who drives a TDI car in the forum?

[docsquid39]

One of my new coworkers was talking about her VW TDI and getting about 40 mpg on her diesel engine.  say what? 40 mpg!  why is this not more popular in the US?  instead that wimpy prius is selling like hotcakes. 

also, there seems to be a relative lack of AWD TDI or diesel engines in the US but they are more commonly seen in Europe. 

if you drive one, do you like it?  what is it like?

[sludwinjr]

ive worked on quite a few of the vw tdi's......very good cars, great great gas mileage.....40+ mpg.....maintenance is reasonable....
a good car for the money

[MadSmith]

Good friend of mine used to drive a VW Jetta TDI.  He claims 45mpg consistent and drove it into the ground.  Good cars, but don't think of converting to biofuel.  They're rather 'cold blooded' and a VO conversion will cause massive carbon deposition and crankcase fauling, while biodiesel will eat through the fuel lines and oxygen sensor and could damage the fuel pump.  They're great on regular diesel though.

[CTSixshot]

The standard transmission models might approach 50 mpg; one Jetta owner claimed he was getting ~52. I had a Golf TDI, but financial issues made it impractical to repair and keep. If I ever purchase another car it will likely be a diesel.
My older Jetta diesel regularly ingested filtered waste oil from the local Chinese restaurant, but those days are gone.
Audi R18 takes Lemans...again... again....again  http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/le-mans-audi-wins-le-mans-thriller/
Maybe they'll sell me their older R10 TDI!
http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-audi-r10-tdi-starts-from-pole-position-at-sebring/P2/

[Chris D.]

The TDI VW/Audi's run great if they are maintained properly. By that I mean oil changes at least every 5k and every 30k  make sure that the carbon deposits are removed. Other than that, they are good to go. The DSG transmission behind a TDi is a nice combo. Again, follow the book on fluid changes for the trans. The early DSG boxes could be problematic, but the later models are improved.
Chris

[Zindo]

There are so many really good diesel  auto's in Europe that don't make it here. Even Jaguar has a twin turbo diesel in a luxury sedan that gets 40+ MPG but the company won't import it. The Mini can be purchased with a turbo diesel coupe in Europe but it's iffy that we will see it here. I had an old  '89 300 Merc diesel that got 35 MPG. It rusted out from beneath me after 6 years! Motor still ran like a clock though!
Maintenance is the key, as others have pointed out!
Zindo

[MadSmith]

American diesels don't get the fuel efficiencies of European models due to emissions controls.  When you run a diesel engine at peak fuel efficiency, you run it hot and lean.  This produces lots of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust.  To neutralize the nitrogen oxides, the car makers enrich the fuel mix and shift the timing, or rebreathe the exhaust through an EGR, or inject diesel directly into the catalytic converter like the new Powerstrokes.  All these measures deliberately waste fuel and produces soot in order to mitigate nitrogen oxides, and reduces MPG by up to 20%. 

That's due to the world's toughest diesel emissions standards.  Pushed by California, then imposed by the EPA.  It's gotten so ridiculous, Mercedes and Audi have introduced engines with a secondary urea (piss) tank which they use in a catalytic converter to chemically react and neutralize more emissions.

CA, NY, NJ and I think MA are phasing out perfectly good running diesel school buses and buying expensive new ones with Tier-3 diesel emissions compliant engines.  On bankrupt state budgets.

Welcome to runaway eco-fascist regulatory nightmare.

[myglimk2]

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5337455-Why-I-love-my-TDI.-820-mile-54-mpg-tank&highlight=tdi+mpg
 

[checkyoursix]

My wife drives a Jetta TDI and she gets over 40 mpg without stressing at all over it. We also own a 2005 wimpy Prius, and that gets way better mileage both on highway and in particular in city driving.

In terms of savings, Prius owns everybody: at 100,000 we haven't even changed the brake pads yet, because of the way they operate in the Prius. In terms of fun, VW wins hands down.

[kostas]

there great cars but i feel its an over priced option you could get a new jetta for under 20k base for the tdi its around 25k and the extra money you spent on the tdi does not add up the the money you would save on gas on like a 5 year loan

[GreggAndrews]

A friend of mine just bought a 2011 TDI Jetta. Black on black... looks cool...

Slow as molasses. HOWEVER, 55mpg. sounds good to me!!! 

[toadyrock]

American diesels don't get the fuel efficiencies of European models due to emissions controls.  When you run a diesel engine at peak fuel efficiency, you run it hot and lean.  This produces lots of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust.  To neutralize the nitrogen oxides, the car makers enrich the fuel mix and shift the timing, or rebreathe the exhaust through an EGR, or inject diesel directly into the catalytic converter like the new Powerstrokes.  All these measures deliberately waste fuel and produces soot in order to mitigate nitrogen oxides, and reduces MPG by up to 20%. 
 I heard about this and wonder if there is an online guide to "convert" it back to European mpg? I would buy in...
That's due to the world's toughest diesel emissions standards.  Pushed by California, then imposed by the EPA.  It's gotten so ridiculous, Mercedes and Audi have introduced engines with a secondary urea (piss) tank which they use in a catalytic converter to chemically react and neutralize more emissions.

CA, NY, NJ and I think MA are phasing out perfectly good running diesel school buses and buying expensive new ones with Tier-3 diesel emissions compliant engines.  On bankrupt state budgets.

Welcome to runaway eco-fascist regulatory nightmare.