Diesel Automobiles OT's Opinion - (VW SportWagen TDI)

i would wait for the new model to come out. big overhaul coming. it'll be called the golf variant or just sportwagen (instead of the misnomer "Jetta")

supposed to be an alltrack/allroad-type version too. that's what i'm holding out for.

i've heard reports of 50mpg on the current engine--new one is supposed to add a couple more.

and definitely re: diesel engine in that car. the price difference in the south has been about 10-20% more for diesel over regular unleaded, but the MPG difference is staggering.

also, with the diesel, you can actually safely tow a trailer, or small boat/camper, without killing mpg.

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current diesel prices are high enough that it probably negates much of the savings in fuel economy

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i just checked gasbuddy for the Atlanta area--10% higher for diesel. The most you'd hope to get in a gas version of the sportwagen is 30hwy, and that's without much weight.

even the current tdi will get you 33% better mpg than that on hwy. of course if costs more, but you're adding longevity, so that offsets theoretically.

i think diesel is an overall win. and i agree re: biodiesel. another +.

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i would wait for the new model to come out. big overhaul coming. it'll be called the golf variant or just sportwagen (instead of the misnomer "Jetta")

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I may not be able to wait that long. When do the 2015 models usually come out?

I just want a car that could potentially last me 20 years and that works well with a family and roadtrips/commuting the work.

I'd never really looked into diesel. It always seems like there is a stigma against them in the US. Now that I've researched them more, I may go test drive one of the wagons.

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if your goal is to keep it for a decade and put 200+k on it, then it is a good choice.

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This....



Also just remember that VW's are known for electrical gremlins.

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go to the rockies and get back with me. wagons are the way to go. dogs, gear, sleep in back, handle like cars, and the best snow/mountain cars come in wagons (Subarus, Audis, Volvos). Southerners don't get it. Wouldn't expect them to.

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Thanks but I'll take a suv over a station wagon for a people/gear mover.

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Thanks but I'll take a suv over a station wagon for a people/gear mover.

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to each his own, but a) SUVs don't handle switchbacks the way my subaru does; b) the MPG sucks in most SUVs--especially those that can handle Rocky Mtn winters--my Cherokee was sucking gas and I never felt stable on-road; and c) I'd take a CX-5 AWD diesel in a heartbeat, but i doubt mazda will ever bring it here--is that SUV enough? to me that's more soccer mom than sportwagen, but it's a great car.

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When do the 2015 models usually come out?

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I've seen all sorts of different predictions for the sportwagen. could be early summer. could be end of 2014.

If I lived here:

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Rocky Mtn

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I would drive this:

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subaru

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As to the OP, from what I've read here, VW diesels are pretty good now. I would scour VW forums before I bought though.

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Always go manual in a VW if you have the option

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This. They're pretty damned fun to drive.