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The TDi's are expensive to buy initially, about $2k - $4k over a similar sized sedan. Could you get 200,000 miles out of a Honda Civic, or an Accord DX 2dr, or a Chevrolet Cavalier.
The answer is,
yes if you maintain those cars mechanically you could.
The question is then, "Will those small size sedans beat the living
life out of me during my 200 mile commute each day?"
The answer is,
yes.
I'll give you something to ponder upon. Image driving a car for 60,000 miles and the motor is
finally broken in. That's a good feeling, one found while owning a Volkswagen TDi and even a more satisfying feeling witnessing better fuel economy while passing that barrier. I have 27,000 now and my mileage has improved since 20,000. I've had the car 6 months. Keeping in mind you must maintain the first 60,000 miles of that motor's life. Oil changes at 10,000 mile intervals and various maintenance procedures [air filters, etc] -you know the story. Following that rule of thumb that TDi will go 300,000 plus miles and still tic like it was meant to tic when new.
I guess coming to a TDi Forum and asking about a TDi will bring nothing but bias responses. It's normal, we don't talk Fords here. You just have to ask yourself a real question, one that you alone can answer. You are going to spend 3 to 4 hours inside a car each and every day. Wouldn't you appreciate a car that would take 60,000 miles to finally break in, also keeping up or
passing more sporty cars on the highways and an interior that won't buckle, fade or fold with all the hours your butt is planted behind the wheel. I won't mention 700-800 miles on a fill-up. I won't even mention that for
$900 you can get a suspension that will out handle mostly anything in its class. I won't even mention the tuning boxes or chips or injectors you can add creating enough dependable power it would make a 1.8T or VR6 stand still but obtaining 2-3 times the mpg. And again I won't go into such trival details as how
great and informative
Fred's forum actually is for both a new and old owner of TD/TDi's.
I have a 2002 Golf TDi. It's great. I try not to spread the word how great it is keeping that a secret. If everyone knew how great these car are there would be a 2 year waiting lists to order one.
Good luck on your decision making,
M.D.