VW diesel?

[Eric Clark]

Anyone have a VW diesel or experience with one? We've been thinking about one of these because the mileage claims are great and they are cheaper to run even after you factor in the cost of diesel. These make much more sense to us then a hybrid so please do not suggest one of them.

[spartanmanor]

My wife has a diesel bug. Great milage on the highway 50+. Stop and do around town with the AC running more like 20 - 25. So it all depends on the kind of driving you do.

[Foneman13]

I had 2 friends who owned diesel Rabbits, and they were GA-GA about them...so , when I had the chance, I took the plunge and got one.....
LSS.....worst car I ever had.......

[botrytis]

New ones are supposed to be amazing....

[Eric Clark]

I had 2 friends who owned diesel Rabbits, and they were GA-GA about them...so , when I had the chance, I took the plunge and got one.....
LSS.....worst car I ever had.......

New or old? I assume old since I the new one is not out yet (I think)

[Eric Clark]

My wife has a diesel bug. Great milage on the highway 50+. Stop and do around town with the AC running more like 20 - 25. So it all depends on the kind of driving you do.

That is what I wanted to hear. 20-25 is still good IMO. I got 10 MPG once in the 540i from being stuck in DC traffic. In normal mixed driving I get low 20's and on the highway about 26-27 so 50 would be great. How long have you had it and any problems?

[merrylander]

You need to work out the highway mileage at the cost of diesel fuel and compare that to the highway mileage of a regular engine on 87 octane regular.

[botrytis]

I have a 2007 GTI 33 MPG on the highway and 25-7 in the city - and it goes like crazy. All that on regular gas.

[spartanmanor]

That is what I wanted to hear. 20-25 is still good IMO. I got 10 MPG once in the 540i from being stuck in DC traffic. In normal mixed driving I get low 20's and on the highway about 26-27 so 50 would be great. How long have you had it and any problems?


It is a 2002. No mechanical problems. I am guessing we should be able to get a few hundred thousand miles easily on the engine. The only thing that has been a PITA is one of the signal lights keeps shorting out. Laura likes to crank the AC once it starts getting hot which is why the milage drops.

[Stoffie]

What diesel exactly are you talking about ? Not sure which ones they export to the US, but overhere, there's tons of VW/Audi diesels, from 1.4 3 cyl all the way to 4.2 V8's... pumpe duse ones, common rail, normal tdi's...

Dad had a 98 Passat with a 110HP 1.9L TDI, which averaged about 39 mpg on mostly city traffic and occasional highway. Then got a Touran in 2005 (not available in the US), with a 2.0 140HP pumpe duse TDI which averaged 35 mpg on almost stricly city traffic. On freeways the mileage is amazing. Went up and back to Germany once (1100km) on one tank.

[spartanmanor]

I have a feeling diesel is going to continue to go up faster than regular gas. I remember when it was half the price of gas. :tears:

[poohsan]

we had a '80 diesel rabbit pickup - only 40hp (or maybe 48hp), but 44mpg on the highway. Going up hills was slow, top speed was maybe 75mph. Well-built and ran solid, up until electolysis won at 100K miles (aluminum head, iron block) and it sucked a cylinder full of coolant. I've heard that using water-soluble oil in the cooling system or a sacrificial anode will help stave that off. Make sure to use a water trap/filter on the fuel line.

[Eric Clark]

You need to work out the highway mileage at the cost of diesel fuel and compare that to the highway mileage of a regular engine on 87 octane regular.

You may have something there. I cannot recall the last time I bought 87. All I ever get is 89-93 and diesel for the tractor at my fathers.

[thedelihaus]

I worked for VW.

Only issue I saw with the engine of the Diesels was the glowplug wiring.

The piece would fail and around $100-$150 to replace- but it was a 10 second fix to the old part if you just carefully squeezed the ends of the unit carefully (to ensure a firm fit) and re-installed it.

100k is nothing on these. Many came in for other needs (control lamps, suspension bushings/swaybar bushings, struts, ect) but not engine work,and we had plenty with 100k and up to 200-250k on them.

Gas mileage was very good. I think most folk averaged up to 40mpg if not a stop-go around town car.

[LairdMcDuff]

My son got a new 2006 Jetta TDI the month they stopped selling diesels in the U.S. We own a 2001 (1st-gen) Prius. The hybrid has averaged 44.6mpg over the life (obsession=record every refill) - 78k miles - and the Jetta gets BETTER MILEAGE!!! The cost of fuel is a minor portion of a vehicle - depreciation, maintenance, insurance all cost $$$ more than fuel. The reliability and long-life of a diesel makes sense, and I own a Hybrid!

[Eric Clark]

I worked for VW.

Only issue I saw with the engine of the Diesels was the glowplug wiring.

The piece would fail and around $100-$150 to replace- but it was a 10 second fix to the old part if you just carefully squeezed the ends of the unit carefully (to ensure a firm fit) and re-installed it.

100k is nothing on these. Many came in for other needs (control lamps, suspension bushings/swaybar bushings, struts, ect) but not engine work,and we had plenty with 100k and up to 200-250k on them.

Gas mileage was very good. I think most folk averaged up to 40mpg if not a stop-go around town car.

Sounds like the BMWs. Just do the suspension and they keep going.:thmbsp:

[Sandy G]

My sister has a diesel New Beetle,50+ MPG on the road. Not a sports car, but it won't embarass you out on the road, either. Very well equipped, leather, air, primo sound system, for less than $25K.

[Goodwill_HiFi]

..... with the engine of the Diesels .......

Gas mileage was very good.

You put gas in a diesel engine? :scratch2: OH, you must mean your fuel mileage was very good! :D

[MrZero63]

2004 Golf TDI - getting crappy (for a small oil burner) 34 MPG city but 40 MPG mixed when I take it out for a long drive. Had a recall about 3 years ago on a leaky fuel pump. Leaked all over the place with the plastic sound deadener holding a quart or two of the black gold before pouring over.

Other than that warranty work and lack of dealers, it's been fun. Geared a little odd, though, as 2nd is a bit low for a rolling gear when turning onto side streets in the neighborhood. I'd wait until autumn/winter when the new VW 2009 diesels will be out - 40-55 MPG:

http://www.vw.com/vwhype/heritage/en/us/#/Tomorrow

Looks to be worth it.

-Dave

[soundmotor]

Well-built and ran solid, up until electolysis won at 100K miles

Those are unusually low mileage numbers for any vintage VW diesel.