Next door to a store my wife was shopping at was a VW dealer, and right in front was the new Jetta TDI with green leafy decals and an invitation to come in and drive it, so I did. Wow, it had the DSG transmission, it was quick, quiet, and comfortable. It comes loaded with the only real options being the sunroof and the DSG, and navagation. The best part, $21990. If they can get people in it to drive it, they could sell a bunch of them. The interior looked almost like the last generation Audi A4, same driver information center and computer digital readouts. I would have to try the 6 speed but this could make me dump the benz. It also is so clean it does not need the urea injection that MB's need for CA and northeast emisions. The sticker said 40mpg highway but the salesman said that the car is better on the road, I checked a TDI site and some owners are already getting close to 48 with the DSG. My plan was to update to a 98-99 E300, but they are selling for $15000 with 100,000 miles. For a few thousand more you can have 3 years free service, 4 year warrantry on the car and 5 year warranty on the powertrain. I dont think you can beat it, I just wonder what Audi, Honda, BMW and the others will have comming next year. A new BMW 1 series with a diesel would be a winnner. Unfortunately I dont think MB wants to compete in the lower priced diesel market.

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Karl B
95 E300 D
2006 Mazdaspeed 6
2001 GMC Yukon XL
1997 Contour SVT
Mazda RX-7 SCCA race car

Meh VWs are cheap compared mercedes in many areas so I would never buy a VW. I would rather spend more money on a car thats built much better.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

That's why they're $20,000 cars instead of $50,000 cars new. What do you expect?

Go ahead and buy it. You could do alot worse.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Front wheel drive is the work of Satan.

I may try and test drive the one at our local dealer too......I am curious to how it drives......though I'd probably never buy one. (I don't want a VW)

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

There's nothing wrong with front-wheel drive for most drivers, myself included. Unless you're really pushing the car, you will never notice the difference.

The latest TDI is undoubtedly more powerful than the wimpy 100 HP model in mine, but it still probably lacks the power to make RWD helpful or even nice to have.

My biggest complaint is the ride quality. The car handles so nicely that you don't notice it until you get into the right-hand seat, but from there it's hard to read my newspaper in the morning.

They really changed the power delivery on the CR engines. Unlike my ole 99.5 there's no big lump of torque at 2000 RPM. Actually drove a lot like the 2.0 gas motor. Was nice and quick tho.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

That would make Audi (VW's older half brother) the devil.
Remember almost everybody learned all they know about FWD from Audi.
(AND they are accursed and paying the price in the marketplace)

Simple test:

Pick Up the W124 ,15Ft. or so,drop it on it's roof ,with you strapped into the
driver's seat.Car messed up ...you're not.

Then...

Pick up the Jetta, 15 Ft. or so ,drop it on it's roof ...with you strapped into the
driver's seat. Where shall we hold your funeral?

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

I dunno about that. Search for crash tests on the A5 Jetta/Golf platform. They fare very well....

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???

I thought that I heard that they are comming out with a diesel rabbit. Is this true? I would probably buy one if it was less then 15,000 grand new. Typicaly the rabbit doesn't have all the bells and wistles as the jetta. I dont care much for navigation systems and all that electronic crap. The rabbit sounds like a more affordable route for me.....if they offerd a diesel.
-Stephen

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68 250s SOLD
78 300d non turbo SOLD
1980 240d manual SOLD
1981 300SD 360,000 miles I think she's doomed for a parts car but has a good engine SOLD the engine to spamman
1977 300d non turbo SOLD
1985 300SD california car
1978 240D Manual

That does make it tempting. Also know that everything will work on the VW (or be fixed under warranty) while something on the MB will inevitably break leaving you or your mechanic to fix it. The only thing you have to worry about is depreciation but these cars seems to hold their values quite well. As least as well as a new MB.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

I'd be confident to do that in my 1991 Jetta, let alone my 1999.5. Now a 90s GM? No thanks.

The IIHS recoded fewer deaths per car with the A2 Jetta then the Volvo 240!

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Of course it's built at a lower price point than a MB, but at $22,000 you could buy one, keep it for the length of the waranty, trade it in for a new one and still not pay what you would for a MB diesel. VW has excelent quality rankings on their diesels.

After just changing the wiring harness in my MB for over $500, I don't want to hear about their superior designs. I don't know of many american V8 that have timing chain strech problems like MB's do.

As far as FWD, I live in the northeast, we have snow, MB does not offer a diesel sedan with 4matic. FWD has an advantage in foul weather. An Audi A4 with a diesel and Quatro would be nice.

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Karl B
95 E300 D
2006 Mazdaspeed 6
2001 GMC Yukon XL
1997 Contour SVT
Mazda RX-7 SCCA race car

American car v8 timing chains stretch too....

As for the wiring harness, that is a known issue with that chassis.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

If you put a gun to my head I wouldn't buy a VW.

I'd gladly pay $30k more for a CDI if I had to have a new car. Or $20k for a used one.

Can't really compare the two though, different markets.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200