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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg One argument against the fuel is that it’s more expensive than gasoline. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601093&sid=aCq7MT7Uv0gQ&refer=home)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Jetta_TDI2.jpgJason H. Harper - Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com) - April 14, 2009

It is a nice alternative, and one many should consider. Not all hybrids are better in the city, though. ;) --Ed.

With all due respect to Toyota, the Prius is just plain ugly. There’s a good reason for its bulbous shape, which cuts air drag and improves efficiency. Honda’s hybrid, the Insight, looks remarkably similar.

Aerodynamics aside, part of that inbuilt dorkiness is calculated -- an honor badge proclaiming that the car is a hybrid and, by extension, the driver a do-gooder. Hark the new world order: Nerds shall rule.

It makes me yearn for the time when your car wasn’t quite so political.

So I quite like the reversal presented by a sedan that makes 40 miles per gallon and is neither Japanese nor a hybrid. There’s something wonderfully throwback about Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI, which runs on diesel and looks like any other boring Jetta. It isn’t sexy, but it’s not trying to make a statement either.

Though diesels don’t get nearly as much media ink as hybrids, they’ve come a long way from their former status as polluting clatter-traps. They now score up to 30 percent better fuel economy and produce some 25 percent less emissions than regular gasoline engines.

These results are due to ultra-low sulfur diesel, direct- injected engines and exhaust systems that collect and... http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601093&sid=aCq7MT7Uv0gQ&refer=home

I absolutely love how German cars are engineered and how they feel, but don't complain about the cost to maintain and fix them after warranty. That's the deal breaker for me at this point.

It's great to see people pushing this valid point of view that a hybrid isn't always the best cure for what ails ya. Now if only they could combine the hwy efficiency of the German engines with the Hybrid prowess of the Japanese.. then we're talking.

I think you just described the Honda Civic iCDTi. Yes Please!

One reason I like the Honda Hybrid is because it doesn't look like a Hybrid.
Unless you know the wheels on sight and see the Hybrid badge you would never know it was a hybrid. The only reason I wouldn't consider a Jetta TDI and this is the only reason is what happened last summer. $5 Diesel doesn't make sense when a Hybrid is using $4.00, 87 octane. Now if Diesel fuel was like it was last month through WV $1.99 the same as 87 octane gas than a Jetta Diesel would definitely be in the running.

Do they not recognize HCH2 48 state record? Hal

It doesn't seem to fit the angle they wanted.

I seriously looked at a used TDI Jetta prior to buying my HCHI. I agree with the author that I like cars that don't quite stand out as much. What turned me off of the Jetta was the horrible service record reported by users on those made for the North American market (made in Mexico apparently). It was common for the windows to fall out of their tracks, transmission and major engine work before 100k, and other odd electrical gremlins. As much as I wanted to run Bio Diesil (there's a pump a block from the office), it just wasn't worth it for the service problems and lower fuel economy of the Jetta over the HCH.

I seriously looked at a used TDI Jetta prior to buying my HCHI. I agree with the author that I like cars that don't quite stand out as much. What turned me off of the Jetta was the horrible service record reported by users on those made for the North American market (made in Mexico apparently). It was common for the windows to fall out of their tracks, transmission and major engine work before 100k, and other odd electrical gremlins. As much as I wanted to run Bio Diesil (there's a pump a block from the office), it just wasn't worth it for the service problems and lower fuel economy of the Jetta over the HCH.

I agree with you on some of these points.
I have a 2005 Jetta TDI with 48K. I had 3 issues that were covered under warranty. I also had 2 recalls.
The windows falling out of their track (plastic clip issue) is only in the 2003 MY and before. MY 2003 and before also had bad Auto Transmissions.

Before I bought my TDI I looked around tdiclub.com for a few months. I know that VW's are not perfect, but I wanted a car that delivered good highway MPG.

This may be a dumb question, but why are there no diesel hybrids?

Hybrid = $$$
Diesel = $$$
Hybrid diesel = $$$$$$

[quote]That extra torque is readily apparent and very appreciated off the line, dusting bigger-engined cars at the stoplight.[/quote}

Here we go with stoplight racing...why does it matter who gets OFF the line first? Do we need to be racing our cars on a daily basis?? and people wonder why cars don't last long.