All this set me back big money. Around 60-70k for those curious. However, the car was now mechanically perfect (not something you will hear me say very often).
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Final update: 9 years & 1,10,000 km
This thread has been dormant for quite some time. After having the entire suspension, clutch+DMF, and mounts along with the AC system replaced (around 2021), one would have assumed I would be very happy with the car. In reality, I wasn’t. The quality of work done on both the suspension and clutch+DMF was shoddy, to say the least. I had no plans to part with the Jetta for another year or two at least, so decided to do all this up again with my trusty mechanic this time.
In a nutshell, this is all that was replaced:
- Changed the entire ARB and link rods again. The previous FNG had put in pathetic quality ARB bushes which had also destroyed the older link rods. A Borsehung ARB and Febi link rods went in this time
- The steering inner and outer tie rod ends were the only parts that weren’t changed during the overhaul in 2021. I bought an entire set made by Febi and installed it since the ODO was anyways nearing 1L km. The older parts were in good shape though, especially the inner tie rod ends
- The starter motor was overhauled which solved the long-standing hot start issue I had been facing for more than a year
- I used to face some hesitation when trying to slot from 2nd to 1st on a cold gearbox. 75W90 grade GB oil had been put in around 2021. I used Febi 75W monograde oil and the issue was sorted for good
- One ABS sensor conked off around 2022 as well. Changed that too
- The front passenger side gearbox mount gave up around late 2022. That was changed around 2023 with the clutch and DMF
- Last but not least, I changed the DMF and clutch set once again (opted for the expensive Sachs make) after facing a multitude of problems with the LUK make clutch set and DMF the older FNG had put in (they even replaced it again under warranty but the same issue persisted)
Clutch set and DMF from Sachs. Did set me back an eye-watering 42K, but it remedied the DMF issues for good:
The LUK and Sachs DMF side by side:
The ZF Lemforder sourced gearbox mounting:
New tie rod end set going in:
All this set me back big money. Around 60-70k for those curious. However, the car was now mechanically perfect (not something you will hear me say very often). Further proven by the fact that I used it as much as possible and looked for excuses to take it on longer drives. At this point, I genuinely didn’t want to do anything more on the maintenance side of things. Yes, perhaps a downpipe, stage 2 tune, and nicer alloys but nothing apart from these.
Unfortunately, around mid-2023, my dad had the urge to upgrade. He didn’t really want an ‘upgrade’ exactly, but a car with a higher GC and an automatic. The Jetta’s heavy clutch was starting to take a toll on his knee. Eventually, we ended up buying a used 2019 Tiguan DSG which my dad is very happy with.
And that sort of ends this ownership report. When the Jetta started throwing its first round of tantrums back in 2021, I had only one wish. I didn’t want to ever part with the car on a sour note. Historically speaking, my family has generally only sold cars out of need, not ‘want’. The Corsa was sold due to poor spare support and non-existent after-sales. The Verna was sold because it was aging terribly and had poor safety and the Kwid was sold along similar lines too.
I never wanted the Jetta to go that way. I owed far too much to the car. It made me the “car guy” I am today. Whatever little I know about cars is only thanks to the Jetta. Yes, she tested my patience and conviction multiple times, especially in the later part of the ownership, but now that I look back, I only remember the good times I had with the car. It’s as if the bad things never happened. My family also remembers the car very fondly, so I guess my wish stands honored.
Around the time we started looking for a new car, my friend who coincidentally had sold his Jetta only a year back made me an offer for it. The price he quoted seemed very fair, especially considering manual ones generally don’t fare too well even in today’s inflated used car market. I was also relieved that the car would go to a good home and would also be looked after by his mechanic who is very well known to me.
So, that ends it. It feels a bit unnerving and hard to type these words really, but she’s gone. Gone to a better home. I will leave you guys with some pics of her, as I start saving up to buy another Jetta (hopefully a DSG this time around)
Never left me wanting in the looks department. The design has aged very gracefully. At best, all it needed was a set of nice alloys and maybe a blacked-out roof:
The only sign of wear on the interiors was the steering, which I tried to remedy. Unfortunately, my FNG misunderstood the meaning of the word ‘pinstripe’:
On one of its numerous drives from Vadodara to Ahmedabad. Loved these early morning runs during winters:
Zero complains on the fuel efficiency front too. The lowest I have seen after spirited driving on highways is 17 km/L…
And the highest was a staggering 24 km/L on it’s last drive with me from Vadodara to Mumbai. Mind you, this is a stage 1 2.0 TDI putting out 180hp and 400nm:
Parting pic. Moments before she went to her new home. Standing next to a friend and fellow BHPian’s Vento:
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