True, my 02 Golf TDI heater is terrible.  I thought it was just
because it was a diesel and doesn't produce as much waste heat.  (It
has electric heaters in the coolant to help it get warmed up faster,
for example.)  It's been about 15-20 degrees F on my morning commute
lately.  About 5 miles into my route, more than 4 of that on
Interstate, I coast for about a mile.  With the heater set on recirc
and fan on 3, the temp gauge will drop from "normal" to the next
lowest mark during that coast.  This makes me think the engine really
isn't producing that much heat.    My '86 vanagon makes impressive
heat and pretty fast.  Winter stealth camping wake up routine
involves turning front heater off and idling engine until rear heater
starts putting out heat.  Man that thing gets going in about 5
minutes and pretty soon is putting out serious BTUs.  I usually can
warm up the inside enough to shut the engine off and be warm enough
to change clothes and get some hot water going for coffee or tea in
relative comfort.
Edward

At 01:19 PM 1/7/2010, you wrote:
>If watercooled VWs were ever known for their great heat, they aren't
>now.  It's -25C today, and my 09
>Jetta wagon takes 20-30 minutes to warm up.  Same with my former 03
>Beetle.  I've never had a worse
>car for heat.  The vanagon actually warms up faster (at least in
>terms of blowing heat, not necessarily
>warming the large cabin).
>
>I miss my gas heater.
>
>Jeff
>
> >
> > From: Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
> > Date: 2010/01/07 Thu PM 12:05:07 CST
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: No heat at stoplights.
> >
> > I believe the Thermostat in closed position sends all flow to the heater
> > cores.  That's why water cooled VWs have been famous for their great heat.
> > Edward