New Member - 2004.5 TDI Passat

LIVE4SPD said:
Make sure you stop by TDICLUB.com as well.

A-Tiller-the hun said:
i just don't get the TDI hard on so many people have...?
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Yeah - I love the TDICLUB site (been there since I got the 02 Jetta TDI).

Why the TDI hard-on...? Have you ever driven one? Not just a test drive but actually spent some time with one? It's a combination of things. Yeah the gassers may be faster 0-60 and 1/4 mile but real world driving characteristics of the TDI are so different than the gas engines. There is a tremendous amount of torque available in the TDIs. The saying goes: "People buy horsepower but drive torque."

1.8T I4 has 166lb-ft @ 1950RPM (btw - that is a pretty low RPM for gasser torque peak);
2.8 V6 has 206 lb-ft @ 3200RPM;
4.0 W8 has 273lb-ft @ 2750RPM

2.0 TDI I4 has 247lb-ft @ 1900RPM


What this means in every day driving. There is more power available right now for passing, for manuevering through city traffic, etc.... Let me relay one little anecdote - I was on a trip on the freeway driving through the mountains with cruise control on. There were people who wanted to go faster than me so when we were going down hill they passed me. However, when we were going up hill - I passed them. This happened multiple times with both the same vehicles and with other vehicles. They didn't have the torque to maintain the speed going up hill.

Massive amounts of torque just plain feels great to drive. That is one of the biggest reasons big American V8 muscle cars, and Harleys have always been so popular - lots of torque.

Combine the torque with better fuel economy

1.8T rated 21 city 30 highway (and that's probably if you keep your foot out of the turbo)
2.8 V6 rated 19 city 27 highway
4.0 W8 rated 18 city 25 highway

2.0 TDI rated 27 city 38 highway

And combine the above with diesel fuel being roughly $.30 cheaper in my area and its a win - win - win situation.

Do yourself a favor and try one out if you ever get the chance (it may not be for everyone but hey - I'm happy).

Now if you really want to be a nut you can make your own fuel by converting cooking oil to bio-diesel - so you help the enviornment with both better fuel economy and better emissions - then you save even more by making your own fuel (you just need to find a restaurant willing to give you their used fryer oil). Many diesel vehicles can even run off straight cooking oil (as long as it is strained) with a conversion kit.