I've been tire kicking for the better part of a year. The old buick has been great, but its about wore out. I'm really leaning toward a vw diesel jetta. We put 20000 miles plus on a car per year and the longevity, resale value, and mpg are really appealing. Not looking to get a new one, but in the 2009-2013 range, lower miles the better. What I'm getting at is; are there certain years that get better milage than others, and what are some negative points to these cars? What kind of real world mpg are people getting with these? I hear of 50mpg, but is that exaggerated? 80% of the miles will be at 75mph on the interstate. These cars aren't cheap, but 50mpg sounds real nice, even if diesel is $.50/gallon more.
- Thread starter Nick m
- Start date
RandyB(MI)
Well-known Member
Here is a 2006 I bought from my brother (who bought it New). I bought it with 180,000 on it. He had dealer service it whenever manual said and had mostly highway miles. Brakes, tires and one front wheel bearing is all he had to do other than reg, maint. I drive 60 mph on highway and it gets 47 mpg with regularity. This is an automatic and loaded with all options. All the options STILL work inc. air and both front heated seats. It's 8 yrs old, has zero rust anywhere. A well built car. In winter with blended fuel and cold temp it gets 37-40 mpg. It has started without any aids of any kind at zero degrees this winter. With the turbo has plenty of low end grunt to get out and go. Diesel is a little higher cost but the actual "swing" on price stays within .20 where gas in 6 mos can swing .50-.60 up or down. It is very quiet and at 60 mph on highway it sets at 2000 rpm and smooth and quiet. Go test drive one. Test a 3 or 4 yr old one. Let the car speak for itself as it will sell you. The mileage will be better if you get a stick shift. Don't know what the ratios/speeds are on the newer ones . If you must run 75mph you may only get 44 or so. Mine has a 13-14 gal tank and can go from Cent MI to Texas on two tanks ($100-$110) .
Welding man
Well-known Member
- Location
- West Virginia
I really hope VW has improved their diesels since the Rabbit. I had one that was built at the PA plant. It was a true Lemon. It would get close to 50 MPG when it ran, but was really underpowered. Thensmission went at 19,000 miles, head gasket a 28,000, transmission again at 32,000 miles. Got it back from dealer on thursday after the second transmission rebuild, traded it on saturday. No more VWs for me.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
They can't deny warranty if you use different oil or filters than theirs.
Eric in IL
Well-known Member
I have driven V.W. diesels since 1987. That car was an 81 Rabbit and it would get 48 to 50 on the highway consistently. The mileage has steadily decreased since I had that car. The 2010 Jetta (current ride) is wife's work car. She says the dash is telling her 40 to 43. It is a six speed manual and 80% of her miles are interstate at 65-70mph. I suspect those numbers will increase to 43-45 when we get back to summer fuel blends.
The only wrenches that have touched any of these cars have been my own. They used to be easier to work on than they are now, but what isn't ? The Rabbit could be run out of fuel, then started without bleeding anything. Better not try that on one of the high pressure fuel rail jobs of late. Fuel filter change now requires a laptop and some software to bleed the system unless you prefer to hot-wire the electric pumps. Timing belt changes are now more involved with having to remove a motor mount. They have always been interference engines, meaning if the timing belt breaks you bend valves and poke holes in the pistons.
All that aside, they are still my preferred mode of transportation. As with most any machine, if you do timely maintenance they will treat you well.
The only wrenches that have touched any of these cars have been my own. They used to be easier to work on than they are now, but what isn't ? The Rabbit could be run out of fuel, then started without bleeding anything. Better not try that on one of the high pressure fuel rail jobs of late. Fuel filter change now requires a laptop and some software to bleed the system unless you prefer to hot-wire the electric pumps. Timing belt changes are now more involved with having to remove a motor mount. They have always been interference engines, meaning if the timing belt breaks you bend valves and poke holes in the pistons.
All that aside, they are still my preferred mode of transportation. As with most any machine, if you do timely maintenance they will treat you well.
ShadetreeRet
Well-known Member
My son ran into an acquaintance of his the other day who had just recently bought a Jetta diesel, said he loves it and gets 48mpg.
tractormiallis
Member
They are good cars, have had two of them. My 97 TDI (diesel) passat would get 46 mpg highway. Manual tranny on that. I now have a 02 jetta diesel, get 43 highway with it, automatic tranny. Only maintenance is timing belt every 100k, and usual fluid changes. Mileage drops in the winter though, but still cheaper than driving a gas vehicle or my pickup when not hauling. My brother had a 96 passat tdi that would get 50. There are of course really what I call critical people who go obsessive with these cars and spend way too much fixing things that dont need to be fixed.. then of course there is no savings in driving one.
Phil Scarborough
Member
Stick welding, I found your comment interesting. Here in England,daughter has a version of the Jetta, built in Europe. Dealer has assured her warranty is valid whether car is serviced or not, doesn't matter whether oil or filter get changed, doesn,t matter who does any work on car. She has 6 speed manual transmission, gets 50-52 mpg, but I think our gallons are bigger than yours. Phil
Old weldor
Member
Diesel fuel costs more, diesel cars cost more to buy, they cost more to work on. Are you really saving anything?
I agree on the Prius, I have driven a gen 3 since July 09 and the thing has AVERAGED better than 50 mpg since new. I reset trip meter 1 at each tank refill, I reset trip meter 2 at each 10,000 mile oil change. That 1 year, 10,000 mile average has never been lower than 51 mpg on cheap regular(87 octane). gas.
Tank to tank average in summer is often 55+ mpg while driving at the speed limit.( 65-75)
Tank to tank average in summer is often 55+ mpg while driving at the speed limit.( 65-75)
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
Daughter has a Prius, gets 47 on highway, more in city, gas not diesel, gas is cheaper per gallon.
There are no VW dealers in my town. Not sure about this, I was told that to do almost anything to a VW, you need to take your car to the dealer and have the computer reprogrammed. Perhaps others can weigh in on the reprogramming thing.
If the prius were more comfortable for me to fit in, I would have one.
There are no VW dealers in my town. Not sure about this, I was told that to do almost anything to a VW, you need to take your car to the dealer and have the computer reprogrammed. Perhaps others can weigh in on the reprogramming thing.
If the prius were more comfortable for me to fit in, I would have one.
RandyB(MI)
Well-known Member
Any Prius out there with 180,000-250,000 miles and still on same untouched engine still getting that mileage? I like Toyota, just not that one so much.
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
Imperial gallons are a little bigger than a gallon.
By law in the states as long as you show that it was serviced with the proper oil, brand of oil/filters/where it was done does not matter.
By law in the states as long as you show that it was serviced with the proper oil, brand of oil/filters/where it was done does not matter.
Phil Scarborough
Member
T E. After my previous post, I did some research last night. Law in Europe says that you do not have to have the car serviced at all, no oil changes, no filter changes, dealer must uphold warranry claims until it expires. Phil
Ken Macfarlane
Well-known Member
Our friend has run 4 of them now in the last 12 years. All Jetta sedans, some manual some auto. The first 3 were TDI's the last one is a hybrid gas. All 3 diesels got over 1000 up to 1100 km per tank. Thats what 600+ miles per tank. The hybrid is new, no idea of the miles per tank.
I'm still using a 1992 diesel Jetta. On the highway at 65-70 MPH it gets 45-47 MPG.
When we drive it up and down steep dirt mountain roads at 25-35 MPH it gets 38 MPG.
We have a 2001 Subaru Impreza with AWD and a 2.5 gas engine. Gets 27 MPG at 65-70 MPH. On same backroads as the Jetta - it gets 21 MPG.
Considering that diesel is a full $1 more then gas - not a huge savings with the diesel.
When we drive it up and down steep dirt mountain roads at 25-35 MPH it gets 38 MPG.
We have a 2001 Subaru Impreza with AWD and a 2.5 gas engine. Gets 27 MPG at 65-70 MPH. On same backroads as the Jetta - it gets 21 MPG.
Considering that diesel is a full $1 more then gas - not a huge savings with the diesel.
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
Toyota Prius is impossible for most of us to get into, or out of. No thanks, I'll stick with something I feel safe in, like my Silverados. If fuel mileage is of utmost concern in you go-to-work car, maybe you need to live closer to where you work.
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