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Do you remember May 7th, it was the day we said goodbye to our 2008 Subaru WRX STi with the first installment of Parting Shots. Today we say goodbye to our Long Term 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. We had high hopes at the beginning. Gas was expensive, diesel was in the political discourse and biodiesel was gaining traction.
What a difference a year (and a crippling financial meltdown) makes.
Follow the jump for our final word on the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI...
Would I buy one? It's a question I ask myself whenever I slide behind the wheel of a car. Would I drop my hard earned money on one of these? Would I want to own it? Drive it for years? Look at it in my driveway? Tell people it's mine?
It's also the question you the reader ask me the most. So I've decided to go through all the cars we now have in our fleet and decide whether or not I would buy one. I also included a few recently departed vehicles. Seems appropriate since they just left us.
One common concern about buying a diesel engine is that it sounds like a truck. Well, let's take a look at the decibel readings for our long-term 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI versus a variety of other engines and cars. These were taken at our two test track locations with differing surface and wind conditions (nothing overly gusty), so these numbers aren't exactly precise down to the tenth of a decibel, but general comparisons can be made.
2009 VW Jetta TDI
Idle: 47.7
Full Throttle: 72.8
70-mph cruise: 70.0
Here are the fuel economy figures for April 2009. As usual, we've listed the best and worst tanks and the average over the entire life of the vehicle.
We're missing a couple of cars that were out of town or unavailable at the time we took the readings.
| Car | Best | Worst | Average |
| 2009 Audi A4 Avant | 26.8 | 17.5 | 22.3 |
| 2008 BMW 135i | 27.7 | 9.5 | 19.8 |
| 2009 BMW 750i | 21.8 | 14.6 | 19.1 |
| 2002 BMW M3 | 23.5 | 12.3 | 17.5 |
| 2009 BMW M3 | 16.8 | 9.6 | 14.8 |
| 2008 Cadillac CTS | 32.5 | 9.9 | 19.2 |
| 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T | 18.1 | 10.3 | 16.3 |
| 2009 Ford Flex Limited | 26.7 | 13.7 | 19.6 |
| 2008 Ford Focus SES | 40.6 | 16.6 | 26.7 |
| 2007 Honda Civic GX | 47.3 | 12.7 | 31.7 |
| 2009 Honda Fit Sport | 39.0 | 26.0 | 32.0 |
| 2009 Hyundai Genesis | 24.8 | 15.5 | 20.7 |
| 2009 Infiniti FX50 | 21.8 | 10.7 | 17.1 |
| 2009 Mazda 6 | 29.1 | 19.5 | 23.5 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X GSR | 22.6 | 11.0 | 17.2 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X MR | 21.3 | 11.7 | 16.8 |
| 2009 Nissan GT-R | 21.8 | 11.5 | 16.5 |
| 2008 Pontiac G8 GT | 19.4 | 14.1 | 17.3 |
| 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion | 43.4 | 23.5 | 33.7 |
| 2009 Suzuki SX4 | 25.0 | 18.6 | 22.5 |
| 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI | 43.0 | 28.7 | 35.3 |
| 2005 Volkswagen Jetta on Biodiesel | 49.1 | 26.2 | 38.8 |
After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
I've logged many miles in our certified 2005 VW Jetta TDI, including a trip to the base of Mt. Whitney in Lone Pine, California.
I can hear a chorus of "Nooooo!" being shouted at me right now in response to the headline. Yet, it's my task to sell our long term 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI.
Seriously folks, this Jetta is actually still worth a lotta dough. Our True Market Value price for it is $12,900. Considering it cost $24,000 new, it's held its value remarkably well.
If gas prices hadn't gone south our Jetta would be worth far more. Further eroding its desirability is the appearance of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI, which was a complete home run. It's also the first time a diesel has been available in California in over 10 years. Ergo, my phone is not ringing.
Still, consider these arguments in the TDI's favor.
What's it like working at Inside Line?
I get this question almost daily from somebody, and my answer usually blows their mind. I say, "Well, everyday this guy Mike walks up to me with a clipboard that contains a list of 15 to 30 cars ranging from a Smart to a GT-R and he says, 'Scott, what do you want to drive home tonight.'"
It's true.
(The fouled element of our TDI's fuel filter next to a fuel filter we pulled out about six months ago.)
We're wrapping up our test of the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI so we took it to the track for final testing. After doing the acceleration test Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton told me, "There's a hitch in its get-along. Around 4,000 rpm it hesitates really badly."
I'd felt that hesitation before, about six months after we began running the Jetta on biodiesel (B99). It seems that biodiesel loosens the deposits left in the fuel system from years of running on petrodiesel. The deposits flow into the filter and clog it. I replaced the filter back then and it ran fine -- until last week.
After I wrote about changing the filter the first time, a reader commented that I should cut the old filter apart to see how badly clogged it was. Good idea.
Here are updated fuel economy figures for the month of March. We've listed the best, worst and average fuel economy numbers over the life of the vehicle. Keep in mind that some of these tanks may be based on a partial fill-up.
This is missing a few that were not available at the time I was compiling this list.
| Car | Best | Worst | Average |
| 2009 Audi A4 Avant | 26.0 | 17.5 | 21.6 |
| 2002 BMW M3 | 23.5 | 12.3 | 17.6 |
| 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T | 20.4 | 12.9 | 17.3 |
| 2008 Ford Focus | 40.6 | 17.1 | 26.4 |
| 2007 Honda Civic GX | 47.3 | 21.4 | 31.6 |
| 2009 Honda Fit Sport | 39.0 | 28.0 | 32.1 |
| 2009 Hyundai Genesis | 24.8 | 15.5 | 21.1 |
| 2009 Infiniti FX50 | 20.9 | 10.8 | 17.4 |
| 2009 Mazda 6 | 29.1 | 19.5 | 23.3 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X GSR | 22.6 | 11.0 | 17.1 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X MR | 24.7 | 15.0 | 16.8 |
| 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring | 21.6 | 14.0 | 18.4 |
| 2008 Smart Fortwo | 43.4 | 25.7 | 33.8 |
| 2009 Suzuki SX4 | 25.0 | 18.6 | 22.1 |
| 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI | 43.0 | 28.7 | 35.6 |
| 2005 Volkswagen Jetta on Biodiesel | 43.9 | 35.5 | 39.3 |
After the jump you can see the list sorted by average MPG.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
(Nearly 600 miles on a single tank of B99 by using the pressure release lever.)
We were going to test the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI and wanted to have a full tank of fuel. Unfortunately, biodiesel stations are few and far between so I knew I couldn't fill up near the track. Instead, I filled up on B99, recorded the amount, then pressed the pressure release lever inside the throat of the fuel filler and continued pumping. It took another two gallons.
With this extra fuel on board I drove the track and arrived with a "full tank." Then I continued driving. And driving. San Diego and back. Work and back several times. In fact, I almost forgot it ever runs out of fuel. When I went back to the pump, here's the final tally.
By the way, we've been running our TDI on B99 for 10,031 miles and saw a slight increase in fuel economy to an average (mostly city) of 39.3 mpg. On petro diesel we got an average of 38.8 mpg over about 7,000 miles.
Philip Reed, Edmunds senior consumer advice editor @ 68,871 miles
The clutch chatter, clatter or vibrations have been documented in a former post, but what I felt this weekend was a similar vibration coming through the stick shift.
I have to say, if our Long Term '05 Jetta is any indication of how VWs hold up over the long haul, I'm impressed. With 67,000 miles on the clock, the car still looks and feels fairly new.
The picture above is the notable exception. On the armrest, the rubberized coating is peeling off the plastic arm rest. I get that the texture is much nicer to touch than hard plastic but if this is what happens, I'd rather just have the hard plastic in the first place - as you can see, it doesn't look that different. Does anyone want rubberized surfaces this badly? I don't.
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor @ 67,344 miles
Here is a list of most of our long-term vehicles with their best, worst and average fuel economy numbers over the life of the vehicle.
This list is missing a few that were not available at the time I was compiling this list.
| Car | Best | Worst | Average |
| 2008 Audi R8 | 20.3 | 11.7 | 15.3 |
| 2009 Audi A4 Avant | 26.0 | 17.5 | 19.9 |
| 2008 BMW 135i | 27.7 | 13.9 | 20.5 |
| 2002 BMW M3 | 23.5 | 12.3 | 17.5 |
| 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan | 30.8 | 12.0 | 18.6 |
| 2009 Ford Flex | 26.7 | 13.7 | 19.8 |
| 2008 Ford Focus | 37.4 | 16.6 | 26.4 |
| 2007 Honda Civic GX | 47.3 | 16.6 | 31.4 |
| 2009 Honda Fit Sport | 37.1 | 28.0 | 32.1 |
| 2009 Hyundai Genesis | 24.8 | 15.7 | 20.9 |
| 2009 Infiniti FX50 | 21.8 | 10.7 | 17.4 |
| 2009 Mazda 6 | 29.1 | 19.5 | 23.6 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X GSR | 22.6 | 11.0 | 17.0 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X MR | 24.7 | 11.7 | 16.8 |
| 2009 Nissan GT-R | 21.8 | 11.5 | 16.6 |
| 2008 Pontiac G8 GT | 24.0 | 12.0 | 17.4 |
| 2008 Smart Fortwo | 43.2 | 29.7 | 33.7 |
| 2008 Subaru WRX STI | 24.4 | 12.3 | 18.9 |
| 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI | 40.4 | 30.0 | 35.7 |
| 2005 Volkswagen Jetta Biodiesel | 50.4 | 30.3 | 39.3 |
Follow the jump to see the list organized by average so you can see how they stack up against each other.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
This is what the fuel gauge in our longterm 2005 VW Jetta TDI looks like when the tank is filled to the tippy-top. I know this because I just overfilled the tank and took this crappy cellphone picture.
Here's how it went down. I set the pump nozzle at the slowest fill setting until the pump clicked off, waited a bit and then topped it once, slowly (as per our standard filling procedure). The needle still sat here, just below full. I waited a minute or so for any gauge damping to settle out. It never happened.
Then I recalled that the Jetta had some filling issues way back when and figured it was reading below full because it actually wasn't full. I don't drive this car much so I'm not really up to speed with its idiosyncracies.
So I manually topped it off again. Slowly and carefully. It took a smidge and clicked off again. I re-checked the gauge. Same position, even after waiting another minute.
Then I gave it another tiny fraction of fuel and bam, a trickle of fuel ran out the filler neck. Dammit! I don't think this is what they had in mind when they said biodiesel was eco-friendly.
Even a few miles down the road, the gauge didn't read any fuller than what you see here. Lesson learned...
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor @ 67,670 miles.
I'd never driven our Jetta TDI before last Sunday...and I can say that it's OK with me if I don't drive it again. For all its merits (well, OK, it's fuel economy), this is a silly little car. Primarily, this is because it's way too soft. And by soft I mean wallowing, pitching, diving, rolling and ruthlessly punishing its bumpstops at every opportunity.
It feels like it's sprung by marshmallows and damped by a weak will. If this is how Volkswagens feel at 67,500 miles, well, I'm out.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor
This weekend I simply wanted a drama-free car. Well, it was either the 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI or the Subie STI. And since I can shift the VW smoothly as opposed to the WRX, I picked it over the more powerful (read: fun) car. I knew I'd be using it to transport my running buddies to Chinatown this weekend for the annual firecracker 5K/10K run and didn't want to knock any heads whilst maneuvering the hills around downtown.
In any case, I was also delighted to find that our VW sports features that not even our newer long-termers have. First and foremost, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel. It makes it easier for any driver of any size to get behind the wheel. Most new cars that are about the same price ($17,200) don't even have this feature: our 2008 Focus, the 2008 Hyundai Sonata GLS, the 2009 Nissan Sentra and 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i.
Also, I love that it has the light that comes on over not only the passenger side mirror but the driver side one, too. AND who can forget that sunroof? FYI, you can't get a sunroof in any of the above cars in the same price range.
Even though the V-Dub is pretty vanilla for my tastes, the fact that you can still have decent fuel economy and these deluxe features for under $18K is pretty nifty.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 67,240 miles
Just because our long-term Jetta TDI now burns biodiesel doesn't mean it smells like a bouquet of flowers. When exiting the Jetta TDI last night I couldn't help but notice an odd aroma. To double check, I left the car running this morning and walked around to the back, getting in two long whiffs of the Jetta's butt. Sure enough, there was the smell -- it's pungent, chemical and probably a quick way to hurl if you stay there too long.
Therefore, I wouldn't recommend sniffing the heiny of your biodiesel Jetta. Consider this a public service.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 66,067 miles
Alarmed by earlier stories that our favorite fueling station, Conserv Fuels, had stopped serving up American-made biodiesel, I went there this morning to check it out for myself. Had service been interrupted? I asked the attendant in his little booth. "For one day only," he assured me. Apparently the management reversed their decision to remove biodiesel because so many had expressed interest in buying it, even at a higher price.
Returning moments later after filling up, I asked the attendant if he was going to watch the inauguration of Barak Obama. "Oh yes!" he assured me. "I've taken the day off from my other job. I'll watch all afternoon."
"So you approve of our new president?"
"I met him!" he exclaimed. "He came here! I shook his hand!"
He then told me how Obama had made a campaign stop at Conserv Fuels. Security was heavy and the goons told the attendant to stay in his booth. But as Obama walked past, curiosity got the better of him. He cracked the door of the booth and peaked out. Obama glanced over and happened to see a face peering out. "He came over and shook my hand," the attendant said. "He asked me what my name was."
Back to business, I took a look at the fuel log to see how our test of biodiesel was progress. So far, we've driven 6,989 miles on petrodiesel and got 38.8 mpg. On biodiesel (B99) we've driven 7,786.2 miles and got 39.4 mpg. In most cases biodiesel will not deliver the fuel economy that petrodiesel gets. Our result is more a reflection of different driving styles and conditions than fuel economy. Bottomline: it's very close.
At the mercy of our editorial staff's hands (and feet), our Jetta TDI with 66,089 miles on the clock has been holding up fairly well. Underway, nothing (such as the steering or front suspension) feels loose or rattles. The engine pulls smoothly and the TDI will run at 80 mph on the freeway quietly and without straining. The V-dub's doors shut with a solid thunk and none of the switchgear feels worse for wear. Overall, we're pretty happy.
Impressive as that all is, in addition to the previously mentioned exfoliating armrest I noticed some wear on the left side bolster of the driver's seat. This is understandably a common wear spot caused by people constantly sliding across the bolster as they get in and out of the seat. But we'd hope this wouldn't happen until the odo showed six figures and it left us wondering how this wear-prone area would've faired if our car had the optional leather seats...
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 66,089 miles.
After a quiet holiday break, it was finally time to put more biodiesel in our 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI this morning. Since our preferred station no longer carries B99, I drove six miles to Palisades Gas & Wash. Ordinarily, this would be a 15-minute drive (assuming light traffic), but the gas station is tucked behind a grocery store, so getting there involved some doubling back, a phone call to the station and ultimately 30 minutes of drive time.
Fueling up at this station is not the most convenient, either, as it's a busy full-service car wash so you can only pull into certain aisles and, once there, you risk getting stuck behind any number of Land Rovers. Also, it's full service only, at least for B99, so I wasn't able to twist and turn the nozzle to my heart's content to ensure a completely full fill. As a result, the fuel gauge doesn't read quite to the "F" mark.
Pricing isn't too bad, though. I paid $34.97 for 11.662 gallons of B99 at $2.999/gallon. The Exxon near my house is charging $2.599 for self-serve regular diesel right now, and 40 cents/gallon is a pretty standard markup for full serve on Los Angeles' West Side. Still, it must be pointed out that it's tough to pay more than $2.10 for 91 octane in LA right now.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 65,877 miles
I'm sure some our more knowledgeable staffers would be able to explain the intricacies of suspension tuning and thusly why the suspension in our 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is so good. But since I'm not one of them, I'll just say that it's like, really good. It is completely unfazed by our decrepit freeways; always composed and always controlled. Did I mention it's got good steering feel too? Someone with a degree in suspension or something must have tuned this car.
Combine its sublime ride and handling with its torquey little diesel, solid transmission, attractive interior design and 40+ miles per gallon fuel economy, this little Jetta is quite the phenom.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 65,782 miles
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