Diesel AWD car recommendation?

[NetWareHead]

I have a 2009 VW Jetta TDi and am very happy with the mileage, diesel availability and performance. The only thing is, is that I live in New England and driving around a front wheel drive car sucks sometimes. I have 14 months left on my lease and would like somethign like a Subaru AWD car but with a diesel.

Ive looked around online and nothing really fits the bill at all. I don't want an SUV. VW makes the toureg which is awd and diesel but it is still an SUV and I don't want that expense or even need all of that much room. The toureg doesn't even get the mileage I get in the Jetta.

I don't know if I should just get another Jetta when my lease is up and just tough it out, maybe this time getting real snow tires that I can change every winter and hoping this solves my traction problems. I got stuck in an unplowed parking lot the other day and after working for over an hour to free it, I am seriously considering an AWD car.

I love the fuel economy of the Diesel but need it with AWD. Anybody know of something that fits my bill... I'm pretty sure there is nothing available now but I'm hoping there will be in another year. Thanks...

 

[Demo24]

Nope, nothing out there unless you get the Toureg, which still gets you 30mpg (not bad for such a vehicle). Snow tires would make a big improvement though.

 

[ShawnD1]

Diesel is very similar to buying a hybrid; it adds maybe $5000 to the cost of the vehicle and your fuel mileage goes up maybe 40% or so. Over in Europe where fuel is $8/gallon, spending that extra money makes a lot of sense. Over here, not so much.

I think VW is the only company that makes diesel cars in north america.

 

[KDKPSJ]

Well, we do have several AWD diesels - Audi Q7, VW Touareg, BMW X5, and MB GL/M/R. But well, I guess none of them fits your bill. Let alone AWD, we have no sub-30k diesel from the manufacturers other than VW.

Since you still have 14 months to go, cross fingers and pray the manufacturers show us a miracle of diesel in next 14 months. Then you may have choice by the time you need to replace your car :awe:

 

[vshah]

snow tires can make a huge difference...i would give them a shot before buying a new car.

 

[exar333]

snow tires can make a huge difference...i would give them a shot before buying a new car.

This. I live in MN and snow tires make a world of difference. AWD is nice, but snow tires will make almost any FWD a veritable snow-tank.

 

[punjabiplaya]

why does everyone think that they need AWD because they have snow? if it's hilly and you have snow, then yeah it helps. Otherwise get SNOW TIRES.

 

[desy]

And if allowed, studded is even better
My wife LUVS the general altimax studded on the Versa

 

[NetWareHead]

why does everyone think that they need AWD because they have snow? if it's hilly and you have snow, then yeah it helps. Otherwise get SNOW TIRES.

New England winters combined with the mountainous terrain and backcountry/unpaved roads make AWD much more useful than just snow tires.

 

[desy]

So you are saying you have snow tires now?

 

[NetWareHead]

So you are saying you have snow tires now?

No I dont have snow tires and I realize that they would help me now, without having to buy a new car. But, when I do get a new one, if I can get AWD + diesel, that would be the most optimum situation. Snow tires will work for now too I realize this, but I would prefer AWD due to where I travel, ski, hike etc...

EDIT: 1k posts reached! I'm golden now! :thumbsup:

 

[skyking]

I attended the auto show this year in Seattle. VW said they would have a Tiguan diesel out but no joy.
Too bad for them, it would have sold like hotcakes IMO.

 

[ShawnD1]

why does everyone think that they need AWD because they have snow? if it's hilly and you have snow, then yeah it helps. Otherwise get SNOW TIRES.

quick, name 1 city in all of North America is that is flat.

I'll just save some time and tell you the answer. There's no such thing. Most All cities are centered around bodies of water.... because humans drink water. As a result, the middle of town (rivers) or the edge of town (lake/ocean) is always lower than the rest of town. There are always hills.

New England winters combined with the mountainous terrain and backcountry/unpaved roads make AWD much more useful than just snow tires.

You still need winter tires so the vehicle stops properly. Those people who drive in hilly areas on shitty tires then slide down the hill and crash into parked cars should all be killed, or charged with something on the same level as drunk driving because they're knowingly doing something that is dangerous and likely to cause a car crash.

 

[vshah]

i think for unpaved roads, ground clearance + snow tires is key.

really though, its only the diesel requirement that is holding you up.

 

[ShawnD1]

If you're talking about fuel economy being a big concern, I'm guessing you're poor like me and you can't afford some $60,000 BMW or Audi diesel SUV.

If you must get a car with AWD, get a Subaru Impreza! They're great if you get over how terrible the gas mileage is.
V6 Toyota Camry (automatic) - 20/29 mpg
I4 Subaru Impreaza (automatic) - 20/26 mpg D:

Companies need to stop fucking around and make some kind of hybrid AWD dealy. If the Prius had a Subaru style AWD system, everyone in the northern US and Canada would own one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Diesel is very similar to buying a hybrid; it adds maybe $5000 to the cost of the vehicle and your fuel mileage goes up maybe 40% or so. Over in Europe where fuel is $8/gallon, spending that extra money makes a lot of sense. Over here, not so much.

I think VW is the only company that makes diesel cars in north america.

And you would be wrong.

http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/3-series/2011/?sub=diesel

http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/2011/?sub=diesel

http://www.edmunds.com/audi/a3/2011/?sub=diesel

And the Audi is a wagon. (edited for accuracy)

 

[ShawnD1]

I forgot about Mercedes. I didn't know BMW made diesels except in Europe since there was that one Top Gear episode

 

[chucky2]

Diesel also doesn't add $5k to the cost of a car (on the HD trucks it does though, but you also get heavier duty parts). The Jetta TDI compared to the same trim level of the gasser variant is like $1300 more or something like that - over the course of the lifetime of the vehicle, there's certainly an overall benefit (unless one hits the dreaded HPFP issue out of warranty....then you're F'd - which is why one should never own a VW out of warranty).

Chuck

 

[fbrdphreak]

quick, name 1 city in all of North America is that is flat.

I'll just save some time and tell you the answer. There's no such thing. Most All cities are centered around bodies of water.... because humans drink water. As a result, the middle of town (rivers) or the edge of town (lake/ocean) is always lower than the rest of town. There are always hills.

I guess you've never been to South Florida, Mr. Know-It-All. Or should I call you by your first name, Pretentious?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I guess you've never been to South Florida, Mr. Know-It-All. Or should I call you by your first name, Pretentious?

I was thinking of pretty much anywhere in Florida...or any city between St Louis and Denver. San Diego is pretty hilly but it never snows here so AWD is about as useful as tits on a bull.

 

[ShawnD1]

Diesel also doesn't add $5k to the cost of a car

http://configurator.vw.com/ihdcc/configurator.html#10003
VW Golf 4 door gasoline - $19,755
VW Golf 4 door diesel - $23,885
And just like a hybrid, that more expensive diesel has less power :awe:
(gas is 170HP, diesel is 140HP).

I guess you've never been to South Florida, Mr. Know-It-All. Or should I call you by your first name, Pretentious?

Miami never has snow and therefore has no use for AWD or winter tires for that matter

 

[fbrdphreak]

quick, name 1 city in all of North America is that is flat.

I'll just save some time and tell you the answer. There's no such thing. Most All cities are centered around bodies of water.... because humans drink water. As a result, the middle of town (rivers) or the edge of town (lake/ocean) is always lower than the rest of town. There are always hills.

Miami never has snow and therefore has no use for AWD or winter tires for that matter

And yet, your little ego-massage there said nothing about a city that sees snow AND is flat. I guess if you're going to be pretentious, you should at least be accurate. And funny thing is, most statements that begin with "All" are not correct.

 

[JulesMaximus]

http://configurator.vw.com/ihdcc/configurator.html#10003
VW Golf 4 door gasoline - $19,755
VW Golf 4 door diesel - $23,885
And just like a hybrid, that more expensive diesel has less power :awe:
(gas is 170HP, diesel is 140HP).



Miami never has snow and therefore has no use for AWD or winter tires for that matter

Yet it makes more torque...a lot more (177lb-ft for the gas engine, 236lb-ft for the diesel).

 

[ShawnD1]

And yet, your little ego-massage there said nothing about a city that sees snow AND is flat. I guess if you're going to be pretentious, you should at least be accurate. And funny thing is, most statements that begin with "All" are not correct.

Nope, every generalization I make is always right, especially when we're talking about America's penis state

 

[JulesMaximus]

And yet, your little ego-massage there said nothing about a city that sees snow AND is flat. I guess if you're going to be pretentious, you should at least be accurate. And funny thing is, most statements that begin with "All" are not correct.

Even if he said all cities in North America where it snows he would be wrong. Denver, CO is fairly flat, Des Moines, IA is pretty flat too.