Is a TDI worth the extra MPG?

[MBrown]

How hard are they to start in the winter? I live in NH so it gets REAL cold in the winter.

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: MBrown
Are hard are they to start in the winter? I live in NH so it gets REAL cold in the winter.

I think the engine really determines this (glow plug strength, etc.) However, we never had any problems starting the Isuzu NPR delivery trucks we had at the place I used to work at. They had no block heaters, either, as I believe that new VWs don't, so it must be an easy problem to bypass. (I live in central Ohio, so it gets pretty cold here, at least 4 years ago when I worked at this business)

Nyati: When did this start coming into effect? Is that why diesel has been gently increasing in price?

 

[ballmode]

biodiseal ftw

plus you can convert to burn grease too

 

[Nyati13]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy

Nyati: When did this start coming into effect? Is that why diesel has been gently increasing in price?

Jun 2006 was when the refiners were to begin phasing in the new low-sulfur production, and they should all be 100% low sulfur by now. (*edit, the law requires 100% by 2010, but I think the refiners are moving more quickly than that*)

 

[MBrown]

Also TDI owners. how is the maintenence?

 

[TheAdvocate]

My wife drives a TDI w/ all luxury options, except its a stick. Bought it used for half the sticker, and it wasn't that old and had low miles. Best money I've ever spent on a car. I tracked the mileage for a year and it consistently gets over 45 mpg. Repairs have been minimal (the butt warmer on the passenger side went out). State inspections only cost her $10. Tuneup was about $30 more than my V6. I suppose if the turbo craps out, I'll be crying, but until then, we're all smiles.

Oh, and someone just offered us the same price we paid for the car 3 years ago.

 

[TheAdvocate]

Originally posted by: Indohottie
get a TDI.. i love mine.. they arent the fastest thing in the world.. but I get 600 miles to the tank on freeway driving.. and abs. love it..

The best is when you are filling it up and the owner of the gas station comes running out because you are putting diesel in your car, thinking you put the wrong gas in..

Its great!

Every single time they see my very blonde wife at the diesel pump.... she has mastered rolling her eyes.

 

[Smartazz]

Diesel costs more than 87 octane gas now.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: MBrown
Diesel is more expensive than Gasoline. Is the higher diesel mpg worth the higher price?

Diesel's price and gas price seem to be independent, as far as I can tell. I've seen it more expensive and less expensive.

 

[Corporate Thug]

diesel is cheaper here in LA.

but TDI is so damn hard to find.

 

[marincounty]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
spare our air and let those particulate-belching old oil burners rest in peace. i never understood why the hippies thought it was eco-friendly to cover everything in soot.

if you really want to go diesel, wait for a BlueTec. if you really want MPG, buy a Civic VX for $2500.

Why the hate? Have you seen a diesel with a proper particulate filter in place? Clean as all hell. Oh yea, wait until biodiesel becomes feasable (it already is partially), then we'll love the diesel more.

The hate is because diesels are spewing poisonous soot everywhere.
Biodiesel puts out about half the particulates of regular diesel, still way too much.
Have I seen a diesel with a proper particulate filter in place? No, are there any?
Only asshats drive diesel.

http://www.catf.us/publications/view/83
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued important regulations that will require dramatic reductions in emissions from new diesel vehicles starting in 2007 ? but only the new ones. These regulations, to be phased in over the next quarter century, apply only to new engines. What about the diesels on the road today? The lifespan of the average diesel vehicle is nearly 30 years. Many diesels are driven over a million miles. Because of this longevity, we will be left with the legacy of pollution from dirty diesel vehicles for decades to come. That is, unless we take action to reduce emissions from vehicles currently on the road. We don't have to wait. Control technologies exist right now that can significantly reduce deadly fine particle emissions from diesel vehicles, in some cases by upwards of 90 percent.

 

[Strk]

Diesel -- yes
VW -- no

(Yes, I know VW is really the only option until next year)

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: Smartazz
Diesel costs more than 87 octane gas now.

Depends on your area. Here in Central FL 87 octane straight gasoline is $2.81/gal and straight diesel is $2.83/gal.

 

[MedicBob]

Originally posted by: marincounty
Only asshats drive diesel.

Very nice. Do a bit more research before calling us asshats.

The EPA report covers all diesel engines. Class 6 and 8 trucks, trains, generators, pumps, etc. not just our little cars.

It is funny. People see an older truck spew black smoke and say it is polluting more then the car they drive which they cannot see the emissions. Sure, particulate matter is a large concern, but with low sulfur fuel, better and more efficent engines, newer technology, and better understanding diesels are and will continue to be more fuel efficent and better for the environment.

Maint. costs are cheaper for me at the dealer due to doubling the service interval compared to a gas engine.

Power isn't a problem, little slow off the line but not enough to notice.

Quiet and smooth is how mine runs. A small amount of noise above a 1.8T.

Alternative fuels are available. BioDiesel is getting more and more popular.

Cold weather starting. Only once in the 3 years have I needed a jump start. 36 hours in negative 15 degree weather with negative 30 wind chills the entire time. Didn't get a change to start it during my shift and I needed to be jump started. So did alot of gas cares in the parking lot.

Don't hate diesel. You cannot lump all diesel use vehicles into 1 lump and call them equal. There s more and more technology being applied everyday to make them better engines.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
do the math, say you get 25mpg on unleaded @ 3$ a gallon
and you get 50mpg + on a TDI @ 3$ a gallon, thats 100% more for your money basically.

get a Jetta TDI and chip it, you will have a quick lil car

EDIT : yeah, you can get that vege mod on your TDI mk4 if you wanted, just pull up to a mcdonalds or wendys and ask em for there grease and you have a full tank

thats strange math, why 25mpg for gas? equiv vehicle gas is something like a civic, they get close to 40mpg.

 

[TheAdvocate]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
do the math, say you get 25mpg on unleaded @ 3$ a gallon
and you get 50mpg + on a TDI @ 3$ a gallon, thats 100% more for your money basically.

get a Jetta TDI and chip it, you will have a quick lil car

thats strange math, why 25mpg for gas? equiv vehicle gas is something like a civic, they get close to 40mpg.

My wife's VW is nicer than any civic. Also more powerful than the high mileage civics:

Check the Jetta TDI's horsepower output (100 @ 4000 RPM) and you may think it's going to provide canal-barge performance. But barges today are not drawn by horses and diesels are motivated by torque, which they possess in massive numbers; 177 lbs/ft at 1800 rpm in the Jetta's case.

source

By comparison, the latest hybrid civic (comparable mileage) produces only 123 lbs/ft of torque. The vtec engine is only a little more powerful:

Ultimate High Performance: 2.0-liter i-VTEC DOHC 4-cylinder engine
197 horsepower (1) (23 percent increase)
139 lb-ft. of torque (1) (5 percent increase)
22/31 EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy (2)
Ultimate Economy: 1.3-liter i-VTEC SOHC 4-cylinder engine with Integrated Motor Assist
110 horsepower1 (24 percent increase)
123 lb-ft. of torque1 (29 percent increase)
50/50 EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy (2)
Best All-Around Performer: 1.8-liter i-VTEC SOHC 4-cylinder engine
140 horsepower(1) (10 to 21 percent increase depending on trim level)
128 lb-ft. of torque(1) (12 to 16 percent increase depending on trim level)
30/40 EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy (5AT) (2)

This gives you a ton more passing power on the highway than a mileage maximized 4 banger. Just make sure you get a stick so that it gets off the line decently.

I have a pretty standard Toyota/Lexus V6 engine. I get about 25 mpg. So Diesel would have to be twice as much as gas before it would be cheaper to drive my car.

Seriously, it's a great car. I don't understand the hate at all.

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
diesel is cheaper here in LA.

but TDI is so damn hard to find.

Diesel is cheaper here too.. I heard you cant buy diesel cars in CA, might be why you rarely see one.

I was going to seriously look at a TDI for my next car, but I am a couple years out. I haven't researched what extra work (if any) it would take & how much it would cost to get one registered in CA.

 

[Clocker]

Diesel is a lot cheaper in Central CA. 87 is 3.49, Diesel is 3.10. I live in San Luis Obispo. I am seriously considering whether to buy a used TDI now.

 

[Clocker]

Is Diesel that much cheaper in other parts of the US now?