Ok guys. My wife is killing me. She has been wanting a new 4 door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon since they came out. I have been wanting a VW TDI since 06. She has also wanted a TDI until those 4 door Wranglers came out.
Jeep=16/20mpg/4x4/Fun TDI=40mpg plus/40MPG/40MPG!!!!! For one, I think the 4 door jeep is a slap in the face. There should have never been a 4 door jeep. Its no longer a jeep. JMO. Anyway, I know the guys who have owned 06 TDI's and love them. I don't know anyone with an 09 TDI or a 4 door Jeep. Any owners out there??? What vehical would you choice and why? And please no, huh..... Its a diesel, thats why I would pick it. lol Pros/Cons each. Help me help her (wife) make a decision. Zero percent on the TDI, lifetime power train on the other. Thanks guys.

 

From personal experience, VW dealerships are reknowned for lousy service. They've changed the oil in my 2000 TDI with non-synthetic 3 times, diagnosed a sticky turbo vane actuator as a bad turbo ($275 vs $1400+) and replaced my N75 solenoid instead of replacing a vacuum hose. I know, it seems like they're just parts replacement specialists and doing what the computer tells them to do. The non-synth oil thing ticked me off- the receipt showed 10W30 oil with a part number corresponding to regular oil; I pointed it out to the service mgr before I even got the keys back, and he argued with me. His first point was that it didn't require synthetic, so I showed him in the owners manual. Then he said the tech put synthetic in it. I asked him if we could take a walk back to the service bay and look at the empty oil bottles, and he decided to change the oil again to be on the safe side. I took it to another dealership close to my work, and they brought the car back to me after service (nice touch) but filled with dino oil. I pointed it out to the shuttle driver, so he took it back and they did the oil change again and left the empties in the trunk for me. 3rd time I stood there and watched the tech uncap a bottle of convential oil and begin to tip it, so I called to him and he said "oh yeah, I just remembered".

On the other hand, they replaced a faulty brake light switch on an 8-yr-old car because they couldn't find a record of it being done- even though the one in the car was of the "new" type and was working fine.

My in-laws have a newer Grand Cherokee and the few times it's been in for service have been fast and done right the first time.

P.S. I change my own oil 90% of the time; VW send me coupons once in a while for discounted oil changes. I haven't gone back for over 3 years.

 

I forgot to add- and it's JMHO- but I dig the 4-door Jeeps. Why not? Most are never even off-roaded or, if they are, they're not FAR offroad. They've got the attitude and style, and the capability if needed. Let her get one.

Remember, if Momma ain't happy, ain't noone happy.

 

Get the Jeep, with a manual trans.

When Mommas done with it, stuff a TDI in there. There, problem solved, Mommas happy, you are waiting patiently, and the world is smooth.

Only thing that sucks is the mandated 3.8 V-6, too small to carry the Jeep IMHO.

 

Now the Jeep w/a diesel.....sorry just has to throw that out there!

 

THE best source for tdi info: forums.tdiclub.com

I just went through MAJOR maintenance on my '06. It's still going strong!

Everything I've read on the '09 TDI's is that they are worth it. Getting better mpg than the '06 models and cleaner emissions!

Tony

 

Just bought my wife a VW Jetta SportWagen TDI with 6 speed manual. She loves driving it, it has the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in (leatherette, heated standard), and it absolutely devours highway miles in the cheapest manner possbile (40+ mpg at over 70mph). The panoramic sunroof is also pretty sweet as well. The torque is there when you want it, and it handles really well around the corners as well.

We also looked at a 4 door wrangler, but she didn't like the "truck-like" ride. Guess it reminded her too much of my truck.

I have no doubt that unless you absolutely need the 4x4 capabilities that the Jeep has to offer, you'll love a VW TDI.

Here are the pics of ours:









-Chris

 

Just alked with a guy yesterday at the pumps. He has a brand new 09 Jetta wagon (I didn't care for the looks of that)... He has 2000 miles on it now and says he'll get 43-45 mpg driving at the speed limit.

 

There's a used TDI in the classifieds and I believe a jeep too. How would you like to write a tech article.

 

Thanks guys, but you left me 50/50 here. lol We DON'T need another 4x4 for sure. We have my truck, and I may have forgot to mention, the wife has a 53 ****** she inharited from her Father. She loves it. I think that is why she is stuck on the Jeep thing. Her ****** was somewhat restored by her father, but we want to do it up right. So, thinken bout this I told her, "lets restore your dads Jeep to original specs how she wants it, and get a VW." Now shes thinken.... Plus, we drive about 330miles one way once a month to visit her family, and 40mpg plus would be a lot nicer than my 17 & 18mpg truck. I will do a little more convincing. I do like the 4 door jeep, but its one of those things that I think would get old, ya know. Especially the mileage and the no power issue. Thanks again.

 

get the vw since you have the *****. 40+ mpg is hard to replace but a 4bt in the jeep would be way fun

 

get the vw ten times better than the jeep plus if u get a stick vw then u wont hav any probs. just oil and drive

my dad has 02 and has over 300xxx km and all i do is go see him every 10.000 k to change oil and fuel filter once a year. he has had the timeing belt changed but thats every100.000k vw says it should be done

 

Oh, yes. A 4bt in a ******?!?!?! Now that sounds nice. Get rid of the little gasser 4 banger. I like the sounds of that. I may have another project.

 

Only thing I can add is to second the lousy service by the VW dealerships. More than 1 person I know that have had issues with dealers, one of them actually having to fight it in court. I know there are many examples of that with the Crysler products as well, just with the few VW drivers I know, I am amazed at the issues. Additionally, something in the plastics of the VWs make them smell like melted crayons. We were obvioulsy promised by the dealer that VW fixed the problem and the new VWs don't have that problem... However, the wife's Bug smells like melted crayons...

 

I would personally go with the TDI. 45+ mpg is real hard to pass up, especially if you don't need another 4wd. As far as the smell, what do you think air freshensers are for?