I went to the VW dealer to look at the Tiguan...nice, but over priced...and they had a 2009 Jetta TDI "demo" car. I took it out for a spin of about 10 miles and did some city and highway driving. I was very impressed with the power from the little 2-liter engine; it is cranking out as much torque as my 4-liter!

The important part (and my purpose in driving): Fuel Economy! According to the trip computer, I was averaging about 32-35 mpg in city driving. I hit a few stop lights and never got over 40 mph. Not to shabby! Doing 70 down the highway with the cruise set, the Jetta was getting between 48 and 52 mpg.

Needless to say, the little car impressed me. It was quiet at idle and on the highway, much quieter then my Mustang on the highway! It definitely didn't feel like a diesel, and had way more power than the standard 2.5-Liter. Will it keep up with the stang...not a chance, but it would make a great commuter sedan.

Just my 2-cents!

Rogue6

 

The TDI's are great. The new engine has alot of power and a stout turbo charger. We may replace my wifes 98 Passat with the new TDI Passat when it hits the states. The new Passat looks like a CLS Mercedes. They have really come up market with their new stuff.

 

I would rather have a Prius than Jetta TDI. They just just about the same, but Prius is more economical and diesel is more expensive.

 

Until you have to change that $8000 battery.....

 

Drove a turbo-diesel Fiat on vacation in Italy a couple weeks ago and those things do have a surprising amount of grunt, not to mention remarkable fuel mileage. Peak power is, of course, way down over a gas motor, but the "usable" power in day to day driving is great.

As for hybrid vs. diesel economy, I think a hybrid might do as well or a touch better in the city but probably only equal or worse on the highway where all that techno-trickery really doesn't come into play much. As for cost, my guess would be that diesels, while more expensive than gas motors, would be less than the complex hybrids would likely be more so, especially in the long term (presuming manufacturers don't sell them for a loss, which I think many are presently to get the concept/technology going and accepted.)

 

I just got 45 mpg with my Fusion on the highway.

Why would you need hybrid or a diesel?

I usually get 26 mpg city, 40 mpg highway.

 

whew that is awesome Zoran, best i have done in my focus was 42mpg.

 

That is awesome

 

****, today I managed to get only 43 mpg.

 

I hate you

The best I've gotten out of an entire tank is an average of 22

 

I'll be very glad to trade my Fusion for your Bullitt.

 

Nice Try

 

I'll also throw in my mom's '94 Camry V6.

 

Thats not a bad deal, Bullitts these days are under $15k, you can sell the 08 fusion for more then that.

 

I paid $15,500 for mine almost 3 months ago.

 

i want to get an older TDI, probably will once I graduate, to go along with the stang

compared to 18 mpg max during the summer in my grand cherokee, the 75 cent extra for diesel will suck, until I realize that Im getting 50mpg

 

Yeah, while diesel fuel does cost more, the better way to compare might be overall cost per mile rather than just miles per gallon. Looked at that way, I think most diesels still come out way ahead in the penny pinching measure.

 

There is a CSI tech who works with me and he has a diesel Beetle and he told me he regularly gets over 50mpg on the highway and nearly 40 in the city.

 

oh yeah, cost per mile is much lower, when I'm done with college, I'm going to give my dad his grand cherokee back, buy a stang, and a jetta tdi

 

Off-topic as hell, but how was the food Rhumb?