Hello everyone. My girlfriend is about to start a new job this coming week. Her commute is going to be about 100 miles a day all highway. She want's something that is "cute" and get's good gas mileage. I was thinking about either a beetle or jetta tdi. I don't have any experience with these cars. What is the maintenance like with either of these cars? I do appreciate everyone thoughts. Thanks
VW tdi
- Thread starter raptorman53
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I'd take a new Jetta TDI in a heartbeat... would love a wagon.
robert
robert
Are you talking about new or used? If you don't know anything about VW's and she has no one to help maintain it, choose another brand of car. Nothing against VW's as I've owned many, but you do have to maintain them more so that other makes.
Avoid dealers, find a TDI guru within an hour or two of ya.
2002 and 2003 were the best years for TDI Jetta/Golf/New Beetle.
Most just follow the maintenance in the book and you don't have to do much else. Sparkers have unique issues that us compressors don't
2002 and 2003 were the best years for TDI Jetta/Golf/New Beetle.
Most just follow the maintenance in the book and you don't have to do much else. Sparkers have unique issues that us compressors don't
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She would be looking for used. This would be her work car. She currently has a 2004 BMW 330ci. This car just is just to expensive to maintain to be putting those kind of miles on. Her BMW gets about 28 mpg average on premium. She is really just looking for better mileage and something cheaper to maintain.
A Toyota Corolla (which gets better MPG than a Yaris) or Honda Civic would be the vehicles to get for better MPG (40s on the freeway) and cheaper to maintain.
A TDI gets a little higher MPG but you pay more for the fuel and oil you have to run in it. Also not everyone can work on it with success.
A new TDI I'd stay away from just because of the new EPA garbage.
You don't have to worry about the cold weather diesel issues so I will not get into those.
Take care, bill
A TDI gets a little higher MPG but you pay more for the fuel and oil you have to run in it. Also not everyone can work on it with success.
A new TDI I'd stay away from just because of the new EPA garbage.
You don't have to worry about the cold weather diesel issues so I will not get into those.
Take care, bill
dont forget the premium you have to pay for the tdi used over the gas counter part.
the TDI to me is the better way to go.
A friend has the New Beetle with Diesel motor, and if she's feeling brave she can push almost to 560 miles on 1 tank, with a little over a gallon to spare.
that little motor is quiet as all heck!
If your GF wants the cute factor, which I believe drives all women's choices.. the new beetle is for her.
Maintenance isn't much more than that of any regular car. It doesnt use 15 qts of oil, more like 4.
the news smog rules for diesels I don't think will have much affect on the smaller motors, it's more for the older Ford & Dodge motors that spew & choke soot.
A friend has the New Beetle with Diesel motor, and if she's feeling brave she can push almost to 560 miles on 1 tank, with a little over a gallon to spare.
that little motor is quiet as all heck!
If your GF wants the cute factor, which I believe drives all women's choices.. the new beetle is for her.
Maintenance isn't much more than that of any regular car. It doesnt use 15 qts of oil, more like 4.
the news smog rules for diesels I don't think will have much affect on the smaller motors, it's more for the older Ford & Dodge motors that spew & choke soot.
Originally Posted By: EricF
the TDI to me is the better way to go.
A friend has the New Beetle with Diesel motor, and if she's feeling brave she can push almost to 560 miles on 1 tank, with a little over a gallon to spare.
that little motor is quiet as all heck!
If your GF wants the cute factor, which I believe drives all women's choices.. the new beetle is for her.
Maintenance isn't much more than that of any regular car. It doesnt use 15 qts of oil, more like 4.
the news smog rules for diesels I don't think will have much affect on the smaller motors, it's more for the older Ford & Dodge motors that spew & choke soot.
I get over 500 miles on a tank in my Corolla with over a gallon left.
As far as the new smog rules;
VW did not sell ANY TDI a couple of years ago as their engines did not meet the new smog rules. And trust me, go check out a 2005 TDI vs a 2010 and MAJOR (And I mean MAJOR) differences.
The new rules make the TDI have more smog equipment (read more $$$ worth) than most gas engines.
Its sad that they messed up the diesel market. What they need to do is nail the idiots with the trucks that chip and race their engines around town.
Take care, Bill
the TDI to me is the better way to go.
A friend has the New Beetle with Diesel motor, and if she's feeling brave she can push almost to 560 miles on 1 tank, with a little over a gallon to spare.
that little motor is quiet as all heck!
If your GF wants the cute factor, which I believe drives all women's choices.. the new beetle is for her.
Maintenance isn't much more than that of any regular car. It doesnt use 15 qts of oil, more like 4.
the news smog rules for diesels I don't think will have much affect on the smaller motors, it's more for the older Ford & Dodge motors that spew & choke soot.
I get over 500 miles on a tank in my Corolla with over a gallon left.
As far as the new smog rules;
VW did not sell ANY TDI a couple of years ago as their engines did not meet the new smog rules. And trust me, go check out a 2005 TDI vs a 2010 and MAJOR (And I mean MAJOR) differences.
The new rules make the TDI have more smog equipment (read more $$$ worth) than most gas engines.
Its sad that they messed up the diesel market. What they need to do is nail the idiots with the trucks that chip and race their engines around town.
Take care, Bill
A Jetta TDI would be good for 40-45mpg on the highway. If you can find a Jetta with a non-turbo 2.0L gas engine, that would be good for 36-38mpg. Both engines are fairly robust. If she can drive a manual, that would be the better choice for a highway car as well (and less maintenance intensive going forward).
Originally Posted By: Familyguy
If you can find a Jetta with a non-turbo 2.0L gas engine, that would be good for 36-38mpg.
Whaaa??
Fueleconomy.gov rates it at 20 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy. Ours gets about 24 mpg in mostly hwy driving. It's pretty bad IMO, considering the power output.
If you can find a Jetta with a non-turbo 2.0L gas engine, that would be good for 36-38mpg.
Whaaa??
Fueleconomy.gov rates it at 20 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy. Ours gets about 24 mpg in mostly hwy driving. It's pretty bad IMO, considering the power output.
Corolla cause they are dirt cheap and very little $$ to keep on the road.
Civic comes in a close 2nd place.
Civic comes in a close 2nd place.
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
What? A Prius doesn't qualify as "cute"?
NO!
What? A Prius doesn't qualify as "cute"?
NO!
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Familyguy
If you can find a Jetta with a non-turbo 2.0L gas engine, that would be good for 36-38mpg.
Whaaa??
Fueleconomy.gov rates it at 20 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy. Ours gets about 24 mpg in mostly hwy driving. It's pretty bad IMO, considering the power output.
Hadn't realized how bad things fell off with the MK4. My MK3 Jetta 2.0 5sp routinely gets 36-38mpg on the highway. The absolute worst "around town" mileage I've seen was 31mpg.
Originally Posted By: Familyguy
If you can find a Jetta with a non-turbo 2.0L gas engine, that would be good for 36-38mpg.
Whaaa??
Fueleconomy.gov rates it at 20 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy. Ours gets about 24 mpg in mostly hwy driving. It's pretty bad IMO, considering the power output.
Hadn't realized how bad things fell off with the MK4. My MK3 Jetta 2.0 5sp routinely gets 36-38mpg on the highway. The absolute worst "around town" mileage I've seen was 31mpg.
Definitely some things to think about. I hadn't considered a Corolla or a Civic. They might be a good option. As far as the Prius goes, I don't know if it would be any more feasible. We have had a couple as rentals and they are neat cars. They just seem to be more around town cars. On the highway the gas engine run's more often than not.
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