2010 Golf TDI blog and observations

[xcel]

Hi Mike:

I am seeing diesel about $0.15 to $0.25 less than 87 unleaded here in Illinois. Does Canada experience the same winter/summer price swap for diesel to gasoline in Winnipeg?

Also, what did your 20K service cost besides the free warranty repair on the water pump.

Mike Sirach, cruising at 75 mph and averaging 75 mph are two very different things. Did he say which?

Here is a 2012 Elantra GLS while flying and to get that average speed over 250 miles, there were a few miles on a closed track at 100 + mph and pushing 5 to 10 mph over for most of the rest.

Was at 74 mph avg over 250 miles until running into this…

Wayne

[seftonm]

Hi Wayne, I think most of the country is pretty much like Winnipeg with diesel higher in winter but lower in summer. Remember that this winter was abnormally bad because a refinery exploded creating a diesel shortage. Usually diesel is around 5¢/L higher in the winter and 5¢/L cheaper in the summer.

The service was $170 total. $65 for the oil and filter, $45 for the fuel filter, and $60 for the labor and various inspections. I thought I was all set to change the oil myself the week before and ended up not having my tools here, so I just got them to do that too while it was in. First time I've had a dealer do my oil in a long time.

I've done a few road trips with cruise set at an indicated 80-85mph (high 70's actual) with mid to high 30's mpg. So Peter's numbers seem reasonable to me.

[msirach]

Error on my part. It was 38mpg at 75 mph.

[OriEri]

I need a plot summary of the DSG implementation into the Jetta. I lost my faithful 2001 TDI to a collision and am considering a 2009 6 speed DSG vice going all electric. 2009 was one of the early years for the Jetta DSG. I know about the mystery shift into neutral, but this is a dealer certified "pre-loved" car so presumably all company offered maintenance/upgrades have been implemented.

I also note that the EPA rating on this vehicle is 29 city/40 highway, which surprised me by being a tad lower than its colleagues. Any explanation for this?

So, is there anything I should look out for or consider before dropping 18 large on this?

[seftonm]

Hi OriEri, sorry to hear about your 2001. The EPA rating on the TDIs seems to underestimate its true efficiency and it seems to return several mpg better than similarly rated gasoline cars. The false neutral / mechatronics issues are the big ones I know of with the DSG, if it's used then the problem may have already been looked after by the previous owner. I'm not sure how they are long-term.

Saving money with a Jetta TDI DSG may be difficult to do. I would say buy it because you like the car first, not because you want something cheap to run. I'm not sure how fuel prices are in your area but if diesel is more expensive than gasoline that may eat into much of the mpg advantage this car has over other compacts. And the DSG requires rather pricey fluid changes every 40k miles that most cars or the manual TDI wouldn't need. Just keep that in mind, it may be worth asking the dealer what those services will cost you. And with all common rail TDIs, I recommend using a lubricity additive. It makes the fuel pump's life a little easier.

[seftonm]

Not much new to report. I got a letter the other day from VW that said something like "service campaign". I was worried I would have to take the car in for a recall or something. I opened it up and instead found some bright yellow stickers. I don't have to be quite as concerned now to make sure the car gets filled properly if I lend it out to a friend.

[xcel]

Hi Mike:

To funny

Wayne

[herm]

DIESEl ONLY - THIS MEANS YOU STUPID!

They should also put some graphics to let you know not to drink it or get in your eyes. Gasoline and gazole look similar, it could confuse a Quebecqian.