About three-and-a-half weeks ago, I purchased a new silver 2009 VW Jetta TDI. It is a 2.0-liter Turobocharged Commonrail direct-injected diesel engined-car, with a double-clutch automated manual transmission. I was presented with a loan opportunity too good to pass up, and after a few calculations, it made sense to purchase it. First off, my average fuel economy on the old 2.5 was about 26 MPG. I was driving the car at a rate of 35,000 miles per year (in 9 months of driving it, I had put over 25,000 miles on it). At 80k-miles, an expensive $700 service was awaiting me.
I purchased the new car, and immediately experienced the fuel economy differences. On my average commutes, I'm getting about 42 MPG, including both city and highway portions. On my trip to Dayton this weekend, I averaged 49.3 MPG (!) with cruise control (which is NOT the most efficient way to drive, by far). If I push it a bit, I can get an average of 52.3MPG average, but this requires almost no traffic and as little stopping as possible. The best mileage is obtained at about 42MPH in 6th gear, at which I can get about 64 MPG on a flat surface with no wind. Infact, this is the very year and model of car that was used to set a 50-state fuel economy record, at 58.82 MPG average over 9400 miles (approx.)
The fuel savings alone amount to a MINIMUM $1100 per year, and if gas/diesel climb towards the $3.50 mark, I will see a savings of over $2000/year. In addition, I qualify for a $1300 tax credit for an advanced lean-burn vehicle. Along with a 0% APR on the loan, it all adds up. The car is amazing to drive (it's the same body style as the older 2.5, but with some improvements), and is significantly faster than the old car, and of course more efficient. The transmission uses two sets of gearboxes (one for odd gears, one for even gears), and two clutches that automatically engage. Rather than using a fluid coupling, as found in an automatic, the clutches provide better fuel economy, and much faster shifting. The transmission can shift gears in 8ms, which is faster than any human could do the job. As a result, you get the economy of a manual, the performance of a manual, and the convenience of an automatic (though you can take full manual control if you wish.)
The engine is marvelous. It is quiet, and CLEAN. There is no appreciable smell, and it is very responsive. It generates 236 lb-ft of torque, which is comparable to that of many V8-powered gasoline-fueled SUVs. As a result of the emissions system and the reduced fuel consumption, the car also creates significantly-reduced hydrocarbon output. In any case, while I did wait to post about this, I'm very glad I got it. It's a
wonderful car. More later.
About three-and-a-half weeks ago, I purchased a new silver 2009 VW Jetta TDI. It is a 2.0-liter Turobocharged Commonrail direct-injected diesel engined-car, with a double-clutch automated manual transmission. I was presented with a loan opportunity too good to pass up, and after a few calculations, it made sense to purchase it. First off, my average fuel economy on the old 2.5 was about 26 MPG. I was driving the car at a rate of 35,000 miles per year (in 9 months of driving it, I had put over 25,000 miles on it). At 80k-miles, an expensive $700 service was awaiting me.
I purchased the new car, and immediately experienced the fuel economy differences. On my average commutes, I'm getting about 42 MPG, including both city and highway portions. On my trip to Dayton this weekend, I averaged 49.3 MPG (!) with cruise control (which is NOT the most efficient way to drive, by far). If I push it a bit, I can get an average of 52.3MPG average, but this requires almost no traffic and as little stopping as possible. The best mileage is obtained at about 42MPH in 6th gear, at which I can get about 64 MPG on a flat surface with no wind. Infact, this is the very year and model of car that was used to set a 50-state fuel economy record, at 58.82 MPG average over 9400 miles (approx.)
The fuel savings alone amount to a MINIMUM $1100 per year, and if gas/diesel climb towards the $3.50 mark, I will see a savings of over $2000/year. In addition, I qualify for a $1300 tax credit for an advanced lean-burn vehicle. Along with a 0% APR on the loan, it all adds up. The car is amazing to drive (it's the same body style as the older 2.5, but with some improvements), and is significantly faster than the old car, and of course more efficient. The transmission uses two sets of gearboxes (one for odd gears, one for even gears), and two clutches that automatically engage. Rather than using a fluid coupling, as found in an automatic, the clutches provide better fuel economy, and much faster shifting. The transmission can shift gears in 8ms, which is faster than any human could do the job. As a result, you get the economy of a manual, the performance of a manual, and the convenience of an automatic (though you can take full manual control if you wish.)
The engine is marvelous. It is quiet, and CLEAN. There is no appreciable smell, and it is very responsive. It generates 236 lb-ft of torque, which is comparable to that of many V8-powered gasoline-fueled SUVs. As a result of the emissions system and the reduced fuel consumption, the car also creates significantly-reduced hydrocarbon output. In any case, while I did wait to post about this, I'm very glad I got it. It's a wonderful car. More later.
