The Perception of Diesel: 2009 VW Jetta TDI
"It's all about perception," noted Jim Gill, Head of Product and Technology Marketing for VW. We were at the introduction of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI
'Clean Diesel' in Santa Monica, California last week. Gill was talking about how different age groups perceive diesel.
More specifically, he mentioned that VW is marketing the Jetta TDI to a demographic that's 35 and younger. Why? Because they don't have a memory of "bad diesel", they're environmentally hip, they want a car with go--the TDI has lots of torque-- and they can afford it. The starting price for the Jetta TDI is $21,990.
The story is that clean diesel provides approximately 30% more fuel economy, 25% less greenhouse gas emissions and about 50% more torque. (For example, the 2009 Jetta TDI packs 263 lbs-fit of torque.)
Mention diesel to a jaded baby boomer and they'll probably snort a stream of negatives;
It smells like sulfur. Clean diesel low sulfur fuel has 97% less sulfur than other diesel fuel.
It's dirty. The dirty, smelly, smoke associated with old diesel engines was the result of unburned or partially burned fuel. Advanced emission-capturing technology reduces the amount of C0 2 drastically. What comes out of tailpipes from clean diesels is clean.
It's noisy. Pilot injection quiets down the engine and provides more torque then equivalent gas-based engines.
"We're not starting from scratch," Gill added. VW is celebrating its 32nd anniversary of diesel power. And clean diesel is a brand new game.
To note, the cost of diesel can run up to .58 cent more than gas. However, the pay back comes in fuel economy. For example, EPA estimates for the new Jetta TDI are 29 city and 40 hwy; the AMCI real world tests came in at 38 city/44 hwy.
In the final analysis, while the 2009 Jetta TDI costs a couple of thousand more than its gas version, you'll get a $1300 tax credit.
Plus, the folks at VW say that the resale value on diesels is more than 80%.
- Posted by
- Holly Reich September 26, 2008, 5:13 AM
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- Car Audio and Electronics, Family Cars and Concerns, Fuel Economy, Hybrids and Alternative Fuels
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- boomer, diesel, gas emissions, low sulfur, VW Jetta
I think the perception of "bad diesel" is well on its way out the door. It's better off than certain other perceptions.
I love the 2009 Jetta TDI! If the Jetta sedan wasn't so ugly, I'd consider one........maybe I'll consider the Jetta wagon TDI since I like the wagon very much!
Should be "Advanced emission-capturing technology reduces the amount of [NO2] drastically". Prior to low-sulfur fuel, higher compression and urea tanks, diesels couldn't be CA emissions-ready because of NOx and particulates. CO2 reduction can only come from not burning fuel, e.g. higher fuel efficiency.
At the introduction of the new Jetta design I guess it was 2006 I did not like the style. Too Japanese looking but think about it the Japanese are also great cars nothing to be ashamed of. So my wife wanted a new car we went to the dealership planning to buy the new Tiguan so I asked my wife to test drive the new 2009 Jetta TDI, We test drove both automatic and manual trany ended up buying the Jetta TDI with manual trany. I know we made the right choice this car is a wonder, upscale construction feels like a way more expensive car. My personal car is a Bimmer the Jetta puts my Bimmer to shame. We're already planning to pay off this one in two years hopefully the Tiguan TDI manual trany will be available by then so she can get it and for sure I want to keep the Jetta as my personal daily runner. If you're passionate about driving but don't want to brake the bank this is the car for you, well worth it. At one point we did consider a hybrid but reports show that the battery pack must be replaced at about 100K miles at a price that may exceed $5000.00 and hybrids are not exciting to drive on the other hand TDI's are pepy and the diesel engines last twice as much as gasoline engines without much maintenance.
I love my 2009 Jetta TDI with DVD Navigation, awesome sound system and oh yeah.... 51 MPG!!!!
That's right.. 51 MPG driving from California to Vegas.
I'm told the Prius will be dead at 100,000 miles because the batteries can't be replaced. I don't know if it's true but if it is, I'll have the last laugh when I'm driving my environmentally friendly 51MPG car with 250,000+ miles on it.
I read an article regarding the new diesels made by the big 2.25 as per the report they're still noisy. as some of you may already be aware the EPA
is easy going in regards to standards on the big 2.25 so i think the importers are gonna have to educate the public about their advanced technology when compared to the American engineering if any went into the American made product.