Diesel Cars

[Tough Luck]

Are the VW Jetta front wheel drive/ I was in Germany in Sept and we tried to rent a Diesal car but could only get gas. The gas one we got was new with only 8 KM on it and it got 45 miles toa gal. I was real supprized to see most cars and van over being diesal. I saw my first VW bug in diesal. I think the oil companys in bed with whoever has a lot to do with not bring the engines over here.

Yes, the Jetta is front wheel drive.

The europeans have had high gas prices alot longer than us here. They have embraced the fuel efficient vehicle. We, on the other hand, have regulated ourselves (EPA) beyond common sense.

 

[homeputter]

Do you have a source on this? They ran the old 190's like this back in the 80s. They have the car at the MB memseum in Germany.

The issue with Mercedes is the daily driver beating that the cars take. Potholes, etc. And the wear and tear and the years go by.

My old man has had four 77 diesel, 87 gas, 97 gas, 08 gas. Every year they got less reliable. Its really sad.

I think it was in Popular Science Magazine. The article was probably about 5 years ago. If I find it, I will post it.

 

[Sutol]

Any vehicle running constantly will do megga miles as once everything is warmed up it doesn't wear as much.
So it isn't a fair test in my opinion

 

[downslope]

Trucks (semi's and big 'uns) have had diesel all along. "Small cars" in America that were built by AMERICAN companies (GM or General Mismanagement) and had diesels were not that small - My BIL had a full sized luxury diesel Caddilac which he swapped the engine on, it also leaked a can of freon about every 100 miles.

From the Wicki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_Diesel_V6_engine):



It was a grand idea to get around emmission regulations and a knee-jerk response to a gas crisis but it didn't work.

During the same time period (1979-1983) I and several of my coworkers bought VW Rabbit diesels which were EXCELLENT, ran well and got 50 MILES PER GALLON routinely around town. This is when the gas version Rabbit got 30 mpg WHEN driving. However for those that were there it was also when one may idle in long lines just to get gasoline, effectively getting ZERO miles per gallon.

Only us old f@rts remember the long lines for gas and the rationing of the '70's. It was truly a pleasure for me to drive by a long line of cars waiting to fuel up while I went to the diesel pump with NO line and no worries.

GM's sudden response with a diesel engine for a passenger car was first seen as similar to America's response to the Russians in the space race. However it was a dismal failure. By 1985 almost anyone I talked to about diesel cars thought they were totally unreliable, while it was actually only another example of GM's mis-management. The average "American public" herd mentality broadened that to ALL diesel CARS, not being smart enough to realize that there were a lot of small diesel trucks. This did not apply to the rest of the WORLD.

When I said "small" diesel cars and trucks I wasn't meaning the GM V-8 and V-6 diesels.

Every manufacturer at that time was trying to jump on the small diesel bandwagon. I remember small diesels in Toyota, Datsuns, Mazda/Ford Rangers with Perkins and Mitsubishi, Dodge Ram50 with Mitsubishi, Isuzu cars and P'Ups, and probably others. All failed in the marketplace. I owned a Rabbit diesel around the same time as you. I remember it as being OK, not excellent. The only thing that was excellent was the mileage. I also had an Isuzu diesel pickup after that, also excellent mileage, but otherwise a rust bucket, glow plugs always failing, hard to start in Vermont winters. The Rabbit vibrated so much it broke the alternator bracket until they redesigned it, same problems with glow plugs, New England winters, etc.

So we'll see how they do this time around, will the mileage be as good as in the past and that much better than gas, reliable, equivalent maintenance and fuel costs as gas and most important, will the American public buy them? We shall see.

 

[ultrarunner]

We have a '06.5 Jetta TDI and it has been an great vehicle. 120k+ miles and still running great.

I think there has been a misconception that diesels are expensive to own, poor performance, smoke and sound loud. This was my impression before we bought a Jetta.

I don't consider the maintenance to be any more than a gas engine. I have allways replaced a timing belt on my Jap and German gas cars at 100k miles. The oil change for the Jetta is a little more expensive, but it lasts twice as long (10,000 vs. 5000 miles).

When I lived in Austria, the majority of cars were Diesel... it was just hard to sell a gasser.

I was able to buy a BMW over there for shipment to California when I was through... all of my colleagues asked why I would buy a BMW with a gasoline motor... they thought it crazy for a 3 series to have anything but a Diesel...

 

[WH401]

I bought a 11' VW Golf back in July and so far have been thrilled with it. Reliability has been good so far, the only thing I have done is change the oil at 10k and fill it with diesel. I have an 80 mile daily round trip to work and driving my duallie regularly wasn't making sense. The fuel in my truck per month covered the payment, insurance, and fuel in the Golf. I have about 13.7k miles right now and have averaged around 43.3 mpg for the course of that. I got as high as 46 at 70 - 75 mph going to Florida over the summer, and I've only had 1 tank below 40. The power on this thing is great, very responsive and definitely not your typical gutless economy car tuned for mileage. Interior materials are very high quality and the ride/ handling is on par with a premium luxury car. I was worried somewhat about the HPFP failures that the TDI's seem to be experiencing, but I've concluded that most of those have been due to either miss-fuels with gasoline or the lack of lubricity in ULSD. Since the beginning I've run power service through every tank and I haven't looked back. I would definitely by another VW TDI.

 

[Sutol]

I bought a 11' VW Golf back in July and so far have been thrilled with it. Reliability has been good so far, the only thing I have done is change the oil at 10k and fill it with diesel. I have an 80 mile daily round trip to work and driving my duallie regularly wasn't making sense. The fuel in my truck per month covered the payment, insurance, and fuel in the Golf. I have about 13.7k miles right now and have averaged around 43.3 mpg for the course of that. I got as high as 46 at 70 - 75 mph going to Florida over the summer, and I've only had 1 tank below 40. The power on this thing is great, very responsive and definitely not your typical gutless economy car tuned for mileage. Interior materials are very high quality and the ride/ handling is on par with a premium luxury car. I was worried somewhat about the HPFP failures that the TDI's seem to be experiencing, but I've concluded that most of those have been due to either miss-fuels with gasoline or the lack of lubricity in ULSD. Since the beginning I've run power service through every tank and I haven't looked back. I would definitely by another VW TDI.

Use good oil and change it regularly, I change mine at least twice a year along with the filter, this will preserve the turbo bearings and the engine will last forever.
I put some petrol in mine every now and then to clear the injectors as I use old sump oil and kerosene mixed with diesel to run it.
Yours will be too new for that but look after the engine and it will serve you well.

 

[TimberXX]

I heard that they are making Urea in diesel cars mandatory in 2014, lame

 

[newbury]

I heard that they are making Urea in diesel cars mandatory in 2014, lame

Now if someone could just figure out how I could use my own body made bio-urea in my home made bio-diesel. It would make it easy for guys to refill the urea tank, gals might have another problem

 

[DIRTROAD]

I bought a new 2011 VW Jetta TDI back in July

I bought a brand new 2011 Jetta TDI last Dec. 31.

Best Auto purchase I have ever made.

 

[snpower]

I bought a 1998 Jetta TDI in November for 3K. The car had always been local, and all records were available. I am driving 88 miles to work 2x per week and getting 37-45 mpg. Car has 126k and the engine runs like a top. The body has some rust which I need to fix.

 

[rjok]

I have a 2003 VW golf that was bought new in August 2003. Now have 402,000 miles.Averages 50 mpg on a daily rond trip of 216 miles. Had a 1984 rabbit that had 404,000 miles. No comparison. We also have a 2005 jetta that has about 100,000.

 

[GlennaR]

You wrote:
I have a 2003 VW golf that was bought new in August 2003. Now have 402,000 miles.Averages 50 mpg on a daily rond trip of 216 miles. Had a 1984 rabbit that had 404,000 miles. No comparison. We also have a 2005 jetta that has about 100,000.

Think my major problem may have been that 90% of the time my Jet was only on short local trips. Suspect my 3 de carbonizing problems were just due to the motor not reaching n maintaing full operating temp. for min for an half hour or so on a daily basis.

Like I said, except for the price to buy and minatain, I truly liked my Jet and was well pleased with it........

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Here's a link to a 2012 VW Golf TDI review.

Fan of fuel efficiency finds a car that's just right

 

[rsewill]

Better late than never to this thread.

I love my '04 Passat wagon ($14,995 used w/37k miles via eBay in August 2010) and '03 Jetta ($19,100 new via eBay) Diesels, both automatics. I'm 61 and these will probably be the last cars I ever buy. I drove the Jetta 110 miles round trip to work. Filled it up once a week. We are an all Diesel family except for our zero turn mower (Z425) and a Toro walk behind.

Here is a pic of my Passat pulling a trailer with my Deere 4100 CUT. Just a bit over what the Passat is rated to haul but I very, very carefully pulled it some 400 miles from where I bought the Deere. I scaled it just to see what it all weighed (in pounds):

Steer 2160
Drive 2160
Trailer 3360
Gross 7680

The Passat curb weight is about 3500 pounds.

I got about 16 mpg pulling just the trailer into a 25 mph wind on the way out and 20 mpg pulling the loaded trailer back with the same wind - both ways in fourth gear (out of five.) And I bungied up the safety chains at this stop. The tractor was well chained to the trailer.

The Passat gets around 35 mpg mixed and the Jetta 44 mpg mixed.

 

[GlennaR]

You Said:
I love my '04 Passat wagon We are an all Diesel family.

Just love that Passat Wagon too...... Congrats on your fleet.

To all prospective diesel owners that read this, one word of caution I learned the expensive way. All engines like to be drought up to design operating temperature and kept there for 15+ min or so before shutdown. HOWEVER with modern emission controls, in a diesel I believe this is somewhat mandatory in order to get the long life and low maintenance costs on your exhaust and intake systems.

We too had a all diesel fleet at one time (2ooo Jet n 2oo4 Golf). Both both cars only went a few miles per trip since work was only 4 miles from home. My Jet averaged 18,ooo a year but this is only because I work 7 days a week from April to end of November. Being the owner/manager I was always off on mostly local errands many times a day it seems.

My Jet was a maintenance hog in the end. So to all that read this don't make this same mistake I made with my Jet. If you are considering getting a diesel car (my Kub does not have the emissions system on the exhaust a car has) strongly suggest you get a second opinion on my findings described above, after all I could be wrong (we now have all gas cars). However I found out unless most of your treks are long enough to bring up to 180 degrees and kept there for 15 min or so, don't get a diesel.......

Love your foto, pulling your Deere. I too use a trailer regularly. My best haul was a 1,5oo lb pizza oven on a 5oolb utility trailer over 125 miles south on the NY thruway than south on 84. In 5th gear all the way but going up long grade up over the hill just before entering into PA on rt 84. I now use my Suzuki to pull my 1,ooo lb. Gravely tractor to work, this car is pitiful pulling a trailer compared to the Jet. I miss my Jet big time, bet it would be worse if I owen a Passat

 

[MontereyDave]

Better late than never to this thread.

I love my '04 Passat wagon ($14,995 used w/37k miles via eBay in August 2010) and '03 Jetta ($19,100 new via eBay) Diesels, both automatics. I'm 61 and these will probably be the last cars I ever buy. I drove the Jetta 110 miles round trip to work. Filled it up once a week. We are an all Diesel family except for our zero turn mower (Z425) and a Toro walk behind.

Here is a pic of my Passat pulling a trailer with my Deere 4100 CUT. Just a bit over what the Passat is rated to haul but I very, very carefully pulled it some 400 miles from where I bought the Deere. I scaled it just to see what it all weighed (in pounds):

Steer 2160
Drive 2160
Trailer 3360
Gross 7680

The Passat curb weight is about 3500 pounds.

I got about 16 mpg pulling just the trailer into a 25 mph wind on the way out and 20 mpg pulling the loaded trailer back with the same wind - both ways in fourth gear (out of five.) And I bungied up the safety chains at this stop. The tractor was well chained to the trailer.

The Passat gets around 35 mpg mixed and the Jetta 44 mpg mixed.

I love the pic of your Passat pulling a tractor! Please give me as much information as you can about the make/model/installation of that hitch. Is it a Class I, II or III? Curt? Reese? Hidden Hitch? Fabricated installation of some other hitch?

I hope to find the Passat B5.5 trailer hitch with the greatest towing limits? I'd like to pull a 14~17 ft camper trailer i.e. something similar to those posted below with a dry weight of 2,000~3,000 lbs with my 2003 Passat B5.5 W8 4Motion sedan 6MT.

From my searches I found:

A) Curt Class I, Hidden Hitch and Draw-Tite Class I hitches have a gross towing weight (GTW) of 2,000 lbs with a tongue weight (TW) of 200 lbs.

Trailer Hitch by Curt for 2003 Passat - 11164

B) I also found the European Westfalia has a GTW of 4,800 lbs but the TW is only 180.

C) Would it me possible to reinforce and strengthen a Class I to handle greather GTW and/or TW?

D) Is it possible to fabricate the installation of a Class II or III hitch intended for some other vehicle i.e. Hidden Hitch Class III designed for a VW Golf-based 3,400 lb 2.0L VW Tiguan onto a B5.5 4,000 lb 4.0L Passat?

Trailer Hitch by Hidden Hitch for 2009 Tiguan - 87600

I really appreciate the expertise of those of you who've already solved trailer hitch problems as you obviously have with your Passat wagon.

 

[Diamondpilot]

To me you are asking for lots of troubles. The forces on a travel trailer are totally different from any other and they are the quickest way to kill a tranny.

There is a reason the hitch limits for your vehicles are so low. Get a small SUV to do your pulling duty's.

Chris

 

[schoolsout]

What's in the transmission service?

Not sure I ever answered this, but the special fluid they use and a filter, I believe. I think parts alone, from the internet, is about $150.

 

[Branchchipper]

We have had a 2003 Jetta TDI, manual trans., since new.
It gets a steady 50mpg.

But, as stated above by others, run time is important- ours never gets used for short trips. The shortest round-trip from here is 14 miles (7 each way to the nearest town).
My wife's commute, the car's main purpose, is a 60 mile round trip.
The TDI is perfect for such commutes, and easily beats out hybrids.

We have a mid-1990s Ford Powerstroke diesel as well, and the same rule applies-
it is not the rig we'd choose to run a 2-mile errand- we've got a smelly gas rig for that!