First long trip...45.6mpg

[DieselNerd]

I took my first trip, a little over 700 miles, and made it almost all the way on a single tank. I filled up at 650mi and had an indicated 30 miles till empty. This was running 70-80mph on the interstate most of the time. Got in some heavy traffic a few times though.

I can absolutely see how people get incredible mileage out of the TDI. If I'd have baby footed it and hypermiled, I think I could have hit close to 50mpg. I wasn't beating it, but not taking it gentle either.

Worst mileage, even when putzing around town only, has been 34mpg.

Wow! What a great car!!

 

[Hellfire]

Manual?

 

[Red Sox Nation]

This is AWESOME that someone else did the exact type of driving I did, and got the same mileage!!! Now, maybe those that thought I was being ridiculous, in my 660 miles thread, will start to believe that this kind of mileage isn't outrageous or unheard of. Just drive normal on a highway, for a long distance, and it just happens...

 

[Dodoma]

I recently drove 2006 Honda Civic hybrid from Los Angeles to Berkeley, a distance of about 409 miles. The mpg was about 44.5. If it is stop and go, it gives 47.4. My 2002 TDI give about 50 mpg on long freeway drive but about 40 in stop and go trafic. I finding Civic feather lite compared with TDI. Also, since the regular gas cost alteast $.45 per gallon less than diesel, the Civic comes ahead. Overall, I like both cars.

 

[Phatboyboogaloo]

Manual?

DSG - I checked a couple of his other posts. I've been wondering the same - which one is getting better mpgs - manual or DSG. You would think the manual. I have a manual but drive it like I stole it! You can see how that's been working out for me.

 

[DieselNerd]

DSG indeed.

I drove using "D" mode and didn't lead foot it on entrance ramps (like I normally do). I didn't baby it, and did get on it a few times to get around left lane hogs and such.

Tomorrow I will be making the trip back home. I play on driving it like I stole it and see what sort of mileage I can get.

 

[Hellfire]

Damn then, that's 5.1 L/100km. I can not get that kind of mileage and I drive 80 kms each way a day at a speed of 62 - 75 mph and get around 5.8 L / 100 kms

 

[Dodoma]

With coming of gas-hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all electrics, the sunset of TDIs is fast approaching.

 

[Red Sox Nation]

Aren't hybrids worse for the environment? I mean they're ruining the Earth to get the materials for the batteries, plus when those battery cells need replaced, I don't imagine it's a cheap job...

 

[The Ripster]

As the price of electricity to charge all these units climbs the TDI could actually go up in popularity. And as far as hybrids go, they don't fit my open road driving pattern.

 

[rockerdan]

Cannot even compare a hybrid to TDI......strictly in the "Feel" dept. The TDI is a joy with all its torque , while a hybrid has no "fun factor" at all....The CRZ is alittle better in performance "feel" but the Prius is simply horrible, the Hybrid is strictly all about the Almighty MPG, not so much the actual driving experience.

I think the TDIs will find their way into every VW and Audi by 2015 and will become huge sellers, probably more then 50% of the VAG cars in total im guessing.

 

[mwayner69]

Diesel isn't "at least $.45" more than regular gas around here either. I'll take my TDI over a hybrid any day.

That's great mileage OP. I had a 1500 mile round trip and could only manage 41.5 doing 75-80 with the a/c on.

 

[DieselNerd]

Coming back home I wicked it up a bit, even had some steady cruise periods in the 90mph range. Still got near 38 mpg (calculated by Fuelly).

I'm amazed at how well the car performes and how efficient it is. Even my "stuck in traffic" city driving I do daily returns 34 to 36mpg.

Here's my Fuelly profile:

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/dieselnerd/jetta

 

[Savageman69]

This tank im getting 4.5/100kms and going to get 1200kms+ these cars are wicked fun and its awesome feeling watching the counter go over 1000kms.

Diesel is actually always cheaper here by anywhere from 3 to 16 cents a liter cheaper as well so win win.

My car pool buddy drives a kia rio and it gets alittle better then half the mileage my tdi gets and its small, cheap, gutless and not real interesting to drive and your not gonna wanna tow anything with it i just couldnt see myself in anything else but a tdi

 

[Jamus]

Stupid U.S.A. Diesel Taxes ...

 

[Savageman69]

Stupid U.S.A. Diesel Taxes ...

Thats okay your still paying much less for fuel then us canuks so no worries lol

 

[JThiessen]

With coming of gas-hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all electrics, the sunset of TDIs is fast approaching.

Not until there is a major technology breakthrough in onboard power generation for long distance trips. Hybrids are great for city driving, but dont fare so well on the highway.

Cannot even compare a hybrid to TDI......strictly in the "Feel" dept. The TDI is a joy with all its torque , while a hybrid has no "fun factor" at all....The CRZ is alittle better in performance "feel" but the Prius is simply horrible, the Hybrid is strictly all about the Almighty MPG, not so much the actual driving experience.

There is one hybrid that has just about as much of a "torqie feel" - the Ford Fusion. I would have bought one if I would have fit - the interior is actually smaller than the Jetta (at least in the front seats). I dont know if its handling is similar or not - the Jetta isn't exactly the greatest in the dept either.

 

[DC-IT]

I recently test drove the new Lexus CT200h and it's a really nice entry level luxury Hybrid.
It handles very nicely and has enough power for most use and yet gives a great FE of 4.6L/100KM combined.

And the starting price is just over CAD$30K which is close to the TDI!
Trouble is there's none available and you have to special order with a 3~6 months delivery.
The production is delayed by the Tsunami in Japan as well as overwhelming demands for the CT!

 

[RebelTDI]

With coming of gas-hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all electrics, the sunset of TDIs is fast approaching.

I disagree. On highway trips I am now getting >50 mpg with 4 people and a trunk full of luggage. My commute to work on secondary and city roads nets low to mid 40's mpg. That is better than most hybrids and for cars that are as much fun to drive as the Golf and Jetta, they should be getting more popular, not less.