oilhammer
Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Oh, incidentally:
2011 Jetta S base price: $15,995 (this is a 2.0L non-turbo gas engine)
2011 Jetta SE base price: $18,195
2011 Jetta SEL base price: $21,395
2011 Jetta TDI base price: $22,995
Taken today, directly off www.vw.com
So, the CHEAPEST TDI you can buy, right now, starts out a whopping SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS more than the base car. For anyone bad at math, that is one seven followed by three zeros. $7,000!!!! Keep in mind, this does not take into account the great incentives Volkswagen currently has on all the gas Jettas that don't apply to the diesels (read the fine print on the commercials), nor does it take into account the rampant dealer price gouging on the diesels. The actuall difference at purchase could be even $2000 higher.
Contrast this to my 1998 Jetta TDI, the diesel engine was about $1300 or so more than the 2.0L gas engine, and the rest of the car (i.e. trim, equipment, etc.) was 100% identical. The 2.0L 5sp Jetta (ABA engine) was rated 31 MPG hwy, the 1.9L 5sp Jetta TDI (AHU engine) was rated 49 MPG hwy. So for a mere $1300 more, you got the same car that got 18 MPG better fuel economy on the hwy, and I can tell you that owning both ABA and AHU A3s, this is exactly the case, if anything the TDI actually got consistently better because it really took no big hit with A/C use, heavier loads, or higher speeds. If you drove a lot like I do, you'd make the difference back in fuel savings literally in a year or two. PM costs between the two cars were about identical overall.
Granted the current TDI gets dolled up with more equipment (you have no choice) so it really more compares to the 2.5L gas SEL trim car, but it is still $1600 more starting out, and the fuel economy spread is not as signifigant as it once was.
Oh, and the base 2.0L gas Jetta 5sp is rated for 34 hwy, despite being a heavier car than the 1998 Jetta was.
Still a great car, still like them, but the money-reasons to own one (versus either a comparable gas model Volkswagen or one of the many other makes' gas cars that can be purchased for WAY less) just are not there like they once were.
2011 Jetta S base price: $15,995 (this is a 2.0L non-turbo gas engine)
2011 Jetta SE base price: $18,195
2011 Jetta SEL base price: $21,395
2011 Jetta TDI base price: $22,995
Taken today, directly off www.vw.com
So, the CHEAPEST TDI you can buy, right now, starts out a whopping SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS more than the base car. For anyone bad at math, that is one seven followed by three zeros. $7,000!!!! Keep in mind, this does not take into account the great incentives Volkswagen currently has on all the gas Jettas that don't apply to the diesels (read the fine print on the commercials), nor does it take into account the rampant dealer price gouging on the diesels. The actuall difference at purchase could be even $2000 higher.
Contrast this to my 1998 Jetta TDI, the diesel engine was about $1300 or so more than the 2.0L gas engine, and the rest of the car (i.e. trim, equipment, etc.) was 100% identical. The 2.0L 5sp Jetta (ABA engine) was rated 31 MPG hwy, the 1.9L 5sp Jetta TDI (AHU engine) was rated 49 MPG hwy. So for a mere $1300 more, you got the same car that got 18 MPG better fuel economy on the hwy, and I can tell you that owning both ABA and AHU A3s, this is exactly the case, if anything the TDI actually got consistently better because it really took no big hit with A/C use, heavier loads, or higher speeds. If you drove a lot like I do, you'd make the difference back in fuel savings literally in a year or two. PM costs between the two cars were about identical overall.
Granted the current TDI gets dolled up with more equipment (you have no choice) so it really more compares to the 2.5L gas SEL trim car, but it is still $1600 more starting out, and the fuel economy spread is not as signifigant as it once was.
Oh, and the base 2.0L gas Jetta 5sp is rated for 34 hwy, despite being a heavier car than the 1998 Jetta was.
Still a great car, still like them, but the money-reasons to own one (versus either a comparable gas model Volkswagen or one of the many other makes' gas cars that can be purchased for WAY less) just are not there like they once were.
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