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

9298 messages,  Last post on May 18, 2013 at 6:33 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum.

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

Messages Page 813 of 931

#8116 of 9298 Re: 2014 Audi A8 L TDI [gagrice] by fintail

Feb 17, 2013 (10:28 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Feb 17, 2013 10:07 pm)
I had a SWB A8 3.0 TDi for a rental, yes. I think I averaged around 33mpg in it, which included 120 mph+ driving. The 8 speed transmission is really something.

#8117 of 9298 Re: . [ruking1] by steve_ HOST

Feb 18, 2013 (6:54 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Feb 17, 2013 10:03 pm)
My gasser mpg "stabilized" around 4 to 5,000 miles but didn't really hit its stride until 10k. Then you read about other folks who get better than EPA mpg from the first tank.
 
I think those owners must follow the biker's theory and drive their new cars like Andretti from the get go. Seems like most manufacturers don't even talk about break in any more, and if they do, it's about the brakes, not the engine.
 
Fin, stomp that puppy - it's a lease after all.

#8118 of 9298 Re: . [steve_] by alltorque

Feb 18, 2013 (7:03 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 18, 2013 6:54 am)
When I bought my new Skoda Fabia vRS, (1.9 TDi Pd / 130bhp), the dealer's advice on running-in, (break-in), was simply........."Drive it like ya stole it".
 
So I did and it never used a drop of oil between services in the 4 years I owned it but the mpg improved noticeably from 10k miles onward.
 
 

#8119 of 9298 Re: . [alltorque] by steve_ HOST

Feb 18, 2013 (7:06 am)

Replying to: alltorque (Feb 18, 2013 7:03 am)
Did the transmission dump after two years?
 
I suppose one could read the manual and trust what the experts who designed and engineered the car say.
 
Nah, that's no fun.

#8120 of 9298 Re: . [steve_] by ruking1

Feb 18, 2013 (7:44 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 18, 2013 6:54 am)
I think from the diesels' side this is both the REAL GOOD news and approaches the arcane.
 
The upshot on the gassers are full break in normally happens in 500 to 1,000 miles. On a technical side, full compression occurs. This is SO normal and to the consumer opaque; as to be almost ignored to unknown to... ubiquitous.
 
The upshot on the diesels are full break in normally happens between 30,000 to 60,000 miles. So in Fintail's case, this is the "assumption" for an earlier point of view. The issue here and also in the gassers there are absolutely NO protocols to measure its progression or lack there of. I am not sure how to put it in context or scale, but it does fall into the category of TMI, in most to all cases. So for example in the 2003 VW Jetta TDI broken in specification for full compression is app 550 PSI. Obviously before break in it is less than that. To almost all gasser types and the majority of TDI drivers, who the H--- cares?
 
There are of course downstream consequences.
 
So for example I agree totally with Alltorque's take about not using a DROP of oil in a so called "correctly" broken in TDI. However the reality is more like 1/4 to 1/2 qt in a 30,000 miles OCI. Anyone who is knowledgeable about gasser OCIS knows that is literally NO consumption for the TDI.

#8121 of 9298 Re: . [ruking1] by steve_ HOST

Feb 18, 2013 (7:44 am)

Replying to: ruking1 (Feb 18, 2013 7:44 am)
The "first twenty hit" internet consensus is that 10,000k is the norm. Hm, kind of like my gasser experience. But my mpg keeps improving even at 182k, after fading a bit after getting new plugs at 124k (we're talking maybe a few tenths better mpg over the last 100k). My 21 combined mpg sweet spot did happen at 60k.
 
I don't know what "full break-in" is, but once you get beyond the owner's manual, it's all anecdotal. The way Seattle drivers are, Fin's more likely to have an inconsiderate texting Lexus driver total the front end than hit 300k.

#8122 of 9298 Re: . [steve_] by fintail

Feb 18, 2013 (9:19 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Feb 18, 2013 6:54 am)
After the first thousand or so miles, I will probably wring it out a little more. I'd feel wrong laying into a brand new car. I know I'll be going on a few hundred mile trip in May, that might be its first mileage cruise.

#8123 of 9298 I would buy another diesel if... by winter2

Feb 18, 2013 (9:48 am)

If the engine is made by V.M. Motori and it is planted in a Chrysler product, no way in hell would I buy one.
 
If it is a Daimler diesel then I would buy one without hesitation.
 
If it comes from VW, a definite maybe.
 
I hear FIAT diesels are pretty good, but I would treat them skeptically until I saw more data.
 
Most Japanese diesels are pretty decent so I would consider one of them.

#8124 of 9298 Re: I would buy another diesel if... [winter2] by gagrice

Feb 18, 2013 (10:11 am)

Replying to: winter2 (Feb 18, 2013 9:48 am)
You had less than good results with a Jeep Liberty diesel if memory serves. That engine was from VM Motori and was not bad until Chrysler kludged it to pass EPA emissions. The 2014 JGC V6 is going to use Urea injection same as the German diesels sold here. We had nothing but trouble with our Ford diesels that were modified to pass emissions. Starting with the PUs we bought in 2003 they were in the shop more than on the road. Horrible diesel engines. I understand they dumped Navistar in about 2010. So maybe they figured out how to build a decent diesel engine on their own. I would prefer a German diesel engine. I plan to give the Jeep GC a good looking over. That is if they don't wait to long to bring them to America.

#8125 of 9298 2013 MY TDI Snapshot by ruking1

Feb 19, 2013 (9:00 am)

Cars.com has interesting pieces of data for 2013 VW TDI's (all models) 27%.
 
(18,643/68,873 units, inventory)
 
Touaregs are 42.5% TDI's.
 
(635/1,491)
 
Percentage demand for the VW JSW remains high 81+%.
 
Interesting IS the American Passat 32.4% TDI's
 
( billed as the AMERICAN Passat and is made IN the USA 6,151/ 18,965)
 
My 2003 Jetta TDI really looks like the "good ole hysterical days" 4% of total VW US sales or 9,000 units.

Messages Page 813 of 931

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