Now this rocks!

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

I'm pretty much not sold on the gas-hybrid avenue as far as out right buying one. I think that they might be better for someone to lease (2-3 years) when taking the battery replacement costs down the road into consideration.

I keep thinking I might go the VW Jetta TDI diesel route as I know a friend with the pre-TDI diesel in a bug that gets like 50+ miles per gallon to work. Plus, I love my Kubota GR2100 diesel AWD tractor...

My only concern here though is the high cost of diesel...especially during the home heating season as it seems like demand is intertwined with home heating oil & therefore both go up alot during the winter months.

[Chopper]

I'm pretty much not sold on the gas-hybrid avenue as far as out right buying one. I think that they might be better for someone to lease (2-3 years) when taking the battery replacement costs down the road into consideration.

I keep thinking I might go the VW Jetta TDI diesel route as I know a friend with the pre-TDI diesel in a bug that gets like 50+ miles per gallon to work. Plus, I love my Kubota GR2100 diesel AWD tractor...

My only concern here though is the high cost of diesel...especially during the home heating season as it seems like demand is intertwined with home heating oil & therefore both go up alot during the winter months.

I once bought 50 gallons of diesel to heat a house that'd run out of oil in the winter, on the weekend. Pretty much the same stuff.

[Bulldoggie]

I once bought 50 gallons of diesel to heat a house that'd run out of oil in the winter, on the weekend. Pretty much the same stuff.

They are both #2 diesel

home oil is less, no road tax figured in.

With the problems of in-ground tanks leaking, if you heat your home with oil,
you could easily add a valve to a tank near your garage and buy tax free bulk rate diesel for your VW. farmers do it all the time for their tractors.

A good fuel additive for moisture is helpful, about 2 oz. per tank.

[Chopper]

They are both #2 diesel

home oil is less, no road tax figured in.

With the problems of in-ground tanks leaking, if you heat your home with oil,
you could easily add a valve to a tank near your garage and buy tax free bulk rate diesel for your VW. farmers do it all the time for their tractors.

A good fuel additive for moisture is helpful, about 2 oz. per tank.

Sure, I can siphon off the reefer fuel...same deal. Do not get caught with the wrong colour fuel in your tank! Problem for class 8 guys more than commuters, but really expensive if you get caught.

[Bulldoggie]

Sure, I can siphon off the reefer fuel...same deal. Do not get caught with the wrong colour fuel in your tank! Problem for class 8 guys more than commuters, but really expensive if you get caught.

I said a person "could".
I would never tell anyone to avoid taxes, or break the law

The farmers have to sign waivers, that state they will not use on public roadways.

I used to deliver the stuff, and we used to fill our trucks fuel tanks directly from the delivery tank hose.

[kpaske]

I'm with Joe on this one. I bought an '06.5 Jetta TDI and absolutely love it. Of course, Joe must drive like an old granny to get 54 MPG because I'm lucky to see 40, or maybe 45 if I'm really conservative! (And I don't even need to run the A/C up here in the PNW!) Of course that $206 ticket I got the other day might slow me down for a little while...

Either way, like others have said, the price of diesel fluctuates seasonally, but even at it's highest prices you still get significantly better fuel mileage, and the availability of biodiesel is getting better every year.

Some may not be impressed with the Jetta's outward appearance, but there are certainly thing you can do to make them look nicer (like upgraded wheels and replacing or painting over the fugly chrome grill trim). The optional leather interior, sunroof, and NAV systems makes my boring commuter feel like a luxury car, at half the cost of a BMW or Mercedes. And the upgraded sound system isn't half bad either, and includes a 6 disk CD changer and iPod adapter. Maybe I'm just getting old, but these days when I spend half my day stuck in traffic, I care a lot less about the external look than the interior experience.

If this diesel hybrid comes in a Jetta or Passat, I would buy one for sure.

[Joe_Black]

Of course, Joe must drive like an old granny to get 54 MPG because I'm lucky to see 40, or maybe 45 if I'm really conservative!

Yeah, I kinda do take it easy but around town it's more like 40 MPG as I have some fun with it. I think the real key was getting the RPM range nailed down as the power drops off after 3500 RPM so usually I shift at 3000, and the engine is really happy at 2000 RPM for cruise. One thing I've noted in talking with other TDI owners is that there's a fair variance on experienced average mileage, much like here with the VX. I think I'm at the upper end as I haven't heard anyone getting better than 56 MPG out of a Mk5 Jetta.

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

and the availability of biodiesel is getting better every year.

True, they even just built a new biodiesel plant in Erie, Pa close to where I work; but, I am assuming that if you run this stuff in a newer vehicle you probably would void your warranty as well as possibly cause problems?

I see this biodiesel alternative as being a good choice for an older car; as I've seen Joe Black mention before; but I'm not so sure about its use in a newer vehicle?

[Joe_Black]

My only concern here though is the high cost of diesel.

I get that comment a lot. My standard response now is "what's the difference between diesel and regular gas price, and would you pay that much more per gallon to make your current vehicle go 54 MPG?". Then I watch the lightbulb go on over their head when it all comes together.