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OT Diesel's $4.50/gallon? Bring it on...

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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Initially Posted - 05/10/2008 : 15:20:18

Rita & I were doing the math on what it was costing me to drive my F-250 as a commuter vehicle & came to the realization that for roughly the same amount we're paying in fuel for it, we could buy a new car & still be ahead. So today, after searching for a couple of weeks, we bought a "new" 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI which gets roughly 3-3.5x the mileage the Ford does, somewhere in the 45-50 MPG range. So now my weekly fuel consumption will be on the order of my daily consumption to date. Plus it's a kick in the pants to drive, or as Rita says "it's a brilliant car to drive".

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

Edited by - delliottg on 05/11/2008 09:56:00

John Russell
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Response Posted - 05/10/2008 : 17:48:42

The Jetta is just a Golf with a trunk. And, while I lived in Germany for 6 years, I always thought that the VW Golf was the fastest car on the autobahn. Oh, the stories I could tell. Enjoy your new toy.

I've been contemplating the big change as well. I drive roughly 500 miles a week. I'd rather get 30-35mpg instead of the 18-20 I'm getting now.

Edited by - on

filmsomething
1st Mate

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Response Posted - 05/11/2008 : 01:20:40

as much as I love diesel why didn't you opt for a good gasoline mpg car? with the prices that it is right now it seems that you would be saving more with a hybrid or other econo box that gets 35-50mpg

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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Response Posted - 05/11/2008 : 09:48:25

I opted for the VW TDI (Turbo Diesel Injected) because it gets more than 45 miles to the gallon. Plus if I choose to, I can run bio-diesel. I initially was looking at hybrids, the Smart Car (which is available in diesel outside of the US), and other gas/electric options, but kept coming back to the VW TDI as the best option for me. The mileage was the deciding factor, but I like the VW's styling, looks, and especially the handling. It's got at least 8 airbags (I seem to discover new ones each time I sit in it), and lots of clever little touches. My only problem with this car is that it was built in Mexico instead of Germany, but it's still under warranty so if I have any problems, I can just take it back to a dealer for service.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2008 : 10:38:23

A buddy of mine converted his VW to bio-diesel, he's very pleased and so is the local dunkin doughnuts, he is a mobile ad for them (the exhaust actually smells of doughnuts!)

Go green! it makes cents!

My son speaks and writes about environment saving issues. He recently spoke to my Rotary club and mentioned some interesting facts. He asked if we knew the price of gas, of course we all did. Then he asked if we knew the cost of a KwHr of electricity at home. None of us knew. He then explained the cost effectivness of replacing filament lamps with low energy lamps, a huge return on your investment. This car will be a huge return too.

Paul

Edited by - on

John Russell
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Response Posted - 05/11/2008 : 11:09:46

David,
Not to hijack the thread but I've been meaning to ask. How's Rita's heel?

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2008 : 11:34:11

John,
Thanks so much for asking. She's walking most of the time w/o a cane now, and said she almost wanted to get up & dance the conga last night at a benefit we went to. If you'd like to read about her recovery, she's written about it off and on in her [url="http://ritaho.blogspot.com/search/label/Footy%20News"]blog[/url]. She's also making positive noises about getting back on the boat, so that's good news as well. She's been up on the boat several times in the past few weeks to help me with things (horrified to see all the wires, panels, etc. that I've got open while doing upgrades). She wants to get SL shipshape for the summer, so that makes me happy.

Paul,
Can you tell me more about what your son had to say about low energy bulbs? I use them in almost all my fixtures, but would still like to hear an expert's opinion as to why they're actually better. I also wonder about the tiny amounts of mercury that are in them & how that affects our environment over time.

Edited by - delliottg on 05/11/2008 12:15:15

JimB517
Past Commodore

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3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2008 : 12:07:22

In 2006 I sold my Mustang and bought a 2005 Honda Insight, the most fuel efficent mass market car ever made. My lifetime MPG is 58.9 over 60,000 miles. I usually get over 62 on my daily, 90 mile, commute. I got a tax credit at time of purchase. Plus I get to drive in the carpool lanes and on the toll roads free and without a second occupant.

Every day I try to set a new MPG record. I have gotten from home to boat above 74 mpg (its 45 miles downhill from my home in the foothills).

Driving using hypermilage techniques makes me much more relaxed, more calm, less road rage, lowers my bloodpressure, and saves money.

Now I am discovering "books on tape" I am listening to Lord of the Rings, and I find this is good for another 2 mpg on average.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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3467 Posts

Response Posted - 05/11/2008 : 14:16:55

I may look into diesel next time I'm ready for a new car purchase.

By the way, where do you attach the mast and are you considering a modification...taking the steering wheel off and installing.....oh yeah...enough kicking that dead horse around ! LOL

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2008 : 21:24:01

Traded the wifes explorer in on a VW Beetle today. Had to do my part on the gas thing.

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dmpilc
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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 05/14/2008 : 22:29:43

We made a car change 2 years ago, after we got back from our trip to England for our 30th Anniversary. I posted some pics on the forum about some boats an harbors we saw. Anyway, prior to the trip the admiral's car, used daily, was an Isuzu Trooper, which we also use to haul around the C-22. It gets 14.5 mpg in town. After the trip, during which we drove a Ford Focus almost 2500 miles around England, Wales, and Scotland, we bought a 2004 focus here and have parked the Trooper, except for occasional use and hauling the boat. The Focus gets 30-35 mpg and is fun to drive as well. BTW, we were paying $7 per gallon for gas in England.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/15/2008 : 08:28:54

Back to boating... Marine diesel is $4.55 a gallon. We burn .6 gallons an hour at 5 knots or so... going up the ICW will cost us dearly just to get to Norfolk...

sten

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/15/2008 : 09:14:36

Well Sten, if it makes you feel any better, on my way in this morning, diesel is now up to $4.77/gallon here, and that's on the road, on the water, it's probably $0.50 higher or more.

On an upnote though, I'm approaching 200 miles on my first tank of fuel in the new car & the gauge is still reading above 3/4 tank. If the gauge is accurate (and if it's anything like the one in my Ford, it isn't), that means I'm getting somewhere in the neighborhood of 55mpg. I doubt that this is accurate, and I won't know for sure for a couple of weeks, but I'm confident that I'm getting better than 45 mpg, which is more than 3x what my truck gets. At this rate, I'll amortize my car in just a few years on diesel prices alone.

Edited by - delliottg on 05/15/2008 09:15:20

Nautiduck
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Response Posted - 05/15/2008 : 09:35:54

This thread points out why the rise in fuel prices is good. It clearly is causing behavior changes. Like David, we have set the SUV aside and now drive a high MPG hybrid. Boaters are also having to rethink their choices. Alternative energy sources now can become economically viable and perhaps we can actually rid ourselves of dependence on Middle East oil.

It is all painful but, in my opinion, the best thing for us.

Edited by - on

delliottg
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Response Posted - 05/15/2008 : 10:05:43

Much as I hate to agree with you Randy (it's more fun to argue), you've got a point. When the price of fuel is astronomical, alternatives become more viable, the technology to develop them, once prohibitively expensive, comes down into the "reasonable" range simply because the range has shifted upwards. I don't want to pay $5/gallon for fuel (Europeans have paid prices like this for years), but if it rids us of the necessity of being the world's police force to insure our supply of petrochemicals, I'm all for it. I'd much rather let the folks in the Middle East deal with their own problems than have us being their nanny. Unfortunately, this is the case today, and I think we're trying to do the right thing in Iraq, install a democratic system which might have the reverse domino effect, but it's going to be a long haul, and it takes a couple of generations for it to stick. What surprises me is that that OPEC doesn't see this down the road, with plummeting oil prices as the eventuality. It'd be far better for them in the long run to sell cheaper oil, simply because that'll prevent us (the US) from gearing up for alternatives because we're basically lazy. If there's a cheaper way of doing something we're going to go that route, however, back us up against a wall, and you end up with [url="http://"]"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."[/url]

Edited by - delliottg on 05/15/2008 10:08:10

Dave5041
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Response Posted - 05/15/2008 : 12:05:09

Actually, delliottq, that is what happened in the last petro crisis in the seventies, we started dumping money into etoh production and alternative fuel research and oil dropped to more reasonable prices to undercut the options. Unfortunately, with our leadership and society's inability to focus on long term solutions, the funding then slowed to a trickle. We're here again.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/15/2008 : 18:29:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 Back to boating... Marine diesel is $4.55 a gallon. We burn .6 gallons an hour at 5 knots or so... going up the ICW will cost us dearly just to get to Norfolk...

sten
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sten,
If you plan to stop in Belhaven, NC. let me know. I was sitting on my front porch tonight and counted 8 sailboats anchored in the harbor.

Belhaven is a quite little layover, right off the ICW.

Edited by - on

redviking
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Response Posted - 05/16/2008 : 08:59:58

Quote: "Sten,
If you plan to stop in Belhaven, NC. let me know. I was sitting on my front porch tonight and counted 8 sailboats anchored in the harbor. Belhaven is a quite little layover, right off the ICW."

We may very well stop there. I'll let you know. our next stop is offshore to Morehead City and then up the ICW to about where you are - should be a one day trip... Dunno, we stopped in Oriental last time... We'll see - but yeah, we would love to anchor in your "yard."

Sten

DPO C25 #3220 "Zephyr", SR, FK
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - Wrightsville Beach NC

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 05/16/2008 : 10:23:16

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=40de6673-4f4d-411d-954f-0dd03252a08d

In the local news today, RVers feel the pain at the pumps. Seems that some people don't want to pay $400 to fuel their 40' living room on wheels.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
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Response Posted - 05/16/2008 : 11:43:58

Rising fuel prices are going to have an ENORMOUS impact on the RV and boating industries.

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dblitz
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Response Posted - 05/16/2008 : 14:05:49

This thread is sooooo outlandish it's really entertaining.
The only time we actually go out and make our contribution is when it hits us really hard. If gas was still $ 1.25 a gallon, this thread would of been about how we are all doing our part to help the OIL COMPANIES by buying BIGGER cars. That bit about being really worried that a Mexican made it instead of a German is really, really funny. In actuality, VW's, like Audi's, suck NO MATTER where they are made quality-wise (My own experience with these cars is you lease them and return them before the warranty expires). Excuse me for just not seeing how you can possibly be getting 50 miles to the gallon (50 kilometers, maybe). If you factor in the fact that a VW Diesel costs $ 5000.- bucks more than a gas model and that diesel costs a lot more than regular (in our part of the country it's $ 5.00/gallon) you are so far behind you will never catch up.

Edited by - dblitz on 05/16/2008 14:21:19

Nautiduck
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Response Posted - 05/16/2008 : 18:13:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The only time we actually go out and make our contribution is when it hits us really hard.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Exactly. That's the whole point. For most people it takes high prices (hitting us hard) to force changes in consumers that then force changes in the manufacturers. I love my big SUV. It's the best car/truck I've ever owned. We bought the hybrid due to fuel costs. Turns out its a great car too!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">In actuality, VW's, like Audi's, suck NO MATTER where they are made <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We had a Mexican made VW and drove it well over 100k miles. It was a terrific car. We only replaced it because we needed more room. The people I know with VW's (especially the diesel Jettas) love them. Sorry about your experience.

Edited by - on

John Russell
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Response Posted - 05/16/2008 : 18:39:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dblitz
 ... In actuality, VW's, like Audi's, suck NO MATTER where they are made quality-wise <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I had the good fortune of living in Germany for 6 years. The story that I often tell when I get the inevitable autobahn question involves the Volkswagen Golf. I have on many occasions driven in the right lane of the autobahn at 90 - 95 MPH in my Dodge Caravan. The cruise control would not hold past that speed and I really didn't think any faster was very safe in a mini-van anyway, I digress. I would often see, in my driver's side mirror a Mercedes or BMW or some such flashing headlights to get cars to move to the right so they can get by at 100++ MPH and higher. I have on many occasions seen VW Golfs drafting off the back of these mega cars also flashing their lights. Don't tell them their cars suck. Fahrrvergnuegen!! VW has clearly learned how to make a small motor sing.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
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Response Posted - 05/17/2008 : 10:18:30

My experience with VW (via an Audi 100LS and a Dasher wagon) included:
- Burned valves due to improper valve guide metallurgy (so I was told)
- Disk brakes gone in 15000 miles (faulty pads)
- Exploding A/C (bad hose connection) put a dent in the hood
- Constant front-end alignment problems
- $000s per year in "routine" maintenance

...but then again, they worked better than our Taurus a few years later! Later came four Toyotas--all totally reliable and indestructable... But I have to admit nothing drove like that 1971 (pre-emission-control) 4-speed Audi--put the peddle down at 80 mph and it pushed you back in the seat as it buried the speedo at 120. (I only did that a couple of times in the upstate Michigan boondocks.) It was truly an Autobahn animal!

Edited by - on

dblitz
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Response Posted - 05/17/2008 : 18:46:52

Had a Audi A4 under lease when it first came out in 98. The regional Audi guy told me one more trip to the shop for a repair and we'll give you a new one under the lemon law. They were trying to recover from the unintended acceleration problem with the 5000s/100's. After that an A6 under lease and, what can I say, it was not trouble free. The problem is that now, with the weak dollar, if you're out of warranty on any European car the cost of parts will absolutely shock you. How about$ 800 for a fuel pump on a Saab, anyone? Anybody ask how much PARTS cost when they buy a new car even if it's a VW Jetta TDI built in Mexico? Cause if they just put it together there and the parts come from Europe, if it's out of warranty you're in for a really interesting bill.

Edited by - dblitz on 05/17/2008 18:50:12

Tom Potter
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Response Posted - 05/17/2008 : 19:24:49

The company I work for gives me a new F150 every year to drive. Last year I picked up my new F150 with 1.9 miles on it. Drove 15 miles and the radiator hose came off spilling all my coolant on I-85. Had to have it towed and a very hot engine.

This year another new ford 150. Drove 25 miles and they had to replace the steering box.

The explorer (I traded for the VW) I bought new for the wife, had 40,000 and the rear end sounded like a freight train, cruise quit, etc. etc.

It don't matter what you buy anymore all of them are made somewhere other than the good old USA, or at least the parts are.

I've been told the only true american made car is a Toyota.

Our third VW, they too have their bugs.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 05/17/2008 19:25:46

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