Vehicle: Volkswagen Beetle TDi (2013)

[ocnblu]

Well, my work commute is mostly 4-lane highway, at 65-70 mph. 24 miles each way, with a few suburban traffic lights to contend with before hitting the highway.

[ZL-1]

Well, my work commute is mostly 4-lane highway, at 65-70 mph. 24 miles each way, with a few suburban traffic lights to contend with before hitting the highway.

Any uphill driving? Driving in flat terrain is, I'd say, a diesel's best friend: keeping the car at fairly low rpm (i.e. at the bottom of the quite fat torque plateau turbodiesels have nowadays) = fuel economy heaven...

Edited July 8, 2013 by ZL-1

[ocnblu]

There are some elevation changes, but they're rather subtle. I get better mileage coming home than I do heading in to work.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I paid $3.25⁹ for regular gas and noticed diesel was $3.49⁹ here in southern NJ Monday morning. My neighbor gets a new car every 2 years (she drives pretty far for work) and replaced her 2011 VW CC with a 2013 VW Passat Diesel (her husband has a 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Bluetec Diesel and they love the mileage from diesel). She's getting around 42-43 MPG running the NJ Turnpike to the PA Turnpike (King of Prussia).

[regfootball]

That Passat diesel really makes great mpg for a large car.

[David]

Washington state currently with our one of the highest gas tax's in the nation is at a pathetic $3.78 per gallon for 87 octane gas as of this morning. Diesel is currently $4.07 per gallon. Natural gas CNG is currently $2.09 per gallon.

http://www.gasbuddy.com/

Found Gasbuddy.com to be a great place to find low priced fuel.

[Drew Dowdell]

If your regular 87 is $3.78 then $4.07 is a steal for diesel

[Robert Hall]

About $3.45 for 87 regular here and about $3.75 for diesel, about the same as premium...

[the_yellow_dart]

Hold on, diesel's more than regular there? That makes no sense... it's less refined!

Gas station on the corner here is showing $1.30⁷/l for regular, $1.23⁹/l for diesel. (=$4.95/gal reg, $4.69/gal diesel)

[Drew Dowdell]

it is taxed at a higher rate than gasoline.

[ocnblu]

Last tank: 43.8. Had my 10k service last week, free of charge from VW, it drove me nuts to wait that long for a first oil change. No issues to report, so far.

Edited October 5, 2013 by ocnblu

[Drew Dowdell]

10k miles?! Time to trade it in?

[ocnblu]

Not yet. No local Tesla dealer (not that I could afford it, unless you give me some of that money) and an electric Spark is still only a dream in Pennsylvania.

[Drew Dowdell]

I was thinking you'd go with something that had a crank start so it wouldn't have a deadly fire battery under the hood.... and because you're a bit of a crank.

[Z-06]

There is always the Jetta Hybrid.

[ocnblu]

I was thinking you'd go with something that had a crank start so it wouldn't have a deadly fire battery under the hood.... and because you're a bit of a crank.

Here's a crank for ya. And a crank start still has to have electricity from somewhere, even if it were only a magneto.

Z-06 "Jetta Hybrid", you are slaying me tonight

[Intrepidation]

No electricity required.

[Z-06]

He needs something that can put his buggy in gear. A column shifter may be.

[ocnblu]

I like that idea, for some subliminal reason. Can't put my finger on it.

[caddycruiser]

My Regal GS only has 59xx miles on it, wanna switch cars for a while? I could leave the Beetle parked most of the week, and take it for a Sunday spin. Give it some spirited use...it likes to launch hard...and keep my tires from flat spotting, please

The Beetle sounds cool. 10k...that is weird to go that long. BMW, VW and others who do "included maintenance" have programmed the cars to stretch every last bit out of an interval. Then again, my GS was at 5000 miles and the oil life after a year said 73%, so...not much different.

Any issues with the car, noises or anything?

[ocnblu]

Still feels very solid, which it should at only 10k miles. Since the recent weather cool-off though, I have noticed a periodic buzz from the gauge pod that sits on top of the dash, with oil temperature, boost, and stopwatch. I've been trying to press on it from different angles to make it stop. Mostly, I've been successful. That's my only complaint so far.

[David]

Time to trade it in now that it has a rattling buzz sound.

[Robert Hall]

Time to trade it in now that it has a rattling buzz sound.

Yep...all downhill from here.

[David]

Time to trade it in now that it has a rattling buzz sound.

Yep...all downhill from here.

He should get the new Diesel Colorado when it comes out.

[ocnblu]

It sat out in the cool weather all day and didn't make a peep coming home. I'm still good.

[David]

It sat out in the cool weather all day and didn't make a peep coming home. I'm still good.

That's cause the loose parts tightened up due to the cold. After all everything shrinks and tightens when it is cold out. LOL

[ocnblu]

true story!

[A Horse With No Name]

First tank: 43.8, which included a 220 mile highway road trip.

Second tank: 43.3, strictly a work commuter tank with errands on weekends.

Paid $3.84/gallon for diesel today.

I'm starting to think this is not a fluke. This car makes me feel I am driving something of value and substance. It feels like a little tank. It is mechanical, which I love, but also quiet and refined. It makes me want to see how far I can go on a tank. Not out of necessity, but out of pure curiosity and wonderment. Very pleased so far.

I will be interested to see how this plays out....thinking of the TDI thing myself.

[ocnblu]

OK I have another complaint. The backup lights on my car are worthless. I was at my bro's last night for a B-day dinner for my dad, and I couldn't see CRAP backing out. I almost went into the bushes! It took me three tries to get out of the freakin' driveway!

[David]

OK I have another complaint. The backup lights on my car are worthless. I was at my bro's last night for a B-day dinner for my dad, and I couldn't see CRAP backing out. I almost went into the bushes! It took me three tries to get out of the freakin' driveway!

I agree with you Ocnblu, it seems todays auto's have pathetic backup lights. I have added rear flood lights to every auto I own now so that when you go into reverse you get a nice bright flood of light to see where you are going.

Watch it with those wimpy backup lights as I have seen more than one person get rear ended.

[ocnblu]

Twice now, since the weather has dipped into the 20's, my car has shown that it still can have old-school diesel tendencies. It does NOT like to start in cold weather. First time I thought it might be a fluke related to being low on fuel, but the same thing happened evening before last, after sitting outside all day @ work with 3/4 of a tank. It takes me like a dozen tries to keep it running. I push the clutch in, hold down the starter button, and when the glowplug light goes out, it tries to start, but shuts off immediately. It is my opinion that this should not happen in a modern, computer controlled diesel car with properly functioning glowplugs. 25 degrees out, both times. I wonder if there is a fuel conditioner I can put in the tank that VW recommends to remedy this, or if there is something going on somewhere else.

We used to plug in my uncle's Ford F-250 diesels, and our John Deeres when it got really cold. Not sure if this car has a block heater, to be honest. But I have no place to plug it in @ work anyway. Wouldn't it be ironic if I find I should be electrifying my diesel VW?

[David]

Yea not sure why but car diesels seem to have problems firing up in really cold weather compared to truck diesels. Weird, let us know if you figure out what was causing it. I would think it would be covered under warranty.

[regfootball]

what is the diesel fuel blend there.....do they have a 'winter blend' diesel?

[ocnblu]

I am going to attribute those two episodes to a tank of bad fuel. It hasn't given me a minute's trouble since. Still love the car.

[Drew Dowdell]

try some beeno

[ocnblu]

you know... THAT JUST MIGHT WORK!

[ocnblu]

So holy crap, gasoline is expected to go down in price overall in 2014, and diesel fuel is expected to go UP... holy crap... is that what I get for trying an alternative fuel vehicle? :/

[Drew Dowdell]

Eh, you take a bet either way. Going diesel is still better financially. Per gallon the cost difference may seem huge, but per mile the difference will be minimal.

[ocnblu]

Filled up the tank tonight. This time around: 40.1 mpg. Mileage drops off with cold weather. And, I spent $3.87/gallon, with regular gas 50 cents cheaper, at $3.37.

[A Horse With No Name]

Its still got diesel tourqe

[ocnblu]

YES IT DO SIR

[ocnblu]

Didn't go anywhere yesterday, car was in garage of course. Started it early this afternoon to go get groceries and it started, but it shook like an em effer, with a death clang that lasted for about 8 seconds before settling down and running smooth. First time it's done that. No warning lights.

[David]

2014 Signal to Trade it in on the new 2015 Canyon!

FYI, filled up my Bi-Fuel Suburban over the weekend. 44 gallon Gas tank of Premium cost $178.20 to fill. Then time filled the CNG tank, which is 42 gallons cost me $35.70. So will be interesting to see how it goes with CNG. Will not be missing the gas bill at all, but nice to have it as an alternative fuel to fall back on.

[Drew Dowdell]

Didn't go anywhere yesterday, car was in garage of course. Started it early this afternoon to go get groceries and it started, but it shook like an em effer, with a death clang that lasted for about 8 seconds before settling down and running smooth. First time it's done that. No warning lights.

You ever plug it in?

[David]

Did he get the engine block heater option?

[ocnblu]

There is no provision for a block heater on the 2.0TDi, from the research I've done so far. It sat outside at work all day with dropping temps, 29 degrees on the dash this evening when it started right up and ran perfectly as I went to leave.

[Drew Dowdell]

Can you get an aftermarket one?

[ocnblu]

Parking at work is well away from any electrical outlet. I don't think I need one @ home, as the garage generally does not get colder than 40 degrees.

[ocnblu]

Sat outside at work all day... got in it @ 6 p.m. to come home, dash thermometer read 8 degrees. Started perfectly after a pause for the glowplugs to heat up.

[David]

Sounds like gremlins! Time for that new 2015 Canyon!