elitdi
Veteran Member
Re: Gas vs TDI: Calculate your break-even point
Wow, I guess Blondie don't much care for the TDI. Sorry to hear that, but I do have a few comments...
For a gasser running non-synthetic, most recommend oil changes every 3,000 miles. Thats 3 oil changes compared to 1 on the TDI. From what I can see, that is about dead even. (Here the oil change for a TDI is about 3x as much as a regular oil change.)
Yes, the fuel price is .30 to .40 cents more than regular unleaded. Unfortunately, that is to be expected with winter moving in. STILL, compared to what I was driving before my TDI, the difference in fuel types would have to be $1 per gallon in order for the gasser to keep costs down for me.
With the gasser, I had to fill up at least 2 times a week... 3 times if I wanted to go anywhere on the weekend.
My TDI goes at least 8 days... including weekends, between fill-ups. I drive a new PD. Bought it June 2 of this year. It now has 15,820 miles on it. I broke it in by being gentle most of the time, with at least one burst of go-pedal when it was up to temp. Now I drive it pretty much with a bit of heavy foot (usually 75 to 80 mph)passing cars etc... and my mileage is IMPROVING. Over the last 2 months, my average mpg has went from 45 to 47 driving fast. My best ever was 50.4mpg babying it.
Tell you what Blondie... if I had the money, and your car had a 5-speed, I'd buy it from you. All that I mentioned above that I enjoy about my TDI, the cherry on top is that its fun to drive also.
Maybe you should bring the car to Ohio and sell it. I've seen 02 GLS TDI's with 60,000 miles going for $17,000 US. I don't think the Civic is doing quite that well in retaining its value. My sis has a Civic and it definitely feels cheaper inside, and the ride is terrible compared to the Jetta.
Wow, I guess Blondie don't much care for the TDI. Sorry to hear that, but I do have a few comments...
For a gasser running non-synthetic, most recommend oil changes every 3,000 miles. Thats 3 oil changes compared to 1 on the TDI. From what I can see, that is about dead even. (Here the oil change for a TDI is about 3x as much as a regular oil change.)
Yes, the fuel price is .30 to .40 cents more than regular unleaded. Unfortunately, that is to be expected with winter moving in. STILL, compared to what I was driving before my TDI, the difference in fuel types would have to be $1 per gallon in order for the gasser to keep costs down for me.
With the gasser, I had to fill up at least 2 times a week... 3 times if I wanted to go anywhere on the weekend.
My TDI goes at least 8 days... including weekends, between fill-ups. I drive a new PD. Bought it June 2 of this year. It now has 15,820 miles on it. I broke it in by being gentle most of the time, with at least one burst of go-pedal when it was up to temp. Now I drive it pretty much with a bit of heavy foot (usually 75 to 80 mph)passing cars etc... and my mileage is IMPROVING. Over the last 2 months, my average mpg has went from 45 to 47 driving fast. My best ever was 50.4mpg babying it.
Tell you what Blondie... if I had the money, and your car had a 5-speed, I'd buy it from you. All that I mentioned above that I enjoy about my TDI, the cherry on top is that its fun to drive also.
Maybe you should bring the car to Ohio and sell it. I've seen 02 GLS TDI's with 60,000 miles going for $17,000 US. I don't think the Civic is doing quite that well in retaining its value. My sis has a Civic and it definitely feels cheaper inside, and the ride is terrible compared to the Jetta.