1998 TDI New Beetle - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

chobocobo · 09-19-2009, 10:56 PM

I had a 1998 diesel VW new beetle that I recently sold on autotrader. My dad had tested it for gas mileage on average we were getting like 47 to the gallon. The automated locks were broken, air conditioner was broken so we took it to the VW dealership and they said it was a leaking line that needed replacement which we never got done. We fixed the automatic windows. It was black in color and the interior was ok. The back tail lights didnt work because of corrosion sealents on front were torn so it leaked water. It had 2 wrong size tires on it that we never got fixed and we lost the tool that VW gives you to get the nuggets off the wheels. It had 116009 miles on it. I guess the diesel new beetles are kind of rare? I seriously got like 4 phone calls the next day and this lady drove from Nashville Tennesee to my house in Louisville because she wanted a bug but for it to be diesel because she drives an hour to work and needs some good mpg. I listed it for $4000 but it had some issues too really sometimes the battery died or it wouldnt start but anyway she bought it but I jus couldnt believe that many people were interested I kind of thought it was junky man. lol whats funny is that when she came to look at the bug which we wanted off our driveway so bad she started looking at my Smart and I was like aw man haha the last guy that looked at the bug saw the smart and liked it better.

wiltjk · 09-20-2009, 03:05 PM

My neighbor, as a hobby, buys, fixes, and sells TDIs and I also met a retired guy in the Seattle airport who would fly all over the country to drive used TDIs to a dealership that would do the same.

When my wife "convinced" me to sell my 2000 TDI new beetle to our son (with 170K miles, it drove like new and gets 50 mpg on BioDiesel), my first replacement search was for a Diesel smart. With no luck there I tried for a new TDI new beetle. Also not possible in 2009.

So I settled for my gasser smart and while most happy with it, still wish we were a more Diesel friendly country.

BigWarpGuy · 09-20-2009, 03:37 PM

There seems to be more companies coming out with diesels. BMW talks about their diesel cars. Perhaps it is a good time for Smart to have one too?

Neonspinnazz · 09-20-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

There seems to be more companies coming out with diesels. BMW talks about their diesel cars. Perhaps it is a good time for Smart to have one too?

They already do, just not in the land of the SUV

lebikerboy · 09-20-2009, 08:15 PM

We've got SUV's (unfortunately) and cdi's although no new ones...

Kermit · 09-20-2009, 08:32 PM

I do diesel VW's as a hobby. A spare motor sits in the garage, but all of my stuff is pre-TDI - my car busted a little over 2 years ago and I have to get it up and running. It is next summer's project.

While they have their problems, diesel VW's have a real nice resale. Before I got the smart I was "this close" to getting a used 2006 diesel bug (this was about 2 years ago). We couldn't come to an agreement on a price and I walked.

I still love diesels of all makes.

Neonspinnazz · 09-20-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

I do diesel VW's as a hobby. A spare motor sits in the garage, but all of my stuff is pre-TDI - my car busted a little over 2 years ago and I have to get it up and running. It is next summer's project.

While they have their problems, diesel VW's have a real nice resale. Before I got the smart I was "this close" to getting a used 2006 diesel bug (this was about 2 years ago). We couldn't come to an agreement on a price and I walked.

I still love diesels of all makes.

Do you think it'll be possible to fit a bug's diesel in a smart?

You sound like a guy that's crafty with cars.

chobocobo · 09-21-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neonspinnazz

Do you think it'll be possible to fit a bug's diesel in a smart?

You sound like a guy that's crafty with cars.

Idk about that Neon the engine was pretty big. I just thought that lady and her husband were awesome driving all over the country looking for a good shape VW TDI bug. They said they drove from Tennesee to North Caralina (12 hr drive) to look at one before ours and she said it was a piece of junk. lol I remember one time my dad took us to Florida in the bug and he went into the gas station and left the bug infront of the diesel pump a line formed behind us of Simi Trucks and this simi guy got out and told us to move this piece of junk it was crazy haha.