Thoughts and opinions? The wife is wanting a new car. I want her to get diesel. Very few offerings of cars with diesels. I like diesel because of the fuel mileage. Fuck a Prius. Can't stand the cars and the majority of the owners. I've also never been a big fan of VW. How's today's quality of VW? Any other recommendations?

4/11/2011 9:45:51 PM

I saw the new Jetta over the weekend. It looks good, bigger than I expected. Don't know much about VW reliability though.

4/11/2011 9:57:32 PM

E/ML/GL 350 BlueTEC

335d
X5 xDrive35d

4/11/2011 10:01:13 PM

335d

4/11/2011 10:07:47 PM

back when I bought my 2005 TDI, they were still building the TDI jettas in germany, and as such had less of the problems that plagued the mexican built gasoline versions (according to various things I've read).

If they're still building 'em in germany you're good to go.

4/11/2011 10:20:15 PM

BMW diesels are sweet, as are VWs of late. If you get one w/DSG, $5 says you're going to drive it a fair bit!

4/11/2011 10:49:56 PM

i think they are hot

4/11/2011 10:58:34 PM

Seriously if I wanted ti get serious mpg jetta tdi all day long.

4/11/2011 11:02:29 PM

335d. 425 ft.lb stock

4/11/2011 11:29:52 PM

The new Jettas suck ass. They cheapened the hell out of it and I have yet to read a favorable review from any automotive publication I read on a regular basis. Consumer Reports even went so far as to give it a "do not buy" rating.

I'd look for a CPO Jetta TDI from the previous generation.

4/12/2011 12:06:55 AM

^^ 335d is a sweet ride, but I don't know if I could buy one over a 335i.

I do kinda want a TDI Golf or Jetta wagon.

4/12/2011 12:17:19 AM

Why not a Golf TDi?

I have a 2010 GTI at a year and 20kmiles now and I love it. Its a really well built and solid car. 2010 Consumer Reports small car of the year and a recommended buy ta boot. I test drove the TDI twice while shopping, but it was a bit slow and when it comes down to it i guess i just don't car THAT much about fuel economy. i still get around 28MPG average each day as i commute half through traffic in Boston and half on the highway doing 80mph. I also chipped it at 1000 miles which woke things up considerably.

But anyway, the build quality of this car is incredible. I'd lean the Golf way so that you can get it as well instead of the cheaped out Jetta. Plus hatchbacks are far superior.

4/12/2011 8:50:18 AM

i thought car guys knew CR auto reviews are performed by minivan drivers

4/12/2011 9:15:18 AM

New Subaru Diesel probably worth taking a look at

http://www.boxerdiesel.com/

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 9:39 AM. Reason : shit, my bad, after a little more research I don't think they are bringing it to the US after all.]

4/12/2011 9:23:35 AM

^^^Also correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't the Golfs built in Germany while the Jettas are built in Mexico?

4/12/2011 11:25:30 AM

The last time I looked for a used Golf TDI (since I'm interested in them myself), the closest one was in south Georgia. Nobody close wants to part with one.

4/12/2011 12:10:15 PM

Quote :

"VW reliability"

Military intelligence.
Religious tolerance.
Business ethics.
Civil war.

4/12/2011 12:47:40 PM

^
A+

4/12/2011 12:54:55 PM

The Golfs are made in Germany, Jettas in Mexico.

VW's quality has improved over the last couple of generations of cars. They've gone from next-to-last (just above Land Rover) at the start of the '00s to right near the industry average (the Touareg is still an anchor on their overall score.)

The MK4 Golf/Jetta from the early half of the decade was notorious for it's laundry list of issues. (Window regulators, coil packs, O2 sensors, MAF sensors, etc.)

The MK5 and 6 (the current generation) has been pretty solid regardless of where it is built. Rattles emerging in various places are most common. Some of the early run MK6 Golfs with automatics (err, DSG) had faulty temperature sensors that were addressed in a recall.

VW is aiming for the mass market with the Jetta, so to keep the price down, they did cheap out on some stuff in the new Jetta. (Torsion beam rear suspension vs. multilink on the old one, cheaper interior plastics vs. the Golf.)

4/12/2011 10:28:25 PM

That sucks if the MkIVs really are crappy, as the MkVs didn't offer the TDI, and the VI is still too expensive (and with too much depreciation remaining) for me to justify buying one to save money.

4/12/2011 11:02:59 PM

sure your window regulators die, you chase electrical problems, and the trunk leaks water during every shower......you're getting GREAT MILEAGE !!!!!!!!!!!!

those old TDIs are so so so so so slow.

4/12/2011 11:32:50 PM

^^The MkV definitely was offered in the US as TDI

^^^don't forget the base engine is that shitbox 8 valve 2.0 liter 115hp that's been around for 20 years unchanged.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 11:34 PM. Reason : ^]

4/12/2011 11:33:40 PM

^^ I don't give a fuck how slow it is. I wouldn't mind if it was even slower and got 60 mpg, haha. It isn't a sports car (or more broadly, performance-oriented car, like...say...a 335i, or M5), so I don't care if it has 75 hp, or 175 hp, or 275 hp. I do care if it's a piece of shit, though.


^ I thought the MkV was when they went back to the Rabbit nameplate, and didn't bring the TDI to the States? I'm not super in the know on modern VWs, though.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 11:41 PM. Reason : ]

4/12/2011 11:41:15 PM

The base engine now is a 2.5l 5cyl 170hp. its not bad except for the fuel economy. I got an '08 base model Rabbit with that motor for $14,9 brand new.

4/12/2011 11:42:52 PM

buy a used civic hx 5 speed 96 model and call it a day.

4/13/2011 8:03:20 AM

if fuel economy and reliability is your criteria, hold out for a 2012 ford focus with powershift (dual dry clutches with THF) and their new 2.0L I4...should get upwards of 40mpg and will be much cheaper than a new TDI

the fiesta is already available with powershift, but it's been in the european models for a while...i think the idea is that powershift will be available on all fords by 2013

4/13/2011 8:29:35 AM

^from what I've read the Powershift isn't that great compared to any other dual clutch transmission.

^^^no, it's their 2.0 I4 8 valve engine with 115hp. The 5 cylinder was the base engine for the MkV, but they decontented the MkVI.

^^^^Rabbit = Golf, not Jetta. We're talking about Jettas in this thread.

[Edited on April 13, 2011 at 9:15 AM. Reason : k]

4/13/2011 9:10:48 AM

Quote :

"from what I've read the Powershift isn't that great compared to any other dual clutch transmission."

it was my understanding (and so possibly my ignorance) that the vast majority of automatics aren't dry dual clutch (DSG is though, right?)...and the ones that are come in more expensive cars

i don't know that powershift is especially revolutionary save for the fact that it will be the first dry dual clutch widely available in a full range of cars in north america...i think the claim is 10% fuel economy increase over the "average" automatic transmission

*shrug*

[Edited on April 13, 2011 at 9:48 AM. Reason : DSG]

4/13/2011 9:48:18 AM

^no you're correct in that assumption. Currently VW offers the lowest priced dual clutch transmission.

In this case though i wouldn't be surprised that the increased fuel mileage comes from the addition of an extra gear compared to the previous version's traditional automatic.

4/13/2011 10:00:34 AM

I love how people who never owned a VW for any significant length of time are bitching about its relialibility.
MKIII, MKIV and MKVs are very-well built cars inside/out. Window regulators and coils ARE NOT major problems. Every mfg out there had some form of problem or recall. Major components in these cars are bullet proof.

[Edited on April 13, 2011 at 1:09 PM. Reason : f]

4/13/2011 1:08:49 PM

^Any VW's that aren't air-cooled are trash, and the air-cooled ones were tin cans.

Volkswagens have killed more people than Hitler.

Exhibit A:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukq-UUQAcZs&feature=related

Volkswagen sold these deathtraps to white people until 1992, brown people until 2002.


[Edited on April 13, 2011 at 1:36 PM. Reason : .]

4/13/2011 1:27:07 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO_AfCFQR2M&NR=1

You linked to a Chinese clone.

4/13/2011 2:44:47 PM

Speed on the orange van was 49mph with six Americans(1 ton) in the back. Not unreasonable. As far as I know it's a german-made t3, tested in 1999 in germany for shits and giggles.

[Edited on April 13, 2011 at 3:11 PM. Reason : .]

4/13/2011 2:59:43 PM

I don't care how many people have VWs killed. We are talking about mechanical and electrical reliablity of these cars. Fact is these cars had few recalls, like most of the other manufacturers. Problem is J.D power and assocites, consumer reports and other companies involved with reliablity data, report number of problems/per # reporing owners, never noting what IS THE SEVERITY of the actual problem. Defective design on failing transmission is not the same as window regulator, and while annoying the latter should not be placed in the same basket as blatant design flaw on fundamental mechanical piece.

4/13/2011 3:13:31 PM

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/vw-recalls-2011-jettas-in-which-horn-can-make-engine-stall/?src=mv
http://articles.boston.com/2010-12-16/business/29310069_1_fuel-leak-air-bag-new-beetle
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8511199.stm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17345601/
http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20090713-154370.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-05-25-suv-recall_x.htm

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/vw_jetta.html

4/13/2011 4:25:19 PM

I can post hundreds of links with recalls affecting BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Ford/GM, Toyota, Honda. It proves nothing.

4/13/2011 4:49:31 PM

smc is a huge troll, do yourself a favor and ignore him.

4/13/2011 4:53:46 PM

Quote :

"I love how people who never owned a VW for any significant length of time are bitching about its relialibility. MKIII, MKIV and MKVs are very-well built cars inside/out. Window regulators and coils ARE NOT major problems. Every mfg out there had some form of problem or recall. Major components in these cars are bullet proof."

hahahahahahahahaha sorry to get you so angry. that being said. vwmsj


i feel like you admitted the windows wont roll up. how do you get the water vapor out of the car when the trunk leaks?

[Edited on April 13, 2011 at 6:56 PM. Reason : .]

4/13/2011 6:55:00 PM

2012 ford focus SEL 5-door hatch with powershift standard for $21k and gets up to 40mpg

the 2011 VW jetta TDI is $24k with DSG and $23k without (base models) and gets up to 42mpg

diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline, enough that the extra 2mpg is inconsequential...i was always under the impression that VW diesel engines were pretty solid, so there's that...but, FWIW, i think the duratec Ti-VCT engine in the focus has been around since 2004 in just about every small-to-midsized car ford/mazda offers in europe

it also looks like the SEL focus comes with more standard features than the jetta TDI, but i haven't given it a hard look and i could be wrong

*shrug*

4/13/2011 7:50:03 PM

dude i like the looks of them. never had a vw so i can not input on anything other than styling.

4/13/2011 9:07:46 PM

^^I think in real world driving the diesel will outperform it's mileage numbers more than the Fiesta. I could be wrong though.

^you talking about the MkVI or MkV? B/c the new ones couldn't look any more bland.

4/13/2011 11:53:53 PM

Quote :

"how do you get the water vapor out of the car when the trunk leaks?"

wouldn't know. over 5 VWs MK2/3/4 gens never had that problem! you must be talking about hondas?

4/14/2011 1:43:35 AM

Ive never seen one NOT leak

4/14/2011 8:21:32 AM

is nissan leaf even an option? saw one yesterday and looks pretty cool small car

nvm leaf is about 35k (even with rebates is 28k)

what about audi a3?

[Edited on April 14, 2011 at 10:10 AM. Reason : update]

4/14/2011 10:00:23 AM

Quote :

"wouldn't know. over 5 VWs MK2/3/4 gens never had that problem! you must be talking about hondas?"

I hear that. My old Accord leaked at the base of the windshield. My Integra leaks at the base of the windshield and, to a lesser extent, in the trunk. Oh and my brother's Prelude leaked in the trunk as well...a lot.

4/14/2011 10:25:38 AM

I'll let y'all know when my mk6 tdi starts leaking or having other trouble. Pretty sure it will be a while, I'm at 8k, so most everything should be good for some time.

Some people have had problems with the high pressure fuel pump. Evidently its pretty sensitive to contaminants (as you might imagine a 40kpsi system would be). Running B10-B20 is supposed to help the longevity because of added lubricity.

4/14/2011 11:00:25 AM

here's my personal experience based on owning the following

MkII jetta
MkIII golf
2 B5 passats
B5 audi A4
MkV gti

the only car that had any problems was the MkV gti and it was a fucking lemon

it was fun to drive (when it worked)

4/14/2011 11:04:19 AM

a regular ol' civic gets pretty good gas mileage for a regular car. i get ~39-40mpg going 55mph on the highway, 35-37 at 70+mph, 28 in the city.

4/14/2011 11:41:26 AM

Quote :

" hear that. My old Accord leaked at the base of the windshield. My Integra leaks at the base of the windshield and, to a lesser extent, in the trunk. Oh and my brother's Prelude leaked in the trunk as well...a lot. "

eh, i was just giving Quinn hell my, first e36 leaked a bit of water in the trunk and rear quarter weather seal. it happens on all the cars eventually.

4/14/2011 2:08:55 PM

Set em up

4/14/2011 2:11:08 PM