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Hi All:

___I just received confirmation that we will be receiving the 09 Jetta TDI Sportwagen with a stick in less than 10-days. Current plans are for Ken (Slow Hands) and I to drive from Chicago to Cincinnati to pick up Jud (Bestmapman), drive over to Columbia, SC to pick up both Kacey (Kacey) and possibly Tim (Brick), drive up to Morresville, NC to pick up Dale (Drimportracing) and head over to review three EV Innovations BEV’s all-day on Friday the 29th. Saturday afternoon, we break up and head our separate ways...

___If the EV Innovations Review(s) fall through, I will probably drive from Chicago to NY City and pick up a BMW 650 Dual-Sport for the weekend. I will see if Ricardo wants to drive the TDI for a bit and try to convince Harry that he needs to ride whatever BMW bike he wants for a long weekend ride ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___EV Innovations got back to me again and said they are working on getting the three BEVs setup and ready for the 29th. The CEO still needs to speak with his brother who is the lead engineer to verify everything is a go before we head that way.

___It looks like the Jetta TDI Sportwagen is doing a single tank of fuel from Chicago to the Atlantic but its first stop will be Columbus, SC instead of NY City :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

D'oh! I was hoping to be able to take a trip down an meet you guys for the EV Innovations visit. It looks like I'll have to miss that though. Enjoy the TDI, the BEV's, and the company.

Hi Michael:

___EV Innovations has allotted the BEVs to us on Friday the 29th of May so this is a go regarding the Chicago to SC, back to NC, back to SC and Back to Chicago -- 2009 Jetta TDI Sportwagen - Cross Continent Review.

___We will be at EV Innovations for most of the day on Friday and a few hours in the morning on Saturday. It would be my hope that you can join us and feel free to hop on down even at the last minute if you are free.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I get back from a trip on the 28th, and have to work the morning of the 29th. I'll run this by DW to see if she'll let me, but I doubt it. ;)

Awesome, and yet a bust! I was kind of hoping for the Chicago to NYC, and was going to extend an invite to my area - I'm right off of I-80; regular territory is exit 232 (Buckhorn) to exit 256 (Nescopeck/Conyngham).
I hope the BEVs show lots of potential! Good luck on the drive!

Do you think the TDI will give you any setup difficulties as far as connecting your SGII?

Hi Nevyn:

___I do not think connection will be an issue but like all diesel's, the variable A/F ratios cannot be taken into account from the ScanGauge (they can be averaged in) so I will be using an SG-II to display LOD, IGN, Boost and Coolant temps.

___Although I do not know the complete specs of the Jetta TDI Sportwagen that is yet to arrive (I should call STI for the Monroney before it does), it will have an OEM i and aFCD whcih will help in that regard.

___Having three and than 4-200 + pound men in the car is not going to help the FE but 65 mpg is my goal although 60 mpg is more than likely what will be Achieved :(

___I am in the early planning stages of a trip to NY City for late June/early July and possibly in a 2010 Toyota Prius-III to knock out its full review. I will than attempt to pick up a BMW G 650 Xcountry or G 650 GS Dual-Sport bike and take a ride with Harry (Earthling) as he takes out a brand new R 1200 RT for the weekend. If you ride, you would be most certainly welcome to join us for those reviews as well! Even if you do not, take the 2010 Prius for a ride with us ;) Ricardo (JusBringIt) will probably be along for that drive as well?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I used to ride. Now, because of family concerns, I don't.

My helmet mocks me from the shelf....

*EDIT* Let me rephrase that. I no longer OWN a motorcycle, which prevents me from riding. I still can and would ride.

Hi Nevyn:

___I completely understand...

___Michael, can you make it down as we have plenty of space in a number of "hot" BEVs :)

___Some news... Mike Sefton is coming down from Canada for the review(s) of both the Jetta TDI Sportwagen and the (3) EV Innovation BEV's that are being prepped in NC for our arrival on May 29th.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

___Michael, can you make it down as we have plenty of space in a number of "hot" BEVs :)
It's a 5 hour drive, but I'm willing if the wife lets me. What time would I need to be there? That will also determine if I can swing it.

Somehow I convinced the wife to let me drive 10 hours (round trip) to see some EV's for a few hours. :D I'll see you all on Friday!

Excellent! It will be nice to meet you. I know you'll enjoy the people and the cars - maybe you'll get to 'experience' part of a Wayne clinic ;)

A Wayne clinic..... LMAO

hehehehe

Hi Michael:

___This is really good news and thank you for taking the time!

___Psy needs another clinic :D

___As it stands, the VW is scheduled to arrive in just a few hours, I will be prepping it for the Review and trip, pick up Mike about 02:30 PM from O'Hare, drive and post some stuff all evening, get a good night rest and about 04:30 AM, head out to pick up Ken in Chicago. Top off the Jetta TDI and begin the trek to Jud's near Cincinnati. From there, we head to Kacey's in Columbia, SC for the night. Early Friday morning, we all head to Mooresville, NC and meet with Dale and Michael for the BEV testing and reviews, head back to Kacey's for the night to hopefully catch up with Brick (Tim) for dinner. The next morning, we head back to EV Innovations for the final tally’s on Electricity used and head back to Jud's. Back to Chicago on Sunday morning and top it off again to see what the mighty Jetta TDI Sportwagen is really worth when driving 4 + gear across the country :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Excellent! It will be nice to meet you. I know you'll enjoy the people and the cars - maybe you'll get to 'experience' part of a Wayne clinic ;)

I'd love a Wayne clinic!

Hi Michael:

___This is really good news and thank you for taking the time! ...
Don't thank me, thank my wife for letting me come. :D:D:D

Hi All:

___It’s here, it’s here :)

___Mike called about 3-minutes after the SportWagen arrived to get some Customs information knocked out before he boarded the plane for Chicago so he should be here in another 2.5 hours.

___The VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen is a fully loaded vehicle with NAVI and the works. I have to prep it and take it out for a quick ride to have a look before heading to O’Hare to pick up Mike.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Jetta_TDI_SportWagen_-_Driver_Side_Front.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Jetta_TDI_SportWagen_-_Driver_Side_Rear.jpg

___And Michael, thank your wife from all of us :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___It’s here, it’s here :) ...
It's a beauty!

___And Michael, thank your wife from all of us :) ...
Will do. ;)

Hi All:

___First segment to my parents home.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/IMG_1022.JPG

___NAVI is missing a disc so I have a call in to see if they have another or the original.

___Pulling big numbers is going to be a B***h :(

___Mike's Flight is delayed so I took it over to the parents for a few minutes...

___Good Luck

___Wayne

___Pulling big numbers is going to be a B***h :(

___Wayne

That line, next to a 71.8 mpg display = wayne all the way.

That line, next to a 71.8 mpg display = wayne all the way.

I was thinking the same thing.

Some stats I could find:
2.0L turbocharged diesel, 6 spd manual trans (OD)
peak 140HP at 4000 rpm
peak 236 lb.ft. torque at 1750 rpm
tank size: 14.5 gallons
FE ratings: 30 city/ 41 hwy
simple math: 41 x 14.5 = 594.5 miles

I'm guessing this car won't be geared as tall as the BMW 335d so it will be interesting to see what speed corresponds to 1750 rpm

That line, next to a 71.8 mpg display = wayne all the way.

It only takes a few minutes each day on this website to keep me honest about what the phrase "big MPG numbers" means. ;)

Some stats I could find:
2.0L turbocharged diesel, 6 spd manual trans (OD)
peak 140HP at 4000 rpm
peak 236 lb.ft. torque at 1750 rpm
tank size: 14.5 gallons
FE ratings: 30 city/ 41 hwy
simple math: 41 x 14.5 = 594.5 miles

I'm guessing this car won't be geared as tall as the BMW 335d so it will be interesting to see what speed corresponds to 1750 rpm

I have this same car (except no options); 1750 RPM = 58 mph approx in 6th gear. I've averaged 40.5 mpg during break-in (3500 miles so far). Very sweet driving car. Zero problems so far.

Hi Dr61:

___Welcome to CleanMPG!

___Ken, the entire list of 09 VW Jetta TDI specs are in the Automobile Specifications forum.

2009 VW Jetta TDI (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19025)

___Mike arrived uneventfully... All highway to O'Hare saw 66.1 mpg and barely made it back as we sat in a 1-hour Chicago style stop and crawl at 60.2 mpg.

___Took Mike out for a clinic and he nailed 75.x mpg around my gauntlet. He did excellent although that was all local stop light to stop light stuff. Tomorrow morning is the big day.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

By the way, I have found the two on-board MPG averages on the 09 VW TDI to be very accurate, compared to carefully topping up the tank and hand calculation. Average "1" resets itself after 2 hours stopped, so is useful for checking how you do in sort trips or continuous runs. Average "2" only resets when the reset button is held down; I use it to measure whole-tank average.

Great to see everyone at EV Innovations today. I made it there and back without any issues (except for some bad storms on the way back home). I'll write more in the review of EV Innovations.

Well, I had a great time meeting the guys for dinner last night. I haven't been nearly as active on the forums lately as I would like to be but talking EVs with some fellow energy nuts really was a treat! I even had the pleasure of following Wayne on the way to dinner at what I can only assume was all-out hypermiling pace...oh, man :D . Puts me to shame. That inspiration alone has brought my current tank up four or five ticks since arriving to meet them yesterday. And I was 350 miles in...

Hi All:

___Sorry I have not updated the thread the past 4-days as we made it to Jud's just after dark this evening and have time to include the update.

___First tank ended up at 64.191 mpgUS over 908.5 miles. Tank FCD (Trip 2) read 65.2 mpgUS. The second tank is currently "smokin" with the Tank FCD (Trip 2) at 70.7 mpgUS and we are 641.3 miles out, display is showing 315 miles to Empty fuel gauge showing 7/16 of a tank left.

2009 VW Jetta TDI Sportwagen Tank DetailsDate|Odometer (miles)|Driver|Temps (Degrees F)|Segment Distance (miles)|Tank Distance (miles)|Segment FCD (mpgUS)|Tank FCD (mpgUS)|Notes
05/28/09|4,108|Ken|57|0|0|NA|NA|Topped off in Chicago.
05/28/09|4,232|Ken|57 - 64|125.9|125.9|60.7|60.7|Day - Break and Driver Swap.
05/28/09|4,401|Wayne|64 - 71|167.3|293.2|70.3|65.8|Day - Break and Driver Swap.
05/28/09|4,530|Mike|71 -78|129.3|422.5|66.3|65.9|Day - Break and Driver Swap.
05/28/09|4,645|Jud|73 - 80|115.2|537.7|68.1|66.4|Day and Evening - Break and Driver Swap.
05/28/09|4,799|Ken|66 - 73|154.2|691.9|59.5|64.7|Night - Break and Driver Swap.
||||||||
05/29/09|4,889|Wayne|65 - 68|89.2|781.1|70.5|65.3|Night - Irmo, SC - Kacey's for the night.
05/29/09|5,016|Jud|68 - 84|127.4|908.5|64.4|65.2|Day - Moorseville, SC - EV Innovations visit and Shell Fill. Tank Actual: 908.5 mi./14.153 gal = 64.19 mpg
||||||||New Tank
05/29/09|5,122|Wayne|82 - 84|106.3|106.3|84.4|84.4|Day - Moorseville, SC to Columbia, SC for Dinner. 650' segment fall.
05/29/09|5,152|Mike|73 - 78|29.0|135.3|69.9|80.8|Night - Columbia, SC to Irmo, SC for the night.
||||||||
05/30/09|5,258|Wayne|71 - 76|106.9|242.2|65.1|73.1|Day - Break and Driver Swap. 600' segment climb.
05/30/09|5,394|Jud|76 - 81|136.0|378.2|66.2|70.3|Day - Break and Driver Swap. 300' segment climb.
05/30/09|5,565|Mike|78 - 82|170.3|548.5|71.6|70.7|Day - Break and Driver Swap.
05/30/09|5,657|Ken|76 - 79|92.8|641.3|70.3|70.7|Day and Evening - Finish at Jud's Home. 200' segment climb.
||||||||
05/31/09|5,763|Wayne|63 - 69|105.7|747.0|71.1|70.7|Day - Break and Driver Swap. 200' segment climb.
05/31/09|5,879|Mike|69 - 74|115.9|862.9|75.7|71.4|Day - Break and Driver Swap. 200' segment fall.
05/31/09|6,028|Ken|64 - 79|149.2|1012.1|75.1|71.9|Day - Break and fuel-up. 200' segment fall. Tank Actual: 1012.1 mi./14.704 gal = 68.83 mpg


___The following was achieved with a fully packed vehicle including 800 + pounds of people and ~ 100 pounds of gear in the 09 Jetta TDI Sportwagen!

First Tank

3 guys and luggage from Chicago, IL to Cincinnati, OH
4 guys and luggage from Cincinnati, OH to Irma, SC
2 guys and luggage from Irma, SC to Mooresville, SC for the first fill.

Tank #1: 908.5 miles on 14.153 gallons = 64.191 mpgUS

Second Tank

2 guys and luggage from Mooresville, SC to Irma, SC.
4 guys and luggage from Irma, SC to Thomas, KY.
3 guys and luggage from Thomas, KY to Chicago, IL for the second fill.

Tank #2: 1012.1 miles on 14.704 gallons = 68.832 mpgUS

http://www.cleanmpg.com/garage/images/3047.png

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi all,

Great meeting Dale and Mike. Wayne and crew left the house about 9:00 this morning.

... so I've been following this thread closely as I recently bought one of these. I eagerly await more details and tips about how to pull off such good numbers. I'm impressed considering this was a full load. Thanks!

Hi Student Driver:

___You have one hell of a car, don't you :D

___Regarding loaded, that was an understatement.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/2009_Jetta_TDI_Sportwagen_fully_loaded.jpg

___Larry, notice the Diesel price vs. gasoline price at the station where we picked up Jud near Cincinnati?

___For a single driver, lower speeds and follow a Terrain following DWL solution in the hills and mountains. Minimum of 25 to 30 while climbing the steeper stuff and fuel cut downhill. On the flats, let its leanburn run and you are golden!

___For a loaded Sportwagen, more advanced techniques must be employed. I would like to go into detail further but we are trying to work out something with Audi and the A3 TDI launch and have to keep some of this write-up "off the books" until such time we start that event. If we receive the opportunity that is???

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks for the tips Wayne. Hope you get the opportunity to do something with the A3 TDI too, and if so, hope they provide you with a manual trans.

Wow, those numbers are awesome. I guess I need a Wayne clinic. Can you do a video clinic and post it the next time you drive a Diesel?

Thanks,
Scott

I'm wanting one of those TDI's. I enjoyed the one I drove.

To bad the local VW dealer is so awful. worse than the Yota dealers. Such a shame.

I'm wanting one of those TDI's. I enjoyed the one I drove.

To bad the local VW dealer is so awful. worse than the Yota dealers. Such a shame.

A fellow I work with talked to his local VW dealer in Kentucky when he went home on leave (we are Air Force).

The dealer down there pretty much said: The price is the price, you ain't talkin' us down cause we are the only VW dealer in a 300 mile radius.

He turned around and told him: No problem. I'm in the military and will talk to the 3 VW dealers in Kansas City. Good Bye.

I'm wanting one of those TDI's. I enjoyed the one I drove.

To bad the local VW dealer is so awful. worse than the Yota dealers. Such a shame.

I would agree with this, most dealers have a bad reputation. Before you get a TDI, read this thread: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22343

Wayne,
I enjoyed reading this "review blog" and the recently posted full write-up in the "Car Reviews" section for the TDI Jetta Sports Wagon.

As an owner of this car, I'm VERY curious to hear more about the specific technics used to yield such stellar mileage. Any idea when that may be coming to the forum?

I'm wanting one of those TDI's. I enjoyed the one I drove.

To bad the local VW dealer is so awful. worse than the Yota dealers. Such a shame.

For what it's worth, Stevens Creek VW in San Jose, CA, treated us like royalty. I have never seen a service department that will bend over backwards for you like these guys did, and don't expect to ever again. They even did work under warrantee...after the warrantee had run out. They ALWAYS kept their promises on when the car would be ready, etc., always fixed the problem instead of saying they couldn't find it or putting a band-aid on it, and were generally just very respectful and upstanding folks.

Anyhow, lucky you. A TDi wagon with stick is the exact configuration I'd want to drive, one of the few modern cars I'd really consider owning. Too bad they're saddled with urea injection and all that other regulatory crap - I think a lease for the term of the warrantee is in order :)

Too bad they're saddled with urea injection and all that other regulatory crap - I think a lease for the term of the warrantee is in order :)

Actually, there is no urea injection system on the 09-10 VW Golf and Jetta TDI's. Instead there is an NOX trap/converter. This works because of the relatively lower volume of NOX released in a smaller, lighter vehicle. Arguably the urea system used on larger Diesel vehicles would be less complex, and service is easy (urea top-up at oil change intervals).