Posted 2010-12-17 9:07 AM (#128119 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Two of my friends had diesel Rabbits when they were first sold, one a sedan, one a truck. Their 50 HP made getting up to speed time consuming, and passing unthinkable. But once you were at a cruising speed, they would hold it all day long. Fuel contamination was a problem. Even the slightest would result in poor running. The drive trains would last a life time, unfortunately the bodies would not. Our NE winter salts quickly ate the sheet metal unibodies and brake components. They died a death by calcium poisoning, not by wearing out.
In Europe, a majoriety of car owners drive diesel automobiles, made by every manufacturer. Some are small and modest, some large and extravagant. They have a wide variety from which to choose. We are not so fortunate.
Posted 2010-12-17 9:25 AM (#128121 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Location: Central Arkansas
I had a 86 Jetta that got 50 mpg with 286K miles on it. Smoked like a freight train. I remember sitting at a stoplight in Potomac, MD and getting dirty looks from the other drivers. But , now these cars are so clean burning that they have made it onto the IRS green incentive list! Yup, get a tax break for the 2010 & up DTI right beside the Prius! The new turbo is so impressive that I traded my BMW for one! I got 250 miles out of the first 1/4 tank of fuel! (The tank is 14.5 gals.) My hubby was so impressed with the handling & fuel mileage that he traded his BMW for one, too!
Posted 2010-12-17 10:59 AM (#128128 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by brushycreekranch on 2010-12-17 7:53 AM
How many of y'all also have diesel cars to run around in?
Up until early summer I was getting a few in, but since gas has gone an dis going back up I have not seen any down here worth the money in a while. Sure are fun to drive and good way to save a little money when you have to drive 100 mile per day every day just back and forth to work.
Posted 2010-12-17 2:10 PM (#128134 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
I have a 2004 Jetta TDI that I absolutely love. I worked as a salesperson covering a large territory driving about 1500 miles per week and it was the best car I could find at the time for fuel economy and safety. Mine is a 5 speed and I average about 45 mpg. It's a quick little bugger and gets up to speed in nothing flat on the highway.
It has 154K on it and has been very low maintenence. I change the oil and replace tires, but not too much other than that. It did have an oil leak at around 80K. The only negative I've been told about is the timing belt requires changing every 100K and cost about $1k to do. I replaced mine when I repaired the oil leak. The only other negative thing I can say about mine is it feels like it needs a sixth gear. The newer ones do come in a six speed.
Posted 2010-12-17 5:54 PM (#128150 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Location: Central Arkansas
We both got the 2011 TDI Jetta DSG Sport Wagons. Not sure how much feed we can carry in the back but I'm sure we will soon figure that out! LOL! Unless I am getting a big load of feed, I usually would just run to get it in a SUV.
Posted 2010-12-17 6:04 PM (#128151 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
It's funny that you mention feed. That's what I sell! I think I've gotten as many as 17 bags in my Jetta sedan! Not using the trunk! Not really intended for moving feed, but it's been a great car anyway!
Posted 2010-12-18 10:07 AM (#128164 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317 Location: Barnesville, Ga.
Learned to drive in a 1982 VW Jetta diesel. 52 hp. Also learned what area of maximum torque was. They weren't speed demons but would cruise the interstate at good speed and get better than 40 mpg. My dad still has his Jetta that he bought back in '83. Has over 500K on it now. It has an extra fuel tank where the spare tire went. He commonly got 800+ miles per fill up. Every now and then I ride in his car and now I realize just how small they were.
Posted 2010-12-18 2:47 PM (#128168 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
Back in 83 I had an Oldsmobile Cutlass diesel. I really liked it,but you had to always go to truck stop for fuel. Living in So. Dakota and driving across MN to see my fiance in the winter was a challenge,but diesel additive was a must even then. Came for Xmas when it was -30 with -100 wind chill. Made it and was only vehicle @ inlaws to start the next day.
Posted 2010-12-19 7:41 PM (#128192 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Regular
Posts: 92 Location: Harrisburg, PA
I'm shopping for a commuter car now. On one hand I can buy a basic 4cyl gas engine car for under $18k and get 35mpg driving mostly highway. On the other hand I can spend $23k and buy a Jetta TDI or Golf TDI and get 40+mpg (reported average is actually 44mpg on fueleconomy.gov).
With that massive difference in mpg you might think it's a no-brainer, but even if I assume gas and diesel are 3.00/gal, the diesel will only be $1750 cheaper over 100k miles. The fact that diesel costs another .25/gal cuts the advantage to $1200/100k. Underwhelming. Not to mention that the used Jetta I test drove had rubber peeling off of all of the buttons that got touched on a regular basis. It's a nice car but I don't see the economy in it.
Likewise the argument for hybrids falls apart pretty quickly if you expect to recoup costs within 100k miles.
Posted 2010-12-20 1:06 PM (#128210 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Location: Central Arkansas
The new VW TDI Diesels are the only diesel car to make it onto the "green" list with the hybrids. Since I pull my LQ trailer with a Freightliner Sportchassis, I think the least we could do, is try to drive "green" run around vehicles. It may not be saving us alot of money in the long run, but knowing that we are at least trying to help the enviroment is a step in the right direction. As many miles as I pull a trailer every year, I know we will never make it up. But, it's the thought that counts.
Posted 2010-12-20 4:45 PM (#128215 - in reply to #128210) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Regular
Posts: 92 Location: Harrisburg, PA
Originally written by brushycreekranch on 2010-12-20 1:06 PM
The new VW TDI Diesels are the only diesel car to make it onto the "green" list with the hybrids. Since I pull my LQ trailer with a Freightliner Sportchassis, I think the least we could do, is try to drive "green" run around vehicles. It may not be saving us alot of money in the long run, but knowing that we are at least trying to help the enviroment is a step in the right direction. As many miles as I pull a trailer every year, I know we will never make it up. But, it's the thought that counts.
I'm not sure which list you're referring to, but on fueleconomy.gov the Golf TDI rates a 5/10 in 2011 and 6/10 in 2010. That's no better than the gas-only cars.
Posted 2010-12-20 6:48 PM (#128222 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Member
Posts: 36 Location: Wellington, Texas
I don't have a diesel car, but do have a John Deere Gator 855D, which has a diesel motor. Mainly got it in a diesel because I keep a diesel tank out on the farm and didn't want to get a separate tank for gasoline. I wouldn't take for it. I drive my dodge ram diesel pickup to the farm, park it and hop in the gator. Can do things bout 3 times faster, see crops better, smoother ride, spray chemicals for weeds, build electric fence and haul 1000 lbs. Just the savings in wear and tear on my pickup alone was worth the $10.500. One of the best purchases I have made.
Posted 2010-12-20 9:44 PM (#128228 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Location: Central Arkansas
sorry dgeesaman, that is not the list I am talking about. I am referring to the 2011 Jetta Sport Wagon TDI on a totally different list that is on the IRS.gov site not on a fuel economy site. The 2011 Jetta TDI Sedans are not even available in the US until late spring.My car now has 500 miles on it. It went 480 miles on only 11 gals of fuel. That's hand calculated to 43.6363636.
National Offer|Offer ends December 31, 2010
To qualify for full tax credit, vehicle must be purchased during the period July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. Tax credit must be submitted under Notice 2006-9 and Internal Revenue Code, Section 30B relative to the Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI Sedan and Sportwagen, Golf 2.0L TDI models and Touareg 3.0L TDI. Leased vehicles are not eligible for the tax credit. Only a limited number of full tax credits are available. Please consult a tax professional for more information or go to http://www.irs.gov.
Posted 2010-12-21 4:25 AM (#128234 - in reply to #128113) Subject: RE: Diesel Cars
Regular
Posts: 92 Location: Harrisburg, PA
Ahh, the old "green" car tax credit. My wife got that with the purchase of her 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. I had no idea there was even a dollar left in that pool and that diesels were part of it.Kudos to the diesel crowd for getting their elbows in politically. The way it is anymore if you don't have a lobbyist or pork-barrel connection everything goes against you. Diesel has been given the cold shoulder many times in the states in spite of being great technology.
Diesel Cars
