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2013 VW Beetle TDI is Back With a Frugal Vengeance: 2012 Chicago Auto Show

5K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  Chuckie 
#1 ·
With the newest version of VW's iconic Beetle already on sale, Volkswagen is expanding the car's product range and appeal with a diesel powered model.

Unveiled today at the Chicago Auto Show, the Beetle TDI makes use of a familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged engine to make 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Along with that big torque number, fuel economy is high, with a 29 mpg city rating and a 39 mpg highway rating. Buyers can choose from either a six-speed manual or VW's DSG dual-clutch automatic.

Three trim levels will be offered: TDI, TDI with sunroof and TDI with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation. That top-trim level gets a five-inch touch screen and a Premium audio system.

With both gas and diesel versions of the coupe now available, look for a convertible version to bow at the New York Auto Show in a few months time.

More: 2013 VW Beetle TDI is Back With a Frugal Vengeance: 2012 Chicago Auto Show on Autoguide.com
 
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#2 ·
That isn't so frugal. It's exactly what our '06 TDI gets and with diesel commanding AT LEAST a 50 cent (and sometimes much more) per gallon premium over unleaded, the diesel makes less sense than ever.

Big Environmentalism has done everything in their power to kill the diesel engine in cars and light trucks in the USA, and it's working.
 
#3 ·
The prices in my area are unleaded gas is $3.59/gallon and Diesel (winter blend right now) is $3.89/gallon (round numbers).

If we use "real world" combined city/hwy mileage from long term road tests from Car and Driver or Motor Trend, the 2.0 TDI vs. the 2.5 gas cars (I used a Jetta) has a difference of 10.2 mpg (36.3 vs 26.1). The cost per mile on the TDI is $.1072 and the gas is $.1375. The difference in price between these cars with similar options is $2700. Assuming the same price gap in fuel is maintained, the TDI payback time is approximately 89,000 miles.

More than likely that difference will be less and does not include deductions for gasoline maintenance such as tune-ups.

Gasoline in my area is subject to a greater fluctuation and often spikes above Diesel, so this is strictly a rough estimate. Personally I feel the TDI is worth it, but to each his own.
 
#7 ·
My real world MPG is 51

If we use "real world" combined city/hwy mileage from long term road tests from Car and Driver or Motor Trend, the 2.0 TDI vs. the 2.5 gas cars (I used a Jetta) has a difference of 10.2 mpg (36.3 vs 26.1).
Not sure why the mags are reporting such low average numbers.

I commute about 95 miles daily (half city, half highway) and am averaging around 47 MPG in my 2006 Beetle TDI manual. My average over 105K miles is 42.4; My last fill-up was 50.1 :)

Dweezil DZL BTL (VW Beetle) | Fuelly
 
#4 ·
In the Kansas City area, I've seen diesel as much as 90 cents above regular unleaded; only a few, very brief occasions has it gotten as close as 15 cents more than gasoline. It has not been the same or less than regular unleaded since the switch in 2006 to ultra-low sulfur diesel.

One cannot compare the TDI against only VW gassers. VW gassers generally get lower mpg than the competition. There are quite a few gas cars that get close to (or more than) 35 mpg Highway. Now crank those numbers with a 4mpg difference and diesel fuel averaging 50-60 cents per gallon more than gas.

Don't get me wrong. I've been a diesel car owner going back to the early '80s but that streak, sadly, is about to come to an end.
 
#6 ·
Wow, that's a huge difference. Here in Canada gasoline is quite often higher than diesel. I paid $1.189 for a liter of Diesel yesterday, and 89 octane regular unleaded was $1.229.

Although there are times when diesel is higher because it doesn't fluctuate as wildly as gasoline prices. A few months ago gas was about five cents cheaper.
 
#5 ·
Agreed, there are other gas cars out there and other Diesel cars too. But as this is a more VW oriented forum, I felt the need to compare like brands. I have friends who drive a Civic and a Rio, and the mileage on my '06 TDI Beetle is consistently 8-12 higher than theirs. Couple this with that fact that I feel my VW has better fit/finish/comfort, and the mileage increase is a bonus. Even if it was a push, I'd still be happier with a VW. Now whether or not that ends up being a TDI remains to be seen.
 
#8 ·
I was expecting better mileage from the new Beetle. I now might be looking for an earlier TDI. :(
 
#9 ·
My math goes against diesel as well. A 2.5 gasser gets 29-30 mpg. A TDI Beetle will probably get 40. But.....the TDI will probably cost about $5000 more plus be more expensive to maintain. Diesel fuel costs are very volatile where I live, Wisconsin. Sometimes, it's only 20-25 cents higher per gallon and at other times, it's about 80-90 cents higher. So.....if you split the difference and say that diesel is about 50 cents higher on average, here's what I come up with:

Person A has a 2.5 Beetle that cost $23,000 after the dust settles.

Person B has a TDI that cost $28,000.

Each person drives 15,000 miles a year.

Gas is $3.84. Diesel? $4.34. In one year:

Person A will use 500 gallons of gas for a cost of $1920.

Person B will use 375 gallons of diesel for $ 1627.50.

Therefore, Person B is saving $292.50 a year over his/her gasser buddy, but when taking the $5000 higher sticker cost into consideration, it would take 17 years, or 255,000 miles of driving, for the fuel cost difference to offset that. Even if I'm way off with the sticker price difference, say, like 60% too high, it would still take over 10 years to make it up.
 
#10 ·
The maths have been done over here as well.

I remember an article a while back that compared a petrol and diesel 320 BMW, it came to the conclusion that it would take 14 years to get the difference back.

Tbh those mpg ratings are pathetic for a modern diesel. Where's the bluemotion versions??
 
#11 ·
I have a 200 NB TDI (ALH). I bought it for the mileage AND the fit and finish AND the all-important torque. The torque gives me fun at normal in-town speeds AND on the highway. I had an 82 Dodge Colt that was rated at 51 mpg...Fun on the flats. But when I hit a hill it was like I threw a boat anchor out the window. My TDI EATS hills and can't seem to get enough of them and when driven nicely in its current state of tune, will return 53 mpg on the highway. It doesn't feel like a sewing machine motor as is often the case with high mpg gassers.:)
 
#12 ·
My TDI 2013 Beetle lists for $24,185 with a six speed manual. Guess what? That's less then the six speed manual turbo 2.0. I can send you a copy of the window sticker if you don't believe me. Factor that number into your cost calculations. A shame the dealer gave me the run around as to the delivery date. I would buy it in a second if I could have it in time for the Indianapolis trip.


Chuckie
 
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