A Win For 'Diesels'
 

Maybe this country is slowly starting to learn what the Europeans have known for years.

Sounds good. I saw one of the new insights the other day. I liked the looks of it.

Those mileage figures all looked low to me. Am I being unrealistic in my expectataions? I thought golf diesels routinely get over 50.

I think the figures are way off, to be honest. I call BS on any EPA diesel rating nowadays..mostly because the new ratings basically just chopped 3-4 mpg off any old car that you know they didn't even test..I mean, my 87 300D was rated 25/30 originally, and now it is just 23/27 or something like that...I can get 31-32 on full highway, and my all time average is 27.x. Go figure, huh. Gas cars are a different story though, since nobody really drives them like they do in the tests, and they don't have a constant efficiency % under part load like diesels do.

Ranting aside, my aunt has a new Jetta TDI wagon, and I think she said she gets upper 30s average, but with a lead foot. Her husband has an 06 Jetta and he gets near 50. I know the new engines have more power, but it shouldn't cost the car an 8-10 mpg drop!

Yeah, the EPA says they "adjusted" (read LOWERED) the fuel econonmy estimates to reflect modern driving habits. Like the 65-70 mph speed limits we have now - compared to the 55 mph speed limit when most of our cars were new - and higher usage of things like AC, which reduce mpg.

I pretty consistently beat the current EPA estimate for my car too. I get 26-27 mpg in my 300CD commuting to work and back every day - 20 miles each way at an average of 30-35 mph (1/3 highway, 2/3 city streets).

Wow that A3 looks awesome! With a TDI I'm thinkin' hard about a new car for the wife now....

It's about time "the Big 3" pulled their heads out of their posteriors and started offering some clean diesels in cars...

EPA mileage is not very accurate...many of the mileage claims are a bit too low. My mother has a 00 TDI and we usually get over 50 mpg on the hhighway. I think the most embarassing test is in consumer reports...They only get like 12 mpg city somehow so the average fuel mileage goes down into the 30s...however all praise the ever-so-glorious hybrids for having decent city mileage and not ruining the tests.

When CR says "City" they really mean it. Few people actually drive all city as CR defines it. But I like their tests, because they actually test in real world driving and give results for a wide variety of driving conditions. Their road trip results are a good guide for what to expect on long trips. IMHO they're a lot more useful than the new EPA estimates.

I've noticed the new, lower estimates seem to have ignited a mileage war in some segments. Like 33 for the Malibu, and 35 for the upcoming Hyundai Sonata.

I wonder how similar are the VW and Audi? Same platform with the Audi being stretched a little? Or different cars entirely?

I saw one of those A3's with the TDI lettering on the door sitting on display outside of the Audi dealer in Ithaca. I knew Audi was going to start selling TDI cars here eventually, but it was the first time I'd seen one. Good for them for finally bringing it over here, even though I wouldn't ever own an Audi or VW...:rolleyes:

I owned a 1983 Audi 5000 turbodiesel 5 cylinder..My very first diesel. 2 litre great car and approached the 40mpg figure. I lost the car after lending it to my brother long ugly story. Audi imported that model in 82 & 83 only.

The 96 Passat TDI approached 50mpg with the 1.9 litre engine. I sold this one to buy the 99 E300.

I am getting a consistent 32 to 33 MPG with the E300 and it has a 3.0 litre.

The prius is only effective in the city. Out in the country the Passat beats it hands down. These 2 cars I am comparing are 10 years apart in age. This tells me the German engineering is 10 years ahead. Oh, I forgot to mention that the VW has an enormous trunk

My MPG is of course on flat ground with no AC going 55mph.

My most recent expierence with our 2002 Audi A6 quattro will not permit me to buy another Audi. I am done with Audi's

I forgot to mention in my last post that the Audi A6 Quattro costs more to maintain each year than a 40 foot sailboat...

Yeah a lot of people who live in the country forget what city driving really means. I always get pretty much right at the EPA city rating with my vehicals. With winter gas in my truck I'm getting 14.5 now, while guys in more rural areas do 3-4 mpg better than that.

I'm very happy about this mileage war. Cars already have more than enough power, to much if you ask me for daily driving. Who needs a damn near 300hp V6 to go pick up a gallon of milk? I know I'm waiting for a manufacture to introduce a 1/2 diesel truck, I'll sell mine when I see that.

Hatteras you make an excellent point. In the same venue, this is how we have ended up with a 3000# VW Golf, and a 5000# "mini" van. You are also correct that the average person does not need a 4 cam 4 valve engine that develops its rated power at 6-7000 rpm with the help of VVT just to go to the store or other local errands. Most people would be well served with a cast iron 2-valve pushrod engine, and even more wouldn't know the difference.