TDI good for short trips

[pinke-71]

I want a TDI but are they good for short trips? I know they say that's the worst on gas vehicles but what am I to do - drive 'around the block' a couple times to get to work? I live approximately 2.5 miles from work (takes 5-7 mintes depending on the lights). I do go on the highway about once every week or two (10 miles to shopping on Loop around city). I don't expect the best MPG but I don't want to buy if it's worst on Diesel's than gas. Don't see much on the subject and dealer said 'most people buy diesel because they drive SO much'; he wasn't much help.
ADDED:
I just moved, I used to live 2 miles round trip and although got bad it wasn't horrible mpg (had a I-6 cyl Jeep) now living 2.5 miles. On a road w/no shoulder or side walks to ride a bike. No bus service to the office and taxi's are vertually non existant. Had the Jeep 11.5 years - bought brand new and only had "regular ware and tear" items; after it was 10 years old bushings rotted and had them replaced but never anything but regular maintenance. Maybe it's just the Dakota was a bad idea... (3.5 years old 15k miles on it now - getting 13.5mpg). thanks for everyone's imput - I still like the TDIs!

 

[mysql]

Slightly off topic, but have you considered a motorcycle for the short trips?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

TDIs are not designed for very short commutes. Perhaps a bicycle would fit your needs a little better? Motorcycle or a 50cc scooter would be good, too.

 

[Ski in NC]

No cars like short trips. But a once a week longish trip should clean things up. IMO diesels are better than gassers for short trips. Less condensation getting in oil and exhaust system. The 2009/2010 with the fancy exhaust system may be more an issue, but who knows?

 

[Curious Chris]

I love my TDI but you need a Prius or maybe a Volt if GM every makes it.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Less condensation in the oil from a diesel? How is that?

Also, the condensation that does get in the oil will never get burned off because the oil will never reach operating temperature because of the short trips.

 

[dieseldorf]

Don't see much on the subject and dealer said 'most people buy diesel because they drive SO much'; he wasn't much help.

Actually, Pinke, that would be the correct answer. I take it you didn't like the response.

Knowing that you'll do mostly short trips, the diesel auto is the last car I'd select....especially in a climate where you experience winter

Welcome aboard, Pinke!!

 

[Joe_Meehan]

The only car that would do much better would be a plug and play electric, so it would not kick in the petroleum engine.

No car likes short trips and frankly I would ride my bicycle except for bad weather. That said, a lot of people worry too much about short trips. Don't over think it.

Go ahead with the TDI, it certainly will not be worse than a conventional gasoline engined car and better than most.

I would make sure I did some serious trips (like 20 minutes or more) once or twice a month.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Don't forget to tell this poor guy that he'll never have heat in the car in the winter time if he's only driving 2.5 miles to work.

 

[pinke-71]

Bicycle is not an option for me (busy roads with no sidewalks). Almost get run into from other employees wanting to speed to work. Thought about Scooter but work in an office and don't like the idea of putting helmet on or getting caught in the rain.
I am currently having the condensation in my oil as mentioned in another post (I drive a Dakota now) and dealership won't help - said it's because of my driving short distances. I've lived within 2 miles for 20 years now and this is first vehicle to have that problem.
Have always had the ugly MPG though.
I was told electrics don't do well in short trips either (bad on the battery)?? THANKS everyone!

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Bottom line, if you buy a TDI to do your 2 mile commute, you will be freezing cold in the winter, get terrible fuel economy (for TDI standards), and probably damage the engine just like you're doing to your current vehicle.

Is there not a bus that goes to your office? You could probably take a cab on the rainy days for less money than you'd spend on a new car payment.

 

[Ski in NC]

Less condensation in the oil from a diesel? How is that?

Also, the condensation that does get in the oil will never get burned off because the oil will never reach operating temperature because of the short trips.

Less condensation because the diesel runs with a very high amount of excess air at anything less than full load. The gasser runs near stoichiometric at all loads. The combustion products of the gasser (including ring blowby) hold a much higher percentage of water vapor.

A once a week longish trip should burn the oil dry. The piston cooling oil nozzles shoot oil into the piston which should be well above boiling point. Longer the trip, the better in this regard.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

A 20 minute trip isn't enough to get the oil up to operating temperature in the winter unless you're hauling a$$ up a mountain.

 

[Doug Huffman]

My Island is ~25 square miles and I live in the middle so most trips are about five miles. I don't want any other car. I hope this one goes another 125K.

 

[Bob_Fout]

A 20 minute trip isn't enough to get the oil up to operating temperature in the winter unless you're hauling a$$ up a mountain.

I will check under my oil cap, been driving 10 mile trips (5 miles at 70 MPH and 5 miles at 45 MPH) for 5 months now.

/me checks: No goop.

 

[solartempest]

Expect decent mileage with your short trips, mediocre mileage in the winter. But if you take longer trips elsewhere, then you'll see some good numbers =)

Fuel economy for my 8mi round trip commute in the winter is on par with a gas car (worst case).
In the summer, it's about 3L/100km better.

Outside of work, I have 2 or 3 one hour drives every week of the year, which makes me happy driving a diesel.

Bottom line, if you buy a TDI to do your 2 mile commute, you will be freezing cold in the winter, get terrible fuel economy (for TDI standards), and probably damage the engine just like you're doing to your current vehicle.

With the newer TDI's, you won't freeze! Turning the heat on short drives takes a decent bite out of the cold in the winter.

I tried not running the heat to save a bit of fuel on my winter commutes, but I was miserable every time.

 

[flatlanded]

Personally, I think you'd find the hassle of owning a diesel to outweigh its advantages. But if you want to, all the power to you.

If your budget permits, I'd recommend a Fusion Hybrid. Pretty stellar in the city numbers for economy and it's not a small car.

I'd buy one if I wasn't driving 1000km a week. But I still love my diesel.

You might find that if you're getting 50+ MPG, you'll want to make more long distance trips...

 

[Oblio13]

If I lived that close to work, I'd be walking or riding a bicycle in all but the worst weather. You have an opportunity to save money, get healthier, and feel good about being green.

 

[paramedick]

Bah, humbug. I drive 1.5 miles to work, park the car for 24 hours, and drive 1.5 miles home. 35-37 mpg.

I do take it on a longish drive every week to blow the cobwebs out. Car gets up to full temp during those drives.

Frostheater is your friend in cold months.

Will I drive anything else? No.......

 

[anahata]

Bah, humbug. I drive 1.5 miles to work, park the car for 24 hours, and drive 1.5 miles home. 35-37 mpg.

I do take it on a longish drive every week to blow the cobwebs out. Car gets up to full temp during those drives.

Frostheater is your friend in cold months.

Will I drive anything else? No.......

Now that is reassuring from a guru! I live 1.5 mi from a workplace I report to about 100x per year. (I haul a bass) and I actually take it the long way around 4 miles to get the temp gauge up and have it hold for a while plus a few 3000 revs for good measure. In Tucson, in winter, it is likely mostly warmed up by then - though I know the gauge is not indicative of complete warm up. Fortunately there are multiple weekly longer trips also

 

[3L3M3NT]

I have a TDI and can relate to what you're saying. I live in a town of 10,000 and my drive to work takes around 6-7 min and my car gets shut off. I do however take some road trips with my car that are 200+ miles and that's when I really appreciate owning a TDI. One road trip was 2,000 miles

So if you plan on doing some longer driving throughout the month, then I say by all means get a TDI.

I do hate the feeling of driving my car to the grocery store 3 minutes away and then shutting my car off

If you do get one I would recommend getting Frostheater for the winter months, your car will thank you when it's 0 out.

 

[revgov]

short trips

Unless you are handicaped, you should be walking to work. Jeez! 30 min., and think of the healt benefits.

 

[ryanmiller]

I have a short commute also, i would ride my bike but then that means I need to ride my bike to get lunch, or run any other errands, which from my job are further than i'd like to ride the bike.. so the car come along

 

[RalphVa]

Pinke, if I were in your position I'd walk to work.

Short trips are less of a problem with diesels, but they're still not good.

The exercise will do you good.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Walking 2.5 miles is not an option in the mid-west (nor is it an option anywhere). This is not one hundred years ago...

 

[OAG]

Sounds like the OP is a poster child for a Smart car.

 

[dieseldorf]

 

[WVU TDI]

Sounds like the OP is a poster child for a Smart car.

My thoughts as well. You're talking about 30-40 miles a week; 1,500 or so miles a year! There's almost no reason to have a car at this point, a scooter or 250 motorcycle would be the way to go if you're in a decent climate, otherwise, the "smart" car may be the way to go, if you're really wanting something new.

Personally, for 1,500 miles a year, I'd find some old Civic/Corolla/Impreza; fill it up once a month, change the oil every 6 months or so, and drive on.

 

[MotoWPK]

Wow, this has taken an interesting tangent from TDI talk to the relative benefits of how to move yourself over short distances.

I live 1.25 miles from work and 90% of the time walk or bicycle (all walk through the CO winter, which at 8400' lasts from November thru May, and bike half the time otherwise). With usually going home for lunch, that's 5 miles a day. Good for your health and I can eat more without getting fat(ter).

The other times the TDI makes the few minute trip. Do I like it? No, because I know it's not best. Do I worry about it? No, because I had zero negative issues with my previous car in the same usage over the previous 10 years.

Invariably the TDI is excercised on the weekend, 50 miles back and forth to the 'big city' or maybe a 300 mile jaunt through the mountains as last Sunday.

If I couldn't walk/bike regulary, I'd seriously look at electric. I've never seen a good explanation of how conventional hybrids do in a cycle like this and anticipate that the engine would always be running since it would never come sufficiently up to temp to enter the normal hybrid cycle.

 

[dpg]

I live 3 blocks away from work. Imagine what my car goes through, lol. unfortunately for me, I need a car to get to other building(13 in our district) in our district and you never know when you'll need to go out to another building. In the summer I will ride my bike or walk once or twice a week to work and just save the job for the next day. Fortunately I also drive often after work to stores and what not. So the car will get a chance to burn water off that way.