Additional Resources Save and Share Recent News Automakers Predict Sales of Diesels Will Gain in U.S. Clean at Last; Diesel Makes a Green Comeback Clean, Diesel in One Breath Cleaner Diesel at Pumps Today No Fuming Over Fuel Change in California

 

   Email This

   Print This

   Subscribe

Jeff Straits Essay - Runner Up

I have now had my new 2005 Volkswagen Passat TDI for a little over six months and it has exceeded all my expectations.  When I purchased by new TDI, I was replacing a seven year old all-wheel drive SUV that averaged 17 MPG and had a range of about 250 miles per tank.  I wanted to get one of the new diesels for a number of reasons: increased fuel efficiency, range, reliability, longevity and to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases my automobile produces. 

The advances in diesel engine design in the last 25 years have been amazing.  In my youth, I remember my neighbors purchasing diesels during the early 80’s.  These cars were noisy and seemed to emit a lot of black smoke as they pulled away.  I also understand that they lacked power when you needed to accelerate quickly or climb a hill.  My 2005 TDI shows how far the diesel automobile has come in this time.  My new diesel is quiet, clean, and with the turbocharged engine has plenty of torque to help me accelerate when needed and climb mountains in top gear - the same mountains caused my SUV with a large V6 gasoline engine to downshift every time.  

I am averaging 33.3 MPG in a true mix of city and highway driving.  I am thrilled to have almost doubled the fuel efficiency of my old SUV, and I have heard that my fuel efficiency will improve as my engine continues to break-in.  I have been tracking my savings in fuel costs of my diesel versus my old SUV, and in the first six months of ownership, I have saved $542 compared to running my previous SUV the same number of miles on unleaded fuel.  

The range of my diesel is also very impressive.  Last week on a trip to Pittsburgh and back I averaged 35.3 MPG and my tank of diesel lasted 536 miles before I filled up.  Compared to my previous range of about 250 miles on my SUV, I am going to the gas station half as much as I used to!  

Another great thing about diesel engines is their legendary reliability and longevity.  I have read that the new generation of diesel engines is not completely broken in until 60,000 miles and that they can be expected to last well past 200,000 miles with proper care and maintenance.  

I am very happy that we can expect the availability of ultra low sulfur diesel in the next year.  I think it is great that we will have a fuel that will reduce both nitrous oxide as well as particulate matter output.  The new fuel standard is the first step to the next generation of super clean diesel engines in the U.S.  

One thing that has surprised me since my purchase of my diesel is how much fun it is to drive.  The availability of a lot of torque makes this a sporty and fun to drive automobile!