Looking for 40+ mpg , Jetta? Cruz? ??

Pete McMiller

Pete McMiller

Well-known member
These gas prices are killing me. I'm driving 8-900 miles round trip at least once a month when I go to Louisville to visit M'Lady. Once I actually move I'm still going to be driving quite a bit just to get used to my new surroundings. My suburban just doesn't cut it at these gas prices. I'm looking for significantly better mileage. Chevy Cruz Eco does, what else in the gas cars? Not interested in a hybrid at this time. Also, the VW Jetta Sportwagon diesel was suggested as some are known to get over 50 mpg. Any and all comments are appreciated.
 
Pete,

I was in the same boat over the summer. Between my Tahoe and my wife's van fuel was becoming an issue. I knew we were going to be making several trips back and forth to my daughters college, 7 hours each way so we decided to go with the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.
On the highway I was able to get 36 MPG at an average of speed of 80mph. With a 10 year / 100K mile warranty. Nothing came close for the money.
I have had the car for 9 months and so far so good.
I never though in a million years I would own a Hyundai. I try and use that car as much as I can so I have more fuel to put in the big boat. lol
 
We were looking for a car that got up in the mid 30's low 40's on average and we ended up getting a 2011 Mazda 3 - basic package, and we are getting 35-39 on the highway and about 30 around town, now the new one with "skyactiv" technology gets 40 - and it has plenty of room to it, we checked out the Cruz but it was just a little too small to fit a 5'11" 14 year old and a 5'10" 16 year old in the back if it happened that way
 
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I drive a VW Golf diesel and love it. I have had one since 2002 and can't imagine going back to a gas car for the number of miles I drive. My current car is a 2011 wagon.
 
Sarah and I both have 2006 Jetta TDI Sedans. The further you drive between stops will improve your mileage. Sarah has 80,xxx miles on hers. She drives 25 miles to and from work then turns it off.. and in town. I drve 52 each way... I have 206,000 on mine. Sarah gets 42-43... I get 43-45. This is hand calculated. Sarah REALLY wants a Sportwagon.

I will say that it has plenty of power... for driving.. not towing.. And the diesel engine will last much longer than the gas....

As far as cost ot drive.. The 33 mpg gas car will have a fuel cost of $0.101515 per mile with $3.35/gallon fuel (current price). The 43 mpg TDI will cost $0.089535 per mile if diesel is $3.85/gallon (current price)

I always wonder about the 50mpg + statements. Are they going off the computer? Mine always says 48-52. Are they driving the interstate at 45mph.....

My vote would be the TDI wagon if you honestly want to pay less.... New TDI's are about $25k... TDI wagons $28k

Adults under 6' can sit in the back seat.
 
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Maybe they are referring to an imperial gallon. LOL
Up here the car is rated for 62 mpg. If I drive continuously at 55 to 60 mph I can get around 650 miles on a tank. That is roughly 46 mpg in US gallons. That only happens in northern Ontario where the roads are two lanes and the limit is 55.

My 2004 Jetta sedan got better mileage but it was a considerably smaller car. P
 
My wife has an 02 Jette TDI It gets over 40 mpg with her oround town driving I get a consistant 45 when I use it over the road. I love the baby mercedes feel and the amazing torque of the TDI we have close to 80,000 and other than tires and oil changes, have not done anything to it in the way of repairs yet. Rich
 
I don't know a lot about hybrid cars but when I checked into it previously I found that the electric hybrid benefit was lost for a person like myself who drives almost exclusively highway miles. Please correct me if I'm wrong but my recollection is that they work best for short haul and city driving where you use the brakes a lot. Isn't that where they get their battery boost from?

Today I will log around 200 miles on my TDI and I have five stops planned. Tomorrow it is closer to 300 miles and 3 stops. Friday will be about 150 miles with only one longer call. (I will be putting in some long days... it is 4 am and I am up for the day.) They are all highway miles except for about 10 each day. I plan to fill up this morning and I will be good for the rest of the week. My last Jetta went over 200,000 miles and was only repaired once. I had to replace an upper strut mount because the bearing seized.

I like my VW cars but I am not particularly attached to them as a brand. I have certainly had good luck with five of my six VW's (I had a quirky 2002 Jetta sedan) but I LOVE my VW dealership. They make me feel like family and take very good care of me. I have owned just about every brand out there and find everyone makes good cars and anyone can have a lemon. As you have probably guessed I live in my car and what matters most to me is how the dealership takes care of their customers. I have owned four Fords and every time I took one into the shop it took two or three visits to get it fixed properly. On my last visit to replace my broken down van the salesman made me feel like I didn't matter and he practically drove me across town to the VW dealership. I think I probably drove my last Ford in 2008. The local dealership is terrible.
 
my wife has a 03 TDI 4 door, she work close to home and fills it up every two months.(10-12 gallons) 42+- around town and over 50 on the highway. it is a manual trans and it really is a neat car.

one point is that repairs are expensive and it does require repairs every so often.
 
My Vote is also the Hyundai Elantra, I put a mess of miles on every day, Between work, Taking the kids to Ice Hockey, Plus the Travel Soccer teams. I looked at many of the good fuel ecom. cars, I found the 2011 Elantra, Good price, Lots of goodies, Great gas mileage. The cabin and trunk area have lots of room! Plus the warranty is unbeatable. I am getting around 38 on the highway, around 75 MPH. Thought I would never own a Hyundai, But after getting this car I am very happy with it. I also have over 15k miles on it for only having it around I feel the same way,6 months!
 
Thanks everyone for this discussion, especially Paul and Phil - I think your experience is just what I wanted to hear. I also have thought about the Hyundi Elantra so now it's down to the financial decision and shopping.
 
You're probably right Boz but it's hard now-a-days to find a bike that will get as good a mileage as some the cars. PLUS Otto has told me there is NO WAY he is riding all the way to Louisville on a bike, sidecar or no sidecar.

As far as a dashing figure - yep you're right, though I don't need a bike to be able to strut my stuff :)
 
Picking up a turbo-diesel VW Passat this afternoon. Sticker says 40 hwy but I was told it should get around 45-46 hwy. It has a 18 gal. tank so I'll be giving it a test this weekend for distance.
The car was roomy and comfortable. Stickr prive was just at 29,000, had some extras on it. Plenty of trunk room for decoys and the back seats fold down for a sneak boat to slide in.
 
My old boss has a Passat TDI, he got around 44 mpg on the highway. His folks lived in Philly, he would fill up in Mobile and be in the middle of Virginia before he had to get fuel.
 
Not sure what you think about used cars. I picked up my 2006 TDI for $9500 last March. It had 175000 on itg ot the time, and I haven't any issues with it, other than a wheel bearing.
 
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