2009 VW Jetta TDI in high-demand despite diesel prices

[TinmanMS6]

You would think new car buyers would be hesitant to go diesel, which is approaching $5 a gallon, but Volkswagen dealers are saying that customers are rushing in to grab the first batch of the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The cars dont go on sale until late August, but many dealers say that they already have enough orders for their 2008 allocation.

Besides an attractive price tag of $22,640 and a better fuel-economy, dealers say that customers are attracted to the reliability of a diesel and the type of performance you cant get from hybrids like the Prius.


Volkswagen is planning on selling 15,000 units of the Jetta TDI in its first year. Next year it plans on taking the volume above 30,000 units.

According to the EPA, the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI gets a fuel-economy of 29/40mpg (city/highway).

 

[Donas64]

I know that diesels are very reliable and don't have the stigma they once did. But even with the mileage, the cost of diesel seems like it would offset any gains there. I could be wrong and I don't have the research to back it up.

 

[TinmanMS6]

The cost of fuel is actually less than that of a comparable gas car usually, but the price of the car is also more, so it makes any benefit questionable at best. If I could get a diesel for the same price as the comparable gas-powered model, I would not hesitate to buy one.

Sooner or later, I'm sure something will happen to bring diesel prices back in line with gasoline.

 

[fastdreams]

I know that diesels are very reliable and don't have the stigma they once did. But even with the mileage, the cost of diesel seems like it would offset any gains there. I could be wrong and I don't have the research to back it up.

I think part of it is that people like them, I like them and was quite impressed with the power delivery - for an economy choice.

Let's do an estimated fuel cost exercise:

You decide the jetta is the car for you. Now which engine?
- 2.0T epa 24/32 FUN
- 2.5 epa 22/30 BLECH
- TDi 29/40 kewl

Since this is my exercise I'm going to discard the 2.5 5cylinder because it is a raspy dog disappointment of an engine that I would not buy - and real world doesn't do much better than 25mpg on the highway. The 2.0t gets close or better than epa, the TDi typically gets better, but we'll stick with epa estimates.

If I rock the 2.0T, I'll put premium in it every time - as I do my MS3.

Current prices near me:
$4.17/gallon for 93 octane goodness
$4.85/gallon for diesel

10 gallons exercise

4.17 * 10g = 41.70
4.85 * 10g = 48.50

Range

2.0t city = 240 miles; cost per mile ~ 17.375 cents
2.0t hwy = 320 miles; cost per mile ~ 13.031 cents

TDi city = 290 miles; cost per mile ~ 16.724 cents
TDi hwy = 400 miles cost per mile ~ 12.125 cents

12,000 miles fuel cost
2.0t city = $2085.00
2.0t hwy = $1563.72
TDi city = $2006.88
TDi hwy = $1455.00

Conclusion:

Even with the high cost of diesel fuel, the TDi is the more frugal choice than the 2.0t. You can save money and contribute to society by using less fuel.

Opinion:

It's not worth the minor cost difference from an enthusiast standpoint. Less than $100 a year difference for an average number of miles. If this is a family/wife car, then choose the TDi + DSG. On the other hand, it could be interesting to play with diesel, mod it, experiment with bio mixtures, etc. I would rock the TDi at autocross and maybe even some track days.

Yeah sorry I was bored

 

[TinmanMS6]

It's not worth the minor cost difference from an enthusiast standpoint. Less than $100 a year difference for an average number of miles. If this is a family/wife car, then choose the TDi + DSG. On the other hand, it could be interesting to play with diesel, mod it, experiment with bio mixtures, etc. I would rock the TDi at autocross and maybe even some track days.

Yeah sorry I was bored

Yeah, I've done a lot of the same math. The bottom line, though, is that when you're paying an extra $2000 on average for a diesel car, the cost savings disappear with the current cost of diesel. Maybe once biodiesel blows up or something, things will change, but right now it's at best a break-even.

Diesel VWs go into HS, though, and I'm pretty sure diesel torque would have a shot at beating a 3 or a Mini. I'm intrigued enough to be very tempted.

 

[dmitrik4]

there are one or two diesel jettas in HS in my region. nope, not happening.

 

[1sty]

EPA is full of crap. My friend averages 45 with his TDI jetta, although it was the last generation. All highway he hits 50 mpg, no problem.
He mentioned something about the new one got screwed by EPA regulations and it knocked down the efficiencies.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

VW did independent testing and the figures were much higher. The EPA screwed them.

 

[Mikey444]

same car here in Europe with same engine, you easily hit 1000 kilometers or just over 600 miles per tank full all highway. I'm sure the EPA is screwy with the numbers.

 

[coolmazda5]

same car here in Europe with same engine, you easily hit 1000 kilometers or just over 600 miles per tank full all highway

1370Km for the Passat (naughty). It actually reminds me of this commercial I saw in Germany . This youtube version is not in German though, but irrelevant anyway...

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yUC2ra6K98Y&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yUC2ra6K98Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[TinmanMS6]

there are one or two diesel jettas in HS in my region. nope, not happening.

Way to stomp all over my hopes and dreams. Oh well, there's always the Miata. That's got to be competitive somewhere...

Are you sure they're not just poorly driven?

 

[Roywhitep5]

EPA is full of crap. My friend averages 45 with his TDI jetta, although it was the last generation. All highway he hits 50 mpg, no problem.
He mentioned something about the new one got screwed by EPA regulations and it knocked down the efficiencies.

its all in how you drive it like how clarkson drove that a8 diesel 800 miles on a tank. that car was supposed to get 23mpg but with careful driving he doubled it to 40mpg. and that car is a limo!

 

[dmitrik4]

Way to stomp all over my hopes and dreams. Oh well, there's always the Miata. That's got to be competitive somewhere...

Are you sure they're not just poorly driven?

might be part of it, but the jetta suspension is nowhere near as capable as the Mini or 3, and all the torque in the world won't change that. besides, the jetta isn't exactly quicker than either...not that acceleration is a huge benefit in autoX anyway.

but don't take my word for it; i've been wrong before, and probably will be again.

i've heard good things about those miata things, however.

 

[TinmanMS6]

might be part of it, but the jetta suspension is nowhere near as capable as the Mini or 3, and all the torque in the world won't change that. besides, the jetta isn't exactly quicker than either...not that acceleration is a huge benefit in autoX anyway.

but don't take my word for it; i've been wrong before, and probably will be again.

i've heard good things about those miata things, however.

No, you're probably right. If I buy one, it's not going to be as an autocross car anyway. I've quickly learned that Miata (in any class) > HS.

 

[major error]

aw. HS gets no lub... </3

 

[dmitrik4]

aw, it's OK. we still love Horribly Slow.

I've quickly learned that Miata (in any class) > HS.

i learned that lesson as well.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

GLI suspension parts should be interchangeable.

 

[TinmanMS6]

GLI suspension parts should be interchangeable.

Probably, but that doesn't really help you in any class. In any class that would let you do that, you could put any other, greatly superior suspension on.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

Right but you could stay in a stock class. Depending on your region trim parts are interchangeable

 

[TinmanMS6]

I guess it depends on who you run with. SCCA stock classes do not allow anything like that.