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But for the TDI, going past 4000 rpm is a waste of time (not much power after 4000 rpm). YOu're better off short-shifting and let the torque do its job.
Having driven a diesel, I'll never buy another gasonline car.
I am one who LOVES all-out power though, so I am very happy with the 1.8T..
I will be soon as well
A TDI will be cheaper to operate than any gas Jetta. There are some very high mpg gas gars out there though which might be similar in overall cost. However they don't drive or feel anywhere near as substantial as a Jetta. The Jetta is about the only small car I've driven that feels very nice. A corolla or civic for instance feels very cheap and floppy to me. A lot of the cost depends on fuel prices. In my area diesel and gas are very similar in price, other areas pay a premium for diesel, some less. If gas prices skyrocket, typically diesel doesn't increase at the same rate. Gas jumped $.15/gallon a week or so ago and diesel jumped $.05 so diesel was cheaper for awhile. Now they're about the same.
Diesel is everywhere in my area. About half the stations carry it plus I'm near an interstate with truck stops everywhere.
I like driving the Jetta it feels very nice and solid. Has some nice features similar sized cars don't have. With the TDI it can typically get in the 40-50mpg range plus go 600-700 miles on a tank.
What I don't like? Well I've not had any problems with mine but some folks report some "quirky" problems. Many folks recommend running additives in the fuel (especially in the winter) which is somewhat of a pain but then again I only fill-up at 650 mile intervals. Diesel smells a bit and can stick with you if you spill it on you. A pair of gloves in the trunk takes care of that. None of these really bother me but those are the issues I've heard others complain about. I've had a diesel pickup for many years so I'm a bit more experienced with this, but many car owners don't know anything about it. I'm at 60K miles on my '00 and no complaints really. Changed the timing belt, replaced a sensor, oil every 10K miles, new set of tires, a couple power window motors (big problem that they have now fixed and extended the warranty on previous models) and still have the factory brake-pads. Probably not as reliable as a Toyota but I've owned several toyotas and this car has tremedously more character. Worth the few "issues" in my book.
Off the dealers lot I got 44.5 mpg (my lowest) and have a high of 50.2 mpg. Average tank is 49 and change.
The only issue I've had with the car is replacing the front door window regulator clamp. The passenger window went down; wouldn't go up. This, of course, was replaced under warranty; And they replaced both. nice.
The only other minor annoyance with the car is the superfluous noise emanating from above the windows while driving on moderately rough roads. This is remedied by increasing the volume on my stereo.
BTW, thanks for the quality posts. There's a lot of knowledgeable people out there. Thanks for sharing.
My '87 Golf didn't have power anything - not even power steering, and I loved that car, nice & simple. Of course, the Golf was a huge step up from my '69 Squareback!
This suggestion is based on other car brands..I don't have recent VW experience..
I am considering buying a Jetta wagon with the TDI engine. I live in northern MN and the winters are long and cold. It is not unusual to have -20 degrees air temperatures here. Do any of you have experience with your TDI in the cold weather? Fuel jelling, other issues. This is the only thing I am worried about with this engine. I look forward to your responses. Thank you.
The only advice I can give you is a diesel takes quite awhile to warm up, so if you have a short commute you may never get heat unless you have a coolant heater installed (this also makes much easier starts). Idling doesn't do much either, you really need to drive it to get the engine temp to come up. So if you only commute 10 minutes you'll just be getting toasty when you get to work. These vehicles are great for long commutes, and very cost effective when used in that manner. Seat heaters are a must in cold temps, unfortunetely I bought mine out of Texas and so my rump stays cold longer than it should.
I live around 65 miles from the dealer, so I cannot even consider a gas VW..TIA
Do they have catalytic converters?
My present 1996 Saturn SL 1 has a stainless steel system..It has 46k and the original system..
I understand that unburned acids can cause engine problems..do present day oils have chemicals to handle that condition?
I do run the car a 120 mile trip every month or so.
We live in the Hill Country of Texas where the temperatures are warm to hot most of the year..and there is realitively low humidity..as possible mitigating conditions..
I guess what my concern is..would a diesel engine suffer worse effects than a gas engine..
I can point you to a good source of info, without directly violating the membership agreement
Granted the diesel will still likely get better mpg overall, but the added cost over say a small 4cyl gas car plus other factors adds up. If all I did was mainly around town, I'd have to think hard about the diesel. I do between 100-180 miles per day so it's a no-brainer. It's possible I still could have saved money with a gasser, say a Toyota ECHO or similar tiny junk-box but I won't drive something like that just to save a buck. The Jetta is a very nice car even though it's rather small. I put it between a Honda and a BMW, but still gets better mpg than the Honda.
Granted, there is no comparison when it comes to crash worthiness, ride, safety features. But the Jetta is also in a completely different league pricewise.
How long do you think it will take for a TDI Jetta with it's outstanding gas mileage (diesel mileage?) to recover the $ 5000 to $ 8000 price difference? (never for most people, they don't keep their car long enough).
If you factor in financing the Jetta doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the long distance commuter. I drive 40K miles per year myself and debated between the TDI Golf and the Echo for quite some time.
Anyway, this is my first diesel engine, so I'm not sure who's fuel is good and who's fuel to avoid. BP? Shell? Marathon? Pilot?
I've seen biodiesel mentioned on several boards. I live east of Cleveland, but rarely get downtown. I live in a small town about 90 mintues east of Cleveland, actually closer to Erie, Pa. If anyone knows a station that offers biodiesel in my area (Lake, Ashtabula, eastern Cuyahoga counties, for those who know the area), please let me know.
Thanks!
Mark
When the Passat TDI arrives, that will be my commuter.
I'll restate: if money is the only concern there are possibly cheaper choices than a TDI.
In my personal case, I drive my cars until they are not worth anything. After 300k to 350k miles neither the Echo or the Golf/Jetta will have a resale value to speak of. Granted, you would get a few more dollars for the VW but not much more.
I was going for the absolute lowest expense per month but still looking for a decent car.