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Strong engine, runs great, but needs a new transmission ($3500-$5500). Often the transmissions on these buses are replaced after 100K miles, so it's amazing that it lasted this long. You might get by for some time, but a new (rebuilt) tranny is in your future. DRIVE is fine, but REVERSE is very weak. Just had a transmission service, and conceivably another service down the line could buy you more time -- but don't delay this repair.

Odometer reads 262K, but previous owner says the engine was replaced at 102K. Mechanics say engine is strong, suggesting 160K, but previous owner has no documentation. He's a VW mechanic, so may have done it himself (or his friend did it -- see below.) It has been on synthetic oil for many years, which may be making a difference also. It can easily pass nearly any other vehicle going up Boulder Canyon.

This vehicle has been stalwart for the two years we had it. Lots of great mountain trips.

You may want to connect with Indian Peaks Auto in Boulder for pre-purchase inspection, as they know the vehicle. I have a VIN Car History report I can email you, as I don't see how to attach it here.

21 AUGUST UPDATE: The AutoCheck report came through this morning, and I learned a few things. (Therefore, I recommend AutoCheck over VIN Car History.) Minor accident in 2006. I contacted the Durango Police Dept, and they sent me a form to fill out in order to receive the details, since we have the case number. This form has to be sent back via snail-mail, with a check for $8.50. I will do that today, in order to expedite things, but it's bound to take a week or so before I hear back. I'm also including some additional photos, as I realized I had not shown the pop-top. It's a little worse than I remembered, probably due to leaving it improperly closed for a while about six months ago. Still, all seems patchable.

You can see from the history report that the vehicle has lived its whole life in Colorado, which accounts for the lack of rust. It looks as though it sat for a while with 102K miles, so I suspect that's when the engine was replaced -- according to the previous owner. If that is correct, then the engine now has 160K on it. The gearhead (1) I bought the vehicle from had bought it from his friend, also a gearhead (2). Based on all this, it seems likely that the engine work was done in 2005, and that's when they started using synthetic oil. Gearhead 1 said his friend, Gearhead 2, was very particular about the synthetic oil (MOBIL ONE).

24 AUGUST UPDATE: I think I forgot to mention that the brakes are new.

Auto Services in Colorado

Wollert Automotive ★★★★★

New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers, New Truck Dealers

Address: 1710 N Townsend Ave, Palisade

Phone: (970) 249-6464

Vanatta Auto Electric ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Automobile Electric Service

Address: 1981 8th St, Eldorado-Springs

Phone: (855) 226-0713

Ultra Bond Windshield Repair & Replacement ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Glass-Auto, Plate, Window, Etc, Windshield Repair

Address: 2458 I 70 Business Loop, Clifton

Phone: (970) 256-0200

Tunerz, Boomerz And More ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Automobile Alarms & Security Systems

Address: Black-Hawk

Phone: (720) 469-4461

Star Crack Windshield Repair By Joy ★★★★★

Automobile Parts & Supplies, Glass-Auto, Plate, Window, Etc, Windshield Repair

Address: 5770 Verde Rd, Colorado-City

Phone: (719) 240-7027

Spradley Barr Mazda ★★★★★

New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers

Address: 2601 S College Ave, Fort-Collins

Phone: (970) 206-8507

Auto blog

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

Tue, 12 Feb 2013

More Fun Than A Prius, Less Sensible Than A TDI
Let's have some fun, and do some math. We're talking pretty rudimentary stuff, multiplication and division, to figure out if the upcoming Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid can make a baseline case for itself against two very strong competitors in this segment. The competitors in question, at least for now, are two more Jettas: the diesel-drinking TDI and the fit-for-the-masses SE with VW's long-serving 2.5-liter engine.
To keep the equations clean and simple (hey, we're writers), we'll calculate based on the most flattering EPA miles per gallon stat from highway driving for all cars, assume a healthy 20,000 miles driven per year, and factor in today's average cost for the respective fuels these three require: diesel (TDI), regular (SE) and premium (Hybrid). We'll also start with the base prices for all models.

TRANSLOGIC 150: Volkswagen XL1

Mon, Feb 24 2014

How do you build the world's most fuel-efficient production car? Start with the world's most aerodynamic design. The Volkswagen XL1 is capable of 261 miles per gallon thanks to its sleek shape and ultra efficient plug-in diesel hybrid powertrain. The downside is that only 250 will be made and none will be sold stateside. That didn't stop us from taking our turn behind the wheel of this truly revolutionary ride.

Everyone but VW and Tesla has recalled their Takata airbags

Thu, Aug 20 2015

Takata's massive airbag inflator recall affected over 32 million vehicles from 11 automakers in the US, but two companies buying the supplier's parts haven't been affected so far: Volkswagen and Tesla. There are 887,055 VWs and 184,926 Teslas using Takata's inflators with ammonium-nitrate propellant, a new accounting shows, according to Automotive News. That doesn't necessarily mean the models need to be recalled. These figures came from a report that Takata prepared for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which listed all of the vehicles it supplied with ammonium nitrate-fueled inflators. The substance is believed to be linked with the components' rupturing, along with manufacturing defects and humidity. "We're not asking because we've got reports of problems; we just need to figure out what the universe is," NHTSA spokesman Gordon Trowbridge said to Automotive News. Takata reportedly told Tesla that the inflators in its EVs are not affected with these problems, and VW is investigating a case in June where a side airbag allegedly burst in a 2015 Tiguan, Automotive News reports. The government is also still researching the precise cause of the parts' ruptures. If the investigation finds ammonium nitrate to be a factor, the vehicles could need recalled. During a Congressional hearing Takata vice president Kevin Kennedy admitted that ammonium nitrate could be among the factors of the ruptures, but the company has continued to use the chemical in its inflators. Takata is now working to transition to a different propellant. Related Video:

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