My stupid grin: TDI vs. Gas Hybrid

[RichC]

As if TDI owners need another reason to grin. I'm starting a polite campaign (since I'm supportive of all who improve the use of our finite resources) that we in the TDI crowd 'politely' give the thumbs up to hybrid drivers everywhere as we 'POWER' past them. (or is that just acting sophomoric?) /images/graemlins/grin.gif /images/graemlins/grin.gif /images/graemlins/grin.gif
Wired Article on misleading hybrid EPA window stickers

 

[pepper10]

Amazing. That effectively leaves Diesel power as the sole high MPG alternative. It's a pity for hybrid technology. It has a lot of potential. /images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

 

[Rammstein]

LOL. 31.4....too funny... /images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

He must drive the hell out of it to get that kind of mileage. /images/graemlins/cool.gif

There's no substite for fuel economy than a good old TDI.

48.4 mpg lifetime average on my B4... /images/graemlins/cool.gif /images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pepper10]

In reality, if you do mostly highway, it's only the gas engine that's running. That will cause your mpg down. A hybrid with a diesel engine would be a much better solution... /images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

 

[Chowder31]

why hasnt anyone done this yet? The diesel hybrid I mean...

 

[swartzentruber]

[ QUOTE ]
why hasnt anyone done this yet? The diesel hybrid I mean...

[/ QUOTE ] Probably cost. People are only willing to spend so much more for increased economy. Diesel usually costs $1000 more than a gasser. Hybrid probably similar. It's probably not tough to get a payback on $1000 over several years if you use a lot of fuel, but much harder on $2000. What you might be more likely to see is diesel with "mild hybrid", like GM is starting to put on trucks -- I imagine that's much cheaper than a full hybrid system like Toyota's.

 

[pepper10]

I read somewhere that VW and Chrysler were experimenting with the diesel hybrid system. That was a few years ago. I don't know what came out of it. Chrysler was toying with an Intrepid diesel/hybrid and VW with a Golf.

 

[ASurroca]

I recall reading about a VW diesel hybrid as well... /images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'm just happy to know that my Bug outruns those hybrids and likely gets better fuel economy /images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I saw a previous-gen Prius with a ton of "green" bumper stickers the other day and chuckled. Still a gasser /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[wxman]

[ QUOTE ]
why hasnt anyone done this yet? The diesel hybrid I mean...

[/ QUOTE ]

There's supposed to be a diesel hybrid Dodge/Cummins pickup coming later this year according to this Autoweek article.

 

[RogueTDI]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why hasnt anyone done this yet? The diesel hybrid I mean...

[/ QUOTE ]

There's supposed to be a diesel hybrid Dodge/Cummins pickup coming later this year according to this Autoweek article.

[/ QUOTE ]

For God's sake, why dont web authors PUT DATELINES IN THEIR PUBLISHINGS!!?!??!?!?!!?!?!??!?

I have NO idea how old that article is.

 

[03_01_TDI]

I own both a 2000 Honda Insight and a 2003 Jetta. So I can say this for a fact. The Insight can get 100mpg if driven slow. At 50-65mph the Insight will get 60+mpg. I normally drive around 80-85mph and still get 58+mpg. Now I can't think of any TDI driving at 85mph will get more than 55mpg. /images/graemlins/eek.gif But wait the Insight cheats yes cheats it weight is 1880lbs /images/graemlins/wink.gif and is super super aerodynamic.. If Honda had put an diesel in the Insight it could still weigh way less than 1900lbs because to battey pack would be needed.

Other Hybrids. STUPID STUPID any four door car with an hybrid system will do OK if driven slow and with only one person. Add people and/or speed and the 4 door Hybrids SUCK. As I have said before I own a 2000 Citrus green Insight. I keep the car real clean and it has some sweet Volk rims on it. Needless to say I get alot of????? I almost always tell the person not to buy an Hybrid or to at least test drive a TDI!!!

 

[testy_SOB]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
why hasnt anyone done this yet? The diesel hybrid I mean...

[/ QUOTE ]

There's supposed to be a diesel hybrid Dodge/Cummins pickup coming later this year according to this Autoweek article.

[/ QUOTE ]

For God's sake, why dont web authors PUT DATELINES IN THEIR PUBLISHINGS!!?!??!?!?!!?!?!??!?

I have NO idea how old that article is.

[/ QUOTE ]

November 17th 2003. All you have to do is reverse the title into the search window to get the archive index. Takes a few seconds. From the web designers point of view it's available when you do the search and with a good relational database you don't want to include the wrapper data, text dates are inefficient and redundant if you get the article from their site. If you link from outside too bad.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

Bill .... is that you?

 

[mgrusin]

[ QUOTE ]
I own a 2000 Citrus green Insight

[/ QUOTE ]
Sweet. /images/graemlins/grin.gif Incredible car, designed from the ground up for extreme mileage. I came this close to getting one, but concluded that I needed 4 doors for aging parents (entering those responsible years), and needed more cargo space. So we went with the Golf and have been mighty pleased. But it was a close decision (I've heard that rental fleets of these come up for sale from time to time, we may pick one up sometime for a city car). Sweet color too, why did they discontinue Citrus Green?

-MG.

 

[Cincy_Mike]

MB apparently is exploring this concept with their Vision Grand Sports Tourer

 

[eetsoot]

If I was going to salute the hybid owners, I'ld have to rebadge my car so they would understand why I soluted them. Maybe not put TDI on but find a Diesel tag to put on too.

I've been thinking of changing my lic. frame to "45+ MPG & ONLY 90+ HP?" I figure that will upset just about everybody as blow past them on hills. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Brasil]

I've had the opportunity to drive a 2004 Prius for the last 3 months while waiting for my new Jetta Wagon. It is far superior to the previous Prius. Very cool car, and I've been getting 47-49mpg driving it like a grandmother, mostly without air conditioning, 80% highway. Gets a little better mileage around town. Very nicely done car, overall.

 

[Lug_Nut]

[ QUOTE ]
I own both a 2000 Honda Insight and a 2003 Jetta. So I can say this for a fact. The Insight can get 100mpg if driven slow. At 50-65mph the Insight will get 60+mpg. I normally drive around 80-85mph and still get 58+mpg.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is so sad is that the early Passat TDI can get close to 100 mpg (90+ to date, but the "ton" still eludes me) when driven like an Insight trying for 100. At 50 MPH the Passat gets over 75 MPG. 60 MPH returns 60 MPG. 70 MPH is about 50 MPG. I've not spent enough continuous distance at 80+ to make a determination of consumption rate.
Is your 58+ MPG at 80~85 MPH based on the optimistic (not my term, that is from other Insight owners) on board display?
What is even sadder is that the TDI can do this on biodiesel. The gasoline powered vehicles would need to maintain 200 MPG to approach the net emissions per mile of a my 3400 lb., five passenger capacity 53 MPG (lifetime, not instantaneous) B100 powered Passat. (Yeah, I'm counting "net" and not tailpipe only. Yes, I'm also considering the CO2 that the US EPA doesn't.)

There are two steps needed to make the current hybrids total net emissions lower than a biodiesel powered TDI:
1) hook onto The TDI's trailer hitch
2) leave the hybrid switched off and let the TDI tow it.