Who makes a diesel vehicle and would you buy it?

JohnBoy45 · Sep 21, 2005

Hi, What car company makes a diesel vehicle that gets excellent mileage per gallon for driving on the road and would you buy it?

Does VW make a good diesel car?

http://www.vw.com/index.html

Thanks, Terry

Dargo · Sep 21, 2005

( Does VW make a good diesel car? )

Yes

MF1455v · Sep 21, 2005

I'll second that "YES".

Our 2001 Jetta just past the 130k mile mark. Slowed down to the speed limit after Katrina and milage went from 49 up to 53 mpg. Little over 600 mile range on a take full and will accelarate as well as a lot of V6's. Would diffently buy another even at the primium prices VW is getting now.

gsxr1100 · Sep 21, 2005

1 ) Well in my state they are illegal to have when new
2) I would never buy a VW
3) is it good, compared to what? I know JD Power does not rate the car good at all.

Bob_Skurka · Sep 21, 2005

Terry, if you are inclined to go for an SUV, the VW Touareg is coming out with a new V6 Turbo Diesel. I've read a club test report and in actual driving up a mountain and through several high altitude mountain passes, combined with highway and city driving it averaged 38mpg. The Touareg had a pretty bad reputation for the early production units but seems to have a better reputation for the 2005 models. I have one and absolutely love it, best vehicle I've ever owned (so far). I wish the V6 TDI was available when I was shopping . . . and it still is not available but may be soon.

I compared the Touareg to the Lexus GX470, Toyota 4Runner, LandCruiser, MB ML350, Volvo XC90 and Nissan Pathfinder (all loaded up with most every available option). The Touareg drove better than any of them, but lacks acceleration. Comfort is higher than any of them (very subjective). Fit & finish is higher than any of them (again subjective).

There are many trim levels available, so you can get them relatively inexpensively to loaded up and very costly, depending on your desires. But the report on the V6 TDI engine I read made it sound like the ideal vehicle (for me) with the ideal engine (very good mileage + plenty of torque + 7700# towing capacity).

Highbeam · Sep 21, 2005

Jeep Liberty diesel, mercedes always had those diesel cars, and then on to trucks. Almost every car available in the states has a foreign version available in diesel. The little ford focus, toyotas, etc. We only get the VW which either is perfect or a lemon. I have owned VW cars and they ahve been perfect so I wouldn't hesitate to try. 50 mpg with no hokey batteries or hybrid technology is pretty hard to beat.

My VW car of choice is a golf TDI. I just lke the shape. Wife will always call it a rabbit though.

Egon · Sep 21, 2005

Mercedes Diesel.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RedDog · Sep 21, 2005

1 ) Well in my state they are illegal to have when new 

You can't have them when they are new, but can if they are used?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

2) I would never buy a VW 

Why? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I would never buy a GSXR. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

3) is it good, compared to what? I know JD Power does not rate the car good at all. 

I don't give a hoot about JD Power. I would definitely buy another VW diesel.

I also would not hesitate to buy a Mercedes either!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

The time has come for the American car companies to wake up!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

RedDog

Highbeam · Sep 22, 2005

The market isn't here yet to sell enough diesel cars to make it worthwhile. You can't blame the auto makers, you can blame the public for not buying or demanding diesels. There are also good looking diesel Mercedes aren't there?

Cliff_Johns · Sep 22, 2005

I wouldn't buy diesel right now just because there are so few stations around me that sell diesel fuel. The newest stations are not carrying it. I would need to go well out of my usual way to buy diesel and it's a pain when the tractor gets low.

There are probably 30 gas stations within 5 miles of my house (amazing ain't it?) and none carry diesel. Also amazing. Several of these stations are new with in the last two years.

From what I read here, it appears the area I'm in is somewhat unique.

Cliff