My diesel gets better MPG than your hybrid

[slair]

Ok, so I work at CAT facility so we have tons and tons of cars parked in the lots. I've recently moved so I'm now parking in a different lot. While I was walking in, I noticed this like '96 VW Jetta with a bumper sticker that said "My diesel gets better MPG than your hybrid, take that snooty." That got me thinking, do they seriously think that they do? I did a little bit of research on the MPG they get and they were only talking like 35 city 50 highway. Can anyone verify if the jetta gets better MPG? If its not even close, I'm going to search for everyones best screens and print them out and give them to him.

[Ichabod]

Well, to be fair, his diesel gets better MPG than many hybrids on the market. But it sounds like another of the type who has made up their mind before checking their facts. Hybrids aren't the only way to reduce fossil fuel consumption though. I really should print up several cycling jerseys with holier-than-thou type slogans on them... then see if that gets me run over more frequently!

[slair]

^^ Is that avitar really your car? If so, thats amazing! I never thought of putting my hex color code on it. lmao, thats awesome. Anyways, what kind of MPG do these diesel jettas get?

[Alric]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ Aug 6 2007, 07:47 AM) [snapback]491167[/snapback]</div>

Ok, so I work at CAT facility so we have tons and tons of cars parked in the lots. I've recently moved so I'm now parking in a different lot. While I was walking in, I noticed this like '96 VW Jetta with a bumper sticker that said "My diesel gets better MPG than your hybrid, take that snooty." That got me thinking, do they seriously think that they do? I did a little bit of research on the MPG they get and they were only talking like 35 city 50 highway. Can anyone verify if the jetta gets better MPG? If its not even close, I'm going to search for everyones best screens and print them out and give them to him.
[/b]

He should add "But consumes twice as much oil".

This website http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm is good for comparisons between vehicles. In general, Diesel is a little better but not as good as the Prius. For example this is the oil consumption of the diesel jetta, gas jetta and prius, respectively.

[Swanny1172]

Glad to see that he has one that runs. My friend bought a 2006 Jetta Diesel and had nothing but problems with it. It was in the shop constantly and VW eventually bought it back from him under the Lemon Law. I have heard that is not at all uncommon.

[MarkMN]

'Snooty'

VW drivers aren't snooty?? I know more than a handful of VW drivers call Toyotas "overhyped jap peices of trash" and then explain to me how European cars are superior due to their 'engineering'. I don't think VW drivers have ground to call hybrid drivers snooty.

Do the side by side comparison that Alric points out at www.fueleconomy.gov and you will have the stats to show that the Prius pollutes less, gets better mpg, uses less oil, and is BIGGER than his Jetta. The stats there say that the 96 Jetta with the diesel engine gets 34 city and 44 hwy, while the Prius gets 48 city and 45 hwy. (and don't forget to emphasize that a gallon of diesel requires more oil to produce than a gallon of regular gas) The 2007 Honda Civic also does better than his diesel Jetta in the side by side comparison. I get pretty tired of Diesel enthusiasts trashing hybrids without doing any research into the claims they make. Diesels might become useful, but currently, they aren't as good as hybrids when it comes to pollution or oil consumption.

[vtie]

European fuel consumption data:

Volkswagen Jetta 1.9TDI 105hp (current model)
urban: 6,6 l/100km
extra-urban: 4,5 l/100km
combined cycle: 5,2 l/100km

Toyota Prius:
urban: 5,0 l/100km
extra-urban: 4,2 l/100km
combined cycle: 4,3 l/100km

Two comments need to be added to this:

1) In real life, many people will find it easier to get lower highway consumption on the Jetta than on the Prius because it is less sensitive to a more aggressive driving style.

2) The Prius is an automatic car and the Jetta is manual. The most fuel-efficient automatic diesel Jetta has:
urban: 7,4 l/100km
extra-urban: 4,8 l/100km
combined cycle: 5,7 l/100km

[MarkMN]

Also, do a side by side comparison of the 2006 VW Jetta diesel with the Toyota Prius, the air pollution score of the Jetta is an ghastly 1 out of 10!! Holy crap, even a 4 WD 2006 Chevy Suburban gets a 3 out of 10. (the 1996 jetta doesn't have a pollution score, but is probably not any better than the 2006). Make a bumper sticker that reads "Smog Machine" and slap it on his car.

[RinMI]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Aug 6 2007, 09:45 AM) [snapback]491187[/snapback]</div>

Glad to see that he has one that runs. My friend bought a 2006 Jetta Diesel and had nothing but problems with it. It was in the shop constantly and VW eventually bought it back from him under the Lemon Law. I have heard that is not at all uncommon.
[/b]

Don't forget that his diesel may not run all that clean either. Another of the Prius' advantages is that not only does it get excellent fuel economy, amongst current production vehicles it's tailpipe emissions are second only to a natural gas powered vehicle and their greenhouse gas emissions are the lowest I could find.

Tell him it's not just about fuel economy, it's more than that. It's about fuel economy, tailpipe emissions and working toward a goal of being amongst the first generations to leave this earth cleaner than it was when we were born.

[slair]

I've printed both the Jetta and Prius side by side comparisons out, along with a couple of consumption screens you guys have had. I'll be giving it to him during my lunch hour when I go outside again.