Guys - I've really enjoyed reading through the forums the last couple days. It has been very educational and I am impressed with your level of knowledge around VWs and TDIs.
This is my first post to the forums so I hope it's not too lengthy - but I want to give you enough background information to help me make the best decision.
I recently drove a Jetta Sportwagon TDI while my 2013 2.5L Wolfsburg Edition Passat was in for service. Although I prefer the size of the Passat, it was very neat driving the TDI. I've never owned a diesel car before - and it made me think that maybe I should trade the 2013 on a 2014 TDI leftover or 2015 TDI. However, I really don't drive the car more than 5% of the time; but it would be fun when I do.
Here's some additional background info that is relevant to helping make this decision:
I drive a Mercedes S550 as my regular driver car (I bought it preowned with less than 20,000 miles for less than $55k - bought it wholesale thru an auction thru a dealer friend). I use it as my "company car" and drive about 40k-50k per year on it. It has about 70k on it now - and I will sell it sometime in 2015 and buy a S-class diesel since I really enjoyed driving the diesel passat.
I bought my wife/daughter/son the 2013 Passat as a "runner" car. We bought it in August of 2014 - and it now has 39,500 miles (it just went in for it's 40K mile service). My wife drives my kids to school- a 48-mile round trip in the morning and a 48-mile round trip in the evening. My daughter is 15 - and in NC - she has her permit and is learning to drive on the Passat. My son turns 15 in 2015 and will learn to drive on the Passat also.
I travel every week (I fly a lot and drive a lot) so I like to keep them in a car with a full warranty. We do have a couple other cars in our garage (we won't let the kids drive these 2 cars) - but the Passat is the daily runner that gets the most miles. Also, I would like to get something that has a backup camera for the daily runner car. I think that will help the kids a lot.
So here's the challenge - my wife has said she really doesn't want a diesel. The smell, the inconvenience, the availability, etc. I think she doesn't really understand and would enjoy the extended range, power around town, and features in the new car.
With all that being said, I think I'm probably being selfish wanting to get a TDI so I can drive it once in a while.
Maybe I should just wait until I upgrade my Merc to get into a diesel?
Or should I convince my wife to upgrade to the Passat TDI?
Should I just let her run the 2013 for another year and look at the 2016 models?
I know this is a lot of info - but I would appreciate any input on making this decision. I hate to spend a difference on a car to upgrade (the 2013 is paid-for) - and then have buyers remorse - so I want to take some time and think this one through.
This is my first post to the forums so I hope it's not too lengthy - but I want to give you enough background information to help me make the best decision.
I recently drove a Jetta Sportwagon TDI while my 2013 2.5L Wolfsburg Edition Passat was in for service. Although I prefer the size of the Passat, it was very neat driving the TDI. I've never owned a diesel car before - and it made me think that maybe I should trade the 2013 on a 2014 TDI leftover or 2015 TDI. However, I really don't drive the car more than 5% of the time; but it would be fun when I do.
Here's some additional background info that is relevant to helping make this decision:
I drive a Mercedes S550 as my regular driver car (I bought it preowned with less than 20,000 miles for less than $55k - bought it wholesale thru an auction thru a dealer friend). I use it as my "company car" and drive about 40k-50k per year on it. It has about 70k on it now - and I will sell it sometime in 2015 and buy a S-class diesel since I really enjoyed driving the diesel passat.
I bought my wife/daughter/son the 2013 Passat as a "runner" car. We bought it in August of 2014 - and it now has 39,500 miles (it just went in for it's 40K mile service). My wife drives my kids to school- a 48-mile round trip in the morning and a 48-mile round trip in the evening. My daughter is 15 - and in NC - she has her permit and is learning to drive on the Passat. My son turns 15 in 2015 and will learn to drive on the Passat also.
I travel every week (I fly a lot and drive a lot) so I like to keep them in a car with a full warranty. We do have a couple other cars in our garage (we won't let the kids drive these 2 cars) - but the Passat is the daily runner that gets the most miles. Also, I would like to get something that has a backup camera for the daily runner car. I think that will help the kids a lot.
So here's the challenge - my wife has said she really doesn't want a diesel. The smell, the inconvenience, the availability, etc. I think she doesn't really understand and would enjoy the extended range, power around town, and features in the new car.
With all that being said, I think I'm probably being selfish wanting to get a TDI so I can drive it once in a while.
Maybe I should just wait until I upgrade my Merc to get into a diesel?
Or should I convince my wife to upgrade to the Passat TDI?
Should I just let her run the 2013 for another year and look at the 2016 models?
I know this is a lot of info - but I would appreciate any input on making this decision. I hate to spend a difference on a car to upgrade (the 2013 is paid-for) - and then have buyers remorse - so I want to take some time and think this one through.