Date:         Wed, 25 Aug 2004 09:02:01 -0500
Reply-To:     Jeremy Speer <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeremy Speer <jspeer@POBOX.COM>
Subject:      Beetle TDI test drive (almost no vanagon content)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Folks,

So my wife and i took a 2004 TDI beetle for a test drive yesterday.
There's a big move looming for us that will almost certainly involve
commuting, so i'm in the market for a good high fuel milage car, hence
the TDI test drive. Yes, i've driven a first-gen Prius and i'm
interested, but there's a full year wait list and the level of
technology in that car is daunting... it's not something you want to
drive to Alaska just yet.

The last time i drove a VW diesel it was in college in '82... a
friend's Rabbit L diesel. Great car, ran and ran and ran on one tank,
plus it had this nifty James Bond smokescreen effect if you needed to
confuse a bad guy during a getaway. Well, the new turbo diesels are a
whole new animal. It does have turbo lag (maybe it's a diesel thing),
but wind it up a bit and it's got scoot. The car is quite the amalgam:
engine's made in Poland, transmission (manual 5) is from Argentina,
balance is assembled in Mexico from parts made all over the place. In
contrast the Passat is nearly 100% German.

2004 Beetle GLS TDI (non convertible, no leather), out-the-door price:
$22,413. I'm sorry, but that seems like an awful lot of money. Granted
it's less than half what the Touaregs are going for (50 to 54,000), but
i'm still choking. I'm not getting any dealer installed options... so
is there wiggle room on that price? Am i now supposed to haggle?

I paid $10,000 for my Westy... and i've probably put $3500 into it
since.... but i can LIVE in my Westy.

Do i simply need to "get over it, new cars cost money."

Used TDI beetles are very hard to find, suggesting they last and people
keep them. Jetta wagon TDI's are scarce here in Minnesota.

Anybody care to share some wisdom?

Thanks,

-jspeer
'89 Westy GL, "Mystery Machine"
'00 Victory Sport Cruiser <-- for sale!