2014 chevy cruz diesel

[Scooby074]

I'm very glad anytime that a diesel offering is added to our markets.

That said, for that kind of money (base is $25k Canadian), I'd be going with VW. Firstly, because the Cruze is only offered with an automatic.

Rgds, D.

More diesels are better for sure.

However that auto trans is that cars weak point according to the reviews Ive read. Its a euro engine that is typically sold with a manual and doesnt "feel" right with the auto according to the reviewers.

I want ALL of these new diesels to be stars, last thing we need is to get a bunch of dogs out there that cant get out of their own way to wrongly ruin diesels reputation like what happened in the late 70's and 80's

 

[3930dave]

More diesels are better for sure.

However that auto trans is that cars weak point according to the reviews Ive read. Its a euro engine that is typically sold with a manual and doesnt "feel" right with the auto according to the reviewers.

I want ALL of these new diesels to be stars, last thing we need is to get a bunch of dogs out there that cant get out of their own way to wrongly ruin diesels reputation like what happened in the late 70's and 80's

Scooby - are you referring to the Cruze, re. the "funny" automatic ?

I haven't driven one, and hadn't heard that, but could well be. Initial driveability (as opposed to 200k down the road) should be "just" a matter of get the right code into the engine and auto trans ECUs.

Not that car, but I read a recent post from a Euro Manuf's engineer, who had spent some time in the USA doing drivetrain field testing. One point he made was that the USA road testing he did turned up an issue that they don't encounter in typical European driving, on what was a fairly well developed platform.

Ford and Firestone used to take their early stuff out to the farm, and beat on it.... still applies today.

I prefer an olde school stick trani, with everything except large displacement engines (there, it's just nice, and fun, to have !). But, my preferences aside, the, ahem, "reliability" of many automatics in the last 10 years leaves something to be desired. GM included.

For my money, I would be concerned about a modern, ultra compact, ultra light weight automatic standing up to the torque output of a diesel over the long haul.

If somebody else is buying and maintaining it....... marrying a turbo diesel and an automatic is technically pretty sweet.

If I was planning on running up mega-miles on this vehicle, I'd be pricing out the extended drivetrain warranty.

Rgds, D.

 

[Scooby074]

Yeah I was talking about the cruze. I couldnt find the original review, but here is another that says pretty much the same thing.

"The Cruze Diesel also uses a different transmission than gas-powered models. Unfortunately, the Aisin-sourced six-speed automatic (no manual is offered on the Diesel) -- is slow to respond to inputs and is just as clunky as the GM-designed six-speed in non-diesel models."
2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel First Drive - Automobile Magazine

 

[hawkeye08]

I had missed that, thanks for posting. I liked what I saw and read, hopefully they will not repeat the high pressure fuel pump problems seen in some modern diesels.

 

[3930dave]

I had missed that, thanks for posting. I liked what I saw and read, hopefully they will not repeat the high pressure fuel pump problems seen in some modern diesels.

You may be referring to something else Hawkeye, but I know some olde tyme diesel guys had to learn some hard lessons with the new ones.

The ones that stuck with the newer diesels "got religion" real quick, concerning changing the fuel filter. Old stuff, that was often "Meh, whatever.... I'll get to it someday".... and if the filter eventually plugged, it just got changed, and away you went.

Try that with a newer style diaphragm diesel fuel pump..... big hit to the bank account.

Service intervals are much more critical on the post emissions diesels. This is NOT something that will be emphasized by the salesman, esp. since many aspects of multi-port gas engines have gone the other way.

Rgds, D.

 

[newbury]

I had missed that, thanks for posting. I liked what I saw and read, hopefully they will not repeat the high pressure fuel pump problems seen in some modern diesels.

Much of the HPFP problems can be traced to the US standard of allowing poor diesel fuel to be sold. Low lubricity, high scar rating. You have to be REAL careful putting diesel and not gas into the CR fuel tank. VW has done at least 2 "safety" fixes - one they sent out letters and a little yellow sticker, then recently they offered to replace the fuel filler tube with something that won't accept a gas nozzle. Heck I got a VW adapter so I can use the big truck nozzle.

 

[BrandonR]

We test drove one, it's a nice car and on our short list. Performance is decent, loaded with options/features it's still around $25k with a corporate discount. My wife racks up a lot of miles and the fuel economy and range on a tank make it really attractive.

I think those reviewers were comparing the cruze to a much higher priced car like a BMW when they complained about the transmission. It shifted smoothly, almost unnoticeably on our test drive. They also complained about the diesel "clatter" in that review, the car we drove was about as quiet as the 4cyl gas engine in my wife's current commuter and the same as every TDI I've been around.

 

[buickanddeere]

Tiny little car to fit into. Have to almost bend at the waist until the nose is on the knees.back into the car, then sit up.
Diesel is a Fiat design made by VM . GM, ford, jeep, Alfa Romeo all use the VM diesels.

http://www.vmmotori.it/uploads/doc/1695.pdf

Just can't see the advantage with the higher purchase price and the higher priced diesel fuel.

 

[Dozernut]

We have a Cruze, nice little car but a bit snug. The wife drives it and regularly gets between 37-42 mpg. I do not see the advantage of the diesel, higher cost, fuel is more expensive. The payback for a few more miles per gallon would take a lot of years if ever.

I am not a diesel hater as I have a 2005 2500HD Chevy with the Duramax/Allison combo that I will most likely drive till it dies. My point is that with the mileage the gas engine Cruze gets the diesel does not make economical sense.

 

[DeereMann]

Seems these guys (auto OEM's) just won't take the time and do a vehicle right - always a shortcut, somebody else's development work, etc. Always shoe-horning so-so combinations together.

Give us mid-size sedan with mid-size diesel. Give us a half ton pickup with medium diesel. Not a mousemobile with a euro-diesel or a megacab full ton with stump-puller farm tractor engine! I mean, jeez!