2009 VW Jetta TDI: Tell Me Why I'm Wrong

Why you are wrong?

Read this article: http://lexusnet.com/blog/?p=11

Not to mention that the new Prius will be averaging 50 mpg, which is 42% MORE than the Jetta TDI.

Extra cost? How much does this Jetta TDI cost and how much does the Prius cost?

Brian, because it is a VW. That brand doesn't have the best of reputation for reliability in this country, ya know?

Uh.... because it's a VW. Long term reliability for the average driver is pretty poor compared to the competition. Add in the high cost of parts/labor/service, and the story ends there.

The only reason most people buy hybrids (especially extremely wealthy people) is to feel morally superior over the general population.

I mean, to most people, when you see a Prius driving down the road, you think, "This person cares about the environment".

@adavis2493,

Some might buy Prius just to show off. But such people would have bought a Hummer/Escalade if it was 'Cool'. Would you like such people in a small car or in a tank like Hummer?

And besides, you need small cars as 'cool' cars in US these days. Till the gas crisis hit, everyone who wanted to show off bought bigger & bigger cars.

I, for one, would like such people to be in smaller cars. Better for the driving public, better for economy and better for the environment. Win-win situation, if you ask me.

@adavis2493

People who are into showing off their riches better be in smaller cars rather than big ones, so that when they crash, they don't take out half a city block.

VW reliability, though improved, is well below most other brands, and all of the hybrids.

Alsol, is ultra low sulfur fuel widely available now? Last I heard, it was in short supply within a number of states. What happens to the engine and catalyst if "regular" diesel fuel is used?

Sure, but then you wouldn't get that superior feeling when you pull into the Whole Foods parking lot and observe the non-hybrids that the other folk drive.

Sarcasm aside, I think the other commenters have it right.

VW may have improved quality, but when I found my self in the position of having to buy a car on a Saturday because mine was 90% dead with no warning, I didn't consider VW for more than a second. This is despite the fact that there is a dealer about a mile from my home.

VW's rep is far worse (in my mind anyway) than GM or Chrysler.

You guys seem to have had good luck with yours, but I still don't trust them.

You don't make smug clouds with a VW! (That was one of the great South Park episodes ever.) And really, given that it is a VW, you won't make clouds of anything once the warranty runs out and the electrical systems die.

i hate whenever i drive down the road and see a prius or even see a prius commercial on tv.

everyone always thinks that since they get good mpg they're good for the environment when in reality the making of the battery that runs the prius is worse for the planet than any suv could ever be.

before the prius even rolls off the lot it has destroyed the planet more than a hummer could ever dream to.

I like the way the nozzle is resting right on the paint...NOT!

Honda was the best chance to make diesel cars the darlings of the greenies.

http://ww1.honda.co.uk/change/

Civic hatchback diesel, Accord Tourer diesel and Accord diesel are fantastic cars, very refined, clean, and Honda reliability.

CARB insisted on emissions levels for diesel that are completely wack and unfortunately EPA followed CARB's example. Honda abandoned diesel for the North American market.

If only EPA and Euro emissions regs. were the same there would be a multitude of diesel choices to include Toyota's and Honda's.

VW TDI's are the best diesel choice at this time.

VW has great retained/resale value and the diesels are even higher value than the gasoline models, they are fantastic drivers, great safety ratings and no batteries to recycle.

It's funny that in the UK, VW is considerd on of the more reliable brands.

Reliable compared to Rover - nice!

^Haha! It's funny because Rovers suck.

Seriously, I'm still considering a TDI for next year, in part, to support diesel. And diesel is now 30 cents cheaper than 87 octane, at least around here.

But our next car purchase will be a Honda Odyssey. I HAD been all excited to buy a diesel version, but as moparbud mentioned, Honda scrapped those plans. I've decided to blame that on California.

The Green movement has nothing actually to do with the environment; that's why Diesels aren't popular and why traffic calming isn't illegal.

Wow, the vw hate from commenters on here is ridiculous. It's almost to the domestic hater level!

It's funny that alot of people on here have no problem referencing outdated "vw electronics" stories but you mention a crappy cavalier and they're all over you and screaming that the new malibu and cobalt ARE reliable.

things change people...get a clue.

kurtamaxxxguy, your fuel worries are unfounded. Ultra low sulfur fuel is now mandated nationally for on-road use. The older low-sulfur fuel is still available for farming and heavy construction use, but not dispensed for highway use. And recently diesel fuel has cost less than regular grade gasoline, after a period when it was more expensive than premium gasoline.

I've had 85,000 reliable miles on a 2006 Jetta TDI, just a passenger airbag replaced under warranty to turn off the warning light. Average MPG has dropped from 47mpg to 43mpg because of a poor choice of replacement tires that apparently have very high rolling resistance.

I meet numerous other high-mileage TDI drivers of the A5 Jetta who also have had few or no problems. Using a trusted local mechanic to do all maintenance is a cost I'm willing to pay to keep it running for many more miles.

I have a co-worker who loves his Prius, but it is scary to drive, feels unstable and has no road confidence at all. I spend too much time behind the wheel to put up with its uncomfortable driving position and lousy driving appeal.

it has nothing to do with being a VW but the ignorant masses in the US who know nothing about diesel and the advances that have been made to make the diesel engine quieter and cleaner.

"everyone always thinks that since they get good mpg they're good for the environment when in reality the making of the battery that runs the prius is worse for the planet than any suv could ever be.

before the prius even rolls off the lot it has destroyed the planet more than a hummer could ever dream to. "

bwillz240 - At least one person understands that in order to quantify the total impact of an automobile on the environment, you must consider its entire lifecycle, from conception, to manufacturing, to destruction. Thank you for not being blind like so many other people who buy into the hybrid hype without being aware of all the factors.

Thankfully, cleaner manufacturing methods for advanced battery technology are being developed that will hopefully lessen the 'lifecycle pollution'.

"Wow, the vw hate from commenters on here is ridiculous. It's almost to the domestic hater level! "

Japanese car fanboys hate everything. All justifications come back to "reliability" for them. Generally speaking the most compelling vehicles come from the US and Europe. Its always been that way which is why the Asian automakers have staked their claims on reliability and durability.

Are the cargo ships that bring the PRius from Japan hybrids too? Just wondering since large ships pollute as much as a few million cars. No better way to help the environment than to encourage import of cars from Japan.

find it funny that so many are quick to bring up VWs past reliability issues when both of the VWs in the Edmunds fleet- which are separated by years and a generation, have been relatively trouble free (while the Nissans blow differentials and transmissions....)

It's a WAY better car to drive than Prius too. We liked it on our test drives. But it's not enough fun for me to own one.

That fuel nozzle is disgusting!

My next car will be an A3 TDI. It will be FUN TO DRIVE, something that no hybrid as of yet has been able to deliver. Can you get a prius with a really good 6 speed manual or 6 speed DSG? Nope. You can't. Prius' squeel their tires going around turns at 25 mph. I appreciate that people like the Prius. It gets damn good gas mileage, but don't try and tell me that the Jetta or A3 TDI won't be way less expensive to own, operate and maintain over 150,000 miles than any battery pack hybrid. Diesel engines are built to be reliable. Everyone can knock VW quality and reliability all they want but from my own experience, my Audi's have been pretty damn reliable.

The VW does seems boring.

That's the problem with this car for me.

I like diesel because it's a proven, reliable, economical engine technology that can basically "drop in" to existing vehicle designs and provide significant gains in fuel economy. Now that low-sulfur fuel is available and can meet CARB emissions goals we should start to see a lot more diesel choices coming over from Europe, where diesel has long been popular. Maybe the Jetta TDI isn't your thing for whatever reason (styling, reliability) but I hope that within a few years will be lots of options.

Dust to dust per mile comparison (not sure how up-to-date these numbers are, says for 2007/08 model years)
Prius $2.19
Civic Hybrid $2.94
Jetta TDI $1.07
SMART $.58

TDI is pretty far up the list!

wk - diesel fuel doesn't evaporate like gas, therefore cleaning of the pumps/handles should be done more often. Obviously not too many stations have clean anything, so this is not surprising.

actualsize - you need to look more closely. The nozzle, or any part of the pump handle, is not touching the paint. If you meant the fuel cap, then yes, it is touching the paint. Guess the guys at edmunds haven't figured out it hangs on the filler door with notches cut into the cap!

You're absolutely right Brian. The reason why hybrids rule over diesels in America is because the average American car buyer isn't too smart.

"Japanese car fanboys hate everything."

Nah. They just hate it when losers like you compare your domestics on very page. Like you, whining , crying, bitching on every M3 page claiming the CTS-V is superior, likewise on every GT-R or Z page, we have you whining that a Mustang or a Vette would be a better choice. Compelling vehicles by US? LOL! Good joke. At least the Europeans are known for their driving experience. What does the big 3 offer? Bankruptcy deals.

Ya know, threem kinda has a good point

I've been driving my Golf TDI for 8 years now. It has been reliable and economical. I get anywhere from 42-49mpg, it has get up and go, it handles decently, and I love it! I have 185K miles on it, and there has been nothing wrong with it aside from the occasional maintenance issue. As soon as possible, I'm going to trade it up to a 2010 Golf TDI with the clean diesel. If it's half as good as the 2001 has been, I'll be a happy camper!

I just want to put in my two cents here. I've owned my 2009 Jetta TDI for three months now. This car has been the most fun to drive that I can remember. I average the mid to upper 30's driving (approx 12 miles) the back roads to work while my wife will easily average the low 40's driving (20 miles) to her work, half of it on the freeway. If we do a long road trip, I've averaged up to 47mpg on a stretch!

The bottom line is that the hype on this car is for real. This car was designed to be a cruiser and is very comfortable to make long road trips. My only issue is that now my wife loves it and she's wised up to the fact that she can get better milage with the car to justify her using it. I got to hide those keys from her....