[Greenbuilding] Off Topic: What car do you suggest?

[Jason Holstine]

So what's the word on the new TDI's ability to take biodiesel and veggie
diesel?

 

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Benjamin Pratt
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 10:18 AM
To: RONALD CASCIO
Cc: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Off Topic: What car do you suggest?

>  You might want to bring yourself up to speed on modern diesel 
> technology Ben, and the difference between horsepower (gasoline) and
torque (diesel).
>
>  Ron

The 2008 TDi is much more powerful and cleaner--but the gas mileage is far
worse than the older models. I was talking about 2003 vintage VW TDI, which
is slow (0-60 12.5 seconds), and dirty.
    The problem with the new jetta is that the mileage is, at best, 25%
better than gas cars of the same size and power, and you are paying 25% more
for fuel. Additionally, you pay around 2K more for a diesel model. If
volkwagen had used their new cleaner technology, and optimized mileage and
not power the car would make logical and economical sense.
   -Ben
PS  I do have some personal experience too. I used to commute with a guy who
drove a 2003 tdi beetle. It was slow, unreliable, slow starting in winter,
and had numerous problems which were expensive to fix. He got rid of it.

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