Prius or Jetta TDI

[LRKingII]

Originally Posted by Indyking

I'm gessing CR will have a huge black circle for Squeaks & Rattles in the 2010 Prius whenever it becomes available...

If not, it will just aggravate my frustation...

6000 miles on my gen III and not a squeak or rattle to be heard in mine

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by Indyking

Get a TDI attached to an Audi. .

I've heard some ugly stories about Audi(s) too, although they were older models from the 70's and 80's.

Seriously, I would have considered a TDI Golf or TDI Beetle back in 2006 when I was car shopping, but they were not certified for Calif during that time. We did look at a gas engine Beetle, but were somewhat appalled by the FE, the quality of the interior (there was exposed foam visible with the rear seat folded that my dogs would have quickly destroyed) and my GF is very prejudiced against VW from having once owned a 79 Rabbit (assembled with care in Pennsylvania). It would be easier to list what wasn't wrong with that car than to list all of the problems.

[Indyking]

Originally Posted by dogfriend

I've heard some ugly stories about Audi(s) too, although they were older models from the 70's and 80's.

Seriously, I would have considered a TDI Golf or TDI Beetle back in 2006 when I was car shopping, but they were not certified for Calif during that time. We did look at a gas engine Beetle, but were somewhat appalled by the FE, the quality of the interior (there was exposed foam visible with the rear seat folded that my dogs would have quickly destroyed) and my GF is very prejudiced against VW from having once owned a 79 Rabbit (assembled with care in Pennsylvania). It would be easier to list what wasn't wrong with that car than to list all of the problems.

I agree, VWs are trouble here in the US. They are incredibly reliable in other parts of the world though, which I find amazing. Audis are like Hyundai as far as reliability...back 20 years ago they were bad but it has not been the case in the last 5-10 years. Like I said before I have a brother and many friends that own Audis and they are pretty reliable nowadays...

[nerfer]

Originally Posted by wellcraft192

. I take the care to the dealer where they say the raidtor needs cleaning and also suggest replacing the themostat. I sat OK.

Let's hope your verbal skills are better than your spelling & grammar, or that may be some of the cause of your frustration when dealing with others. I had to reread some of those sentences twice to figure out what you intended to say.

[LaPriusGuy]

I had a Diesel Jetta for 10 years, and then a Diesel New Beetle for a few... Overall, good cars, but when you needed to get something fixed, they cost a fortune...

Went TDI shopping about two months ago - tried out a Jetta TDI Sedan and a Sportwagen TDI, and after driving them, decided they hadn't updated the interiors enough to justify close to $30,000... It was OK, but something didn't click... I thought I'd love it, and I thought it was just so-so.

Spent a little more and got a Prius V with Advanced Technology... After test driving it, there was no comparison... I got the Prius about a week later.

[djg12]

I seem to be caught in a cycle of purchasing VW, then Toyota and then back to VW. Certainly VW has the potential for more issues. The 1998 New Beetle was a 'bust' for VW. I traded a 2005 New Beetle for my 2008 Prius. I had driven 125K trouble free miles! In comparison to the '08 Prius the Beetle had 'comfortable' heated seats, and handled well (read 'fun to drive'). The '08 Prius has the worst driver seating 'ever'. The interior is 'inexpensive' (cheap) in comparison to the VW.
I guess after flip flopping between these two brands, their manner of doing business becomes evident.
Toyota sells you a car and you have to pay for every add-on.
My 2005 New Beetle also had satellite radio that required a subscription to be active.
My '08 Prius requires somewhere between $400-600 to have satellite radio usable through the computer display screen. No matter how many times I asked the sales staff, not one of them understood what 'satellite ready' meant. Their first answer was...go to Best Buy!!
So, while my Prius does it's job very well, and I enjoy all the 'things' that are included in a Pkg 6, it is still not 'fun to drive'. It is reliable, but not fun!
Sometimes 'fun' is better!

Next time 'fun' will take hold!
(PS....I also owned a 2000 New Beetle TDI, I never paid much attention to engines until I owned that vehicle....that engine was phenomenal...certainly the new one must be equivalent and better.)

Anyhow....my 2 cents...thanks for listening..

[ibmindless]

Originally Posted by djg12

So, while my Prius does it's job very well, and I enjoy all the 'things' that are included in a Pkg 6, it is still not 'fun to drive'. It is reliable, but not fun!
Sometimes 'fun' is better!

Next time 'fun' will take hold!
(PS....I also owned a 2000 New Beetle TDI, I never paid much attention to engines until I owned that vehicle....that engine was phenomenal...certainly the new one must be equivalent and better.)

Anyhow....my 2 cents...thanks for listening..

So what did you find so phenomenal about the TDI engine? I'd like to hear more about the TDI experience.

[djasonw]

The new TDI VW Golf is 26k fully loaded and it's a cute little car. The interior looks nice from the pictures I saw but I don't think I'd be able to get past the NVH at idle as I do lots of city driving. I definitely would consider the Audi A3 with AWD and TDI (not sure if they have that combo). I also don't like the fact that diesel fuel goes up considerably in the winter. Last year at one point during the cold season the disparity between gas and diesel fuel was nearly a buck in my part of the country (diesel being higher of course). OUCH!!

[djg12]

I will try to explain my enjoyment of the TDI engine.
I recall that it loved to go up hills and go up fast. Not really dwelling much on the term 'torque' in my life. The first time up a fairly long hill on a highway I realized....'ah, this is what torque is'.

When you step on the accelerator it responded, without hesitation and always had more to go with. Actually I got the first speeding ticket of my life with that car...and after 40+ years of driving, that kinda makes me laugh.

All around the car was fun to drive. With a responsive engine that got great mileage and handling like a little go-kart it was a fun drive.

I don't have a lot of technical reasons to say it was a great engine other than, as I said, I never really paid any attention to engines before. This one got my attention and I enjoyed owning it.

I will certainly entertain a VW TDI when it is time to make another purchase. I look forward to the new Golf TDI they are sending over.

Don't get me wrong, my Prius is fine. Both brands are different driving experiences and different corporate cultures expressed in their products.

[seftonm]

Originally Posted by ibmindless

So what did you find so phenomenal about the TDI engine? I'd like to hear more about the TDI experience.

The TDI, like many other turbo diesel engines, has a lots of torque right where most driving takes place. It probably makes more power below 3000 rpm than a GTI or other comparable sport compacts. So it feels quite peppy, even though the 0-60 times suggest otherwise. Back then, there wasn't much that would match its fuel economy either.