Long-Term Road Tests

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...

Continue reading 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Parting Shots.

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS 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. 

Continue reading Would I Buy One?.

Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Audi R8,2008 BMW 135i,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

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

Continue reading 2009 VW Jetta TDI: Sound Level Comparison With Other Cars.

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

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.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy - April Edition.

Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 BMW 135i,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

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.

Continue reading 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI GLS: Would You Buy It?.

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

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.   

Continue reading Where's the Clipboard Damn It, I Need a Car!.

Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Audi R8,2008 BMW 135i,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 BMW 750i,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

(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.

Continue reading 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI GLS: Fouled Fuel Filter...Again.

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

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.

After the jump you can see the list sorted by average MPG.

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor

Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy - March Edition.

Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Suzuki SX4,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

(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

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

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.

Continue reading 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI: Getting a strange vibe.

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

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 

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

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.

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

Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy.

Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2008 Audi R8,2008 BMW 135i,2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

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.

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

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

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI

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

Categories: 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI