I'm waiting to see how the Cruze diesel looks, too, but truth be told, with the improvements in gas mileage lately, I'm not sure a diesel would be worth it anymore. My Sonata has gotten almost 37mpg on the highway, not consistently, but I do have one outlier at 36+ and the usual mileage is in the 33-35 range, and some of the "eco" models out there are claiming 40+.
Which diesel car would buy? and why?
- Thread starter 97tbird
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I purchased a VW Jetta TDI in late 2006. (PD engine w/dsg transmission)
That car was full of very serious problems. They started 3 weeks after I purchased it. I kept it 75,000 "risky" miles and sold it. Even the new owner kept calling me about problems.
The reason I bring this up, VW diesels (and the associated hardware that goes along with the VW diesel cars) are notoriously unreliable.
TrueDelta dot com shows the VW diesels as among the worst. Proudly among the least reliable cars made today.
That car was full of very serious problems. They started 3 weeks after I purchased it. I kept it 75,000 "risky" miles and sold it. Even the new owner kept calling me about problems.
The reason I bring this up, VW diesels (and the associated hardware that goes along with the VW diesel cars) are notoriously unreliable.
TrueDelta dot com shows the VW diesels as among the worst. Proudly among the least reliable cars made today.
i own 2 vw tdi s, one 98, the other a 2004, they are clearly the best vehicles I have ever owned
the pre 2004 (alh) engines are bulletproof as long as the oil has been changed properly, but the old 01M auto transmision is garbage
after 2004 the autos were made by Jatco (nissan) and are much better.
I would purchase a 2004-2006 vw PD diesel, just have the camshaft checked prior to purchase, the 2009 s and up have a complex (costly to repair) exhaust system
go here, i am member
http://www.tdiclub.com/
the pre 2004 (alh) engines are bulletproof as long as the oil has been changed properly, but the old 01M auto transmision is garbage
after 2004 the autos were made by Jatco (nissan) and are much better.
I would purchase a 2004-2006 vw PD diesel, just have the camshaft checked prior to purchase, the 2009 s and up have a complex (costly to repair) exhaust system
go here, i am member
http://www.tdiclub.com/
Originally Posted By: Cujet
TrueDelta dot com shows the VW diesels as among the worst. Proudly among the least reliable cars made today.
Diesels typically require more maintenance in my experience. The fuel savings are just not that great compared to the total cost of operation.
TrueDelta dot com shows the VW diesels as among the worst. Proudly among the least reliable cars made today.
Diesels typically require more maintenance in my experience. The fuel savings are just not that great compared to the total cost of operation.
Yeah but I prefer the way diesels drive. They make power where you need it and you can wail on them and still get good mileage.
If I had my way I'd own nothing but diesels.
Sadly the recent emissions laws have made them to complicated so they are ruined in this country at least.
If I had my way I'd own nothing but diesels.
Sadly the recent emissions laws have made them to complicated so they are ruined in this country at least.
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Originally Posted By: 97tbird
ahh...Thanks for the comments guys
I forgot to mention 'affordable'
and needs to be auto...
This is a tentative tyhought process for wife's Elantra's replacement someday...(Ellie has 190k miles now - still running well BUT one should prepare just in case...)
I don't think BMW would bring the hatch looking 1-series diesel to the USA...which would have been 'affordable'
I guess that leaves the choice to only the Jetta and the Passat ??
LOL!
speaking of the Jetta - almost EVERY review I read says one should
get the previous gen. TDI, as the new one has a horribly cheapened interior, due to VW trying to lower the price....
I've heard same. People say Gen IV interior was kinda nice and it makes me want an 06 or Rabbit.. moreso 06 (05?) Golf. Gen V is cheap compared to it.
That said.. diesel costs more per gallon than gas. Any REAL savings to the TDI? And how is the Golf TDI as a car?
There was also Passat 3rd gen TDIs and Jetta. Wagon 3rd gen Passat too (rare, still around)
Even gas German cars have torque.. interested in TDI opinions. Thank you
ahh...Thanks for the comments guys
I forgot to mention 'affordable'
This is a tentative tyhought process for wife's Elantra's replacement someday...(Ellie has 190k miles now - still running well BUT one should prepare just in case...)
I don't think BMW would bring the hatch looking 1-series diesel to the USA...which would have been 'affordable'
I guess that leaves the choice to only the Jetta and the Passat ??
LOL!
speaking of the Jetta - almost EVERY review I read says one should
get the previous gen. TDI, as the new one has a horribly cheapened interior, due to VW trying to lower the price....
I've heard same. People say Gen IV interior was kinda nice and it makes me want an 06 or Rabbit.. moreso 06 (05?) Golf. Gen V is cheap compared to it.
That said.. diesel costs more per gallon than gas. Any REAL savings to the TDI? And how is the Golf TDI as a car?
There was also Passat 3rd gen TDIs and Jetta. Wagon 3rd gen Passat too (rare, still around)
Even gas German cars have torque.. interested in TDI opinions. Thank you
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Buy a 2006 E320 CDI. Last year of the I6, pretty simple, and the W211 is a nice car.
With a diesel E class you can have your cake and eat it too; you can drive a powerful RWD luxury car that gets mileage not far off a Civic.
I think its hard to beat that. And you just made me want this car.
What did MB do with the engines 07 forward?
Buy a 2006 E320 CDI. Last year of the I6, pretty simple, and the W211 is a nice car.
With a diesel E class you can have your cake and eat it too; you can drive a powerful RWD luxury car that gets mileage not far off a Civic.
I think its hard to beat that. And you just made me want this car.
What did MB do with the engines 07 forward?
Another vote for the E320 CDI.
My mom has one that she bought new, I actually enjoy driving it. Very comfortable, big(ish), safe and ridiculously strong for the MPG it gets. A far cry from the old Mercedes diesels that lasted forever, but took forever to get there.
She only has 100k and has not had many problems. No powertrain issues at all. She drives fairly maniacally and I think the car has only been on one long trip that I can remember.
Most expensive repair was for an auto adjusting headlight that got stuck pointing down.
My mom has one that she bought new, I actually enjoy driving it. Very comfortable, big(ish), safe and ridiculously strong for the MPG it gets. A far cry from the old Mercedes diesels that lasted forever, but took forever to get there.
She only has 100k and has not had many problems. No powertrain issues at all. She drives fairly maniacally and I think the car has only been on one long trip that I can remember.
Most expensive repair was for an auto adjusting headlight that got stuck pointing down.
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Originally Posted By: 45ACP
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Buy a 2006 E320 CDI. Last year of the I6, pretty simple, and the W211 is a nice car.
With a diesel E class you can have your cake and eat it too; you can drive a powerful RWD luxury car that gets mileage not far off a Civic.
I think its hard to beat that. And you just made me want this car.
What did MB do with the engines 07 forward?
They went to the V6 which is probably still pretty good I'm just not as familiar with it. They also went from the 722.6 5spd to the 722.9 7spd.
What you had in 2006 was extremely mature drive train technology, in a mid life chassis. Good combo. The engine had been out since 1985 in one form or another and the transmission since 1996 in Europe. Minus all the Bluetec nonsense.
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Buy a 2006 E320 CDI. Last year of the I6, pretty simple, and the W211 is a nice car.
With a diesel E class you can have your cake and eat it too; you can drive a powerful RWD luxury car that gets mileage not far off a Civic.
I think its hard to beat that. And you just made me want this car.
What did MB do with the engines 07 forward?
They went to the V6 which is probably still pretty good I'm just not as familiar with it. They also went from the 722.6 5spd to the 722.9 7spd.
What you had in 2006 was extremely mature drive train technology, in a mid life chassis. Good combo. The engine had been out since 1985 in one form or another and the transmission since 1996 in Europe. Minus all the Bluetec nonsense.
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What I don't understand is VW TDI are considered reliable in Europe.
JHZR2
Staff member
W211 MB diesel. Id go for an 07 or whatever was the last year before urea.
Originally Posted By: friendly_jacek
What I don't understand is VW TDI are considered reliable in Europe.
How many miles/year do they drive? I suspect those in the US buying TDi's tend to do lots of miles, thus, issues pop up faster. They also have a dealer network which ought to know how to work on them (unlike the US--far more TDi sales in Europe).
What I don't understand is VW TDI are considered reliable in Europe.
How many miles/year do they drive? I suspect those in the US buying TDi's tend to do lots of miles, thus, issues pop up faster. They also have a dealer network which ought to know how to work on them (unlike the US--far more TDi sales in Europe).
Hmmm...I think this was a good discussion but looks like the idea of diesels in the USA offers a very limited choice, and that little choice doesn't offer any real solid ones...
ones which are affordable anyway...and the risk / cost vs benefits are still not big enough..
So for now, I guess this idea is better put to rest... (in our case)
I appreciate the comments very much. Thanks, all !
So for now, I guess this idea is better put to rest... (in our case)
I appreciate the comments very much. Thanks, all !
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