When VW launched the MKIV TDIs, I was eager to get one. A lovely black on black 2000 Jetta Sedan was at my local dealer, but I had over a year to run on my Audi A4 lease and couldn’t easily get out of it. So I passed. 

As the lease end date came closer, I started looking for a Golf TDI. At the time I was spending a lot of time in Denver, CO, so I had a dealer there as well as here in MA looking. The two dealers came up with nothing for months, and then my MA dealer contacted me and said they had a Jetta Wagon coming in that a customer had requested, but it had taken so long to receive it he had moved on. Having seen Golf Variants on a recent trip to Germany, I was excited to get the wagon, although slightly dismayed when I saw it had crank windows and manual mirrors. Little did I know at the time, this would become an advantage. 

This was an inexpensive car, under $20K out the door. And the dealer discounted it off the sticker price. I also took advantage of 0.9% financing for 2 years, since it included an additional $500 discount on the car. Those were the days. 

Driving home I had two observations: The suspension was significantly softer than my Audi, and after a moment of panic, realized that even GL TDIs had cruise control. That was a relief. 

IBW was pressed into service, commuting to Boston, Logan airport, and included frequent trips to the New York area for work. I appreciated the 15” wheels and softer suspension when driving in Manhattan. Things were pretty uneventful until year 2, when the mods started.

The Mod Bug

Mods started when, at about 50K miles, I realized the stock Sachs dampers had given their all. I had heard about Shine racing, so I got the full kit: Bilstein HDs, Shine springs, and their rear bar. 

Long story short, I didn’t like it. The handling was much improved, but the ride was harsher than I liked with the HDs, and at the time Shine didn’t have Wagon rear springs, so the car was a little lower in back than front. Not optimal. Still, I stuck with it for a while.

The rear bar was a revelation, however. That remained in the car until it finally broke a couple years ago. It really sharpened up the handling, but the car had a tendency to spin in snow if I didn’t have snow tires on it. Exciting. 

In 2003 I drove to Connecticut to have an Upsolute tune installed (remember those?). It improved power, but also smoked a fair amount. I installed an OMI (old timers will know what this is), and a larger intercooler from Tyrolsport. And e-Codes. 

It was around this time that I met Chris Hill at Kraftwerke. He adjusted the IQ for me to reduce smoke (at no charge) and, little did I know at the time, started a relationship that endures to this day. Without him I never would have made it to 500K in this car. 

In the early fall of ‘04 I went on my first big road trip: Chicago to a client meeting, Montana to visit my brother, Denver for another meeting, and then home. I had the 60K service completed in Denver. I was not happy with the cost, and that was the last time IBW visited a VW dealership. 

I drove straight home from Denver. It took 34 hours, as I recall. Not sure I’d do that again.

More Mods

In the mid to late 00s, TDIClub get togethers were popular. I bought IDParts in 2006, having met Dan, who started the store, at a get-together (Ho5G in NH). So with access to parts and knowledge from other TDIers, IBW got:

• PD150 breathing (airbox, airbox to turbo pipe, intake manifold, and EGR)
• 11mm pump
• PP520 nozzles
• Lift pump
• 2.5” downpipe and straight pipe exhaust
• Koni Reds and switch back to stock springs
• G60/VR6 flywheel and clutch

And Rocketchip. I met Jeff from RC at a dyno day in CT in ‘04, and when I saw the power and smooth delivery that his tunes offered, I had him tune my car ad the next Ho5G GTG. This started a series of tunes from RC2, to RC3, RC5, and eventually RC6. RC5 and 6 accompanied a Garrett 17/22 turbo (IDparts had Garrett assemble those for us), and PP502s. And another clutch, this time a South Bend Stage 3. 

This setup made for a pretty impressive set of numbers on a very conservative dyno.

And it started me with track days in IBW.

I pulled out the Koni Reds and installed Koni coilovers with 700lb front and 450lb rear springs, got a Braille battery (12 lbs), pulled out the rear seat and spare tire, had the car corner balanced, bought Motegi Traklites (12 lbs.) and Hoosier slicks, and went to the track.

IBW has been to Calabogie, Mt. Tremblant, Lime Rock, and New Hampshire Motor Speedway multiple times. RC6 included a 6000 RPM redline, so I’d run it in 3rd until the tach stopped at 5400, count to three, then shift. The car was a blast on the track and both amazed and frustrated other drivers. One commented to me, “I see your car, it’s a wagon, and a diesel, and I can’t catch it.” 

New Engine

However, making twice stock power for 120K miles took its toll. During a timing belt change Chris discovered he could wiggle the valve stems in the head, and the bores were ovaled, causing blowby. I bought one of the last VW long blocks in the US and Chris installed it. Unfortunately, the engine ran for 10 minutes and seized. It had an oil delivery problem, seized the cam, and lost time. I warrantied that long block, bought another (last one they had) and that engine is performing perfectly 210K miles later. 

Return to Sanity

With the engine replacement I decided to dial back the mods a bit. Went back to a stock turbo, PP357 nozzles, RC3+, South Bend Stage 2 Daily clutch, stock exhaust (kept the downpipe sans CAT). This was my favorite daily driving setup from 2008, and the car is still set up this way today. I’ve used up two sets of Koni FSDs, and am now back on Reds, although they’re getting soft. Front springs lasted over 400K miles, but the rears were replaced at some point. 

MKIV ALH: The Best VW

I’ve owned 23 VWs. 14 of them were for my use, 9 were for my kids. 16 of them are TDIs, and 6 of them are MKIVs. So I have some experience with the brand. And I strongly believe the MKIV ALH is the best platform and drivetrain that VW ever assembled. Exceptional fuel economy, reasonable performance even when stock, roomy enough especially in hatchback or wagon form, and incredibly durable. They’re also inexpensive to keep on the road compared to almost any other car out there. 

Where to now?

As you can imagine, owning a car for 22 years generates a lot of memories. IBW took my kids on college visits and then to school, including dorm room contents. It took my sons and I on many snowboarding trips, and it took me to more TDI GTGs than I can count, many with my dog Parker. It’s been as far south as Florida, west to Montana, north to Northern Ontario, and East to Lubec, Maine. And of course it was the catalyst for a new career at IDParts.com. I have no plans to stop driving it.