What about VW TDI engine?
kmmcdonald
Member Posts: 4
Well, I'm considering purchasing a new Golf
(have to get _something_--two non-licensed,
non-insured morons just totalled my perfectly
good 1986 Mazda 323) and am very attracted by
the TDI engine. Anyone have any remarks on the
durability of this engine (according to theory,
should be significantly better than the gas
engine, but that's theory...), starting in cold
weather, real-world MPG, emissions, or anything
else?
Thanks,
Ken
(have to get _something_--two non-licensed,
non-insured morons just totalled my perfectly
good 1986 Mazda 323) and am very attracted by
the TDI engine. Anyone have any remarks on the
durability of this engine (according to theory,
should be significantly better than the gas
engine, but that's theory...), starting in cold
weather, real-world MPG, emissions, or anything
else?
Thanks,
Ken
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Forget everything you've ever heard about diesels. It's quiet, clean (meets TLEV emissions standards for all 50 states WITHOUT additional controls), very peppy, and awesome pulling power. When I went to run some errands two saturday's ago, the thermometer read -4F. The glow plugs warmed after about 5 seconds, and the car purred on the first try. It's also torquey enough to start the Beetle moving from a dead stop in first gear without giving it gas!
And it gets great mileage. We picked ours up on 16 December. On 11 Jan (ok, we were out of town for a week and left the bug, but still...) and almost five hundred miles later, we filled the gas tank for the first time. About 43 MPG in mixed highway and city driving. Plus, diesel in Connecticut is taxed at a different rate, so it's CHEAPER than regular. And as far as fuel availability goes, I can't speak for your area, but here, it's good. Of the seven gas stations reasonably close to our home and work, six have diesel. Ironically, only one of those actually advertises the fact on its sign, and all of the others only have it at one pump, but they do have it.
And you're right. In theory, it should last a lot longer than a gas engine. My neighbor has a 1971 Mercedes diesel which (according to him, anyway) has never had any major engine work performed. Just belts, glow plugs, oil changes, etc.
There are only two drawbacks that I know of: 1) after about a week, the underside of the back of your car (near the tail pipe) is covered with dark grime, which you can only see if you bend down, and which comes right off with a little soapy water; and 2) if you ever run out of gas, the check engine light comes on and stays on until you see your dealer.
But don't take my word for it. Check out Motor Trend magazine's Import Car of the Year (New Beetle) article (Feb '99 issue), or look at the long term road test for the New Beetle here on the Edmunds website.
Go for it! Happly Dieseling. Prrrrrrrrrrrrr.
http://users.uniserve.ca/~fred_v/
The site is FANTASTIC.
Go for the TDI !!!!!
carlady/host
Now I know Connecticut doesn't have mountains quite like the Rockies, but some of our inclines are very steep (7-8%) over short distances.
Yes, compared to a Viper. But because of the torque range of the diesel, it has much better low RPM pulling power than the gas engine. If you think you're running out of power, and you're above 3000 RPM, shift to a higher gear and bring the RPM back down to around 1800-2000. Your TDI will FLY.
Complaints about underpowered cars probably come from people who are used to driving gas engines, which don't generate peak torque and HP at the same RPM's. They wonder why at 4200 RPM their diesel isn't pulling as hard.... (Hint: maybe its not designed to
You only run out of steam above about 3600 RPM in 5th.... by which time you're already going 90MPH or so. If you want to qualify for the Winston Cup, find another engine. If you want to go from point A to point B at mostly legal speeds, it's a terrific engine choice.
I just pulled into a Full Service station (in New Jersey, where they have so much unemployment that you can't pump your own gas), and the yo-yo already had the regular fuel hose out and was ready to fill my poor TDI with that nasty stuff. I said, "Fill it up with diesel, please," and he
nodded, and STILL WENT TO PUT THE NOZZLE IN MY
TANK. Then he caught himself and said, "Did you
say diesel?" I told him I had. He replied, "I
didn't know these things were diesels." Sigh.
Well, at least I didn't actually PUT unleaded in my tank (unlike the Edmunds crowd).
A trip from Portland, OR to Sacramento was covered in less than one tank (49) mpg at speeds up to 85 with the AC blasting. It was just cruising along at low rpms without any strain.
Dana
At this rate, I'll soon be able to afford food again.
Now you know why I subscribe to Car and Driver and Motor Trend, but not Road and Track.
C & D measured the TDI at about 0.4 seconds slower (11.2 0-60 vice 10.8 for the gas). That's less than the average human's reaction time. I completely agree that anyone who complains about the TDI's lack of speed or power probably doesn't understand the differences between a diesel and a gas engine and is driving them the same way.
Two days ago, we had a huge (8") snowstorm, and I confess I was worried that the diesel's high low range torque would cause it to spin the wheels. I shouldn't have worried. With 4.5" of unplowed snow in the driveway, my wife (in the TDI Beetle) purred out of the snow just as easily as I did in my Explorer, even crunching through the barrier of snow thrown up at the end of the drive by the snowplows without a hitch.
And Lucien, if you really want (or need) a wagon, check out the Passat wagon. Don't know if you can get it with a TDI, but both C & D and Consumer Reports loved it.
Sorry. Carried away there.
Actually, I've frequently stated on other boards, few people really need to buy a car today. Most of them just WANT to buy a car today, because a new one is usually nicer than an old one.
For my money, if you have $6K lying around, invest it in a growth fund at about 25% return, then add $250 per month (which is much less than the average car payment, plus you don't get in trouble if you have a bad month and can't pay). In three or four years, you'll be able to pay CASH for a new vehicle. I put $1000 in a college fund for my son when he was born, and have religiously added $100 every month since. He's now 27 months old, and I have $4750 in the fund. This means that I've made over $1000 in dividends and capital gains in 2 years. With a little more aggressive strategy, you can do the same thing over a shorter period and get a car. But you have to be willing to wait....
I think it's important NOT to fall victim to the new car bug; don't get less than you want today just so you can have a new car. Save for the one you really want!
On the other hand, marrying someone rich is also a good strategy...
Also for the record, I've only ever owned one car that wasn't a VW. I think they're worth the extra money.
I have a 99 NB TDI and we have had 15 deg F mornings for the last week or so. Heat has NOT been a problem! Don't worry about it.
Starting. Also not a problem. Go for it!
Price out electric car heaters and get measurements so you can figure out where in the car you would put it. If worse comes to worse, this is what you would have to live with. I've driven in toques and mitts through several winters, just waiting for my gas-fired car to warm up. If you're in the contiguous-48 it shouldn't be any worse than that.
Paying cash is definitely the way to go.
For something on topic to add substance: Does anyone know if/when the TDI will be available with an automatic?
The owners I've talked with have been very enthusiastic about the engine. It seems like the TDI owners LOVE their cars even more than those without TDI, if that's possible.
I love my TDI, but it honestly took about a week to learn how to drive it properly.
Hwy cruising is a blast, 70 mph is a lazy 2400rpm. Need to pass? Push your foot down and you'll be @ 85-90 before you know it. The most fun is passing the gas stations!
Thanks you all!
I presently drive a 1996 Audi A4 Quattro (2.8 V6), and am planning a move back to VW, as much as I enjoy the performance of my A4.
I've leased a 1995, then a 1997 Jetta, and pounded on them both relentlessly with no trouble. Now I want a diesel.
Is anyone using Turbo Timers (made by HKS for Toyota Twin Turbo Supras, Toyota MR2 turbos and other similar vehicles) in their VW TDI motors to ensure that oil flow is not interrupted to hot turbo bearings after running the engine a bit, then shutting it down?
By the way, have you been able to find a TDI that you can get in two weeks? That seems to be the biggest problem with them. I've been on top of the NB waiting list since February, and my dealer hasn't gotten any TDIs in during that time.
I've not actually seen a NB TDI in my area. Only Golfs and Jettas. I spoke with the dealer in Michigan and he said that TDI's are hard to come by. All dealers compete for vehicle allocations. No factory orders like domestic car companies. You just need to find a dealer in your proximity that has clout VW NA.
Has anyone who has owned a TDI had to use fuel additives, like Stanadyne products. Does VW recommend any or do they have their own?
I'd not buy car outside of state because when you register you'll have to pay penalty + taxes unless you lied that you just bought it used last week. I got away with it because my dad live in that state and I register it there and drove 7000 miles quickly in order for CA consider it a used car. You can do it but a bit more messy. Good luck.
It's loaded with info and links.
There are some die-hard diesel fans there. I like the idea of a diesel, but with gas as cheap as it is, I don't think it will fly here. The newsgroup members are often writing about how happy they will be when gas prices shoot up.
Zman
Try doing a search at http://www.dejanews.com or try asking the vw newsgroup that I mentioned above. There are probably diesel newsgroups as well. I am new to newsgroups. If you are new as well, I recommend you observe their etiquette if you don't want to be flamed. The best way to learn is by observing. If all else fails, ask Fred.
Any TDI auto owners out there,Southern California(LA) in particular? What are your "real world" experiences/
driveability? Your buying experience/s i.e. invoice>>retail?
Appreciate your inputs greatly!! 8-)
Post #23 -- No kidding?! I'm not really a Financial Analyst, that's only my job title.
For the rest -- see my earlier posts. It's got the same starting and heating capabilities as either of my gas burners. And I'll reiterate. It's a DIESEL, dummy. It has very different torque (spoken: "Acceleration") characteristics than a gas engine.
Say you're cruising at 45 behind some fuddy-duddy in his Buick, and the speed limit is 55. How would you pass him? In my V8 (gas) Mustang, I'd drop into second gear, rev to about 4000 rpm, and smoke him. Try this in a diesel and you will find yourself in the shop with a dead engine. Instead, shift into 4th gear, get your rpm to about 1800, and floor it. You'll take off. Maybe not quite as fast as a Mustang, but hardly sluggish. Still, the average driver's instinct is to rev higher for more acceleration, which is the opposite of what a diesel IS DESIGNED to do. IMNSHO (that's not-so-humble opinion), anyone who complains about the TDI should go buy himself a Viper or learn how to drive a diesel. There's no middle ground.
I drive a fairly high performance car, and a diesel. I'm sure not a professional, but I don't call either of them sluggish. But I don't drive them the same way, either. And, if you shift properly, your TDI won't run out of juice until about 90mph. Do you need to go any faster?
>properly, your TDI won't run out of juice until
>about 90mph. Do you need to go any faster?
VW must think so, or they wouldn't have built a spoiler that automatically deploys at 93 mph.
HOWEVER -- if I really want to drive that fast, the Beetle (with or without TDI) wouldn't be my choice of a vehicle. Ferrari 550 Modena (top speed about 190) would fit the bill nicely. And it only costs about 20x what an NB does!
Thanks!!
Thanks again.