By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
It almost seems like fake news when they talk about (higher cost fuel) summer travel. How many people do a 2,000 miles vacation? In this case, @ .45 gal more, it’s app $43 more. Realistically, cancel the trip? Pay 4 x more (than fuel) for plane tickets & have to rent a car anyway?
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/m/5f56ca3c-2cab-370d-bb75-8cca8d5e4fc7/ss_rising-gas-prices-may-finally.html
Funny that the yahoo link can only claim the rate of increase is slowing. Prices are going to keep increasing for a while, however.
Are we tired of winning yet? Russia will do well, anyway.
At this point, though, I do not know whether we will be taking the Q7 or the Forester.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Start/stop is deactivated by a button my car, and I think software hacks can deactivate it permanently.
Sone can get hung up in the example, missing the point.
Nonetheless, I’m glad the least # of stuff I don’t want/need (i.e., no start/stop) are on my diesels!
Advantage diesel !
Your 14 doesn't have it?
Modest ~120 mile road trip this afternoon, 43.6 mpg per the car, advantage diesel indeed.
14 does NOT have it!
Yes. Advantage diesel!
Another question not even addressed, given stop/start low mpg commute nightmare. What saved mpg are practically talked about? I’m assuming it’s close to zero.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
I suspect it is more of an on-paper savings than something for the real world - as mentioned, it helps CAFE, not people. The system confuses my hardwired dashcam (which thinks the car is being parked), so I usually push the button, and don't think about it for the rest of the drive.
It begs the obvious question. Why would anybody in their right minds want 32/34 mpg, when 18/19/20 mpg are just fine?
TMI & longer term: It’s one less option that can/does fail or needing expensive repairs, naturally AFTER the expired warranties.
Simply wanted are opt in/out options, just like diesels. There has been consistency on this issue. Misdirection is often used to attempt to hide who is REALLY griping.
So for another example, Consumer Reports did an eye opening (pun intended) report (YUGE expose) on the efficacy of those DECADES OLD options; “super expensive xenon/LED” lamp “light up the way” options. While it didn’t surprise me, most oem xenon/LED options didn’t make the CR cut, let alone being cost effective. A few for sure were considered barely adequate
To wit, I’ve opted OUT of these options on three (of 4) diesels.
If only we had the headlight options of first world Europe, who typically leads the way, while we get dumbed down versions - the LED lighting in US market MB is different from Euro spec cars, and no doubt not superior.
blockquote class="Quote" rel="ruking1">
Right, so Ill accept ZERO mpg benefit, as the answer. The pattern seems to be wanting/needing the extra cost & way overpriced stuff/options to which one (self) admittedly don’t really know about nor seemingly care what the benefits are?
TMI & longer term: It’s one less option that can/does fail or needing expensive repairs, naturally AFTER the expired warranties.
Simply wanted are opt in/out options, just like diesels. There has been consistency on this issue. Misdirection is often used to attempt to hide who is REALLY griping.
So for another example, Consumer Reports did an eye opening (pun intended) report (YUGE expose) on the efficacy of those DECADES OLD options; “super expensive xenon/LED” lamp “light up the way” options. While it didn’t surprise me, most oem xenon/LED options didn’t make the CR cut, let alone being cost effective. A few for sure were considered barely adequate
To wit, I’ve opted OUT of these options on three (of 4) diesels.
We predicted it on Edmunds.com’s “I hate SUVs why don’t you? ” thread. SUV/CUV’S continue to be more conducive to 75% + of PVF buying public. Indeed so-called “compact” cars have been quietly made FAR larger since the 1970’s. Be that as it may, it’s amazing that there still are no % statistics: small cars to med cars up to “light” trucks.
100 mpg = 15 mpg? 54.5 mpg= 50 mpg = 18 mpg, light trucks? Oh yes! https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/05/11/automakers-trump-we-need-1-mpg-standard/602992002/
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/auto-executives-meet-trump-gas-mileage-standards-55096848
Far more egregious cover ups, lawsuits & recalls were done @ way cheaper $$’s.
Don’t forget E15 would probably drop that in the real world a minimum of 1-3 mpg.
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/auto-executives-meet-trump-gas-mileage-standards-55096848
A relatives 2002 MB E320 (PUG) gets 25 mpg, mirroring our commute slough 36-38 mpg/32-33 mpg/ 38 mpg-42 mpg diesels.
Even I understand getting 48 to 52 mpg STILL, in the 2003 Jetta TDI is probably obnoxious to most. It’s one gear short of a proper 6 sp M/T.
I spotted a ML250 Bluetec on the road - kind of a rare car, not the 6cyl. It was going pretty slow, probably trying to hypermile. I don't bother.
Many cars of this era with half the power couldn't top this.
Some years later, R/T to the Portland, OR area, (app 668 miles) the diesel fuel 2003 Jetta TDI posted only 48 mpg. The top mph were 30 + mph slower.
Now IF was to go the average speed that you had pictured, I know for a fact that it (2003 VW Jetta TDI) would’ve posted app 62 to 66 mpg, for a full tank.
Another almost erie (1,1000 miles leg) road trip with almost no traffic nor LEO’s going from a FL town 95 miles south from Daytona Beach, FL to a business hotel Houston, TX, 12/13 hours from landfall: Hurricane Katrina, aka, steady speed with 1 refueling. The “landing” in Houston was almost surreal! The hotel where I was supposed to have stayed in downtown New Orleans, LA was app 7 feet under water.
Interesting take on oil/gas. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidblackmon/2018/05/14/the-oil-and-gas-situation-four-big-factors-influence-u-s-oil-markets/#d6f5c0c25d9e
Advantage to diesel !
I have my doubts about a 300 mile trip at 90 mph returning 25 mpg
We can just hope diesel continues to pace RUG rather than PUG. It hasn't always been this way. I also hope there are no price spikes like in 08, I suspect the economy is on shakier ground than many want to admit.
I’m glad you have doubts about 668 mile trip. I’m sure you think that you couldn’t do it. Maybe one should do more road trips.
The way that “a” barrel of oil is refined will make sure ULSD paces RUG/PUG. There has already been $$’s price spikes. As for the economy: it’s the best of times/worst of times.
But ultimately it’s a great time to be alive! I wish I was 15 years old again!
I meant I hope diesel paces RUG, not PUG. It was once at PUG, now can be had for less than RUG, at least locally. That can easily be a 10% difference - small in the scheme of things, but a gloating point.
There are pros and cons of today vs the olden days. Maybe the worst "con" is affordability. Education/medical care/housing price to income ratios can be insane now, especially on the west coast.
CA applied a way higher % tax on ULSD! I hope it’s overturned by the California Supreme Court.
These kinds of weekends really throw off the long term fuel calculator.
Ethanol. https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/paul-driessen/american-consumers-lose-ethanol-gravy-train-rolls
I spent time in front line fighters & training its pilots. I have a feeling of how racing gets in the blood.
When first considering (2002/2003) TDI’s, one of the figures that was very rare and was never in the (VW, MB, BMW, etc.) technical data: a small to medium TDI with reasonablle care, could post app 25,000 HOURS operation time. So with avg speeds of 30 mpg to 60 mpg, they could tick btw 750,000 to 1,500,000 miles. Indeed one parameter was running them at roughly 75% to full rpm (routinely: full torque @ way less rpm), helping trouble free operations.
20/20 hindsight: VW cheaped out on any number of items. In my anecdotal case, the 2009 Jetta TDI, Bosch fuel pumps could have higher failure rates @ lower cycle miles/times. I’ve documented the failure on mine in past posts. Bottom line: VW paid the repair of the fuel pump failure, out of warranty.
TMI
BMW has had a lot of (Bosch) gasoline fuel pump problems.
The 2014 MB GLK 250 BT @ 62,000 miles, might be bit premature to comment. The oem run flats, however might need replacing @ 70,000 to 75,000 miles. It’s due a rotation @ 65,000 miles, so the tire guru’s will chime in. It doesn’t look to need an alignment.
EV? The real coal rollers?
https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2018/05/15/are-electric-cars-worse-for-the-environment-000660
It must be global warming!
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_chronology.html
I wonder how many cars worth of emissions Kilauea will burp out this year.
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia_maps.html
Yet EPA/CARB will have you believe (my two) diesels are public enemies.
Let’s make a graphic. Niagara Falls flow “leak”, just fine. The washer to ones garden hose doesn’t work, leaking water, you can get on TV & threaten with arrest.
Affected diesel’s owners got the equivalent of “ the turn in your guns no questions asked “buyback” program prices $$’s while paying more & violating no laws.
If EPA/CARB actually “TESTED” only samples, this whole brouhaha would probably never have happened.
...”We took the 3.0-liter V6 TDI for a spin, and despite the diesel who-ha, it’s still expected to be the best-selling engine in Europe. After a moment of spooling the turbo, the 286-horsepower engine pulls cleanly thanks to a healthy 443 pound-feet of torque.”...
2019 Euro VW Tourareg TDI, 34 mpg US gal? https://www.yahoo.com/news/2018-volkswagen-touareg-first-drive-090002600.html
Loved the 2012 VW Touareg TDI!
I’m actually ready for another one. The BMW X5 can be $20,000-$25,000 USD more.
It's same car as my 2017, except his is black (cool) with mud-guards (cool) and the blackout-bowtie option (cool).
His 2011 hand-me-down Chevy Cruze was declared totalled due to left-front hitting a deer at 60mph. Airbags did not deploy, no human injuries.
Lately as part of his job he has to "splash blend" biodiesel at the refinery, with dino diesel, to achieve the B20 summertime blend that is mandated for diesel in MN. http://www.mda.state.mn.us/renewable/biodiesel/aboutbiodiesel.aspx