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stevesnj · Aug 4, 2007, 01:42 PM

Thinking of buying one of these but want to get a feel of what others think of theirs. The price of gas fuel and the cleanliness of the diesel VW TDi's warrants me to consider changing my pace of vehicle selection. I get 20-25 MPG in my Toyota Pickup but the possibility of 40-45 MPG is too tempting. So what mileage you get in your Jetta TDi? Would you recommend one? I drove a few diesel cars in Germany and was impressed by their power,speed, economy and quietness.

thanks!

OldManMac · Aug 4, 2007, 03:01 PM

From what I've been able to find, VW doesn't currently offer a TDI in the U. S. Their website, which sucks when it comes to specs and ease of finding anything out, makes no mention of a diesel option. IIRC, they dropped it in either the '06 or '07 model year due to emissions issues.

Aha; just found it on Autoblog; no TDI until early next year.

Officially Official: VW unveils Jetta TDI in D.C. and hopes to find oldest-running VW diesel in U.S. - Autoblog

I've owned 2 VW diesels in the past, and they were built like tanks. I had an '82 Rabbit diesel that I just got tired of after 8 years, and 245,000 miles, and an '86 Golf diesel that I put 170,000 on in four years.

Mithras · Aug 4, 2007, 03:03 PM

My parents have a 2006 Jetta TDI -- actually, they won it in a raffle, which was cool.
It consistently gets ~42 mpg, & is snappy, and pretty.

d4nth3m4n · Aug 4, 2007, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Mithras

My parents have a 2006 Jetta TDI -- actually, they won it in a raffle, which was cool.
It consistently gets ~42 mpg, & is snappy, and pretty.

that's a mark 4 though, right?

Mithras · Aug 4, 2007, 06:13 PM

Heck if I know. If I had to guess I'd say it looks more like the Mark 5 here than the Mark4 here, though.

CMYKid · Aug 4, 2007, 07:08 PM

you can still buy new 06 TDI Jettas. Basically they knew ahead of time that there was going to be a lapsed year because their engine was not approved for new diesel fuel types and they warehoused extra 06's so that there would still be availability through the '07 model year.

they're killer cars though, run till they rust out, even then probably keep going.

stevesnj · Aug 4, 2007, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by CMYKid

you can still buy new 06 TDI Jettas. Basically they knew ahead of time that there was going to be a lapsed year because their engine was not approved for new diesel fuel types and they warehoused extra 06's so that there would still be availability through the '07 model year.

they're killer cars though, run till they rust out, even then probably keep going.

lol..so true...thats why I want one. When i was in Germany they are everywhere since diesel is even expensive there. I wish Toyota would make their Tacoma pickups diesel for the US but they only have them in Europe in diesel.

angelmb · Aug 5, 2007, 12:49 AM

In all honestly the Jetta is the only barely good looking VW nowadays… just wait until they came with the Mercedes-Benz Bluetec Diesel technology.

stevesnj · Aug 5, 2007, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by angelmb

In all honestly the Jetta is the only barely good looking VW nowadays… just wait until they came with the Mercedes-Benz Bluetec Diesel technology.

Mercedes is out of my price range, I would go with Audi before Mercedes Benz. But VW is the only other good MPG diesel to be offered in the US. The GTi is nicer looking than the Jetta...but no diesel option

OldManMac · Aug 5, 2007, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by CMYKid

you can still buy new 06 TDI Jettas. Basically they knew ahead of time that there was going to be a lapsed year because their engine was not approved for new diesel fuel types and they warehoused extra 06's so that there would still be availability through the '07 model year.

they're killer cars though, run till they rust out, even then probably keep going.

I highly doubt that you can still buy new 06's. There are a number of factors that would dispel that. VW, like any car maker, is out to sell the newest models on the market. The costs involved, such as storage, transportation, logistics, etc., would make it prohibitive. No dealer wants a 2 year old new car sitting on their lot. VW has lost almost 1 billion dollars in the U. S. market in the last three years, and it's even been rumored that they're considering pulling out of this market (their July sales were down almost 10% from year ago levels). A car, like any product, costs money to build, and no one wants to have that money sitting in a lot somewhere, on the off chance, that someone is going to come looking for a 2 year product, while the manufacturers money is tied up on some storage lot, or on some dealer's lot. Dealers only make a few hundred bucks on the Rabbit line, and they certainly aren't going to want the extra costs associated with handling and marketing two year old cars. No consumer in his right mind would pay full retail for a two year old car, making the product even less appealing. Once a model year ends, the manufacturers move on, focusing their marketing and promotions on new models; there's no one at a car maker who would come up with the "brilliant" idea to be so altruistic as to say, "We're not going to be making diesels next year, so let's think about those customers who want them anyway, and let's make x number of thousands extra this year of a car that isn't a big seller, store them somewhere, pay someone to keep track of them, worry about them rusting and degrading due to non-use, hope we can sell them as they no longer meet current standards, and have to move them all over the country because of customer demand, etc., etc., just because we care so much about our customers." Such a person would be escorted out of his/her office, and they would no longer be in the car business.

angelmb · Aug 5, 2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Mercedes is out of my price range, I would go with Audi before Mercedes Benz. But VW is the only other good MPG diesel to be offered in the US. The GTi is nicer looking than the Jetta...but no diesel option

Sorry, maybe I was not clear enough… what I should have said is all german cars being sell in the USA in 2008 and forward are going to feature the Mercedes-Benz Bluetec Diesel technology, Audis are going to get Mercedes-Benz Bluetec tech, BMWs are going to get Mercedes-Benz Bluetec tech, and same goes for VWs… so you can go to a VW dealer and just ask hey when are these came with that Bluetec Diesel engines?… It kind of shows you who is king when it comes to technology. Of course by then MBs are going to have a better and improved version of Bluetec, it is not like current one was any bad, we have Bluetec MB busses over here and one has to wonder where they have placed the engine, they are so quiet… even better, you don't need to close your car's windows driving behind a Diesel bus anymore

angelmb · Aug 5, 2007, 11:09 AM

BTW, what model is dubbed GTI in the States… the Euro Golf maybe?

OldManMac · Aug 5, 2007, 02:46 PM

Here's an article that, although short, is quite telling as to VW's current problems in the U. S. I was wrong in the $1 billion dollar loss over the last three years; it's been $1 billion per year, which is obviously not sustainable, even for the world's 4th largest car maker.

Can VW Finally Find Its Way In America?

imitchellg5 · Aug 5, 2007, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by angelmb

BTW, what model is dubbed GTI in the States… the Euro Golf maybe?

Yes. Our Golf in now the Rabbit. My dad has a friend with a 2006 TDI Jetta and it consistently gets 42-43 mpg.

stevesnj · Aug 5, 2007, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Yes. Our Golf in now the Rabbit. My dad has a friend with a 2006 TDI Jetta and it consistently gets 42-43 mpg.

Wow thats great mileage ! With the new model Jetta coming I hope that number goes up. Since I drive on the highway thats the same or more than a hybrid. I'll actually be saving a ton of fuel costs (double) if I get this car....amazing!!

OldManMac · Aug 5, 2007, 10:59 PM

The new cleaner and more efficient diesels should get much better than that. I saw a clip somewhere recently on the new common rail injection TDI Jetta that claimed that it would get in the 50s on the highway, and in the low 40s in the city. While 42 is good, I got better mileage than that on my 1982 Rabbit diesel, averaging 45mpg, and got the same mileage on my Golf.

OldManMac · Aug 6, 2007, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by angelmb

Sorry, maybe I was not clear enough… what I should have said is all german cars being sell in the USA in 2008 and forward are going to feature the Mercedes-Benz Bluetec Diesel technology, Audis are going to get Mercedes-Benz Bluetec tech, BMWs are going to get Mercedes-Benz Bluetec tech, and same goes for VWs… so you can go to a VW dealer and just ask hey when are these came with that Bluetec Diesel engines?… It kind of shows you who is king when it comes to technology. Of course by then MBs are going to have a better and improved version of Bluetec, it is not like current one was any bad, we have Bluetec MB busses over here and one has to wonder where they have placed the engine, they are so quiet… even better, you don't need to close your car's windows driving behind a Diesel bus anymore

Incorrect. VW says bye-bye to Bluetec - Autoblog

imitchellg5 · Aug 6, 2007, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

Wow thats great mileage ! With the new model Jetta coming I hope that number goes up. Since I drive on the highway thats the same or more than a hybrid. I'll actually be saving a ton of fuel costs (double) if I get this car....amazing!!

Yeah it is great. My dad really wants one since he commutes 80 miles. It would help save gas a lot (our current car gets 18 highway mpg).

stevesnj · Aug 6, 2007, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by OldManMac

I highly doubt that you can still buy new 06's.

I have just been through Vw's site and they apparently do still have '06 TDI's for sale and offer specific financing for them. I think it is strange but '06 TDI can be had as new according to VW. I will post a link if I can but their flash site is hard to get a link to the car.

wallinbl · Aug 6, 2007, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

I have just been through Vw's site and they apparently do still have '06 TDI's for sale and offer specific financing for them. I think it is strange but '06 TDI can be had as new according to VW. I will post a link if I can but their flash site is hard to get a link to the car.

Jetta Special Offers

Click on 2006 TDI APR Special

stevesnj · Aug 6, 2007, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Jetta Special Offers

Click on 2006 TDI APR Special

Thanks!!

OldManMac · Aug 6, 2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by stevesnj

I have just been through Vw's site and they apparently do still have '06 TDI's for sale and offer specific financing for them. I think it is strange but '06 TDI can be had as new according to VW. I will post a link if I can but their flash site is hard to get a link to the car.

I stand corrected, as that goes against all common business sense. I'm not sure I'd buy a car that's been sitting around for over a year, though, unless they'd been periodically run. Of course that could help explain why VW has lost $1 billion dollars a year for the last three years in the U. S. There are enormous costs sitting on expensive inventory like this. It's more than strange; someone must have miscalculated on sales projection figures, which would make sense, as VW's seen 100,000 less sales this year than last.

imitchellg5 · Aug 6, 2007, 07:02 PM

It's because 2007 model year vehicles have to meet a higher emissions standard than 2006 model year vehicles. They could be theoretically brand new but sold as 2006s.

OldManMac · Aug 6, 2007, 07:18 PM

I'm aware of that, but it doesn't address the issue of buying a car that's been sitting around for a year or longer. I'd be leery of buying a car that hasn't had an engine that's been run in that time period, nor had the transmission used, etc, especially since they're apparently selling them as new. They'd have to give me a much better deal than just cheap financing. Like I said, this makes no business sense whatsoever.

wallinbl · Aug 6, 2007, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by OldManMac

I'm aware of that, but it doesn't address the issue of buying a car that's been sitting around for a year or longer. I'd be leery of buying a car that hasn't had an engine that's been run in that time period, nor had the transmission used, etc, especially since they're apparently selling them as new. They'd have to give me a much better deal than just cheap financing. Like I said, this makes no business sense whatsoever.

That model of Jetta gets 36MPG compared to 25 for the current models.

stevesnj · Aug 6, 2007, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

That model of Jetta gets 36MPG compared to 25 for the current models.

Plus all th driving loops i seen for this car that was city driving, Highway MPG got 45 consistently. Thats more than double my current vehicle!!!

angelmb · Aug 6, 2007, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by OldManMac

Incorrect. VW says bye-bye to Bluetec - Autoblog

That is just a marketing thing… like naming the biggest VW 'Phaeton'… come on, Phaeton was a Classic MB from something like 1905… nevertheless, the technology is there to stay.

OldManMac · Aug 7, 2007, 05:25 AM

Actually, the Phaeton was an Audi A8, with VW badging and trim, and was a highly rated car. It is still sold in other countries besides the U. S. It just never caught on here because people couldn't wrap their heads around a $70K VW. I'll have to do some research to see what, if any, differences there are between Blue Tec and VW's common rail diesel systems.