switch from Prius to Jetta, been done?

[Bob Allen]

Since my partner, Lyle (biolyle.com) makes his own fuel and is a Seattle area biodiesel activist, we inevitably get into fun jousting about the relative merits/demerits of one system over the other. The other night at dinner with friends, we were asked about what kind of car to get; the friend was interested in improved mileage.
Lyle made the pitch about biodiesel not using petroleum which, along with religion, is the leading cause of strife in the world. I made a comparison by saying that Lyle is supporting "alternative fuel" technology and I am supporting "alternative power plant" technology, and that both are valid.
Our friend is leaning towards the Prius. But, here's my idle thought for the day:
since I live with a man who makes his own fuel, I could potentially be getting virtually free fuel; but for my time and effort in helping make it, or for what I would pay him per gallon if I didn't make it. I'm not a fan of being outside in the 30 degree garage at night in an oily, messy setup, and I can hardly expect Lyle to make me fuel for nothing, so I would probably be paying about 2 bucks a gallon. To some (especially the bio folks), I am being dumb not to have a diesel car running on bio fuel.
I've pondered our "two prong" approach ever since I bought HUMU. Since I was enthralled with the Prius when I first saw one in 2000, I never really gave the Jetta serious consideration. At the time, I liked the idea of having both systems in our house.
When I compare the two, I conclude that biodiesel is "cooler" inasmuch as it frees Lyle from the petrol grid, but the reliability of the Jetta, and VW in general, is pretty awful from what I read on line. The Prius offers exceptional reliability and great mileage, but, alas, burns petroleum. When Lyle runs on biodiesel, his car is probably cleaner than HUMU, but when he is forced to use petrol diesel (even the cleaner stuff), HUMU will be cleaner.
Do any of you know anyone who has switched from a Prius to a diesel? I am not actually planning to do it, at least not for several years until some of the biodiesel marketing, distribution, quality standards, etc, get sorted out. Perhaps by then, there will be a bio alternative or serious additive that will work in my Prius without major changes.
I'm putting this out as a reasonable area of discussion and hope not to start some religious war over this. I'm sure many of you get questions like this from environmentally conscious people. There is no "one" solution, so driving a Prius is not some sort of crime because it uses gasoline.

Bob

[galaxee]

hmmmm.

this is an interesting quandary.

i guess my only qualm with VW is their long-term quality ratings, coupled with being harder to work on (at least that's what i hear).

but, that aside, i think both systems have merit, and are both promoting the move away from our dependence on oil. they're both different angles pointing toward the same goal and i think either way it's a good thing.

[RonH]

My question: How much does his fuel really cost? Including his labor and depreciation for the setup as well as raw materials. How much fussing around does he do?

[Bob Allen]

Originally posted by RonH@Mar 22 2006, 06:08 AM
My question: How much does his fuel really cost?  Including his labor and depreciation for the setup as well as raw materials.  How much fussing around does he do?

[snapback]228044[/snapback]

Three or four hours a week; hard to tell. For him, it's a passion and I think he discounts the actual time/inconvenience. He also picks up oil from several restaurants and has a continuous struggle keeping his car reasonably clean. I couldn't live with the mess in my car even with plastic sheeting. Over the two years he's been doing it, though, he's streamlined the process and improved his equipment. The "raw material" is free, but his setup cost him about 2k at least by the time he was through with multiple modifications. It's definitely a different mindset and I admire him for doing it.

[habel]

Originally posted by Bob Allen@Mar 21 2006, 11:50 PM
When Lyle runs on biodiesel, his car is probably cleaner than HUMU, but when he is forced to use petrol diesel (even the cleaner stuff), HUMU will be cleaner.

[snapback]228034[/snapback]

How do you know that it is cleaner? have you done any measurements of:
CO2
nox and
particle emmissions?

Thanks!

[DaveinOlyWA]

so it sounds like after initial cost, there is little cost other than time right??

if so, that is an excellent way to go. but can he make enough to support two cars??

[jamarimutt]

How long will the passion last? He may get tired after a couple of additional years.

[daronspicher]

I have a friend who bought a diesel automatic Jetta in January. He's getting closer to 30-32mpg with it.

I got my Prius in February and am just a hair under 50mpg.

I guess if your fuel is free, you'll run cheaper to get the Jetta.

For most people who would be buying fuel, I'd say the hole in the earth gets more fuel sucked out to drive the Jetta than it does to drive the Prius.

If I followed his Jetta around with my prius, my mpg would be much lower than 50.

If he followed my prius around with his Jetta, his mpg would be much higher than 30.

But, that Jetta won't ever get up to the Prius mpg, and the prius wouldn't drop all the way to the Jetta level if I followed him around.

Power wise, size wise the cars are very similar.

[K5VMI]

Originally posted by Bob Allen@Mar 21 2006, 04:50 PM
Since my partner, Lyle (biolyle.com) makes his own fuel and is a Seattle area biodiesel activist, we inevitably get into fun jousting about the relative merits/demerits of one system over the other.  The other night at dinner with friends, we were asked about what kind of car to get; the friend was interested in improved mileage.
    Lyle made the pitch about biodiesel not using petroleum which, along with religion, is the leading cause of strife in the world.  I made a comparison by saying that Lyle is supporting "alternative fuel" technology and I am supporting "alternative power plant" technology, and that both are valid. 
    Our friend is leaning towards the Prius.  But, here's my idle thought for the day:
since I live with a man who makes his own fuel, I could potentially be getting virtually free fuel; but for my time and effort in helping make it, or  for what I would pay him per gallon if I didn't make it. I'm not a fan of being outside in the 30 degree garage at night in an oily, messy setup, and I can hardly expect Lyle to make me fuel for nothing, so I would probably be paying about 2 bucks a gallon.  To some (especially the bio folks), I am being dumb not to have a diesel car running on bio fuel.
      I've pondered our "two prong" approach ever since I bought HUMU.  Since I was enthralled with the Prius when I first saw one in 2000, I never really gave the Jetta serious consideration.  At the time, I liked the idea of having both systems in our house.
      When I compare the two, I conclude that  biodiesel is "cooler" inasmuch as it frees Lyle from the petrol grid, but the reliability of the Jetta, and VW in general, is pretty awful from what I read on line.  The Prius offers exceptional reliability and great mileage, but, alas, burns petroleum.  When Lyle runs on biodiesel, his car is probably cleaner than HUMU, but when he is forced to use petrol diesel (even the cleaner stuff), HUMU will be cleaner.
      Do any of you know anyone who has switched from a Prius to a diesel?  I am not actually planning to do it, at least not for several years until some of the biodiesel marketing, distribution, quality standards, etc, get sorted out.  Perhaps by then, there will be a bio alternative or serious additive that will work in my Prius without major changes.
      I'm putting this out as a reasonable area of discussion and hope not to start some religious war over this.  I'm sure many of you get questions like this from environmentally conscious people.  There is no "one" solution, so driving a Prius is not some sort of crime because it uses gasoline.

Bob

[snapback]228034[/snapback]

**********

I switched from a TDI to a Prius for:

1) small boost in mpg
2) delta between gas and diesel
3) extremely high repair costs for the Jetta (approx $100 per month for the 6 years I owned the car)

I believe I made the right choice.

[DaveinOlyWA]

$100 a month!~!

omg... why did it take you 6 years to change??