Thoughts on getting a new diesel car

[MapleGirl]

DH and I are thinking about getting the new diesel VW Jetta. It gets 40 mpg. What do you think about diesel cars? We love the Jetta TDI, but I am worried about the price of diesel rising. If the price goes up, then the saving from the excellent gas mileage will mean nothing.

What are your thoughts?

 

[artesian]

Maintanence on a diesel car is less than a gasser. Other than oil changes there isn't much else. Right now diesel is cheaper than regular around my area. Last year this wasn't the case when I was paying .60-.70 more per gallon than regular. One thing you may want to do is look at the economy on the gasser version of that car and see how much difference there is. This way you can factor cost per mile as prices are today and factor in diesel going up and see when the trade off isn't worth it. For example cost per mile on my truck is .26 at $4 per gallon. A gasser is .30. Take your price per gallon and divide it by the mpg. Good lukc. Personally I will always consider diesel over gas cars.

 

[CalvaryMike]

Last year, I was privy to see the new Honda Acura diesels that's coming out. The Honda didn't sound, smell or anyways act or look like a diesel. The acceleration was great! Diesel engines run forever and they were advertising the Acura to get 60 mpg.

IMHO, the new diesel cars that are coming out are going to put the current hybrids to shame. I think we're about to see the problems with hybrids as they start the battery replacement and what to do with all those old batteries?

If the Jetta is anywhere close to what the Acura was, I'd get the Jetta. Sorry, but I can't predict the price of diesel.

 

[cats mom]

The Honda didn't sound, smell or anyways act or look like a diesel.

I can't tell you how many times people came running over to try and save me from ruining my engine by putting diesel fuel in my car when I drove a VW Beetle TDI.

Unfortunately we traded in our VW before our last move, so I haven't kept up with diesel fuel pricing and trends. Loved it while we had it though!

 

[buzz5985]

DH and I are thinking about getting the new diesel VW Jetta. It gets 40 mpg. What do you think about diesel cars? We love the Jetta TDI, but I am worried about the price of diesel rising. If the price goes up, then the saving from the excellent gas mileage will mean nothing.

What are your thoughts?

I owned a diesel VW Rabbit in the early 80"s. Not sure of the new ones - but that car had a "glow plug". You pulled out a lever, when the lamp glowed you could start the car. I live north of Boston, and I needed to plug the car in - in the winter. I ran an extension cord out to the car from the house and there was a cord that plugged into the "warmer" and the plug stuck out from the front of the grill, my father rigged that, the way it was I had to open the hood to plug it in.

So I would find out if you need to plug them in the winter. I got rid of the car when I got married in 1985, since I was going to live in an apartment and couldn't run the cord out. LOL Back then diesel ran higher than regular gas.
I bought a 1984 Rabbit, I loved that car drove it until 1994.

I recently saw a show on the Prius that the carbon footprint it leaves behind due to it's battery manufacturing and replacement cost, is never recooped by saved gas mileage. I believe it was on either the Discovery Channel or the National Geographic Channel.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

It is either a 2002 or 3 I forget. He loves it. He travels 55 minutes each way to his job & can fill up just once per week. He averages 43-45 mpg. He has about 150,000 miles on it & the car has had no problems at all.

As to price, diesel is cheaper in the summer & more expensive in the winter around here.

We would not hesitate to buy another diesel car.

 

[MapleGirl]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

We have a Prius now and although I love the gas mileage (40+ mpg), it just doesn't have enough zip for us. We've had it for three years.

To those who currently or have previously owned a VW: How was the car's reliability? Some people have warned me that VW are notorious for breaking down all the time. I know they had that reputation in the past.... do they still?


Thanks again!!

 

[Golf4food]

We could have a whole fleet of clean diesel vehicles on the roads right now getting lots more mpg but old fashioned government regulations prevent it. All fo the major car manufacturers just announced this week they are halting production on planned clean deisel vehicles that were planned for 2010.

Instead of doing something real like reforming antiquated anti-diesel laws the government instead decided to focus on cash for clunkers that almost nobody can use. Brilliant.

 

[MapleGirl]

Instead of doing something real like reforming antiquated anti-diesel laws the government instead decided to focus on cash for clunkers that almost nobody can use. Brilliant.

I am one of the lucky people that will benefit from the Cash for Clunkers program. We have an old GMC that we never drive (but is still insured and registered) that we'll be trading in for our new Jetta. Just counting the days until we can go to the dealer and drive away with our new diesel! I can't wait!!

 

[Doodlebug939]

I am one of the lucky people that will benefit from the Cash for Clunkers program. We have an old GMC that we never drive (but is still insured and registered) that we'll be trading in for our new Jetta. Just counting the days until we can go to the dealer and drive away with our new diesel! I can't wait!!

We are also able to benefit from the Cash for Clunkers program -Is the Jetta or should I say Diesel vehicles eligible? My husband has recently shown a lot of interest in the Jetta.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

DH and I are thinking about getting the new diesel VW Jetta. It gets 40 mpg. What do you think about diesel cars? We love the Jetta TDI, but I am worried about the price of diesel rising. If the price goes up, then the saving from the excellent gas mileage will mean nothing.

What are your thoughts?

DH and I have actually been researching this for about a year now.

Clean-running diesel engines are a tried and true technology, they pollute much less than hybrids (where do you put that battery when it doesn't work anymore?-a landfill).

We watched the prices of diesel fuel over the past year, and it does not seem to be connected directly to the price of unleaded, which is weird. Right now diesel is running at or just below the price of regular unleaded here. However, last year when prices ran up to 4/gallon, the price of diesel was actually higher.

However, since diesel is less a consumer driven fuel and more of an industry driven fuel (wal mart buys diesel to haul their trucks around), I think there will be less speculation on the diesel market (it was mostly speculators that drove up the prices of gas).

There is an Audi A3 coming out this winter that's really cool looking, msrp for around 32k, it's a sport wagon, that's another option for a clean running diesel.

The Jetta was too small for us, and frankly I've seen a few volkswagons in accidents and they didn't fare well-I know the new ones have good crash test ratings, but I'm just biased. We were looking at the mercedes blue-tec's which get around 38-48 mpg but the 50k price tag was just too much to swallow (we thought we'd buy 1 50k car instead of 2 25k cars, decided to just wait)

Obama's new cafe standards of 35.5 mpg by 2016 was just signed; in the next few years you're going to see a TON of clean diesels and hybrids hit the market.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

We are also able to benefit from the Cash for Clunkers program -Is the Jetta or should I say Diesel vehicles eligible? My husband has recently shown a lot of interest in the Jetta.

Yes. It will get you the highest rebate of 4500.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

50% of cars sold in Europe - 50% - are diesels and they are WONDERFUL. We lived in Europe from 2006-08 and our primary vehicle was an Opel (former GM product) diesel. It was a totally awesome car - kind of like a mini mini van (sized similar to a Mazda5).

I got about 43 miles to the gallon, had 3rd row seating, and it could TOW. Had there been TDI type vehicles in the US when we returned last year, I would have bought one without even thinking about it.

There is no smell, no waiting to start (may be different in a colder climate - we lived by the North Sea), no real difference to the feel from driving a gas-powered car. The acceleration was akin to a 4-cyl, but it could have towed a travel trailer or boat with no problems and handled the mountains in Luxembourg and Germany easily. And it needed maintence once a year. Once. No oil changes, no fluids, nothing else during that 12 mos. I loved it.

In short, even when diesel is higher (winter months) the increase in gas mileage from a similar gasoline engine should offset the higher cost of fuel and you will have a comfortable, reliable car.

 

[tayandjensmom]

Get the Jetta !!! My DH and I have a 2002 TDI Jetta it has 155,000 miles on it. LOVE IT ! We get 43 mpg. Not a problem with diesel. Nothing like they used to be (DH has always had a diesel pick up) used to be loud and dirty.

As fas a the glow plugs, you turn the key and let it cycle (takes maybe 15 seconds) a little light goes out when you can turn over the ignition. Doesn't run any louder then a gas car. My husband works night, this is his work car. So it sits outside in the dead of winter, and we are in Ohio. So we see plenty of below zero weather. The car has never been plugged in.

Maintenance has been minimal for us. Knock on wood, it runs like a champ.

Friends of ours have a 2007 or 08 TDI Jetta, they are averaging 53 mpg. You just can't beat that. And typically, a diesel motor will get you many more miles then a gas engine. I'd love a new one, its just not in the budget at the moment.

 

[OhMari]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

We have a Prius now and although I love the gas mileage (40+ mpg), it just doesn't have enough zip for us. We've had it for three years.

To those who currently or have previously owned a VW: How was the car's reliability? Some people have warned me that VW are notorious for breaking down all the time. I know they had that reputation in the past.... do they still?


Thanks again!!

You also get a tax incentive from the gov. this year if you buy the diesel.
My son works as an estimator at a dealership in Milwaukee and I got the Friends and Family discount.
VolksWagon is actually made by BMW.
We purchased a black one last month.
I get over 40 mpg. My dd drives a regular jetta and she gets 32 mpg. Also in the purchase price is free maintenance and oil changes for 3 years. I used to drive SUV's, a diesel truck, Tahoo, Astro Van. At first I hated the car, but I am getting used to it.

 

[JB2K]

VolksWagon is actually made by BMW.

Are you certain??

Actually, the Volkswagen Group is its' own entity. While they make several well-known European brands (including Audi), they do not manufacture BMW vehicles...

 

[DawnM]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but we are considering the VW Golf TDI and wondered if you bought this and how you like it.

 

[Evi]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but we are considering the VW Golf TDI and wondered if you bought this and how you like it.

I don't have a golf but I do drive a VW and I love it.

 

[jsmith]

i am currently driving a TDI Diesel Beetle-its an 06-i love the way it handles, its fun to drive and the gas mileage is amazing ( i get roughly 50 mpg and im currently at half tank on a tank purchased the 9th of August)
Having said that-i will NEVER purchase another VW America product. The thing is a maintenance nightmare and i only have about 85K on it. The ignition switch has been replaced twice--as recalls, ive gone thru three sets of glow plugs (not holding VW accountable for that-i live in Colorado Springs). The fuse box that sits on top the engine has melted twice-both times requiring tow to the dealer and complete replacement. VW scheduled maintenance is expensive-the 40K service cost 950 and the 80 1400. In June after a 1400 service i was told that i needed a new turbo charger-a visit to the dealer that holds my extended warrenty revealed it was just a vaccum leak-but not covered by the warrenty-560.00. driving with the leak ruined the thermostat-another 260.00 repair. It goes thru headlights at about 4 a year-its not something easily replaced at home do to the construction-60 bucks a pop to repair.
None of this means the golf would be the same way-but i would do exhaustive research before i purchase one. If this POS were not paid for it would morph into a 2012 ford 150 in short order.

 

[Evi]

i am currently driving a TDI Diesel Beetle-its an 06-i love the way it handles, its fun to drive and the gas mileage is amazing ( i get roughly 50 mpg and im currently at half tank on a tank purchased the 9th of August)
Having said that-i will NEVER purchase another VW America product. The thing is a maintenance nightmare and i only have about 85K on it. The ignition switch has been replaced twice--as recalls, ive gone thru three sets of glow plugs (not holding VW accountable for that-i live in Colorado Springs). The fuse box that sits on top the engine has melted twice-both times requiring tow to the dealer and complete replacement. VW scheduled maintenance is expensive-the 40K service cost 950 and the 80 1400. In June after a 1400 service i was told that i needed a new turbo charger-a visit to the dealer that holds my extended warrenty revealed it was just a vaccum leak-but not covered by the warrenty-560.00. driving with the leak ruined the thermostat-another 260.00 repair. It goes thru headlights at about 4 a year-its not something easily replaced at home do to the construction-60 bucks a pop to repair.
None of this means the golf would be the same way-but i would do exhaustive research before i purchase one. If this POS were not paid for it would morph into a 2012 ford 150 in short order.

Reading your post made me think about the fact that they just moved Passat Manufacturing state side. I will have to look for a different model when I'm ready for a new car.