GM Inside News Forum - View Single Post - 2009 U.S. EPA Ratings List A Pontiac "G3 Hatchback"; VW Jetta Diesel Rated @ 30/41MPG

377Z · 06-03-2008, 12:18 PM

On www.fueleconomy.org for the 2006 Jetta TDi automatic the combined EPA estimate is 33 MPG. Drivers report 40.8 MPG.

If you apply a 'correction' to the 2009 Jetta with the automatic based on the disparity , the figures go from 29/40 city/hwy to 36/49 city/hwy. The combinde number for the '09 is also 33 MPG, so drivers may actually achieve around 40 MPG.

Very assumptive, I know, but just food for thought, especially if you compare these very theoretical numbers with a 2008 Jetta 2.5 with 21/29 MPG estimates (chosen since 2009's don't have any driver reported figures yet). Combined estimate is 24 MPG, and this is the average of the reported figures.

40 MPG is 67% higher than 24 MPG. (40/24)*100 (%)

You would spend 40% less on fuel. ((40-24)/40)*100 (%)

Currently diesel is roughly 18-25% more expensive, so you still have a net savings.

I drive about 13,000 miles a year now. I see gas around $4.20/gal & diesel around $5.25/gal where I am. getting a 40 MPG diesel sedan over its 24 MPG gas counterpart would save me personally $570 per year. From a purely economic standpoint this would need to be weighed against the diesel's higher inital price. Of course, this doesn't take into account my opinion of diesels--I think they're cool, and would be willing to get one (provided I like the underlying car) even if the cost issue was a wash.

06-03-2008, 12:18 PM	#85 (permalink)
377Z 6.0 Liter L76 V8 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Prairie district, Chicago, IL Drives: 2004 A4 3.0 Quattro Cabriolet, 1998 Ford Explorer Posts: 2,016	Re: 2009 U.S. EPA Ratings List A Pontiac "G3 Hatchback"; VW Jetta Diesel Rated @ 30/4 On www.fueleconomy.org for the 2006 Jetta TDi automatic the combined EPA estimate is 33 MPG. Drivers report 40.8 MPG. If you apply a 'correction' to the 2009 Jetta with the automatic based on the disparity , the figures go from 29/40 city/hwy to 36/49 city/hwy. The combinde number for the '09 is also 33 MPG, so drivers may actually achieve around 40 MPG. Very assumptive, I know, but just food for thought, especially if you compare these very theoretical numbers with a 2008 Jetta 2.5 with 21/29 MPG estimates (chosen since 2009's don't have any driver reported figures yet). Combined estimate is 24 MPG, and this is the average of the reported figures. 40 MPG is 67% higher than 24 MPG. (40/24)100 (%) You would spend 40% less on fuel. ((40-24)/40)100 (%) Currently diesel is roughly 18-25% more expensive, so you still have a net savings. I drive about 13,000 miles a year now. I see gas around $4.20/gal & diesel around $5.25/gal where I am. getting a 40 MPG diesel sedan over its 24 MPG gas counterpart would save me personally $570 per year. From a purely economic standpoint this would need to be weighed against the diesel's higher inital price. Of course, this doesn't take into account my opinion of diesels--I think they're cool, and would be willing to get one (provided I like the underlying car) even if the cost issue was a wash.