Thread: new era of clean diesel

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Just got done reading this article in Popular Mechanics about the 2009 Jetta diesel TDI, that gets 50 mpg, and is clean burning, like the hybrids, without the batteries!
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4235586.html
Nice looking cars too. And peppy as the article states
"The new era of clean diesel in America will officially be ushered in by the new VW Jetta TDi when it goes on sale in a few months. Powered by a 2.0-liter four-banger that produces 140 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque, it will be the first automobile to meet the world’s most stringent emission control standards, California’s Tier II, Bin 5. "
"If reports are correct, the Jetta should get upwards of 50 mpg, combined highway and city. Although pricing hasn’t been announced, expect it to be within a few thousand of the current models (an estimated $18,000 to $23,000). We can’t wait for chance to spend some more time with the new TDi Jetta—and test its real-world feul economy. —Chuck Tanner"

My friend at church has a 2001 VW Beetle diesel ,he saya it gets around 55 MPG on the road running at highway speeds.I think it is a manuall tranny.VW seems to be ahead of the Industry on diesel technology.

How come you don't hear about things in the media??????

Heck I got 48mpg out of a mid-80's FWD V6 Diesel Cutlass Ceria when using Shell fuel & Rotella oil in it. That thing seem to run forever on a tank of fuel. It's a shame the US car companies don't give us better choices in what we can buy.....joe

I think in a couple of years the cream will come to the top,as so to speak.Right now every one is starting to panic and going out and buying 30 to 40 MPG vehicles. Like you say lots of cars 20 years ago got the mileage the car mfgrs. are boasting about today.My drivers are 18 and 28 MPG.I'm going to hold pat and wait for something that really impresses me.

QUOTE=Don Dalton]My drivers are 18 and 28 MPG.I'm going to hold pat and wait for something that really impresses me.[/QUOTE]

I'm certainly with Don on this one, I just bought a 94 Cadillac, less than 100 thou on it, looks and drives like new. Constantly getting 24.8 miles to the gallon, rides nice and confirms my 'ol fart' status. The little cars may go a bit farther, but not as nice as the Cad. Besides, I'm not exactly sized to the small cars, it would be a daily driver if I can't get out. Sniper

I hear yah! Those caddys sure do go nice and smooth down the road!

How much is diesel there now,NZ is paying $1.85 nz/litre,plus road user charge[RUC]about $500/10000km,for a diesel Chevy pickup,and an annual licensing fee of about $300 as well.Smaller diesel powered vehicles have been hit hard after the hundreds of thousands of cheap second hand Japanese imports flooded the country.Until that happened,it was rare to see anything smaller than a 5 ton truck with diesel power.

Diesel is just under the 5 dollar mark per gallon or 3.785 liters. Gas here in California (aroung the corner from my house is 4.35 a gallon! It's funny, because if you look at what they were selling gas for the last time a barrel was at $123.26 a barrel, gasoline was in the 3.50 dollar range, when it peaked around 147.27 dollars a barrel we were paying 4.59 at the pump. When ever the price goes up on a barrel of oil, gas goes up, because the stores say they aren't making any money, but when it goes down their prices don't go down to what they were charging when oil was previously that price. Somebody obviously is making money somewhere!

<------ 13mpg Cummins diesel dailly driver. I was thinking about geting better gas mileage the other day, I mite start driveing my 41 chevy to work every day when the temp dips below 110.

In thelast week,we have had three price REDUCTIONS,down around $2.02/litre,for 91 octane,$2.07 for 95 octane,and $1.79 for diesel,BUT,we are only months away from elections,,Hmmmmm.
I use LPG 95% of the time on the F100,about $1.12/litre on average..

Volkswagon leads the way.....Who would of figured that??? They set the standard (that the US car builders ignored) for compact, fuel efficient cars after WWII---and now they've got a 50 mpg diesel!!!!! Wanna bet the US builders still don't respond with something better????

Looks like a neat car, anxious to see one up close and personal!!!!!

they had a 50+mpg diesel rabbit in the mid 1970s

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

they had a 50+mpg diesel rabbit in the mid 1970s

I had one, never did quite hit 50mpg with it.... sure would do 35-40 real consistent, though!!!! If the new one gets 50, gonna have to look at it real hard!!!!!

My brother just had to get a new truck, because of a fender bender, where the insurance company totaled the old one for a front fender accident! He bought a big 2008 Superduty F250 Lariat 4X4 Crew cab , with a diesel that has two sequential Turbo's,he say's so far highway fuel mileage is around 18mph. Damb good, since our little 4 banger Toyota 4x4 gets 20 and it would almost fit in the bed of his new beast! It seems since coming home from Iraq, life just keeps throwing more hurdles at him, but he loves the new truck!