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Our 2009 VW Jetta TDI has spent the last couple of weeks skulking around the hot Mojave Desert, and now that the torquey sedan is back home in Santa Monica, it's time to address its desire for regular service.
As of this morning, it's also developed an audible brake squeak, so we'll add that to this week's service appointment as well.
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 24,542 miles
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hybris says:
06:13 PM, 08/25/09
The more I read about this the more I'm pulled between a Ford SHO and a Jetta TDI.
sodaguy says:
09:32 PM, 08/25/09
The newer VWs wear out rear brakes very quickly. I would not be surprised if the long-term Jetta TDI needed new rear pads and rear rotors.
My friend's '07 GTI needed rear pads and rear rotors at 19k. The rotors were needed since they were worn below the minimum thickness. While the dealer wanted $425 for the job, but I directed my friend to a popular OEM parts website and he was able to order the OEM pads and rotors for about $140.
dougtheeng says:
06:00 AM, 08/26/09
This doesn't have to do with the post but....
A colleague of mine just got his second Jetta in a row. He chose the white this time, and I have to say that the VW white is....very WHITE, if that makes sense. Its a good color on the Jetta.
tryan says:
09:12 AM, 08/26/09
RE: the brake squeal, maybe what is 'unfixable' on a $250,000 Lamborghini can be fixed in it's $25,000 corporate cousin...=) (referencing the news story)
zcalvert says:
10:11 AM, 08/26/09
@ sodaguy
careful making generalizations like that. the brakes (and tires) on my 07 GTI are still original at 30k. i'm not saying they won't need to be replaced soon - they will - but stuff like that is heavily dependent on how smoothly you drive.
in edmunds case though, based on the abuse their cars tend to take, you may well be correct.
matt_a says:
10:22 AM, 08/26/09
I had to replace the rear brakes on my Golf TDI at 50K miles. I used aftermarket pads and had the rotors turned. Total cost was $90 for the pads, rotor machining, and the special tool to press the pistons back in the rear calipers. The car has 189K on it now, and I've had no more brake trouble. The fronts are still original!
audisport says:
02:07 PM, 08/26/09
@ matt_a- please explain more because you are making it sound like you have original pads and rotors after 189k miles.... This is impossible.