Lousy Prize for Oldest VW Diesel Rabbit...

 

When I saw the photo of Mr. Wilson being handed the keys to a brand new 2008 VW Touareg TDI, I thought now that's a PRIZE!  After reading the article further, I could not believe what was stated in the last sentence. Mr. Wilson was given the Touareg to Drive for six months. You have to be joking me! Considering VW put together this promotion, the least they could do to promote the worlds most efficient and clean engines would be to offer this guy a new 2008 VW Jetta TDI for keeping his 1977 Rabbit in pristine condition. I understand that the Touareg TDI is expensive, but the Jetta costs about 40K less. To me, this is just lousy promotional tactics. VW, offer the guy a new Jetta TDI, come on.

 

If I were in Mr. Wilson's shoes I would be reenacting the chase scenes from the Bourne Ultimate through the streets of Tehachapi, California for six months. Hopefully, VW would be nice enough to at least replace the rubber.    

 

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AutoBlog - Oldest VW diesel found in California

 

 

28K for a VW Golf TDI?.....

After I read this story on Autoblog I said to myself "Is this correct, $28,236.00 for a diesel VW Golf?". I'm sure that AutoBlog did a direct conversion from Euros to US dollars. They should have taken the Golf, or as it is now called in the US, the Rabbit and compared the US diesel version and its additional costs to the gas version. I believe that one would see that the cost for the diesel version would only be approximately $2,000.00 more than the gas version. All of the stories I have seen so far have stated that the cost for the 2008 VW diesel Jetta will be $2000 more than the gas job.

 

 If Autoblog is correct and the VW diesel Golf/Rabbit will be selling in the US for the above mentioned price, VW dealers will have more stock on their lots than they anticipate.

 

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Frankfurt Preview: VW Golf Bluemotion Gets Over 52 MPG

"Break-Even" Period is Shorter for Diesels Over hybrids

Whenever I considered purchasing a hybrid vehicle, it never made financial sense to me due to the additional cost for the hybrid technology. I think most people, who are on a budget, would agree that paying a premium for a hybrid vehicle really does not make much sense. Especially, if the break-even period to recoup those hybrid premiums could be over 10 years (i.e. Lexus RX 400h). Believe it or not, the Mercedes-Benz M-Class diesel improved fuel economy can limit the break-even period to just over 2 years. Wait until the final EPA MPG results are posted of the 2008 VW Jetta TDI. My guess is that the break-even period will be even shorter than 2 years.    

 

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Edmunds.com

2008 VW Diesel Jetta

The new 2008 VW Jetta diesel. Look out hybrids...this beast is breathing down your neck for the best MPG title. Do we hear over 60 MPG? The VW engineers think so. Most likely the EPA estimates will be lower. But, that is always the case with diesel engines. On-road mileage, especially with diesel engines, is always better than the EPA estimates. Take a look at the 50 state legal exhaust treatment on the Jetta.

 

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2008 Volkswagon Jetta Clean Diesel