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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Volkswagen Launches its First Consumer Blog Forum TDI Truth & Dare To Debunk Diesel Myths (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21810)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Jetta_TDI2.jpgJud Engles - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - May 8, 2009

Yet another great move by VW moving the diesel message to the masses.

VW has a new forum called TDI Truth & Dare (tditruthanddare.com). The blog forum will seperate “diesel” from “clean diesel” and have active participation through two challenges. First, visitors will learn about clean diesel technology. Second,VW will invite visitors to get involved in the alternative fuel discussion by joining in online events like the “Tank Wars”. There is a fuel efficient driving challenge and applications like “Diesel Finder” and “Savings Calculator.” The blog will show facts and information from VW as well as other views. Members to keep everyone up to date on the latest diesel happenings. “Volkswagen believes that clean diesel offers drivers a high-mileage, fuel efficient vehicle without compromising on great performance,” said Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing, Volkswagen of America. “TDI Truth & Dare will engage consumers in conversation while it educates them about the clean diesel facts and how well our TDI family compares against competitive alternative fuel offerings.”

TDI Truth & Dare will have several contests, including Tank Wars. Also there will be Diesel Finder and Savings Calculator.

Tank Wars -An MPG challenge where VW challenges drivers surpass the Guinness World Record of 58 miles per gallon set in September 2008 by a Volkswagen Jetta TDI driven by John and Helen Taylor (bested as we all know just two months later by CleanMPG members ;)). Using Facebook, TDI drivers will be able to report on their MPG achievements. These which will be shown on a live leaderboard at Truth and Dare (tditruthanddare.com).

Diesel Finder shows that diesel is not hard find. There are over 60,000 diesel filling stations around the United States. This application will use your location to find the closest ultra-low-sulfur clean diesel filling stations and the best prices. It will even give you directions helping you get there more efficiently. I feature I could have used many times in the past.

Savings Calculator shows that green cars are not more expensive than other cars. With Savings Calculator, drivers can put a VW TDI up against competitive models for a side-by-side comparison of miles per gallon, cost per mile, annual fuel cost, carbon emissions and miles per tank to see how much money can be saved by driving a TDI.

The VW forum will be updated continuously throughout the year to keep the content fresh and engaging for the community. Also today, VW kicks off the latest installment of its DAS AUTO brand campaign. It will feature a collection of 30-second TV spots entitled “Meet the Volkswagens.” The new spots again feature Max the Beetle but also introduce a brand new character named BUS. Voiced by actor Thomas Haden Church, BUS is a talking ruby red 1963 Volkswagen Bus who calls upon Volkswagen’s tradition and heritage while, for the first time in an advertising campaign, directly calls out the competition on hot topics like mileage, fuel efficiency, cost of ownership and safety. The campaign will run for 8 weeks and will be supported online and at dealerships nationwide.

I saw the first of these commercials last night -- it was pretty good!

They should have one for the regular gasoline engine. I'd totally win! Also, if VW were really concerned about fuel efficiency, they'd bring over more fuel efficient gasoline engines over here to the USA. I don't understand the reason they don't.

jhu, I do agree that the gas engines VW puts in its compacts (i.e. Golf/Jetta/Beetle/Eos) are ridiculously inefficient for the size of the car. Only good for 1-2 mpg more than the near-full-size Passat, which is completely ridiculous. Only reason I'm driving a 24/31mpg Jetta instead of a 32/38mpg Civic is my Jetta is a wagon and Honda foolishly dropped the Civic wagon in the US after 1991. The other automaker besides VW whose compacts barely beat their midsizes is Subaru (which, unfortunately, is one of the other few automakers offering a compact wagon). Again, ridiculous that an Impreza only beats a Legacy by 1-2mpg.

Only reason I'm driving a 24/31mpg Jetta instead of a 32/38mpg Civic is my Jetta is a wagon and Honda foolishly dropped the Civic wagon in the US after 1991. The other automaker besides VW whose compacts barely beat their midsizes is Subaru (which, unfortunately, is one of the other few automakers offering a compact wagon). Again, ridiculous that an Impreza only beats a Legacy by 1-2mpg.

If you can get a used Matrix wagon (Toyota), my husband regularly gets 32-36 MPG on average. He had a mechanical problem that dragged him down to 25-ish for a couple tanks, but his first three tanks after the repair were 36, 36, and 39. Just FYI, it's a very nice ride.

(New Matrixes aren't quite as cool as the old model -- his is a 2005. He loves it.)

I have several friends and two close relatives with Matrices. I like the car a lot and its 30/36mpg (pre-2008) beats the pants off the Jetta's 24/31. It will definitely be near the top of our list next time around, even though it will be somewhat of a downsize from the Jetta. Unfortunately when we were looking last year, we couldn't find any used Matrices under $12k, which is twice what I paid for the Jetta.

The only thing I don't like about the Matrix is the fact that the cargo floor is bare hard plastic, one of the most idiotic design decisions ever. If we get one our first order of business will be to glue down some carpet back there.

I agree about the new Matrix vs the 1st generation. Less room, lower mpg and bigger blind spots than the original. Not improvement.

Isn't the most efficient wagon now theVW Jetta TDI wagon?

nf

Isn't the most efficient wagon now theVW Jetta TDI wagon?

nf

I believe that is correct and considering Diesel is less expensive then gas now, is is even sweeter.

Isn't the most efficient wagon now theVW Jetta TDI wagon?

nfYep. Not sure but I think it's also lowest in GHG emissions, even considering the greater carbon density in diesel fuel. Certainly the lowest for its size, since any other wagon that comes close is considerably smaller.