It looks as if the small supply of new 2009 VW Jetta TDIs will be gobbled up for a few months to come; MotorTrend questions the reasons why diesel VW (even with the premium for diesel fuel) are in strong demand.
So with diesel fuel so much more expensive, why are people buying them? Dealers cite a mix of factors, including mileage (for jumbo commutes 41 mpg starts to add up, even with more expensive fuel), pricing, and reliability. At $22,640 for the Jetta TDI sedan ($24,240 for a wagon) the cars only cost about $2000 more than similar gasoline models, which are rated at 21/29 mpg. In addition, because diesels have fewer moving parts they tend to offer better reliability, and one Texas VW dealer claims the TDI engine "will go 200,000 to 300,000 miles" -- as long as the rest of the car holds together, of course.
Skinny and simple
Most people keep cars for what 5 years +/-... Assuming that someone buys the Jetta they drive 15k a year. For a highway driver it will take them 3.46 years to recoupe the cost difference and 2.39 years to recoupe the city driver. And to be honest I used the EPA estimates, I know that TDI owners will push up to 50 MPG. After which they save $358 to $519 a year in fuel costs. Diesels also have better costs on general maintence and repairs. Also the Diesel engine is rated to 300,000+ miles.
"Everything is possible, it is just a matter of whether it is feasable with today's technology" Hintertux
The price is right ...
Volkswagen dealers say the high price of diesel fuel isn't stopping a rush of buyers eager to snatch up the first batch of Jetta TDI cars.
The TDI models--with new diesels that meet emissions standards in all 50 states--don't go on sale until late August. But many dealers say they already have enough orders to eat up their 2008 allocation of the new Jetta sedan and Sportwagen TDI.
With diesel approaching $5 a gallon in some states, what's the appeal? Dealers say it's the improved fuel economy and high reliability of the diesel engine--plus the kind of performance you can't get from a hybrid or fuel-efficient small car.
"People are becoming aware of what constitutes a true economy vehicle," says Richard Fisher, owner of Auto Barn VW, which has three Chicago area VW stores. "They don't just want economy but a car that drives well and handles well and has good performance."
Volkswagen of America plans to sell 15,000 TDI Jettas this year. Next year, the TDI could account for up to 30 percent of Jetta sales, says VWoA spokesman Steve Keyes. That would take volume above 30,000 units.
The price is right
Dealers say buyers also are rushing in to place orders because the Jettas were priced right. The diesel sedan starts at $22,640 including shipping and the station wagon at $24,240--a premium of about $2,000 over a similarly equipped model with a gasoline engine.