2014 Audi A4 Diesel!!! Oh Yeah!!

[LTC8K6]

That pesky diesel efficiency means less fuel converted to heat.

Yeah.

Warm-up - Because the TDI engine is so efficient, it puts less heat into the cooling system than comparable gasoline engines. A TDI engine will not reach operating temperature by idling. There is no point starting the car a few minutes before you plan to use it in order to have a warm interior - it isn't going to happen. Heated seats are definitely a worthwhile option for those living in a cold climate!

The best way to warm up a TDI engine is to start up and GO, after minimum essential warm-up. It's generally recommended to drive gently for the first few minutes, until the temperature gauge approaches the normal range. When done this way, the warm-up period is not too different from that of a gasoline engine.

If one gets stuck in traffic with a cold engine, now there's a dilemma, because the engine won't generate enough heat to warm up. If this happens, one suggestion has been to introduce some electrical load to make the engine work a little harder, like the headlights, rear-window defroster, and heated seats if you have them.

 

[chucky2]

The gas version probably beats the EPA highway number as well. Overall, it's a wash and can be ignored for comparison purposes, I think.

Those VW TDI owners probably tend to try to get great economy, which tilts the numbers a bit.

If you drive nearly all highway miles, you might want to adjust the numbers.

I would just go with the combined numbers, since I do little highway driving.

Except it's really not a wash. Add about 4 to the EPA numbers for the diesel to get a more representative Reality for what mpg on the average you can expect. For gas, consider yourself lucky if you drive like the average driver to hit the EPA numbers - gas has a high tendency to not hit EPA numbers.

On top of that, comparing a base engined vehicle with the base gas engine to a diesel is not apples to apples. Driving around the cheapest gas variant will not be near as enjoyable to drive as the diesel option. So not only are you coming out ahead long term on cost, you're coming out ahead all term on driving pleasure.

Unfortunately for the average US non-truck diesel drivers, we've been limited to VW offerings for diesel. While they've certainly delivered on the mpg and driving pleasure, they also come with VWs craptastic quality. The HPFP issue alone is enough right now to keep any sane diesel prospect away from any VW 2.0 diesel offering.

Chuck

 

[smackababy]

Yeah.

Do you really even need to warm up your car anymore? I was under the impression modern technology solved this problem a long time ago. If you're in some kind of extreme cold (like below 0F), it is good to let it warm up, but otherwise, 20-30 seconds and you're good for normal driving. Perhaps not a peak efficiency, but good enough.

 

[LTC8K6]

They have an electric air heater, that's how long it takes to get the coolant hot.

 

[smackababy]

They have an electric air heater, that's how long it takes to get the coolant hot.

Ah, I guess for the actual heater, yes that makes sense. I was thinking about the engine itself.

 

[LTC8K6]

Do you really even need to warm up your car anymore? I was under the impression modern technology solved this problem a long time ago. If you're in some kind of extreme cold (like below 0F), it is good to let it warm up, but otherwise, 20-30 seconds and you're good for normal driving. Perhaps not a peak efficiency, but good enough.

No, but you generally want some cabin heat fairly soon in the winter.

I only warm up the car if I need to. Such as when the window aren't clear and I want the defrosters to be working well before I drive off. Or if it's cold and rainy, where the windows might tend to fog up during the drive. I like to have the hot air blowing before I move out in some situations.

I have heated seats, which helps.

I also let it warm up if it's covered with snow and I have to clear it off before driving it.

Most of the time, I start it, check for anything wrong for a few seconds, then drive off.

 

[LTC8K6]

Except it's really not a wash. Add about 4 to the EPA numbers for the diesel to get a more representative Reality for what mpg on the average you can expect. For gas, consider yourself lucky if you drive like the average driver to hit the EPA numbers - gas has a high tendency to not hit EPA numbers.

On top of that, comparing a base engined vehicle with the base gas engine to a diesel is not apples to apples. Driving around the cheapest gas variant will not be near as enjoyable to drive as the diesel option. So not only are you coming out ahead long term on cost, you're coming out ahead all term on driving pleasure.

Unfortunately for the average US non-truck diesel drivers, we've been limited to VW offerings for diesel. While they've certainly delivered on the mpg and driving pleasure, they also come with VWs craptastic quality. The HPFP issue alone is enough right now to keep any sane diesel prospect away from any VW 2.0 diesel offering.

Chuck

I didn't compare any base engined vehicles, though. And I already covered the "beating the epa numbers" idea.

 

[LTC8K6]

Ah, I guess for the actual heater, yes that makes sense. I was thinking about the engine itself.

I think in the VW, the electric heater does the cabin heating until the coolant gets hot.

 

[smackababy]

No, but you generally want some cabin heat fairly soon in the winter.

I only warm up the car if I need to. Such as when the window aren't clear and I want the defrosters to be working well before I drive off. Or if it's cold and rainy, where the windows might tend to fog up during the drive. I like to have the hot air blowing before I move out in some situations.

I have heated seats, which helps.

I also let it warm up if it's covered with snow and I have to clear it off before driving it.

Most of the time, I start it, check for anything wrong for a few seconds, then drive off.

Heh, I park in a climate controlled garage so mornings are never that bad. If there is heavy snowfall during the day, I generally start up my car, then brush / scrape the windows and I warm enough to go.

 

[chucky2]

I didn't compare any base engined vehicles, though. And I already covered the "beating the epa numbers" idea.

My mistake LTC8K6, I post over at www.blueovalforums.com sometimes, and there are people there that are horribad at comparisons/analogies/context. The 2LT is indeed basically the same as the diesel, minus the $410 spoiler that comes with the diesel and the Aero Package. Throw in resale of the diesel, and the diesel is going to win long term, large.

 

[LTC8K6]

Isn't the 2 year maintenance plan included with all 2014 Chevrolets? And it doesn't look like being worth much.

Chevrolet 2-Year Scheduled Maintenance

Chevrolet 2-Year Scheduled Maintenance coverage is included with the purchase or lease of new 2014 Chevrolet models.

Chevrolet 2-Year Scheduled Maintenance includes only the following:

2-year/24,000-mile Scheduled Maintenance (whichever comes first; up to a total of four service events):
ACDelco dexos1®Oil and ACDelco Oil Filter Change (excludes Spark EV)
4-wheel Tire Rotation (excludes dual rear wheel vehicles, all Corvette models and select Camaro models - ZL1 model and 1LE package cars – due to their unidirectional tires; see Owner’s Manual for details)
27-Point Vehicle Inspection (MPVI)

 

[chucky2]

Not sure. I did the compare trims for the Cruze to make sure the trims were comparable, and the 2LT is almost a mirror image of the diesel Cruze. The only differences were a spoiler for the diesel, the diesel got an Aero Package (whatever that is, wasn't even an option to pick on the 2LT), slightly different tires and wheels (still both 17" though), and the last thing on the Highlights tab at the bottom as the diesel had that 2 year plan and neither the 2LT or LTZ did. Wasn't an option to add so I don't know what it costs.

Update: Called the local Chevy dealer, asked about the 2 year maintenance. He said all of them have it. So I'll edit my post about that, as it's inaccurate. Doesn't really matter though...for anyone that keeps their ride long term, the diesel wins out, and will be nicer to drive.

 

[Kaido]

Article: Driving Audi's TDI wonder from LA to NY in search of the recordbooks [w/videos]:

http://green.autoblog.com/2013/09/27/cross-country-audi-tdi-drive-video/

Nutshell: They hypermiled their way across America in 2 days in an Audi TDI Q5, A7, and A6:

This was a real-world trip with loaded cars, each one carrying a full-size spare tire - that were driving at or above the speed limit.

Results:

Q5 to 38.623 MPG @ 64.9 MPH average
A7 to 42.653 MPG at 65.1 MPH average
A6 to 43.561 MPG @ 65.4 MPH average

Audi's TDI website:

http://www.audiusa.com/innovation/efficiency/tdi

Q5 TDI is a $46.5k SUV
A6 TDI is a $57.5k sedan
A7 TDI is a $64.5k sedan

They also make an Audi A8 TDI:

http://www.audiusa.com/models/audi-a8l

 

[skyking]

To put that into perspective, Wayne Gerdes got the 2012 Passat to 77+ MPG for 8000 miles.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/...ade-passat-breaks-guinness-world-reco/?mobile

I think the EPA had the 2012 Passat at 43 MPG highway.

 

[deejayvirg]

Love this commercial,it makes me want to buy that car right away!🙂

 

[996GT2]

In town diesel will get you about 5MPG better than the gas equivalent and on the highway it's almost 10MPG better. In the case of the 3.0L diesel it's also *quite* fast. 5.5 second 0-60 with as much torque as most V8 pickup trucks *and* almost 40MPG.

But considering that diesel costs 30-50 cents more per gallon more than gasoline, there's really not much of a cost savings (if any at all), especially if the diesel version costs more up front.

Even if gas and diesel cost the same and the diesel version did 10 mpg better, it would still take almost 100,000 miles worth of driving to recoup the roughly $3000 price premium on the TDI version (using pricing data from the A3). So I don't really understand all this excitement over the diesel version.

 

[hans007]

But considering that diesel costs 30-50 cents more per gallon more than gasoline, there's really not much of a cost savings (if any at all), especially if the diesel version costs more up front.

Even if gas and diesel cost the same and the diesel version did 10 mpg better, it would still take almost 100,000 miles worth of driving to recoup the roughly $3000 price premium on the TDI version (using pricing data from the A3). So I don't really understand all this excitement over the diesel version.

Depends where you live. Diesel in LA costs the same as mid grade most places. You'd have to use premium for a normal a4

 

[iamwiz82]

Sounds like the 335d with the 3.5L TT diesel which is effing awesome.

The 335d is powered by the M57, a 3.0L twinpower turbo diesel.

 

[vi edit]

But considering that diesel costs 30-50 cents more per gallon more than gasoline, there's really not much of a cost savings (if any at all), especially if the diesel version costs more up front.

Of regular gas yes. But in the "Luxury Car" segment premium gas is almost always required. And in that case diesel is almost the same cost or within a few cents of premium.

 

[Kaido]

Of regular gas yes. But in the "Luxury Car" segment premium gas is almost always required. And in that case diesel is almost the same cost or within a few cents of premium.

I was shocked at diesel prices yesterday, they're so low! Premium was $4 even and diesel was $4.09. Usually diesel is like $5 in my area, so a 9-cent difference isn't too bad - even on a large tank, that's only a couple of extra bucks!

 

[nerp]

Diesel has come down here, too. It was about $4 a gallon even when premium was $3.75. Now they're about even.