Did you recently rush to buy a new vehicle before tariff-related price hikes? A reporter is looking to speak with shoppers who felt pressure to act quickly due to expected cost increases; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com for more details by 4/24.
What about VW TDI engine?
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards
You can email VW on their site through a contact link (the link is not intuitive - here's the link:
http://www.vw.com/contact/contact_feedback.htm?
I've spoken (live) with the VW 1-800 number and they want ALL feedaback through this link - they state someone will reply (and they do). Please take 5 mins. and write them. Someone posted an article from an automobile site concerning the VW sales increase (article state 7% of all sales and dealers said TDI could have been as high as 18% of total USA VW sales if there was inventory). What a great article.
I also spoke to a dealership, who guessed that if it does come to the USA, it will most likely be the 2004 Passat. The article confirmed that date. As a selfish American, I want it now.
My brother had a NB diesel and loved it (I almost got that one - girlfriend got it. Is blood thicker than water????). It ran great - some small asthetic problems (window dropped into the door - fixed under warranty). I want one (in a Passat - new father, need room).
To prove they're under demand, look closely at the fine print on all VW 'special offer' commercials - TDI's are excluded. Go figure.
Lastly, DaimlerChrysler produces a 2.5l diesel engine (Detroit Diesel brand) for the Jeep line sold (you guessed it) in Europe (UK, specifically). Try the UK Jeep website - it's there. I saw a Durango with a Detroit Diesel when they were in town for a meeting (Phila, pa) and it fit in the engine bay nice. Emailed Detroit Deisel and received the same answer - emission issues keeping the vehicle fom US and Europe has a high demand for diesel engines (to go with their higher grade fuel).
I guess when it finally catches on in the US, some oil/gas fatcats will cash in and diesel prices will rise because the "refining process based on the low % of diesel cars in America has driven the price (notice I said price and not cost) of diesel fuel to $2.59 / gallon. Let's hope not!!!!
Remember, send VW an email to get service in USA (go diesels)!
Many manufacturers do diesels for the European market. Heck, Mercedes is making a plant somewhere in the south (Alabama? Miss?) that'll be making a twin-turbo diesel M-Class, for export to Europe of course.
IMO, if you want more diesels in the US (and I know many of us do), become a missionary. Tell everyone what a great car the diesel is and how well it runs and how great the MPG is (got 45 MPG in my 1996 TDI Passat sedan). Write your congress-people asking them to encourage diesel useage. Infiltrate the Sierra Club and other environmental groups that have the misguided opinion that diesel is dirty. I joined the Sierra Club this year, in part to do just that.
It will not require expensive modifications to existing engines the way elimination of leaded gasoline did.
It's not like the old days of lead gasoline. The sulfur doesn't do anything to help the engine run... it's just a pollutant.
I for one plan to ride my 1996 TDI Passat well past 2006. Latest tank MPG: 47.25.
Gotta love it.
Jim
I have the cold weather package ($150) which includes heated seats. Keeps me toasty until the motor heats up. I highly recommend the cold weather package if you get a GLS.
I do not think it is a good idea to put a remote starter on diesel due to glow plugs in winter.
For absolute maximum acceleration with a stock engine, shift at about 4000 rpm, because power drops off quickly beyond this. There is little to be gained by shifting at 4000 compared to shifting at 3500.
If there is not enough performance stock then there are chips available for the ECU which will add about 25HP.
Of course, there's a VERY easy way to improve your speed AND MPG ... get an UPsolute chip. 30% increase in torque and HP, a much smoother power band, and slightly increased MPG!
Jim
UPsolute seems to be the chip of choice. It's $325 standard, and gives you about a 30% increase in torque and HP and a small increase in MPG if you can keep yourself from gunning the car with all the newfound power.
You can ask your dealer if a chip will void the warrantee. Seems to vary from dealer to dealer. If it DOES, you can always get a tuning box instead of a chip. They do roughly the same thing, but a TB is less elegant and won't be quite as smooth. It also can be removed in a few minutes, so you could take it off before you head to the dealership.
Of course, a chip is hard to detect anyway. They'd have to go in and find it (or drive it and realize it's way too powerful).
http://www.tdiclub.com will be able to answer all your questions.
Leo
I've heard TDI's are not for sale in CA. Since I live in the midwest I don't know if that's true or not. If it is I'm sure the used ones really will command a premium.
If you are purchasing from a private party, just try to verify maintenance was performed on a timely basis.
Good luck
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
miniuchin- what year of TDI do you have? How many miles? Did you buy it new? Do you have a dealer service problem or a car problem? Do you abuse your car or is it just a lemon?
The glove box door latches are a problem area. Cup holder has been a problem for some people. You seem to have a car that was used roughly and that has nearly every problem possible. Better luck in the future.
Check out this page for some instructions:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=17&t=001565
Post over at TDIClub.com's general maintenance... there may just be someone local who can help you out. There are a ton of folks over there who love to work on these cars.
Here in France, Diesel powered cars have outsold gas powered cars for two years now. The main reasons behind this are the great improvements made in Diesel engines for the last 5 years, their better mileage but above all the fact that Diesel fuel is 20% less expensive than gas. Here, gas "scores" at $1 per... liter! That's about $3.5 per gallon...
Nearly every European (and now Japanese!) manufacturers have Diesel engines. VW's TDIs (I don't even know which version is on sale in the US) exist in numerous fashions: inline 4, 1.9l displacement, with horsepowers of 90, 100, 110, 130 and 150. Torques range from 144 lbft to... 224 lbft (yes, you read well, that's more than most gas powered V6s out there). They equip very numerous models from the different brands owned by VW (Skoda, Audi, VW itself, Seat, and I forget some of them). Average mileage for these engines range from 35mpg to 42mpg. Also existing are V6 TDIs, 2.5l displacement, with hp of 155 and 180, torques of 231 to 268 lbft, mileage 34mpg (best) to a not so impressive 25mpg (Audi A4 V6 TDI Quattro 180). Quite a large palette, uh?
On to the most noticeable engines out there, though there are so many it's impossible to list them all:
* probably the most fuel-efficient engine in the world for its power is BMW's inline 6 3l, which scores 183hp and a hefty 288 lbft of torque (more than a Porsche 911 or an M3!) from 1700rpm up to 3200rpm. Equipping the 3 series (Try "BMW 330d" in Google), this damn thing can lead it from 0 to 60mph in 7 seconds, swallows the quarter mile in 15'2 seconds, scores... 141mph top speed, accelerates from 50 to 75mph in 5'4/6'6/8'8 on gears 3/4/5, but manages to score a 36mpg average mileage! Ever wondered why BMW's 328i was replaced with 330i? 330d was the reason
* THE flagship Diesel engine nowadays is Mercedes' (yes, you read well) 4.0l, V8 (!). It scores 250hp and... 412 lbft of torque! It equips the S series, G series and ML series, and outsells all other engines available in these models! The S series, dubbed S400 CDI, scores 155mph top speed (voluntarily limited!), 50 to 75mph in... 4' (in Drive - no manual gearbox available) and still manages to get a 23mpg average mileage...
* lastly, soon next year, VW is going to unleash a 5l, V10 TDI engine. The 313hp is already not bad for the displacement, but the torque is mindblowing: 542 lbft! The first vehicle which will have the privilege to get this engine is the VW Phaeton, but it will also make its way into the future Audi A8 and VW Tuareg.
Needless to say, many, many other engines exist, this is only a sample (although I think I've listed pretty much all the TDI engines, except the 1.4 TDI, 75hp and 144 lbft). And needless to say, BMW and Mercedes are both working on replies to VW's monster V10 TDI... The war is not over... Oh, also, more than 80% sales of super sedans and luxury sedans are Diesel equipped... That says quite a lot.
Some of us wish for the PD TDI's, especially the 130 or 150 bhp version.
OUr problem is the level of sulphur in our diesels compared to Europe.
December 31, 2006 is the deadline for implementation of ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel), which will make them much cleaner and will allow the US to get the good diesels they have in Europe.
Question I have is this: I am moving to Alaska, where the temperatures average -20F or lower in the winter (sometimes as much as -60F!)
Anyone with advice on operating a VW TDI in these conditions. Besides trying to find block, oil pan, and battery heaters, using synthetic oil, does anyone out there have experience with this, or maybe I am better off selling my TDIs?
Does VW even make these heaters? I know that diesel is available up there, but want to know about the driveability and operation of the TDI/VW in the extreme cold. Any help much appreciated. Thanks
Good luck!
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
When ULSD comes, a current TDI will just run better!
Jeff, if you drive a ton, then a TDI will definitely be worth the extra $$ in terms of fuel savings. Or, you can run biodiesel and eat those fuel savings in a fit of environmental consciousness and patriotism. That's what I do. OPEC can kiss my hairy ...
Luckily for you, there are several places in Maryland that carry biodiesel (Tevis Oil). Info here - http://forums.biodieselnow.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=132
(Moderators, if that link is inappropiate, please delete the last sentence).
This is here Biodiesel can help, even when used as an additive....(fill blank here)
In Jersey, I've noticed diesel prices in NJ will raise with gasoline prices, and still being cheaper or comparable to regular gasoline, or sometimes mid-grade.
You will save money up front, but will have to replace your injectors, etc., fairly quickly. Jet fuel lacks the lubricity the engine needs.
I would be curious as to how a jet fuel/biodiesel mix would work... hmmm.