Sign In Join 



What Would It Take for YOU to buy a diesel car?

1503 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 1:11 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Biodiesel, Diesel, Hybrid Cars, Coupe, Hatchback, SUV


Messages Page 129 of 151
1
...
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
...
151
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#1278 of 1503
Does that even matter? by bpeebles
Jun 23, 2009 (6:32 pm)
Reply

Replying to: larsb (Jun 23, 2009 8:39 am)

I have never followed the rest of the sheep in believing that "initial quality" actually reflects any real measurement which I would use in selecting an automobile. Most people know those "facts" are just eye-wash.
 
Being an engineer, I know that the ENGINEERING DESIGN is a far better measurement than how well the assembly line workers bolted it together. (A lose bolt can be tightened... a poor design just suks)
 
The VW TDI is a proven design that works. I can change my engine-oil and filter in about 15 minutes FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I owned a Honda once... the oil-filter was nearly impossible to access even when the car was on a hydrolic lift. I know of an American-named car which one had to REMOVE THE FRONT WHEEL to access the oil-filter.
 
Here in Vermont, one of my top criterias in selecting a vehicle is RESISTANCE TO RUST. In that reguard, VW offers the 12-year/unlimited-milage warantee.
#1279 of 1503
Re: Does that even matter? [bpeebles] by ruking1
Jun 23, 2009 (7:12 pm)
Reply

Replying to: bpeebles (Jun 23, 2009 6:32 pm)

There are other less "sexy things". Honda has a 20,000 miles oil filter change recommendation. I thought that was pretty amazing when I first reviewed my 04 Civic specifications. The problem is most folks do not believe it, let alone follow it.
 
VW has oil filters specified for 30,000 miles.
 
Right now over 87,000 miles, all the wear able parts on the Civic are wearing app 2x faster than the Jetta's wear able parts. Another example, I need three alignments where the Jetta needed none.
#1280 of 1503
Re: Does that even matter? [ruking1] by steve_ HOST
Jun 23, 2009 (8:00 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 23, 2009 7:12 pm)

And how can you not love a car that has a Pumpe Düse engine? Although I hear VW switched to a CRDi in the US.
 
(the stuff you see around Edmunds every day... a real learning experience)
#1281 of 1503
Re: Does that even matter? [ruking1] by jkinzel
Jun 23, 2009 (8:10 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 23, 2009 7:12 pm)

I know, off topic.
 
Speaking of oil changes, I got the second hand account on this one. I’ll not name names to protect me and the company, BUT. A tug was brought to Puget Sound from another port and the local shipyard started doing some maintenance for use here.
 
Long story short; The boat is 3,000HP with two EMD’s. All the maintenance over the past five years had been performed on time including fuel and OIL filters. What engine room logs showed and was later reveled is that the main engine oil had not been changed since 2004. Yes, 5 years without an oil change.
 
The boat runs great, in fact I spent 7 days on it this month and it never missed a beat.
#1282 of 1503
Re: Does that even matter? [jkinzel] by ruking1
Jun 23, 2009 (9:08 pm)
Reply

Replying to: jkinzel (Jun 23, 2009 8:10 pm)

Just for comparisons sake, you might want to list the sump size and bypass filtration etc.
#1283 of 1503
Re: Does that even matter? [steve_] by ruking1
Jun 23, 2009 (9:12 pm)
Reply

Replying to: steve_ (Jun 23, 2009 8:00 pm)

Well indeed there has been a lot of mis steps with the PD engine. VW certainly did not do themselves any favors with that engine that hit the US markets.
 
The 2009 TDI is a CRD.
#1284 of 1503
Re: Does that even matter? [ruking1] by jkinzel
Jun 23, 2009 (10:00 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ruking1 (Jun 23, 2009 9:08 pm)

I don't have that information, but I would guess the base to be about 20ft x 5ft. I have no idea how many gallons in each engine.
#1285 of 1503
Re: well this [gagrice] by nippononly
Jun 24, 2009 (12:29 am)
Reply

Replying to: gagrice (Jun 23, 2009 7:56 am)

VW is building a new plant here to meet the need.
 
VW is building a plant here to sell gas-powered Passats, to whit a new Passat NOT shared with the European market, and "dumbed down" for American tastes and to reach a cheaper price point. Has nothing to do with TDI production.
 
1/3 or 1/2 or 60% of not much is still not much. I guess in order to gauge how well diesels could REALLY sell here, we need one of the Big 6 (of which VW isn't one) to introduce a diesel on one of their volume models.
 
I got a survey after I bought my last Subaru asking me if I would be willing to pay $3000 extra for a diesel in a future Sube. I said yes, I would, but I also said I would be willing to spend $2500 more for a hybrid version, and lastly when asked to comment I said I would not buy another new Subaru unless it got at least 20% better fuel economy than the one I just bought (averaging 30 mpg so far, AWD and all). Diesel will probably be the easiest way for them to go, but either diesel or hybrid will save me my 20% in fuel.
#1286 of 1503
Re: well this [nippononly] by gagrice
Jun 24, 2009 (5:30 am)
Reply

Replying to: nippononly (Jun 24, 2009 12:29 am)

I am sure the new factory will be flexible in that it can build most any vehicle VW chooses. They may change their plans if they cannot get enough Jetta TDI volume from Mexico. The only VW that would make me jump for joy is the Tiguan TDI with the same diesel engine as the new Golf GTD. It is the only mini CUV I found to be comfortable for me. And it gets 43 MPG US out on the highway. What's not to like? That is the 4Motion version.
 
If VW does not bring the Golf or Tiguan TDI, I may use the clunker plan and get a Touareg TDI for my diesel rig. I am not thrilled with the urea crap, but life is far from perfect. The restrictions on buying an SUV under the plan are pretty lenient.
 
The new SUV or pickup truck: Must cost $45,000 or less (MSR), must obtain 2 mpg better than the old for $3500, and 5 mpg for $4500.
#1287 of 1503
Re: Does that even matter? [bpeebles] by bumpy
Jun 24, 2009 (7:54 am)
Reply

Replying to: bpeebles (Jun 23, 2009 6:32 pm)

The VW TDI is a proven design that works.
 
Sadly, though, that engine was installed in cars that have the reliability of the average Daewoo or older Kia. Some folks are okay with that; I'm not one of them.

Messages Page 129 of 151
1
...
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
...
151
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement