , i really dont know myself it's just what i have heard, like i said if it run's ok ,& doesnt eat oil , hey let it bust trough those snow drift's i'm pretty sure it's front wheel drive ,that is a plus in snow & ice etc . good luck see ya . ------------------

10-13-2001, 08:11 PM	#7
avbcon12 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 391	thanks for the advice! Adam [This message has been edited by avbcon12 (edited 10-13-2001).]

10-13-2001, 10:53 PM	#8
quackenbush Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Sun Prarie, WI USA Posts: 15	Get the winter car if your worried about the rear wheel drive factor only. Front wheel or 4 wheel drive gives better traction no doubt about it. To prevent rust in the winter simply hose your undercarridge frequently to get the salt off, that is the real culprit. You can do this at home by driving over a sprinkler many times and changing its placement so it gets everywhere. Get a sprinkler with many small holes in it, thats the best. Also look into a reputable rustproofer, not underbody coating, these are two different things! Yes, by storing the car in the winter you will drive it less over the years but here you are really just delaying the normal aging process. But so what, the quicker you reach 100,000 or so the sooner you can put in a bigger engine with more torque and HP as found in every other page in mustang magazines. People often forget to service their " stored " car and it needs service even when not running. I havent bought a winter beater for any of the cars I had and they are great inside and out if you care for it, and I live in Wisconsin. Now if money is not a concern well then just get a winter car because you cant stomach the thought of a mustang in snow, but seeing as though your looking in the 1000 to 2000 dollar price range money must be an issue. Plus your gonna have to pay for potential problems with that car and insurance, and for that price you may get burned, be careful! There is a really good book out titled something like " How to drive your car forever" It has many incredable tips and covers many myths about cars. Even experienced mechanics could learn something from this book. Take the money and throw it into your new car or put it in a gas fund or upgrade your car insurance or save it for downpayment on your next roush mustang if its really burning a hole in your pocket. Thats all I gotta say.

10-14-2001, 03:15 PM	#9
84LX89GT Mustangs Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 1,938	It sounds like a good deal if you just want a winter car. I'm not a volkswagen fan at all, but hell i'd drive one as a beater over winter and would be more than happy to drive it into a few ditches just for fun . The single most thing to make sure is that it doesn't have electrical problems. From what i understand, German cars, especially volkswagens, like to run alot of series and series-parallel electrical circuits so when things start opening and shorting (for whatever reason) you'll get some weird stuff happening. I have 3 friends with volkswagens and 2 of them have electrical nightmares on their hands.

10-14-2001, 07:17 PM	#10
avbcon12 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 391	thanks a lot guys, keep the replies comming. all have been helpful towards my decision. thanks: adam