Jetta TDI vs. Prius, San Francisco on a tank?

This is a pic of a recent tank. This is about 90% highway dirving in Kentucy, Ohio and Indiana. Granted on that route there are some mountains to climb, but I believe high 60's is achievable.

 

I'm not saying it's imposible but I think is very unlikely they will find a hypermiler to drive the Prius and you would be kidding yourself if you think the averge person can achieve those those kinds of numbers.

 

This might explain the flury of comparison tests against Prius before Toyota move the goals further up the field.

Someone connected with the report will be looking at the PC forums, will their comparo be fair or biased due to who pays the bills?

 

You are correct. It takes work, knowledge and training to get those numbers, and the average person off the street will be unable to do it.

 

Wouldn't it be funny if Wayne Gerdes and a bunch of hypermilers showed up out in front of the dealer and just 'tagged along' on the drive to San Francisco.

Hey, it's a free country.

 

I can get 20mpg out of my Dodge diesel truck. It has a 35 gallon tank. I've gone 650 miles on a tank... if I'm careful I could even make this trip .

 

Agreed, and I'm jealous.

Sufferin' Prius Envy, I think it would be a perfect slap in the face if they did! lol My guess is they are going to play with the fuel and possibly fuel mapping to eek out every possible shred of efficiency that they can on the Jetta and they'll run the Prius completely stock, drive inefficiently, air down the tires and make the Prius carry all the tools and gear for the trip. LOL

mingoglia, If we can't get Wayne out there then I think you should do it. Then when you win you can make them pay for your fuel.

I'm not bashing the Jetta in any way here. I am, however, bashing the idea behind the race unless they are taking measures to ensure both vehicles are on equal footing regarding:

1. Fuel capacity
2. Stock performance (no performance items or PCM tuning)
3. Tire air pressure
4. Vehicle loading/weight (IE no extra weight added/removed to/from either car)
5. Drivers pilot the autos in a non-biased manner which would lead to inaccurate mpg for either vehicle.
6. Vehicles take turns leading and following so there is no preferential drafting effect coming into play. IE Prius Leads and Jetta follows

I'm sure we could add a bunch more parameters but I'm tired.

 

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDi Test Drive: Clean Diesel?s 50 MPG Meets Prius-Humbling Thrust - Popular Mechanics

this site has some "great" user banter

117. RE: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDi Test Drive: Clean Diesel’s 50 MPG Meets Prius-Humbling Thrust
I drove the 2009 TDI today. It's nice, smooth and quite. It's gonna really make those prius owners feel stupid with a lower price, better economy, looks, and build quality. The prius is dead. Welcome to the diesel generation.

hehe

 

source of attachment?

 

That's a great example of being smug.

How about providing some data instead?

.

 

I think we are missing some of the point here. This is a publicity stunt by the dealer so he can sell cars. It is really not about Jetta vs. Prius.

I have both, they are both nice cars. You may differ with me but compare the Jetta to almost any other car is it fairs very well in fuel economy and emissions.

I know this is PriusChat and it is not TDIchat, but I would much rather see someone in a new Jetta then a Tahoe or Explorer. The new Sportwagon will compete with both of those.

Of course the Prius is my car and the Jetta is my wife's so I am biased towards the Prius.

 

Bestmapman,

I tested both in the last 4 weeks and really liked the TDI, but my impression is for a good mix of city driving it can't touch the Prius in mpg's. Is yours a DSG transmission? If so, what technique gets good mileage? Can the DSG operate like a manual? My impression was that the torque comes out quite easy, which with a lead-foot wife would mean 50mpg would be a pipe dream.

Trying to be realistic in the face of a car I lust after just that much more...

 

Woodman,

I also have both a TDI and a Prius. I test drove the new TDI yesterday. Not only can the DSG operate like a manual, it is a manual. The DSG is a manual transaxle with a computer controlled clutch. It has 3 modes, auto, auto sport, and manual. It auto mode it acts just like an automatic transaxle. Auto sport is the same except that it allows higher RPM's before shifting up. Manual is a fully manual mode, you shift when you choose. The only time the computer interferes is if you try to overrev or underrev. It will automatically shift up at 4500 RPM (redline) and will down shift if you forget to downshift and are going to stale it.

You will get better mileage with the Prius in the city and about the same on the highway. In my opinion, the TDI is a much nicer car in all ways except city fuel mileage.

 

Your are correct, the Prius is head and shoulders above the Jetta in city driving. In fact there is no comparison. I don't know about the DSG as our Jetta is a manual (standard with clutch) transmission.

 

I always appreciate your input considering you own both vehicles. The Jetta Wagon is a very nice alternative for a family vehicle or for someone who needs to haul a lot fo gear. As long as they can keep the electrical gremlins at bay and emissions very low I'd consider recommending it to friends.

 

Hmmmm. Yea. That legendary VW quality has the Yugo like Prius beat.

Seriously, the Prius is the most reliable trouble free car on the planet. VW reliability is legendary as in lack of it.

 

But it doesn't fair will against the Prius when you include the cost of fuel. Diesel is 20% more than regular unleaded. Is the TDI going to get 20% better MPG than the Prius? Even if it did, then it would get crushed once you factored in mixed driving as the TDI doesn't have regenerative breaking.

Now if VW came out with a hybrid TDI, it might be a different story.

 

Thank you.

I really did enjoy driving the new TDI yesterday. I wouldn't be interested in the sedan but I REALLY like the Jetta Sportwagon. It's just too big for my wife and I. We already have what we consider two large cars and we don't need to replace either the Prius or TDI at this point.

I would recommend the current VW's to anyone but not the 1998 to 2004 models.

 

Diesel currently costs more than regular, but 6 months isn't much of a trend. It will be interesting to see if the trend continues or if diesel goes back into the normal variation. Typically diesel is more that premium in the winter and less than regular in the summer.

No, the TDI won't get 20% better fuel mileage than a Prius. It will also cost more for fuel and maintenance. (I say maintenance not because I expect the TDI to break down more but because it requires a $1,000 timing belt replacement every 100K miles)

However in my opinion the TDI is a much nicer car than the Prius. Fit and finish, comfort, interior room, driving dynamics, etc all go to the TDI. There is more to a car purchase than economics.