Did you consider a Jetta TDI before going Prius?

I suggest you hunt down real-world data. What does Jetta TDI deliver for DSG owners?

47.7 MPG is my 2004 Prius average as of 117,952 miles.

2010 Prius will clearly deliver a higher MPG.

Then take a look at the emission rating. There's no contest. Prius wins by a landslide in the smog category.
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Frankly, I could not own a TDI because my main goal is the lowest emissions possible. The other hybrid benefits are all consequences of my first choice.

However, I do know the newer TDI's have a great deal of FE potential and if fuel economy is all you want then the TDI will not disappoint. Its EPA rating is seriously underrated and in the hands of a good driver it will deliver fuel economy capable of putting to shame many heavier-footed and mindless hybrid drivers.
Yes, I put my money where my mouth is and I own all hybrid and nothing else... but since there aren't enough hybrids for everyone and to fit all tastes, we need good fuel efficient options for those who would otherwise buy a regular gas car. As a T2B5 car, the TDI is one of the best options, even with VW's spotty reliability and post sales service.

Instead of dissing the TDI's, I accepted a test challenge and gave them a shot.
Here's a review from the eyes of "all-hybrid" owner:

2009 Jetta TDI fuel economy review

Cheers;

MSantos

 

A Jetta Wagon was on my short list. The big negative was rear seat legroom for soon to be teenagers in addition to VW reliability from previous Golf experience.

I ended up ordering a Gen III Prius.

I sure like the TDI however....

 

No for the the Jetta TDI but yes for the new 2010 Golf TDI. Is it better looking and much better interior and technology. Right now diesel is a little cheaper than gas but that ends when it gets colder. Once the heating oil market picks up then diesel fuel prices go way up. Last year when gas prices were way up, Diesel cost almost $1 more than gas. This is the main thing that keeps me from getting a TDI.

My top 5 list for my next commuter car is....
1) 2010 Prius (way out front )
2) 2010 Honda Insight
3) 2009 Honda Civic
4) 2010 Golf TDI
5) 2009 Honda Fit

As long as inventory and prices are good then a 2010 Prius should be in my driveway this summer.

 

Yes my wife and I did consider the Sportwagen TDI but VW's are very unreliable. I know as I've owned a few of them and when the dealer said the timing belt had to be changed at 60,000 miles that was too low for such a big service. VW maintainance is very expensive!

 

I just checked Toyota's Australian web site and I couldn't find a "Jetta" anywhere. Is the Toyota Jetta only available in the USA?

I wouldn't buy a car from another manufacturer, 15 years working on a wide range of cars has shown me that Toyotas need less repairs.

 

Hi Mark...,

Diesel will be more expensive come winter, for a similar reason. Gas is expensive in the summer due to special formulation. Diesel is expensive in the winter also due to the special formulating. Although the purposes of the formulations are different (emissions versus gel temp), the effect is the same.

With the Prius you have no Turbo Charger to worry about. Turbo's seem to go bad at a much higher frequency than the Prius battery. And you still have to worry about the service life of the uber-complisanert Jetta transmission, in comparison to mechanically simple Prius transmission.

Metropolitan area driving of the Prius results in dramatically better fuel economy than the EPA. While rural driving results in dramatically better fuel economy for the TDI, than the EPA. Take your pick.

 

We considered the Jetta TDI briefly before knocking it off our list. The two main reasons were seat comfort and reliability. Friends own one and enjoy driving it, but said the seats are horrible and its in the shop quite a bit. We need a car that's comfortable for a 10 hr drive twice a year and 3hr drives 4-6x a year. It's amazing to me how many cars really lose it on this simple criteria and we're just average sized folks. We passed on the '09 Prius because of the seats. I'm hoping that the new and improved seats in the '10 make the car a winner all around for reliability and comfort - not to mention a sweet spot in price as it wasn't the most expensive car we considered and nor the least expensive and it gets excellent mileage to boot!

 

I considered a TDI before I bought my Prius, but nixed the idea pretty quickly for the reasons also mentioned above:

• Reliability
• Smog
• City MPG

Less important to me but also negatives I thought about were engine noise and diesel smell. Lastly, and the only non-practical consideration, I find the hybrid technology interesting.

 

There's no Toyota Jetta anywhere... It's a VW, so it won't be on your "to buy" list.

 

<GROAN> Again?

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
0	Ranking Characteristic Prius 2010 Prius 2009 Jetta TDI Source
1	1 MSRP: automatic	spoiler $22	000 $22	000 $23	699 Toyota and Volkswagen web sites (AMT tax rate)
2	2 EPA mileage combined 50 MPG 46 MPG 33 MPG USA EPA	automatic Prius and automatic Jetta TDI
3	3 EPA vehicle class sedan sedan small car USA EPA vehicle class
4	4 Front tires lose traction safe safe dangerous "Jetta versus Prius" at 1:50	You Tube video
5	5 Engine stress	mechanical 8.5 8.5 20.0 Compression stroke	Atkinson vs Diesel
6	6 Engineering innovation highest high least Patents per model and technical innovation
7	7 Consumer Reports: satisfaction 93% * 93% 73% ** *-copied from 2009	**-copied from Rabbit	highest VW
8	8 Noise lowest low highest Engine derating	insulation	and engine off operation
9	9 Misleading claims none none worst 2008 Guinness record; Top Gear; Edmunds; TDI advocates
10	10 Forum respect	not trolling best limited worst Prius owners seem to only visit 'Prius vs Jetta' forums and leave; Jetta TDI advocates show up at in PriusChat asking to have their buttocks handed to them

Bob Wilson

 

VW started free maintainance for 3 year 36,000 miles on the 09 models. But in the process the lowered the 4 year 50,000 mile warranty term on pre 09 models. After 36,000 you are on your own and the expensive service starts at 40,000 miles and then again at 60,000 miles. This is great if you lease but for long term ownership, it will get expensive.

 

A friend of mine bought a Hyundai waaaay back when they had that 10 year warranty. I thought ok, maybe it will be ok. I called up the Service dept instead of the sales dept and told them I had a problem with my (fictional car of the model I wanted to buy) They said they were jammed up and it would take 3 weeks to even look at the car and said I should try another dealer.

On topic? Yes because no matter how good the warranty is if the car is always in the shop being fixed it's not doing you much good. I won't recount the numerous problems my family, friends and I have had with VW service over the years.
Many VW fans will even tell you to keep the vehicle far from a VW dealership service dept.
I'm a big diesel fan but not a VW fan. Toyota makes some great diesels. I know since I've owned them when I lived overseas.

I think the Prius will be a superior car to the VW diesel which is why I'm buying it.

 

I started considering the Jetta TDI wagon when it won the Green Car of the Year award. However, my local dealership doesn't have any, doesn't know when they will have some, and never answers my emails.

Judging from past experience and with absolutely no expertise to back me up, I expect the price of diesel to be higher than the cost of regular gas over the long term. Plus, the idea of gassing up at the diesel pumps is a little off-putting to me (as a woman).

Finally, since my top priorities are environmental ones (mpg and emissions) the Prius is definitely the top choice for me.

 

I drove a Passat wagon just for fun and really liked the handling. But VW's legendary UNreliability, and the fact the TDI's a diseasel, would keep me from ever giving it serious thought.

 

The disesal technology has improve significantly over the years. I personally would not consider the Jetta because of the maintenance cost a VW.

I drove my VW Passat sedan for the last 9 years, and I am looking at a 2010 prius. It had great handling, clean interior, > 30 mpg (I did mostly highway driving), and I could fit my full size mattress into the car with the rear seats folded and trunk closed!

The passat was solid until it just ticked over 60K. Vacuum leaks, oil leaks, MCU, ignition coils, temperature senor... $$$. I go to a local VW shop which saves on labor vs. the dealer, but the German VW/Audi parts are just expensive.

You may save on the upfront service charge for the first three years, but you will pay for it later.

 

I considered the Jetta TDI wagon very seriously. I liked the added utility and performance of the wagon. But after doing research, it seemed that is a vehicle that requires more attention to maintenance than I'm willing to commit.

I was also concerned with the price and availability of diesel fuel. The gas stations I frequent (primarily Costco) don't carry diesel fuel. And in Phoenix, diesel was much higher than premium.

When I researched the 2010 Prius and found PC, the contest was over.