VW’s TDI are officially for sale

[xcel]

After a long year and a half hiatus, the next generation TDI is finally available.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug 19, 2008

2009 Jetta TDI 6-speed manual – 30/41 mpg on the 08 EPA.

HERNDON, Va. - Volkswagen announced that their all-new, and highly anticipated 50-state compliant diesel Jetta TDI sedan and SportWagen are now available for customer delivery.

“We’re proud to be the first manufacturer to offer a clean diesel vehicle for sale in all fifty states,” said Stefan Jacoby, CEO/President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We believe our Jetta TDI’s truly offer a no compromise alternative fuel driving experience, that provides the customer the best of both worlds—excellent fuel efficiency combined with a dynamic driving experience.”

Along with the TDI’s excellent fuel economy, purchasers of the Jetta TDI sedan or SportWagen have a $1300 Federal Income Tax Credit available to them. The IRS has certified both vehicles for an Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit.

Included with the $21,990 Jetta TDI sedan and $23,590 SportWagen is a whole host of safety features not found on vehicles in its class. VW’s Jetta TDI’s include six airbags, with optional rear side airbags, and like all 2009 model year Volkswagens, Jetta TDI’s also feature standard Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) for added safety.

New for 2009 is Volkswagen’s carefree maintenance program with no charges for the scheduled maintenance described in the vehicle’s maintenance booklet for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

[Wingmn]

I've seen we have a few TDI drivers on the site - how hard is it to HM a TDI? Does the TDI have reduced FAS capabilities? Everyone I mention HM to always mention "I bet that's going to kill your starter" - so I wonder what type of issues turning a TDI on and off would produce...

[Vooch]

TDI drivers generally are pleased with being able to drive 65-70 MPH and still get 50 MPG.


There does not seem to be a lot of TDI drivers who try and get 175% - 200% of EPA.


We are looking forward to Wayne's test drive of the TDI.

All Wayne needs to do is show the German TV segment to his local VW dealer - They'll be so furious that German TV used a Prius for a segment on Hypermiling in the US - Wayne's dealer will force him to use their TDI demo car for a week.

[voodoo22]

I was reading a forum where a guy in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada was saying he often gets 70 US MPG+ in his TDI. I tried, but can't find a link. I had too many windows open that day. If those numbers were truthful that would be pretty impressive and why not if people not even trying to hypermile are getting over 50 MPG?

[msantos]

You must be talking about Mike (seftonm)

Cheers;

MSantos

[Robert Lastick]

Why is the EPA rating for this vehicle so low?? The car has a 6 speed manual trany and a turbocharged, injected diesel engine whitch itself should beat hands down similiar gasoline engines, and yet it barely scrapes by the EPA MPG of my Saturn that has a gasoline engine and a 5 speed manual trany (Saturn = 29 & 40 MPG, Jetta TDI= 30 & 41 MPG). Of course hypermylers could beat the EPA MPG of either car, but it seems to me that a turbocharged, injected diesel has to get much better EPA MPG than 30 city, 41 highway.

The only explanation I can think of is the gear ratios of that 6 speed. They are too low for high MPG scores, they make the engine turn over too high RPM's. Low gear ratios would make the car fast, but at the sacrifice of MPG.

Now, if you put my Saturn's trany in it..............???

[Vooch]

Re: why the low EPA for TDI ?

1) Some believe that EPA cycle (especially the '08) penalizes diesels versus gassers - I haven't read any deep analysis why - but many believe it.

2) This is a very muscular engine with 236 ft lbs of torque - it is likely to feel like a 300HP sportscars coming off the line. VW evidently is trying to promote Diesel as hip.


Please note, my original post didn't mean that ALL TDI driver's dismiss trying to get 175% - 200% EPA, only that it is a tiny, tiny minority of TDI drivers who really push the capabilities of the TDI platform for MPG.

We are waiting on Wayne's test drive of the TDI (Sept ?)

[brick]

I have to admit to what is probably unfair bias against VW for past quality issues, but that sportwagen would be one hell of a nice highway cruiser. What does it take to make bio-d that stands up to those injection pressures?

[Dan]

Not to add to the FUD, but did I hear that there was limited release. Something like only 10k produced for MY 09? Or are they going to do a full 30k run.

11011011

[seftonm]

Originally Posted by voodoo22

I was reading a forum where a guy in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada was saying he often gets 70 US MPG+ in his TDI. I tried, but can't find a link. I had too many windows open that day. If those numbers were truthful that would be pretty impressive and why not if people not even trying to hypermile are getting over 50 MPG?

As Manuel mentioned, that's me. You may have seen my post somewhere on tdiclub. 70mpg in the city is do-able in the old TDI without much work at all. I think many TDI drivers feel happy with their 40 mpg so that they don't attempt to hypermile it. If only they knew how much they were missing out on.

Originally Posted by Robert Lastick

Why is the EPA rating for this vehicle so low?? The car has a 6 speed manual trany and a turbocharged, injected diesel engine whitch itself should beat hands down similiar gasoline engines, and yet it barely scrapes by the EPA MPG of my Saturn that has a gasoline engine and a 5 speed manual trany (Saturn = 29 & 40 MPG, Jetta TDI= 30 & 41 MPG). Of course hypermylers could beat the EPA MPG of either car, but it seems to me that a turbocharged, injected diesel has to get much better EPA MPG than 30 city, 41 highway.

Like Vooch said, the new EPA ratings seem to underrate diesels more than anything else. The old 2005-2006 TDI was rated even worse on the 2008 EPA and I don't know of many drivers who get that low regardless of driving style. Remember that the rating for your Saturn on the 2008 EPA is 25/36. Your car is also 700 lbs lighter than the new Jetta.

Originally Posted by brick

I have to admit to what is probably unfair bias against VW for past quality issues, but that sportwagen would be one hell of a nice highway cruiser. What does it take to make bio-d that stands up to those injection pressures?

Any ASTM D6751 biodiesel should stand up to the injection pressure. The new TDI will only take up to B5 under warranty, though. Vegetable oil is a different story and I cringe at the thought of a 2009 TDI burning it.