Volkswagen Diesel For Sale

Flaws can't erode diesel Jetta TDI's basic appeal

That TDI — VW's nomenclature for diesel — provides a good opportunity to revisit the Jetta and check out the diesel, popular among VW buyers because it is rated 30 miles per gallon in town and 42 mpg on the highway, 34 in mixed driving. The 2011 TDI will continue unchanged for 2012.

That fuel mileage is about 25% better than the base gasoline version in the city and in mixed city/highway driving, and 24% better on the highway.

The CliffsNotes version: nice, roomy car; appealing drivetrain; low-brow interior trim and switches; inexplicable lack of some key features, but surprising inclusion of other features.

If this is your first look at the Jetta, you'll want to know that when VW redesigned it for the 2011 model year, it got much bigger, for American-size users. The interior now is comfortable for four or five adults — roomier, in fact, than some bigger cars. And the trunk is as big as on some mid- or full-size cars.

The new Jetta starts at $1,220 less than the old one, giving the perennially premium-price VW brand a more tempting number to advertise: $16,495 (because ads never include shipping, $770 in this case, the real base price is $17,265).

And that required a bit of corner-cutting, some of which the TDI shares, to keep the price down.

The rear uses a beam axle, not independent suspension that would provide crisper steering and handling. But that's at the margins; most people mostly won't notice.

The interior uses enough hard plastic to cancel the appeal of the nicer trim and materials, leaving you with the impression that the insides are brittle and cheaper than they probably are.

Switches for the turn signals, climate control and mirrors feel sloppy and flimsy, doing nothing to upgrade your opinion.

You can't get a backup camera for love nor money, even though the government is phasing in a requirement in the next few years, nor is there any other backup warning system.

On the other hand, the TDI gets disc brakes on all four wheels, more reassuring than the old-design rear-wheel drum brakes that VW uses on the gasoline Jettas (except the high-performance SEL). All four windows in the test car were one-touch up and down, a premium feature you still don't always get in pricier sedans.

For Sale 85 Volkswagen Golf Diesel - $2500 (Los Angeles)

Im sellin my 85 golf diesel with less than 200k. its a five speed transmission. Gets great fuel mileage. my wifes grandfather owned it since 86. ive had it for one year.cream in color. has lots of new stuff,coil over suspension, radiator, timing belt and tensioner, water pump, master cylinder, rear brembo drum, shoes and rear wheel cylinders. and 2 front tires.it. this is a diesel car , so it never has to get smoged. i can send u pics via text. can drop price without wheels.i have others i can put on. car has clean title, and a lil minor rust.

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