Camry Hybrid vs '09 Jetta TDI, opinions?

My dad's on his second Camry Hybrid, in the last couple years, and it's really starting to get boring... He traded up from a Prius. He's been using it as a Daily Driver, and I noticed on VW's website about the new "Clean Diesel" Jetta, which will be out this year. It will finally be 50-state compliant. We've always toyed with the idea of a Diesel, but getting one into Maine has always been a problem.

The new Jetta looks affordable, and has a DSG transmission to boot (Except only I will enjoy it because my dad would have no clue, what it is...) I've always known VWs Diesels to be bullet-proof, but VW's reliability rating flat-out suck!

Are they going to be any downfalls to this idea? MPG differences?

 

vw for the win.

 

I have been a diesel fan for 30 years. I presently own 3 diesel vehicles. My mid 90's S350 MB gets over 30 mpg for a 4300 lb car. I have a client with a TDI. He claims 55 mpg and only one battery to change every x years. In the next couple years several manufactures will be offering diesels. The only advantage owning a hybrid in my area of New York is that you are able to drive the HOV with only the driver.

 

No comparison... VW TDI! The DSG gearbox is amazing, as are the modern European diesels. Try one and you'll love it, they make perfect daily drivers. We have 2 TDIs and they HAVE been bulletproof - Forget the VW "reliability rating" - We've never had any problems, and neither have the half dozen other friends & family who have them as daily drivers. They're great cars for the money, with excellent fuel economy and reliability.

 

My wife has a Camry hybrid, and this summer her mom got a "2006" Jetta TDi (with a production date of December, 2006). No comparison- the Jetta gets better mileage, more fun to drive, and more clever design. And cheaper!

When we bought the Camry, my wife was determined to get a hybrid. After she spent some time driving the Jetta, she admitted that she wished we had considered the Jetta before she got the Camry.

And I'd guess the new Jetta will be better yet.

 

Hybrid= good mileage some of the time
TDi= good mileage all of the time!

I would go with the TDi eight days of the week. Plus all that torque has got to be great.

 

Thanks everyone!

Are there any downsides to owning a TDI?

I know you have to use ULSD, but if you can't find it, can you use LSD just once? Do Diesels have trouble starting up in the cold?

and is the DSG with a TDI fun? I've tried an A3 with it, and it is possibly the best-gear box ever!

 

If there are any downsides to modern European diesels I haven't found them. I LOVE them!

I believe ALL diesel sold in US gas station pumps now is ULSD, so no, that's not a problem at all.

I live in FL so I can't help you with cold weather starting questions, but I do have a family member in the NE with a Passat diesel and he's never mentioned any problems.

Yes the DSG with the TDI is fun - The TDI engines have an amazing amount of torque, they feel a lot quicker than they are, but they're a load of fun to drive and I agree with you, the DSG gearbox is by far the best automatic transmission ever.

Here's a forum you might want to read, and I'm sure someone there can answer your cold weather starting questions... http://www.tdiclub.com/

 

Thanks! I've already registered there

 

TDi and DSG ftw!

Seriously, my dad had a diesel VW in the mid-1970s. It was a great car and he put over 200K miles on it. Properly maintained, a diesel should last several hundred thousand miles, the rest of the car will wear out before the engine does.

The hybrid is still relatively new in passenger cars. The gasoline burning part of the hybrid will be typically Honda, that is: tried, true and tested. The electric parts of the powerplant could last a long time <or> the life of the warranty plus one day. Nobody knows for sure.

As for performance, I road tested the 2008 Hybrid Civic. It was very smooth and relatively quiet, but it did not have very much power for merging or passing. The gas mileage is more realistically in the high 30s/low 40s on the highway at 70 mph. A considerable amount of the trunk is taken up by the "cell" (read: battery) and the arm rest that appears in normal Civics is eliminated by the placement of the battery behind the back seat.

I would also consider the dealer network where you live. Some Honda dealers are very good, others are arrogant pricks. VW dealerships are more sporadic then Honda dealerships. Parts for both are expensive when the warranty runs out.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

yup, VW dealers are pricks!

except the 2 local dealers are now great

one is the one, where my dad bought his Audi, so they're pretty good there

and the other, just got taken over by a local franchise, that use to own toyotas. they're great also.

The civic hybrid isn't on the list because it's too small, and the only replacement, he's considered is the VW TDI with DSG *fun*