Looking for Beetle Love!

[Elenna]

Good afternoon!

I currently drive an 05 Jeep Liberty, and am tired of the poor gas mileage (I get 18.5mpg if I'm lucky and drive as I should), so in the last 2 months, I've started my search for a high-MPG car.

Of course I checked out the hybrids. I wanted one so badly. But then I considered my daily commute - 17 miles of highway, 2 miles of 'city' driving... I would see a difference from my Liberty, but not worth getting a hybrid for.

So when I saw that the NB TDI was on the Top-10 list for fuel-efficient cars this year (as it has been in the past), I was hooked!

I have wanted a NB for a long time, but (for various reasons) never got one. I never dreamed that I could satisfy my dream of high-MPG too!!

So here I am, just after a raise at work, and I'm looking around at the dealerships!

I can't find any TDIs!!! Are they that popular, or am I just having poor luck? I do know that they are discontinuing them for next model year. Am I looking just a little too late??


I would love any tips for upping the MPG. I know about the break-in time, and have read about venting and additives, but (being a stereotypical woman) know ZILTCH about what those are!

Anyway, glad to be here, and hope to purchase a TDI soon!

[detailstation]

there is still some out there!have you seen if a dealer can locate one for you? we live in Indiana and merrivile vw-audi has several.Maybe a dealer can locate or do a dealer trade for you!

[detailstation]

also for $45.00 or so a k&n air filter will up your mileage on either a gas or diesel auto

[deeceedub]

Welcome to the org! You're at the right place to find tons of info about the NB-- there's nowhere better on the net!

There are still a few '06 TDIs around. I just put a deposit on one (a new allotment of yet-to-be-built TDIs) at my local VW dealer (we don't even have a manufacture date yet-- I'm probably 3-4 months away from actually driving it).

Have you tried Autotrader.com? I've seen several new '06 TDIs there-- but you might need to be willing to drive to get one.

Also, a warning-- a dealership I checked at in Lubbock was adding a $4000 upcharge to the sticker price (calling it a "Market Value Adjustment"). I guess the diesels are super hot right now! And as much as I wanted one, I wasn't willing to pay $4K extra.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

[Elenna]

Thanks for the tips!! I did notice the 'Market Value Adjustment' on a regular (non TDI) Beetle, and thought "Well, that's BS".

I'll try Autotrader - I don't mind driving! I haven't been able to speak with a dealership yet, but am excited that they are still being manufactured for now! My car is perfectly drivable, so timing isn't critical.

Where can I get the K&N air filters? Somewhere 'special', or would a chain auto store carry them (like AutoZone, etc)?

[Elenna]

Originally Posted by Porkchop

One problem is any high mpg vehicle, but especially diesels and hybrids, are in high demand right now. So when you can find one, the dealership is going to expect to get top dollar (MSRP or higher.. maybe a little off MSRP if you really wheel and deal).

But what I'm wondering is: why didn't you get the Liberty diesel? I assume you wanted an SUV... since you bought one. That would have given you the best of both worlds: good mileage and the SUV versatility.

But here is the big problem: you're going to need to weigh the cost associated with the depreciation on such a new car and any negative equity issues if its financed. If you figure all of those costs and compare them to the fuel cost savings, you may find paying for more fuel in the Liberty is cheaper.

The last time I figured the breakeven point for making a change, it was something like 4 or 5 years before it saved me any money to switch from my 20 mpg Jeep Cherokee to something with 40 mpg.

Hey there! I don't remember deisel being an option when I purchased my Liberty back in late 2003. If it was, I certainly wasn't educated enough to contemplate it!

The KBB value for my liberty is around $14,500, so that would leave me with $8-$9k to pay, assuming we didn't haggle them down in price. If we DID haggle them down to only needing to pay $6,000, then, with saving $100 a month on gas, it would take 5 years to break even, not taking into consideration the fixing of 'wear and tear' stuff on my out-of-warranty Liberty, and more frequent oil changes in the Liberty, and the $6k still owed on the Liberty.

So - is it financially best for me? Probably not. Am I listening to reason? Definitely not!!

My Liberty is banged up from off-roading, damaged from someone trying to break-in, but I just want a smaller, better-looking vehicle. Besides, in our subdivision, we have (I kid you not) no less than 6 silver Liberties! We only have 1 other beetle! I live in a New Urbanism community, so the Beetle fits more... or so I tell myself!

*goes off to dream about the day she might be able to get her Beetle*


I did a search on AutoTrader, and found 4 of them within 300 miles. 2 of them didn't include the options I want, which leaves the farthest of the 2 (over 250 miles away). Hmmmm. Might just want to talk to a dealer and see about getting on the waiting list or something!

[from Margaritaville...]

I find it mildly amusing that you are looking to change from a Jeep Liberty (with timeless styling) to a VW Beetle (with timeless styling). They just don't go out of style. Just an observation...

[Elenna]

Yes, I like round things - can you tell?? It's really isn't an issue of style - they're both beautiful - I don't need the extra space the SUV has, it's a large vehicle that is hard to park in our garage (shush about my driving skills! ), and it gets porr gas mileage. Best reason? I just want one! Muhaha.

I do love the styling of the Liberty. Nice touches inside, useful cup holders, lots of room to put stuff inside (with the flip-up seat), chrome accents are sexy, I like that it warns me when my washer fluid is low! However... it's just "time" for a new vehicle.

My Liberty was a joint purchase when we totalled our old Sahara (Jeep Wrangler), with it being 'my turn' to select the Jeep vehicle. And now that he has his own Rubicon again, I want something non-Jeep (long story about a bad Jeep Club expereince) and more fun!

[Lil' Blue Bug]

Welcome to the org Elenna, we just recently traded our 2001Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 constant 4 wheel drive for my 06 2.5 NB. The main reason like yours, I was dropping $80. a week in it on gas . Thankfully we didnt owe anything, so now I'm saving over $160 a month in gas and the "other" reason was the Beetle has been my dream car 4 ever and ever,so we bought one and I'm soooooooooooo happy we did!. I hope you find your TDI or should I say I hope it 'finds" u and real soon, you will love it It's all about the experience!
Li' Blue Bug

[Papa Bug]

Welcome to the Org, Elenna!! I'm not gonna go into resale values or cost benefits or anything like that. I bought my NB as a favor to my dad, just to take it off his hands. He already had too many car payments. Once I got behind the wheel and drove her I was hooked. Good luck with your search & hope to see pix when you get your NB.

[Elenna]

Thanks so much, guys!!

We just dropped a butt-load (is that allowed here??) of money on a new TV, an Xbox 360, and a DVD player this evening, but my husband is calling a dealer about a sivler TDI that they have! And they're local! So.... *crosses her fingers* maybe this will be 'the one'!!

[from Margaritaville...]

Oh...please tell us about your bad Jeep Club experience!...

[Elenna]

Originally Posted by Alan Margosian

Oh...please tell us about your bad Jeep Club experience!...

Ha ha... a lot of drama surrounding a member's bad behavior that was tolerated simply because he was one of the founding members. This member was banned from certain off-road parks because of his behavior - behavior that he displayed during club-sponsored events.

Anyway, my husband and I saw him push new members away, making them feel stupid, unwanted, and unwelcome in the club, because the president did nothing about it.

So we left


I do hope that NB clubs are better than that! Drama is everywhere, I'm sure, though.

[from Margaritaville...]

Originally Posted by Elenna

Ha ha... a lot of drama surrounding a member's bad behavior that was tolerated simply because he was one of the founding members. This member was banned from certain off-road parks because of his behavior - behavior that he displayed during club-sponsored events.

Anyway, my husband and I saw him push new members away, making them feel stupid, unwanted, and unwelcome in the club, because the president did nothing about it.

So we left


I do hope that NB clubs are better than that! Drama is everywhere, I'm sure, though.

That musta been a real bummer. It's a shame that some people are so socially inept, manipulative and a "here, look at me!" attitude about themselves. It's just sickening...

[ghostRder1]

Welcome to the org! Happy hunting.








bandit
seabandit's 2006 Vert ~ Bandit

[dasmurph]

The diesel liberty's are a joke. They get like 3mpg better than the gas, totally not worth the extra money. The sticker says the mileage is better, but ya, it isn't I'm sorry there aren't any TDI's in your area...you should be out here, my local dealer has PLENTY haha...good luck on your search and keep us updated!!

[Jewel]

Welcome to the board! Hope you post often and everyone is so nice here. It's great!