2010 Toyota Prius III vs. 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI DSG - Comparison - Motor Trend Hummm, why am I not surprised. <GRINS> Bob Wilson ps. I tried to find a previous posting on this article and thought the "October 2010" issue date was accurate. Then I saw the comments are from August. Sorry if I missed the original thread. OPPS found it: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...end-issue-prius-comparo-really-pd-me-off.html
So even though this wasn't a well written article, at least they're indirectly conceding that the Prius is more practical in US markets. Commercial trucking is always going to take up much of the diesel market, and TDI versions of VW/Audi are always going to be a niche here. I've got relatives in Austria that do have an Audi TDI. They say diesel is the same price as regular gasoline there, and obviously there's more consumer diesels on the market. Here, I notice diesel is 20 cents per gallon more then regular....probably another factor why diesel cars don't have as much of a following. They also indirectly admit that the prius gets better mileage: what it's designed for in the first place. That's the main thing I notice about anti-prius folks....is they always bring up diesels and try to claim really great diesel estimates and then try to state low prius numbers. What's amazing about the prius is that it gets better gas mileage then any conventional car that's larger or smaller then it (petrol or diesel). So it really boils down to whether you want another car that's considered more "fun". At least now that I've had a prius for a month, I'm not finding it that boring to drive. Sure, it would be nice to have a little bit more pep...but now, instead of revving, I'm finding I'm always trying to erk out more mpgs in the iMPG meter!
If they are MotorTrend, why did they even bother to review prius with 15" tires? There is a sportier model with 17" and tighter steering. Are they afraid to compare?
probably less to do with being afraid and more with keeping the as-tested prices close and whatever was in the press fleet at the time. Notice that they also chose the DSG Golf and not the one that many magazines would consider sportier, the 6-speed manual.
I was look at the Jetta TDI wagon but had to rule it out because 1) the centre console was to wide and was touching my knee as I was driving, minor thing but it drives me crazy 2) When I set up the the driver seat, I can not get into the back seat and get my size 45( 13ers) in So if you are not comfortable in a car what is point of getting it
Maybe Toyota might take a hint and offer 16" or 17" alloys as a low cost option to the Prius 'Three' in 2011.
emissions - diesels, even the clean(er) diesels, remain 5x to 10x higher in NOx, CO, and other emission challenges. In contrast, the gas engine can cycle between lean-rich so the catalytic converter can efficiently process the exhaust gas. In contrast, the diesels offer a lot of oxides which remain, even in the clean(er) diesels, a problem. weight - my understanding is the diesel engines remain higher weight per unit of power due to mechanical stresses. This can be helped by a turbo. turbo - although mechanically simple, turbos have significant material and lubrication challenges. They can be resolved but this tends to make it less-simple. modest BSFC - the TDIclub folks claim ~17:1 expansion ratio and the Atkinson is at ~13:1. More importantly, at partial power settings, common in ordinary urban driving, the diesel BSFC suffers. Still, it would be an interesting experiment. Bob Wilson
Thats the model supplied by Toyota. Toyota/Lexus has an awful habit of sending their least sporty vehicles to comparisons.
At least next year they can pick up the CT200h for a comparison such as this. No biggie with this article. Golf TDI needs all the help it can get to sell 1/10th of the Toyota Prius'. I've talked to enough mechanics to know - stay away from VW's, far away.
No kidding... I've read mid size sedan comparos where the Camry used was a base LE instead of an SE or something closer in price.
When you have time, I don't now, google Mercury Meta-One and Ford Reflex diesel hybrids. Ford didn't go past concept stage because of the cost of diesel plus hybrid components.
Off Topic: So Car and Driver staff buy the BMW 3 Series more than any car?...geez, must be nice working for Car and Driver. Where do I send my resume?
a modern diesel engine car also has this filter called a FAP i collects the small particles ,,,,, when its time to change the oil in the canister i could cost over 500 euro as i did on a 407 Peugeot that i had owned an after a short time i had to change the canister that ran me another 700... this new tachnology cost allot of money,but nobody tells you it when buing it!!! never mind that turbos get blown out every so often a turbo diesel sucks believe me i owned one ... its engine blew out on me for no apparent reason... why should toyota get in to that?peugeot is putting out a diesel hybrid i think this year anybody that gets one will regret it!!! peugeots suck:rockon:
