Consumer Reports Gives Jetta TDI bad rapport!

[drwho]

Consumer Reports did a comparision test on the Stupid Civic Hybrid and The wonderful TDI Jetta. The person that wrote the article was obiviously biased against diesels. THe Jetta was an Automatic as well. THey said that city mileage was 22!!!!! That definitely was a misprint. Hwy was at 46. They are pretty much misinformed about all the facts. They recommended the stupid Hybrid. They complained about the noise from the TDI and thought it was going to be trouble down the road in the future. THey were complaining about a misaligned door and said they could no longer recommend the Jetta. Hybrids are too sophisticed and would be expensive to work on. Imagine having to replace all of those batteries, or one going out not knowing where the problem is. I would think the Hybrid would be trouble down the road as it grew older. Diesels have been around longer than the hybrid concept. I would rather have something proven than something that is still in the works. I am sure the Honda is a decent car, but I do not think I will ever own a Hybrid. It seemed that the person was very biased and did not give the TDI a fair run. IT is a diesel, it is going to have a little noise!! Not a good test at all. Anyway the hybrid looks like it is a dying breed. If fuel rises in cost, diesels would be more pratical and convincing to me from a consumer standpoint. Especially if they keep on perfecting them to run faster and get far better mileage than a gasoline engine of the same size/family. I am frustrated at Consumer Reports Magazine. Just my 2 cents worth.
Paul 2000 Beetle TDI 5 speed. 24,000 miles

 

[AutoDiesel]

This seems to be a odd comment..........
"Anyway the hybrid looks like it is a dying breed."

Various headlines about hybrids.
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DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit is considering using a hybrid-electric engine system developed by Toyota Motor Corp as it develops a strategy to increase sales of fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
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General Motors will offer optional hybrid powertrains on several of its most popular models — including trucks, SUVs and mid-size sedans — starting in late 2003, said GM President and CEO Rick Wagoner.
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Toyota Motor Corp. announced Tuesday that it would start selling a hybrid version of its Lexus RX 330 sport utility vehicle in two years, which will probably make it the first luxury automobile to use the highly fuel-efficient technology and the second such SUV on the market.
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Toyota Motor Corp. plans to substantially increase its production of hybrid electric-gasoline cars in two years, starting with cleaner-engine versions of a luxury sport-utility vehicle that goes into standard production this fall in Ontario.

Toyota said yesterday it plans to assemble and sell 300,000 hybrid vehicles around the world annually by 2005 - three times the number of vehicles using the technology that it has sold since it first offered the hybrid Prius sedan in 1997.
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In 2005, GM will begin producing a Saturn VUE sport utility featuring a dual electric motor system that will boost its average gas mileage some 50 percent to nearly 40 miles per gallon. GM also will include a hybrid option on its forthcoming Chevy Equinox SUV in 2006 and its Chevy Malibu sedan in 2007.
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Sales of hybrids grew 43 percent last year, reaching about 36,000 vehicles, which include the Prius, the two-door Honda Insight and Honda Civic Hybrid sedan. The cars are especially popular in California. A Honda spokesman estimated that 20 percent of its hybrid models are sold in California. Toyota's San Francisco region tops the country in Prius sales, while its Los Angeles region is second. About a quarter of the 20,000 Prius models sold in 2002 were sold in California.
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With that being said........
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Improved, Cost-Efficient Diesel Engines Poised For Comeback In US Cars

Situation
1. Advanced engines, US economy push raise prospect for more diesel vehicles soon
2. VW only marketer now, enjoying diesel sales boost of 22% in US to 28K units of Golf, Jetta, New Beetle
3. Chrysler, Ford eye diesel-engine editions of Liberty SUV, Focus in 2004 -- Mercedes may join them
4. Less polluting, quieter than 1st generation of US diesel cars in 1980s, diesels offer turbo option for towing, extra power not available for hybrids
5. Only 1/3 of gas stations equipped for diesel fuel now, but tanks easy to install if more cars go diesel.
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Diesel engines could enjoy a very large increase in sales if more manufacturers were to sell them. That will not happen in large numbers until after 2006 when we finally get clean fuel.

 

[cars wanted]

I have not read this particular report, but somehow, I think this is a fairly predictable result.

I think it may be that Condemner's Reports gives much higher weight to tailpipe emmissions than most of us might, and less weight to excellent fuel economy, just like most Americans would.
As for predicted reliability, I think their basis is on a manufacturer's build quality rather than a judgement of the actual technology. That is, since most Japanese cars tend to have fewer mechanical problems than most VWs, they likely conclude that therefore the hybrids will also have fewer problems than TDIs. Not necessarily true, of course, but only time will tell.

 

[RabbitGTI]

Consumer Reports? Those morons can't even sort out toasters and mattresses, much less motorcars. Complete waste of time and money to buy that rag.

 

[JettaWagonTDI1]

In my opinion...

The C.R. has had a lukewarm attitude towards Vw's from their historical rhetoric that they have written previously.

Their test drive of the TDI doesn't do the car justice, based on what we know about TDI's...

The article, thus, has "assumed room temperature", meaning that their write-up considers the TDI a dead item, like the GM diesels of 20 years ago, and that the new automotive buzzword "Hybrid automobile" justifies why they hate the TDI. They wanted instant, quick, "short-term" results-- the Hybrid will win, but alas, the TDI will stick around a lot longer in the long term-- such as we know to be true...

Just my opinion, I could be wrong-- Dennis Miller

Shawn

 

[EnviroMan]

The online version of the article caught the error about the mileage.

In our tests, the Civic Hybrid achieved 4 mpg better overall fuel economy and slightly outscored the Jetta TDI overall. It is peppy and most efficient in city-style driving, where the electric motor does more of the work. Its 45-mpg highway gas mileage was 1 mpg less than the Jetta TDI's--a small difference.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">They also show their bias here:

In addition to excellent fuel economy, the Jetta TDI offers a generally pleasant driving experience. However, in our latest reliability survey, the Jetta dropped to below average, so we can no longer recommend it. The Jetta TDI really shines on the highway, where the diesel engine becomes inaudible and you can enjoy the comfortable ride and supportive seats. However, it feels sluggish with an automatic transmission (less so with manual), and it suffers the inherent diesel disadvantages of a slow-to-warm heater and loud engine clatter when you start it up.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

 

[DallasTDi]

It is very obvious that CR is biased against diesels. You read it in the entire article, and they gave the TDi a zero in its emissions rankings, complian about the slow heater, etc...

When it comes to their reliablity rankings, I don't really have a beef with it. Look how many of us have had issues with the window regulators, Monsoons being installed with the wiring harness flipped upside down, etc.... We're just the TDi folks who have issues, and we're only a small number of Jettas sold. I understand that VR6 models are being bitten with coil failures now. So, all in all, the model itself is kinda plagued with issues. But I still wouldn't trade mine for anything.

 

[Chuck101]

Well put Dallas.