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What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?

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Comments

  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I don't see how anyone could complain about 31 MPG with a heavy SUV like the Touareg. Probably better than would be possible in any gas sedan under those conditions.
  • coontie66coontie66 Member Posts: 110
    Here is the warranty in 2012:

    3 year / 36,000 miles
    Free Maintenance 4 year / 36,000 miles
    Drivetrain 5 year / 60,000 miles
    Roadside 3 year / 36,000 miles
    Rust 12 year / Unlimited miles

    Not as puny as I thought!

    Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2012/volkswagen/passat/warranty/#ixzz2JF4mX7lC
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    For me that is indeed true. The real reasons for the description of conditions is really to highlight the RANGE of operations, while posting the TDI's mpg. I know for a fact that IF I ran a gasser VW Touareg under the same RANGE of operations, the mpg would probably be considerably lower.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited January 2013
    Seems better than most, with the free maintenance and roadside service. Here's the Prius v for comparison:

    BASIC 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
    DRIVETRAIN 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
    HYBRID COMPONENT 8 yr./ 100000 mi.
    FREE MAINTENANCE 2 yr./ 25000 mi.
    ROADSIDE 2 yr./ 25000 mi.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Better get AAA after your 2 years are up... :P

    To get the AT-PZEV rating you have this CARB requirement:

    All emissions-related components must be warrantied for 15-years or 150,000-miles. This includes the electric propulsion components of a hybrid electric vehicle.

    The Plug-in hybrids have to warrant their batteries for 10 years and 150k miles. The first GM Volt did not and was not eligible for the CA $5000 incentive. Only certain models of Volt for 2012/13 CA commuter lane stickers.

    Volt - Please note that eligible vehicles with the Low Emissions Package will have an E, F, G or H in the 5th position of the VIN

    http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Most insurance offers cheap roadside assistance so that's redundant for me.

    I will take the free maintenance, though.
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    Just heard from VW dealer - now they have 3 Passat TDI sticks in stock. Thanks guys - too late now. They still want $3.5 k more than the Accord, so that helps ease the pain.

    Did a test comparing the '07 Accord to the '13. 18 mile loop around the dam. Mostly 55 mph about 3 miles of city 2 stop lights and 6 stop signs. Start at 1,700 ft elevation up to 2,200 then down to 1,500 and back up to 1,700. Temps of 30 degrees and no wind. Both cars started from dead cold. '07 returned 38.7 mpg and '13 returned 39.4 mpg. Scanguage on '07 and trip computer on '13.

    Not bad for the new guy considering it had 300 miles on the odo. Engine is not broken in yet, tires still have nubs on them and tire psi is not at 40 like my '07. Looks like it should be able to achieve my estimate of beating the '07 by 2 (or more ) mpg.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Should improve a bit, especially with warmer weather.

    I used to keep a spreadsheet and spring and fall were best, summer about 1 mpg behind, winter a full 2 mpg behind.

    Although another factor is we travel less in winter, so it is hard to isolate the weather's effect by itself.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    edited January 2013
    I think it is too bad you will not test the Passat diesel using both this scan gauge and driving loop and compare the results, and by posting both. After all, this is a DIESEL thread. Gasser mpg should be relevant in comparison to diesels. It is almost like we are trying to make the case of thunderous sound of.... one hand clapping without diesels.

    The Taylors posted 84.1 mpg going 5 mph UNDER the speed limits in a Passat TDI. (speed limits being 65 mph), albeit 5 mph FASTER than your stated loop mpg.. So in that comparison for example we are talking 84.1 vs 38.7/39.4 mpg ??? !!!

    So I think if we wanted to do that, how about my sub $13k Honda Civic that regularly posts between 38-42 mpg?

    Now, I am not saying that you can/ can not post as well or worse or vice versa. We really have no basis of FYI without the comparative competitive tracks being laid, so to speak.
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    I am sure the diesel would handily win on the test loop - hence my interest in it. Probably around 50 mpg. Might hit 60 mpg when the weather is warmer and if I started with a warm engine. Under the same conditions the new Accord might get close to 50 - pretty sure the old one could get mid 40's. 55 mph really delivers incredible mileage regardless of engine type.

    I was not in too much of a hurry and wanted to give the Mazda 6 diesel and Passat TDIa chance, but my wife wanted to take advantage of us being in the right place at the right time with the Accord. I did not argue too much (and am happy with the Accord) as the numbers are pretty close to a wash once fuel prices are factored in. Even if the difference in price was cut in half between diesel and regular unleaded it would take 15 years to pay back the extra cost of the Passat.

    It helps that the Accord takes regular and all regular 87 octane gas in SD is ethanol free (says on pumps even) 89 octane has 10% ethanol and super is also ethanol free. We also have no winter blend gas since we are not urban.

    84 mpg is incredible. Best tank on my 07 Accord was 45 mpg (670 miles) driving slow (60 mph or just under) with no a/c - just to see what it could do. I have done 200 miles at over 50 mpg at about 57 mph - had a tailwind though. Wind can make a huge difference.

    I would happily test the Passat on the loop except the Passat is 230 miles away - main reason I did not wind up with one. SD is 400 miles across with only 820,000 people, so lots of things (especially car dealers) are far away. Not having to drive the family to the dealer, get a motel for a night and drive back is actually worth quite a bit to me. Had I happened to be in Sioux Falls and seen the stick shift Passat and been offered invoice pricing there is a good chance I would be driving that right now.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited January 2013
    The Taylors also got 60 something in a Korean hybrid, and that's not even a very competitive hybrid. You can't compare to dudleyr's loop, unless like you said he took a TDI on a test drive on the same loop (with a cold start, so he'd need to keep the car overnight).

    The Taylors are pros and outliers in the extreme (by definition, it's a record high). I'd like to see then take an Avalon (*) hybrid out on the same drive, employing their same hyper-miling skills, see what distance they could cover on a tank.

    * why Avalon and not Camry or Prius? Because the Avalon has a bigger gas tank, in fact it matches the Passat TDI's.

    Highway drives like that tend to favor diesels anyway. We could compare 2 fleets of taxis, which idle a *lot* and would show a diesel weakness (not start/stop - yet).
  • crkyolfrtcrkyolfrt Member Posts: 2,345
    Yes, good ideas about possibly conditioning the fuel. I guess Stabil ª used for gas is not suitable..

    And I also remember I have some litmus paste so will dip the tank this summer and hopefully see only green.
    That said though, I think I will hook up a small 2 gallon sub tank. Does anyone know if a DT466 uses a pump in the tank to supply fuel pressure? The bus is about 20 years old..maybe not quite, and is before they started to electronically manage the 466's.

    What a nice running engine it is though. Starts right up even when the temp drops and no ether needed. This is especially impressive when you consider it has a lot of miles on it, so surely compression is not what it once was.
  • crkyolfrtcrkyolfrt Member Posts: 2,345
    The higher the compression engine, the less I believe in start/stop tech. Certainly not when longevity is the goal. Sitting at a light for 2 min or more allows a lot of hot oil to drain off cam lobes and other associated engine bearings..even wrist pins and crank bearings. That constant (somewhat) dry restarting over and over, surely must cause some engine longevity potential.

    I doubt we will see it anytime soon with diesels..at least not in all season climates. They run so efficiently as it is that having them shut off a lot of the time in city, in the winter, will have them fighting to just stay up to temp most of the time, thereby exasperating engine wear. And the electric assist will just ensure that fight for normal engine temps would be that much more constant.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It was a hybrid Sonata, they averaged 70mpg. Details:

    US 48 States Lowest Fuel Consumption Hybrid World Record April 7th – 28th, 2012
    Driving 9,033 miles, 69.98 US mpg, 84.05 Imperial mpg, 3.36 L/100 Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines US$516.51


    Remember, that's not the most competitive hybrid, Camry and Fusion beat it real world, easily.

    Fuelly has the Sonata hybrid average at 33.4-33.9.

    Fusion hybrid is getting 36.7 to 37.7. About 9% better.

    2012 Camry hybrid is at 38.6mpg, about 15% better.

    The point it, the Saylors achieve amazing results, and noone should expect to duplicate them. Not many Sonata hybrid owners report 70mpg on fuelly, just as there are no TDIs getting 84mpg there, either.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    I think you are missing the point. But you know that. Taylor's analogy would be to operate a GASSER Passat. Geez.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I am sure the Taylors are available for hire. Maybe Toyota does not want to risk looking bad. They are not that great highway mileage cars. The Avalon Hybrid is only rated 39 HWY. The Passat single tank run was more of a gimmick IMO. I like the long trips they have made covering most of the USA. That gives more of a varied terrain and conditions.

    A cross country run between the Passat TDI and Camry Hybrid would be a good test. With drivers taking equal times in both cars. C'mon Steve you can arrange for such a test.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I agree with you on Stop/Start vehicles. I had it in my GMC Hybrid PU truck and hated it. As long as it could be disabled for those that don't like bursts of energy at the wrong time. Like when you let off the gas to go around a corner and the engine stops and restarts with a surge when you hit the gas. Dangerous option. May be the reason we don't see it a lot here.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They break records left and right. A gasser Passat is the last thing on their minds.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Taylors are available for hire

    I'm sure they have some sort of relationship with the manufacturers. I doubt Hyundai minded the published 70mpg result, or VW the 84 mpg.

    Notice how they go for a different record each time. So I doubt we'll ever see them try to break VW's distance-per-tank record, or Hyundai's least fuel to visit 48 contiguous states. Instead they will try something else.

    They promote fuel efficiency and an efficient driving style, IIRC they even teach driving strategies.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    The Taylors also got 60 something in a Korean hybrid

    Which one. I could not find any of their records with a Korean vehicle on the sight you posted. They did set a record with a Prius.

    http://www.fuelacademy.com/world_record_drives_2000s.html
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It's on that page, below the Cruze Eco.

    70mpg ain't bad for what isn't even a competitive hybrid.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited January 2013
    A cross country run between the Passat TDI and Camry Hybrid would be a good test.

    Sounds like fun to me.

    I got 100 mpg in the Outback today, a new personal best. There were 5 of us packed in it for a two hour round trip. So 5 x 20 mpg....

    I can't even remember ever having 5 people in the minivan before.

    Gas took a big (18 cent) jump overnight to $3.49. Diesel is hanging around $3.94 so the differential dropped quite a bit.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,688
    Five is quite a squeeze in those old Outbacks! I'm still shocked at how spacious the newest generation is in comparison....

    Diesel is about $4.05 here with RUG $0.50 cheaper.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Stuff 2 families in a van, you'll be closer by the end of a trip.

    Like it or not! ;)
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    I miss the good old days when people used to brag about their MPH instead of their MPG.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    edited January 2013
    One might be AGAINST the law ? ;) BUT even @ higher levels, the DIESEL is even better than gassers ! :shades:
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    You CAN'T any more! Speed cams on every block!

    I just looked at the stats my GPS gathers, my top speed since in the last 280 hours of driving was just 73mph!

    Average speed a rather pathetic 20mph. 26mph average while moving.

    More than 62 hours of that was spent standing still, idling. That's a lot of 0 mpg bringing down my average. :sick:
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    edited January 2013
    Yes, I was surprised to see my average speed somewhere in the 20's. Makes one wonder why we even have these 300/400 hp engines anymore that are capable of speeds of 150 mph. What a waste.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I could probably get by with my lawn mower engine.

    Works for the Prius c! :D
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    edited January 2013
    Indeed !

    Again the diesel's RANGE is very interesting (really not a lot of mpg variance) .

    For the commute, (28 miles OW/ 54 R/T) a OW commute can take from a wildly optimistic 45 mins to 90 min/1.5 hours: 37 mph to 18.67 mph.

    Again, for the commuting portion, the diesels post between 40 and 42 mpg (09 Jetta TDI), 48-52 mpg (03 Jetta TDI), 29 to 32 mpg (12 Touareg TDI) We do not use the VW T much (for commuting) in that the BRAKES and tires are much more costly. All are GREAT @ autobahn speeds !! They are just NOT 135mph + autbahn cruisers !!! This CUV was MADE for autobahn cruising, albeit UNDER 135 mph!!! . The real CA reason to buy, it is waved and waived on by CA Trans during chain controls conditions. It is normally required to have chains when the snow plows need chains and /or snow plows are having issues. But if they are having issues, you don't want to be on the roads anyway. So I just recent sprayed off app 1 # of snow road debris (x 2 times) after 2 R/T's.
  • crkyolfrtcrkyolfrt Member Posts: 2,345
    Had a 142.9 mph posted on my GPS once when I was looking over the averages one day...sounds excessive... until I remembered I had had it in my tank bag on the bike.
    I guess this is where I should say musta been a track day..
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    My dog could run faster than my average speed. :D
  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    Might as well just all get bicycles !

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    2 wheels are fun and meet my criteria, but...

    No lane splitting on motorcycles in DC or MD, and after having 3 of those stolen from me I'm done.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited January 2013
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,688
    No kidding! I would have seriously considered this car if it had a hatch option. I'd definitely be interested in the diesel variant if it had a hatch. :sick:
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The Taylors have a record in a Cruze Eco...they should try to break it with a Cruze Diesel.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    I would have seriously considered this car if it had a hatch option. I'd definitely be interested in the diesel variant if it had a hatch.

    Here is the link the Cruze HB on the Chevrolet UK site.

    Read it and weep. Nice looking ..
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Whoa, note the starting prices:

    hatch - 14,395 BP
    wagon - 15,495
    saloon - 19,205

    I'll take the wagon, please!
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    The wagon would translate to app $25k USD.
  • flightnurseflightnurse Member Posts: 2,217
    Now that is has been confirmed that Jeep will have a Diesel option for the GC, and it being MB engine, does this change peoples perspectives on just buying an import diesel SUV?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    Those prices include taxes and fees. Always has amused me how Europeans do that in virtually every part of the consumer market, yet in NA we let sales tax and fees be a surprise for the buyer. The illusion of cheap prices.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited January 2013
    Should be better than the VM Motori option that Jeep used in the Liberty, going by recent history. (We have had a recent poster or two that have had good luck with their CRDs though).
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,688
    Yes, I prefer the wagon over the hatch, but both (either) over the sedan! So, done and done (read and wept). :P
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Deal, $17k. But we have to add tax, tags, freight, processing fee, loan application fee, fee fee (that's a fee to add up all the fees), so you owe us $20k.

    Fargo had a funny dealership scene.
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    edited January 2013
    ..."Yes, I was surprised to see my average speed somewhere in the 20's. Makes one wonder why we even have these 300/400 hp engines anymore that are capable of speeds of 150 mph. What a waste."...

    Another response is a bit more arcane. Folks eyes might gloss over. For those that might think this response is problematic, the best would be to ignore it.

    First off, it MIGHT be a "waste" to have a GASSER with 300/400 hp with speeds capable of 150 mph. I would "loosely" agree; in the sense that I would not use that type of vehicle for the commute slough, based solely on mpg. The key issue here is at stop and go and so called lower speeds with a lot of idling, gasser fuel mileage definitely suffers.

    Secondly, it is NOT (such) a waste with diesels. To make a long story short, my commute mpg is not unlike highway cruising @ 80 to 90 mph. To use one example 29-32 mpg in 37 to 19 mph commute traffic and 30 mpg @ a steady 90 mph. The drive train is optimized for 81 mph (really 2,150 rpm) and the fuel gauge leads me to believe @ that rpm and speed we are talking more like 32 to 34 mpg. All three diesels react similarly, but obviously scaled differently. The interesting thing is the VW T TDI has 406 # ft of torque. Sadly the computer limits this to 135 mph. ;) I think one of the reasons was to put in an H rated tire. :sick: :shades: H rated tires are a whole different issue most good , a few bad.

    Of further consequence, the WSJ puts gasser idling, stop and go and slow speeds in commute traffic @ BILLIONS of dollars in WASTED fuel, not to mention the other BILLIONS in lost man hours. Wear and tear and accidents were not covered.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Never thought about it, but what do hybrids do in gridlock? Would make sense if they would switch to battery, assuming they don't overheat or something.

    Telecommuting solves quite a few of those problems. :shades:
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Now that is has been confirmed that Jeep will have a Diesel option for the GC, and it being MB engine

    Last I read the GC diesel will have the VM Motori engine, not the MB diesel. I would jump on it if it was the MB diesel engine. I like the looks of the GC better than the MB ML350 Bluetec
This discussion has been closed.