Thinking of making the switch

[in2dwww]

The TDI is not a wise choice, especially if it's just for getting through town. The TDI is a charm on the open road. It's quirky DSG will frustrate you in city and stop/go driving.

If you need the high mpgs, you won't get them on the TDI for short trips. You will have a decent resale value because you'll have a low mileage TDI.

But most importantly, if your MDX is paid off, trouble free, and the Acura service department is fantastic, then you have everything to lose by getting rid of it for a VW.

Thanks for all the well thought responses thus far.

Many compelling arguments either way. I wanted to go look at the passat today and the dealer did not have any TDI s in stock. In fact they had only 1 base model. I told him to call me when they get a TDI which should be next week sometime.

As for my current situation. My mdx is a 2010 that is already paid for. In theory working the pricing I would like on SE with sunroof, I would come out slightly ahead money wise on the purchase after selling my mdx privately. I drive about 15,000 miles a year which would save me significantly on gas. I may miss the utility, but as of now we don't ever use it to the full potential. Living in the south the SH-AWD is a waste now.



With that said.. It drives great for an SUV. It appears its better appointed inside compared to the Passat. Someone above mentioned this point as well.

Dealer experience with Acura has been nothing short of fantastic. I have no idea how my local VW dealer compares ( only 1 in town).

A big factor I did not consider is that this would mainly be driven around town. Obviously this impacts mileage but we do our share of short trips to the store and back daily etc. Many on here have mentioned its not good on the engine necessarily?


Still love the idea of a TDI, but I will definitely plan to test drive one to see how we really feel about it.

 

[ChadS99SVT]

The TDI is not a wise choice, especially if it's just for getting through town. The TDI is a charm on the open road. It's quirky DSG will frustrate you in city and stop/go driving.

If you need the high mpgs, you won't get them on the TDI for short trips. You will have a decent resale value because you'll have a low mileage TDI.

But most importantly, if your MDX is paid off, trouble free, and the Acura service department is fantastic, then you have everything to lose by getting rid of it for a VW.

I agree with this except for the DSG comments. I disagree. There are some quirks but once you understand the transmission it's simply a dream to drive. best trans I've ever had.

I drive through town and in stop in go traffic daily and I wouldn't think twice about the DSG. And forget about it "eating" a MPG or two. also a moot point IMO.


But as he said if he is city driving this probably is not the right car.


OP. Give us an idea of what a weeks driving would look like. what's the commute each direction. 30 miles of errands around town will net you 30MPG +- 3MPG. A 7 mile commute on a 20degree morning you will be lucky to break 25MPG.

Anytime the diesel is needing to be warmed up to operating temp your MPG's suffer.

My car does not reach 200* until I'm about 20 miles into my commute or 30+ minutes When temps are below 32F.

however the flip side is on your 200 mile trips at 65MPH you will hit 50+ MPG

If you don't care that much about the details regarding your MPG then it's still an amazing car and I wouldn't let some of the things people say steer you away.

ultimately you need to test drive it and make the decision yourself. GL.

 

[Lightflyer1]

My 6 mile commute in 40 degree weather has averaged 32 mpg and reaches temp by the end of my 6 mile commute. It still returns better mileage than a comparable gas car driven the same way. I have the DSG as well and it is wonderful in town and the highway. It does have a few quirks but nothing really once you get used to it. Short trips are okay as long as you get out occaisionally and drive it on the open road.

 

[APT]

I drive about 15,000 miles a year which would save me significantly on gas.

I disagree. $100-120/mo maybe. I cannot see how someone in the financial position to outright own a 2010 MDX thinks saving $100/mo is significant. You might spend that much on Starbucks every month.

Keep what you got. You love it.

 

[PaulB]

A big factor I did not consider is that this would mainly be driven around town. Obviously this impacts mileage but we do our share of short trips to the store and back daily etc. Many on here have mentioned its not good on the engine necessarily?

Diesels take longer to warm up than gas engines. So, they are really more at home on the highway since it's not very good for a car never to come up to full operating temperature. For a town car a straight gas or gas hybrid engine makes more sense to me. There is a reason Toyota sells so many Priuses.

For some reason, whenever I hear the word "Prius", I think "priapus", the Greek word for "penis".

 

[gulfcoastguy]

Diesels take longer to warm up than gas engines. So, they are really more at home on the highway since it's not very good for a car never to come up to full operating temperature. For a town car a straight gas or gas hybrid engine makes more sense to me. There is a reason Toyota sells so many Priuses.

For some reason, whenever I hear the word "Prius", I think "priapus", the Greek word for "penis".

I generally think Pious from the South Park episode. TDI isn't right for every situation just like the Pious C would make a lousy freeway car. And that is allmost a direct quote from Consumers Report. As allways match the tool to the task.

 

[Yankinwaoz]

I bought a 2012 TDi SE with Sunroof+Nav and Michelin MXM4 tires. Now at 17k miles. I am very pleased. Paid about $31.5k total (car, tires, taxes and fees).

I drive about 28k miles/year, mostly highway.

I had whittled my short list down to the Passat TDi SE, the Prius V, and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. I felt that because most of my miles are highway, and I need to get 200-300k miles out of my car, in the long run I would be better off with a diesel than a petrol hybrid with battery. I might be wrong. I am hoping I am not.

The space, comfort, nice lines, and performance of my TDi is all gravy.

 

[Salsaman06]

...
For some reason, whenever I hear the word "Prius", I think "priapus", the Greek word for "penis".

LOL thats funny. Never heard of that word but when I hear "Prius" I think it sounds more like "prepuce". LOL

 

[msgross]

Get a price quote from this guy, http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=288133&page=47

trading vs selling outright, you almost always make out better selling it yourself but remember that you only pay taxes on the difference of the trade in.

I drove a 1996 passat tdi last summer, I drive 15 miles to work each way and would get 700 miles per tank (nearly 3+ weeks between fillups). I sold the car to deploy and am thinking about buying a new model when I return. I also like the 200K+ mi. investment for the $27K that I plan to spend. My other option was to buy another pickup, which get 300 mi per tank and cost the same amount or buy a used Impala for $15K and get 25 mpg.

I think that diesel prices will come down again as it gets more popular, which it is.

 

[TDI2000Zim]

...
I think that diesel prices will come down again as it gets more popular, which it is.

Diesel price is driven by a HEFTY tax bill here in the USA.

Since this tax is paid mostly by truckers, with no sympathy from Washington, Diesel prices are going to stay above the price of PREMIUM GASOLINE for the foreseeable future (decades).

The only time I saw Diesel cost less than gasoline was before 2003.

 

[WutGas?]

Diesel was cheaper than RUG here just last year. Only by a couple cents for a couple days though.

 

[Mr. Furious]

Diesel price is driven by a HEFTY tax bill here in the USA.

Federal tax is $.06 higher per gallon on diesel than it is on gas. Here in NC (and some other states), motor fuel tax is the same on diesel as it is on gas, yet diesel costs about $.40 more per gallon. I don't know what the per-gallon price difference is in NJ, but the total tax difference is $.09: $.06 federal and $.03 state.

 

[rustycat]

Diesel is manly. Hybrids are girly. Diesels have manly torque and go great distances on small amounts. Hybrids go great distances at slow speeds on flat ground.
That's all that matters for manly men.

 

[TDI2000Zim]

Diesel is manly. Hybrids are girly. Diesels have manly torque and go great distances on small amounts. Hybrids go great distances at slow speeds on flat ground.
That's all that matters for manly men.

There might be something to this, because I don't see that many ladies owning one.

Although some dads buy their daughters TDi's, like a friend of mine gave his daughter a diesel Chevette in in the late 1980s.

 

[tdiatlast]

There might be something to this, because I don't see that many ladies owning one.

Although some dads buy their daughters TDi's, like a friend of mine gave his daughter a diesel Chevette in in the late 1980s.

That's NOT manly...that's STOOPID!

 

[TDI2000Zim]

That's NOT manly...that's STOOPID!

Wouldn't you buy your daughter a TDi?????????????

The my friend's daughter owned the diesel Chevette for 10 years, and back then diesel was merely $1 per gallon, so I think my friend did a good thing for his little girl.

 

[tdiatlast]

A Chevette diesel is NOT a TDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The whole "manly" discussion is stooooopid, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(sorry I entered the discussion...carry on..........................)

 

[TDI2000Zim]

The Chevette was not a TDi, but it was a diesel (something is better than nothing).

Today (2013), wouldn't YOU buy your daughter a TDi instead of a gasoline burning car?

If I had a daughter, I would.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Plenty of awesome TDI gals here on TDIClub!

Zippy, Haiku, Nicole, Dee, Hamster, Sprockette, MaryP, MonsterDog, SpaceMonkey, and many more!

 

[WutGas?]

My 13 year old daughter will be getting mine in 3 years. Maybe she'll join, but I doubt it.

 

[elsid]

I just made the jump on Tuesday, never owned a diesel before. So far everything is great. Heard the sloshing fuel for the first time today, as I just filled up from the small partial tank given by the "dealer"/leasing company