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Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wankel7
If you are buying used I wouldn't take the 4000 extra to heart and call it the gospel
Check out the used market and compare the same trim level jetta or passat and see how big the gas and diesel difference is. I don't think it would be 4k.
Jettas and Passats also come in manuals if that interests you.
get a USED 2001 - 2004 Jetta wagon TDI manual tranny. You can do a nationwide Craigslist search and find a good low mileage one in a few weeks. (no / minimal diesel premium in used pricing)
nice car
safe car (My rural trauma medical instructor keeps his family / teenage drivers in TDI Jettas (as did / do I)
Economical
Servicable (Change filters annually in the fall (especially fuel))
Affordable
Good longevity (I have seen them go 500k+ miles)
FUN to drive! (VW... Drivers wanted) really fun compared to GM or Ford.
Use CLEAN / dry fuel (buy from truckstops / high volume dealer)
Use Stanadyne or similar diesel fuel treatments (not alcohol based)
Timing belt every 100k
If you ever need a clutch... throw away that dual mass OEM garbage and drop in a VR6 clutch (much cheaper, should last 300k)
just drive it! (and never use the electric windows / NO drive ups / NO In 'n Out / NO Starbucks!!!). or... buy a few spare window operators on eBay ~ $50 and train yourself to change them)
TDIclub.com for tutorials / advice / classified
disclaimer: I have 34 VW diesels (most were bought <$100, several Rabbits I found in Brier Patches for free)
Another compact option available soon is the Scion iM. It's a Toyota that's available in Europe under a different name, has the same engine as the Corolla, but unlike the Corolla it has four wheel independent suspension. It's a 4 door hatchback so it offers more function over the standard Corolla.
Just wanted to add a comment regarding the Fusion. I rented a 2015 earlier this year in Atlanta and did three round trips between Atlanta and Augusta, so basically 12 hours of driving in the car over a week. The car had about 25k miles on it at the time. I was very impressed with the mileage; for all highway, and maintaining a speed of 72/73, I saw about 45mpg with a/c running. This was the 4cyl model but the acceleration wasn't bad; obviously not impressive but not bad either. My one big complaint about the thing is that it was very noisy at highway speeds; I'm guessing the great mileage comes from lack of insulating materials to save weight. I listen to NPR news/talk a lot while driving and I had to really crank it up to keep up with the conversations, which would worry me long term about my hearing if I was logging 25k highway miles/yr AND wanted to listen to music/talk over the road noise. At slower speeds it wasn't an issue.
I am going to say a diesel would be great for that many miles.
VW Passat is a very nice full sized car that will get you in the mid to upper 40s mpg highway. Not sure where you live but over 20 states feature diesel being less than gas.
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