DATE

ITEM OF INTEREST

03/21/2005

It has been a LONG time since I have entered a line in this log. It probably looks as though I either hate my car, or have lost any interest in it. WRONG....Imust admit to being a little less than excited about the VW mechanics...or more specifically, their ability to debug a problem. But I have had a great time with my New Beetle.

Right now, Shamrock has 146,000 miles, and is running very well. It is my daily driver, and for about a year I was running a bit over 100 miles per day. (when I was betwen jobs)

Needless to say, it has been very reliable..well, except for two instances where I had “waxed” fuel from the ultra-cold winter!

I have had an accident about 2 years ago where I hit a medium strip on Rt-495 getting on to Rt-93....and I did quite a bit of damage. One oil pan, and lots of steering components later, Shamrock was back on the road and running well.

One thing I will recommend is Shell Rotella “T” fully synthetic motor oil which I buy at Walmart for only about $12.00 per gallon. Quite a deal for a good quality diesel oil. I hightly recommend it! Here are the specs...

.I have done very little to my car all the time I have owned it, but it has held it’s character and my interest over all that time. As I said before, I am not so thrilled with VW service protocol or process, but I must say that their TDI car has been one good machine.

Oh...BTW: I still get great mileage. I think the last I checked it was still over 45 MPG. Not bad for the age and zero tune-ups!

07/06/2002

Well, it looks as though it has been over a year since I have entered something here. I still have my New Beetle, and I still like it. (for the most part) It is beginning to use a little more money than when it was new, requiring a few repairs. (but most of the expense has been poor dealer diagnosis that has caused me to pay for things I really did not need)

The latest problem is my air conditioning. When I lost it about 3 months ago, the initially just re-charged it again foe something like $60.00. It then leaked out in a day, and the replaced a valve of some sort. (to the tune of about $240.00)

This lasted all of about 2 days, and I brought it back in again. This time, they tell me is is my expansion chamber. (or some such name....the lower radiator section that will need to be replaced. This comes at a cost of about $500, and isn’t something I will afford to do right now!

05/05/2001

Today is Cinco-de-Mayo, and almost one full year since I filled out a diary page. I have faithfully kept my gas mileage log, and will update the spreadsheet online tonight. I added graphs for cost of fuel over time, MPG over time, and cost of operation over time.

Shamrock is over 40,000 miles....in fact, 43,965 to be exact. All is OK, except for my shock at 40,000. My shock came when I found out that the timing belt on a TDI Beetle takes about 6 hours of labor to change, for about $700 in labor! It is scheduled to be replaced every 40,000 miles....and I just think that is way too expensive for something done so often.

I took two long trips down to NJ for work in the past couple of months, and the New Beetle made the trip fun. A single tank of fuel will take be down and back.

BTW: The CD changer still skips from time to time. I have given up on the dealer, and he has even forgotten about even asking me any more.

I have had my oil analyzed for about 5 oil changes now, and it looks like 5000 miles per oil change is just fine. I was using Delvac 1300 oil, which is a dino, high mileage oil, and the tests were coing back great. I went to a very expensive synthetic oil (Delvac 1), and extended the change to 10,000 miles, and the results were NOT as good. The test house said the oil was still ok, but it looked like there were some engine metals in the oil, indicating more wear than there should have been. I think I’ll go back to less expensinve oil, and changing it more often. (every 5000 miles after I run out of the last gallon of Delvac) BTW: Delvac 1 cost about $5.60 per quart....so it isn’t a “throw-away” oil.

05/27/00

Well, I have NOT updated this page for a LONG time, and it has been on my mind for all that time. Shamrock has gone over 20,000 miles, and all has gone well. The only minor issues I have include some wear on the silver part of the steering wheel (on the spokes of the wheel, making the black plastic under the silver paint show through), my CD changed still skips on humid or hot days (since I didn’t buy it with the car, they wanted absolute proof that it was les than a year old, and I didn’t have my receipt).

The car has been great in general, and I am so glad that I have a diesel now that fule prices are starting to climb. Actually, there was a point in all of this where Diesel fule climbed over $2 per gallon with Gasoline sticking to arounf $1.20 per gallon. At that point, I was really unhappy to have a diesel...but then the prices changed, and it once again felt goot to have one. (even with the prices the way they were at the time, I think my TDI was only “the same” cost to operate as a Gas car)

With spring and summer here, I need to get back in touch with the other New Beetle people in New England to see of they are having any get-togethers. The gatherings we had last year were fantastic. I met a number of great people. I might try to host one up here in NH this summer.

I will try to write more often into this log. We shall see how succesful I will be with that desire.

10/03/99

Well, as of two fill-ups ago, I started adding Redline Diesel additative. I was told that it helped the engine run better, and that could expect about 5-10% better mileage. My results are not that great. I’m not sure I feel any more power, and my mileage continues to be a little lower than my earlier marks. (pretty much unchanged in the few weeks before I added the Redline.)

It is too early to tell.

9/30/99

I went in to the dealer to get my door molding replaced. (they called me and told me it was in) I asked them to look at my CD player as it skips. Once again, I was very pleasantly surprised. The service person was great. Very happy to see me. He listened to me, and was happy to look at the CD even though I had not mentioned it on the phone when I called.

Thet did the molding job perfectly, decide that the CD player was indeed bad, and told me thay would order another player. Once again, lots of smiles....always trying to make me happy. I could get used to service like this! ;-)

While I was at the dealership getting the work done, I spoke to my salesman, Frank Partridge. He told me about selling a few cars to people via email and the internet. He also noted that McDevitt Motors in Manchester, NH now has a web site.

09/14/99

Well, today I went in for my 10,000 mile service, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised with the treatment I received.

I went in there with the following list of items:
       1) 10K mile service (I think just oil at this point)
       2) Loose drivers seat (shifts when in turns and stops)
       3) AM radio electrical noise
       4) Ripped drivers door weather stripping (down near driver
           foot)
       5) CD player skips tracks 1 and 2 if you go from a playing
           a CD to playing an adjacent one. (if you do down 2 or 3,
           no skips...so, going from 1 to 2 causes skips, but going from           1 to 6, and then to 2 works fine.)
       6) Get an out-going oil sample in a small bottle so that
           i can send it to be analyzed at a test lab.
       7) I asked again about my floor mats wearing out at 2000-2500              miles.

Well, i told them I was going to wait when I made the appointment, and they seemed surprised when I told them this morning...I thought it was a bad start, and that things would go down hill from there...I was wrong.

I did wait there from 7:30 AM until 1:00 pm, but when it was all over, they were really nice to me.....explained the whole thing in a very nice, "I hope you like it" tone of voice.

They told me that they did a number of TSB on the car, and told me I might still hear some clicking on the radio, but if I did, they would go back in and try another routing. (it sounds great, and they did a very nice job of cleaning the headliner of grease marks.....yes, there were actually about 4 small fingerprints, but I got rid of them quick enough myself.)

As for the seat, they said they did the best they could, but they had other customers who needed more work, and if I still had a problem, they would be glad to look at it more and order the parts. (My seat is solid right now...but again, it was the attitude that they were going to get it right.....)

I was in a big hurry, so they told me that was no problem...they would mail me the work invoice, and I would come back and ask any questions or see them about anything that wasn't done to my satisfaction.....again, my jaw almost dropped.....he was telling me "they would make it right, by my standards...not by theirs".

They told me they understood my problem with the floor mat wear, and that they would go to VW and fight for their replacement. (again, I was surprised....very pleasantly, with their attitude of working on my behalf)

The last item was the door weatherstrip....no problem. It will be covered, but I have to wait for them to order the part. Again, what a change of approach.....it is essentially similar to the floor mat problem.....I must have rubbed my foot on it as I got out and it has a 2" rip in it.....I don't know why they didn;t just cry the same "normal wear" cry with me....but I'm happy they have changed.

(they also seemed to have done something to the CD changer...but I am not sure about that)

I can say that the service was not perfect.....but it was so much of a better experience that I'm shocked and pleasantly surprised. The only think I can think is that the service manager has been replaced....I didn't see the guy there todsay, and he was the guy I used to deal with when I came in.

All of this helps me feel alot better about VW at this point.....boy am I fickle! ;-)

BTW, I was talking to a sales guy, and he said the VW's plan is to move the VW brand up-scale to the Audi, Volvo and BMW market. They will move the Audi into the MB market, and VW wants to move another one of their cars into the current "people's car' spot....like Seat or some one of their cheap car companies they own.

I told him that they needed to improve service and get more upscale showrooms if they were going to do that....he described a showroom concept that sounded pretty cool.....with sort of "period kiosk" areas where one can negotiate a deal in areas like the "retro" area, or one of the other time periods in VW's past or future. It sounded great to me....but only time will tell.
 

07/29/99

So far, things with the New Beetle are doing ok. I have had a great car compared to some of the problems that some others have seen. My only small issue right now is a loose seat, and that only feels funny when I turn corners and it “clunks” into a new position. I still love the car, but I am not as “glassy-eyed” over it. It is great, and people seem to love it....and for its strangeness (which is why I bought it) it has great utility and flexibility. VW’s antics closing down web sites, and their service seem to be less than perfect, but then I have friends who swear by their VW service. (They own Passats)

 I did not go to the last New England get-together because I was triple boked, and I think people expect me to organize something in NH soon. I will have to start thinking about doing something.

My fuel mileage has been creeping down a little lately mainly due to running alot of air conditioning. I also hear that they are reformulating fuel in New England, so this might be a factor as well. (I guess I will see if the mileage comes back during the fall/winter)

On about 06/05/99

Brought Shamrock in for her 5000 mile oil change and check-up. I had a 8:30AM appoimtment, so I got there early since I was going to wait for it. Come to find out, the mechanics don’t come in until 9:00am, and top it off, they had some sort of all-hands meeting first thng. I ended up waiting until about 10:30 before leaving. Then, half way to work I noticed that the oil sticker is checked 10x30 dino oil.....when I had asked for (and VW requires) synthetic. I called from work, and the desk person told me to check the invoice. It said synthetic, then it must be synthetic. I thought that maybe they should have perhaps asked the service guy what he remembers putting in, but, no dice.

05/23/99

Today, about 19 of us in New England got together in RI. We started the day by getting together for lunch and looking over all the cars in the parking lot. We then treked over to Scott VW, and took a tour of the place. I could not believe the color of the NBs we had today. We had 4 Silver, 2 Yellow, and 3 Green cars alone! Then there were 2 White, 1 Red, 2 Light Blue, and 2 White.We were only missing Black and Dark Blue.....and everyone had some sort of customizing going on on their cars. For me it was about a 200 mile trek (both ways), but the TDI made the trip “cheap” to make.

05/10/99

Today I went to Tully VW (Manchester) to talk to them about my floor mats. I seem to have worn a hole into my driver side floor mat at the point where I rest my right heel. (Gas peddle) I have not gone totally through, but I have gone through the bloack carpet wurface and can now see the white mat backing. This all sounds like normal wear and tear, until you note that I have just about 3000 miles on the car, and it is a total of about 6 weeks old!

The service manager called it “normal wear and tear”, but I reminded him that the car was only 6 weeks and 3000 miles old! He did not cover them, but did give me a set of rubber mats a dealer cost. (something like $24 vs $36)

I asked people on the net about their floor mats, and several people did in fact have theirs wear through between 2000 and 4000 miles.....except they ALL of their dealers covered it under the warantee. (after all, it is not normal wear and tear when it is so few miles.) Each of them has had their replacement mats longer than their origional mats, and they are all still fine! (must have been a defect in the first set of mats, huh?)

Next weekend is the New England Caravan down to R.I. I can’t wait to go!

04/18/99

As of now, I will only note gas mileage and fill-ups in the MPG table below. The past couple of fill-ups remain in the 47-49 range, and I am a very happy camper indeed!

Today I met up with a few people from New England at Horseneck Beach. The following people came: Jamie Knapp, Quentin Lewis, Keith Jedlickn, Steve Carrabis, Mark Semich and Phil Teves. I arrived very late because of other commitments in the morning, but it was a load of fun. Everyone had some sort of interesting NB accessorizing going on...except me. ;-( It was great to look at all the other cars. The sun wa warm, but the strong wind off of the water was COLD! Even so, we attracted a few people who drove by and asked questions.

On the way out of the beach, we had a sort of convoy of 4 or so New Beetles. It turned alot of heads, and we even “picked-up” a stray rider in route for about a mile as they pulled right in line with us. It was quite a sight to see!

We hope to do other get-togethers and NB rides. Perhaps one in southern NH very soon?!!?

04/06/99

Well, today I received my call from VW regarding my happyness with my dealer. I told them they were great, and that they not only gave me a good deal, but were very helpfull and friendly. The person alomost sounded surprised. I don’t know if it was just my not “reading” her voice correctly, but thats how she sounded. But then again, when she asked me for the color, and I answered Cyber Green, she didn’t know what that color was, so I suspect she was just a temp doing phone calling....and not really a “Drivers Found” VW employee. Oh well, life goes on. Oh yes, I learned today about getting a “birth certificate” from VWoA via an 800 number. I will call tomorrow to try and get mine.

04/03/99

Filled up again today. I am drawn to gas stations not becuase I really NEED fuel, but because I want to see what sort of mileage I am getting! Well, I wasn’t disappointed today. I pulled in with 949 miles on the odometer, having travelled 460 miles simce the last fill-up. I pumped in 9.642 gallons, for a final diesel mileage of 47.7 MPG! Thats better than last time, and between then and now I allowed myself to rev the engine to 3000 RPM. (I went over a could of times, but still tried to drive around 2000 RPM whenever I could) I noticed that the engine is getting more comfortable revving as it breaks in. It travels up to 3000 RPM without complaint, but going to 4000 RPM still feels hard. There is certainly more breaking in to be done. I still get lots of finger pointing and stares, especially from children. Although New Beetles are a little more common these days, they are not all that common, and people still love to look at them.

03/25/99

I finally filled up, although I still had 1/4 tank left in it. It has been a week of driving Shamrock to work, and loving every minute of it....I just had to see what kind of Diesel mileage I was getting! At the time of fill-up, the odometer read 489 miles, so I put 474 miles on it. (it came with 15 miles) I pumped 9.975 gallons into it, which gives me about 47.5 MPG! I have to admit that this is much better than I thought I would get in the break-in period....but then again, I am not sure I have used the turbocharger more than twice because I have really tried to keep my “toe” out of it and really baby the engine. (I was aleays taught that you will get payed back many fold if you really take care of the engine for the first 1500 miles.) Just a note, the engine is getting looser. When I first drove it, it felt like it was “complaining” when it went over 2000 RPM. It now revs freely to 3000 RPM and a little above......though I still try to stay closer to 2000 RPM than 3000 RPM.

03/19/99

Took it to work yesterday and today, and many people really like it. Two of my friends say that they are or were thinking of buying a Beetle. He even wants the same color TDI. I owe severl poeple rides. Because of my Beetles color, because I bought it the day after St. Patricks Day, and because of the picture above with the Shamrock shadows on the Green Beetle, I have decided to name my Beetle Shamrock. My daughters and wife were torn between Shamrock and Big Green Machine....but I have more “connection” to the name Shamrock.

03/18/99

I went to pick it up with 15 mils on the odometer, and now it sits in my driveway. Today I will take it to work, as I took the morning off to pick up the car. Driving to work in the early afternoon will be much easier than in rush-hour, so my first drive of decent distance will be more calm than if I took it to work first thing. (I live about 38 miles from work)

03/17/99

The car is at the dealer! Oh man was that fast. I was expecting it next month no more than two weeks ago, and not it sits only 7 miles from my house at the dealership. It is off to the bank tomorrow, and then off to pick-up my new TDI. I am so psyched.

03/15/99

I received a call from Frank Partridge of McDevitt Motors, and he told me that my car was at port (either Boston or Deleware) and that that generally means it arrives within 2 weeks. He told me that my VIN# is: 3VWCF21C2XM445456.

03/14/99

Started my new homepage/site, including the page on my new beetle!

03/05/99

Put $500.00 down on a Green TDI that was still in the factory being built. Was told to expect it in 3 to 6 weeks! It has a black cloth interior....just as I wanted it...plain