Diesel power: TDI Jetta FTW, tow champ, savior, winner.
 

So as we are pulling onto the freeway to leave Saline MI and the Volvo decides that's a good time to lose oil pressure. We get it towed, drop the pan, clean it, replace o-rings, put it back together... clacking badly began shortly after re-startup.

We were out of options. I did some thinking and the Jetta TDIs in Europe are rated to tow something like 3500 pounds. The Volvo's curb weight is like 3250 (was surprised to find it that low... but it's a front wheel drive V70 non turbo). Of course, the back of the Volvo was completely crammed with stuff. I would estimate total Volvo weight to be around 4000 pounds. The tow dolly was probably another, oh, 300? The back of the Jetta was also crammed full. We were out of options, so we loaded it up. Went to bed with a few reservations, no doubt.



Set off in the morning and man, it felt sketchy. It was prone to sway, but took great care in driving, small steering inputs, and just took it slow. Was it kinda stupid? Yeah, a bit. But this car was the champ of champs. I used 4th gear exclusively for the first 300 miles or so, but then started using 5th (top) for flat ground and downhill. The car just... did it. It was difficult to get the load moving from a stop but once I got used to how the rig felt, it really pulled nice and straight. Across Wyoming we had wind gusts in excess of 55 mph (according to the warning signs) and it didn't bother the rig at all.

Now... this isn't something I would have PLANNED to do, and absolutely not something I would recommend doing... but it's possible :fawk:

Arrived safely after all that.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...1&d=1365787498

miata looks dirty bro

better clean it :D

I'm pretty sure you know how impressed i am because of my reaction on facebook. But dang, i give the miata props too. Not that it wouldn't make it normally, but through all the snow on summer tires.

Already done yesterday. Spent an hour and a half washing and scrubbing the crud off of it. Got some water spots cuz I couldn't get the thing dry before it, well, dried (arid Utah air... thing dries by itself in about 5 minutes with a breeze...). Will go at it with some cleaner wax... eventually (rained today).

Anyway... yes it's clean. Miata is still filthy. Damn volvo is still broken.

Dillon -- yeah huge props to the Miata for sure. My dad drove it through most of the ugly weather but it really worked well, considering RE-11s, hehe...

What is the back story? You drove from Michigan to Wyoming? Were you moving residences?

Why would you move to Wyoming? I'm sure there are good reasons, it's just not a state that ever comes up. It's like Splittime buying a Fiat from the disco era.

Why are all the cars so filthy - do you have to cross a limestone gravel road to get to your subdivision or something?

Pretty sure he didn't move to wyoming

haha we were moving from Saline, MI to Utah. Currently staying in Saratoga Springs with my folks and will get a place when I find a job. (weighing my options right now...)

While driving across Wyoming my wife and I said countless times how much we'd DISLIKE living there.

Filthy because Wyoming is still stuck in frozen hell. Monday night we were hoping to go on through to Utah but they put in place a chain law requiring snow chains or snow tires on I-80 west. Also, the trailer lights weren't much good on the dolly and the Volvo ate its battery so its flashers wouldn't work. Unsafe, so we stayed the night. In the morning, I-80 was closed til 11 am. We got through after that, but it was a slushy mess.

Oh, right. Snow and slush and filth. I try to avoid that. It always gets on my loafers - which I wear with no socks - or my linen slacks. Don't even get me started on keeping my white sports coat clean!

:dealwithit:

or your pink scarf

No scarfs. I only wear pastel colored v-neck t-shirts with my white sports coats.

How did you ever find this? I'm guessing I'm missing something.

The fact that you can't find it, indicates you are not lacking testosterone and/or an interest in women, which the ability to find it implies.

I'm really just saying that either:

1. Scrappy Jack was making reference to something I do not understand or;
2. Geoff has memes stored for, well, everything. "pastel colored v-neck and white blazer? I have a meme for that."

Step 1. Find picture of Don Johnson wearing pastel v-neck and white sport coat.
Step 2. Add funny and appropriate meme text to picture.
Step 3. ???
Step 4. Profit!

Awhile back a friend, who had a 72 el camino at the tme, sent me a text saying. "How do I get my new tool box home. Its a 52" box." My reply was "Put it in the bed and strap it down." His response was a picture of his green 4 cylinder camry with a huge craftsman box sitting on the roof with one strap going over it and then through the windows. a text saying "Impulse purchase...Im in the camry. Dont worry Ill keep a Hand on it"

He ended up making it home, he told me they bought it to his car on a forklift and when he told them to drop it on the camry, they thought it was a joke and didnt want to do it at first.

Looks like I also forgot to mention:

I averaged over 27 mpg on this escapade. drove 60 mph at first but after the first 400 miles or so we averaged over 70 mph. Pulled most hills without dropping any speed.

Just blows my mind. Name another vehicle that could do this! 27mpg towing and fully loaded. Name one.

Turbodiesel ftw. Torque tows.

I have a Golf with the 2.0 TDI 140 engine and a 6 speed. Even though the peak power isn't anything to write home about, it has gobs of torque which makes it awesome fun to drive. It makes you feel like you are being a badass even when doing way less than the posted limit.

So for a tow vehicle, I should be looking for a Jetta TDI wagon?

Do they make the Tiguan with the TDI?

And Mark was picking up what I was putting down: a reference to Miami Vice attire. :)