Prius vs VW Diesel for Long commute

You should be worried about VW reliability. They do terribly in Consumer Reports and JD Powers (even though I don't trust JD that much, their most recent report is at http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/press...asp?ID=2005089) in long term reliability reports. Any fuel cost savings vs. a Prius will be likely more than negated due to repair and maint. costs for the VW.

Fried Chicken's claims of the diesel Jetta being cleaner is the biggest bunch of BS I've ever heard. He's already been debunked by other posts here. Also notice that all the VW disesels at http://www.aceee.org/transportation/hybtaxcred.htm#table get no tax credit because they fail the emissions requirements.

I'm not sure how much you believe or don't believe Intellichoice's claims of cost of ownership, but the Prius did win in several categories http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/vehic...hicle_nmb/19025. Also, click on the Ownership costs link at the left side of http://www.intellichoice.com/reports/compa...&model=0&trim=0. Keep in mind that they already factored in the estimated $3150 tax credit on the Prius into the costs. It claims that the total 5 year ownership cost for a Prius is $19.8K vs. $29.9K for the Jetta TDI vs. $36.3K for an Avalon Touring.

The Avalon is a totally different class of car though. You can probably tell it has a heck of a lot more power and luxury than the Prius. It's reliability should be good as well, unlike the VW.

More on VW unreliability:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/2004-11-08-reliable-cars.htm http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-1...cars-usat_x.htm

 

You're right. I guess "quality" wasn't a correct word choice.

And I'll like to second cwerdna's messages. You should be worried about VW's reliability. Take it from a VW owner. I also know SEVERAL other VW owners who experience too many "random" problems.

If I could rewind the clock before I bought my car, I would have chosen a Japanese car.

 

go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

put in the prius then the VW.... and notice how big of a difference they have in pollution...

The amount they discharge is about the same...

Prius 3.5tons Jetta 5.6 "only" 2 tons more.

But the diesel gives out nasty pollutants.

That's why the Jetta has a score of 1 and the prius has a score of 9.5 in the EPA pollution scale.


I hope you put this as a major factor.

 

yeah... 2 tons of greenhouse gases. the composition is what matters. and that is what makes the air pollution score much much worse in the diesel.

 

Actually that wasn't a good comparison.. Jette is a compact car. Prius is Mid Size.


But it still proves a point.