mtnhouse

Hi Guys, I'm new to the diesel world. I've read a lot good stuff about diesel. I've been reading the post here and VW tdi forum. I need a new commuter car. My commute is about 115 miles round trip. Its mostly freeways but my afternoon commute has lot stop and go traffic. Yes I know my commute is crazy. I need help on which car to get. What I've been trying to find out is, which is a better car in terms of gas mileage, reliability and cost of maintenance. I read the 00 and above tdi's can go to 50+ mpg but i'm not sure how fast they are going on the fwy to get to 50+ mpg. On the fwy I like to stay on the fast lane What is the 05 or 06 E320 cdi like? 35+mpg? maintenace? and reliability? what are the things to watch out buying a cdi? I'm worried also about the turbos on both cars. What kind maintenance does it ? rebuild on 100k?
I'm kinda leaning towards the E320 but I need to know more about this car. Any comments, recommendation or advice is greatly appreciated. thanks

Plutoe

Buy a cube, then after a couple of years buy another one!!

300sdl

I just sold my '05 320 CDI with about 258k on the odo. The man who bought it keeps commenting on how tight it is in every respect. He considers it to be far better than the brand new top of the line Altima Nissan he just purchased for his wife.

I was averaging 40+ MPG if I stayed in the 75 MPH range. My wife's '02 five speed VW TDI does about 10 MPG better. Buy the MB, there is a day/night difference! Be certain to buy one that has been very well maintained.

mtnhouse

What major repairs did you have? Did you rebuild the turbo every 100k?

Carsy

Consider :-

Servicing costs.

Spares availability & cost.

Initial price.

Reliability.

Driveability.

Fuel efficiency / availability/ price.

Safety.

And most importantly which do you enjoy driving. Life is too short to drive 115 miles a day is a car you dislike!!

I suggest you take each car for a days commute & check out all the details.

300sdl

mtnhouse,

Standard maintenance items only. No turbos, transmissions, bearings, etc.

I'm quite easy on brakes and did not have to replace pads or rotors. That is possible with sane, not necessarily slow, driving and when living in a state with only 1/2 million people.

Carsy

Well, we are all waiting with breathless anticipation on your decision

mtrevelino

I believe that this past edition of Consumers Reports had some type of comparison on diesel maintenance costs (newer models of course). The MB came in at $1.09 per mile, where the TDI was at $.51 per mile. Again, where the MB was in the mid 30's for fuel mileage, the TDI was in the low 50's.
I am getting 38 mpg on the highway with my cdi using winter fuel, after reseting the trip computer, but actual mileage when I fill up the tank and calculate it is approximately 32 mpg.
Mike T.

kurtismayfield

Did the CR report include Chiropractic costs?

You would have $0 in the MB column...TDI column, well usually once you start going to them you need to keep going to them!!

Cheers

mtnhouse

Thanks for all the comments and advice. Sorry for not replying. I haven't made a decision which one will be my next commute car. I'm really leaning towards the CDI because I own a w210 and I love driving it a lot. I'm only considering the tdi because of the 40+ mpg. I'm still doing my research. I will let you guys know once I make my decision. thanks again.

kurtismayfield

Just curious why you sold it, as some would say you had just gotten it broken in...
Cheers

300sdl

Normally I would have kept the vehicle.

I think the country is headed for extremely hard times. If that becomes the case I would prefer to have my current MB diesel with 200k fewer miles.

deadstockmarket

I am also interested in the CDI. The gas mileage with diesel is what is really getting me to consider one.

Greasey Bob

I do not like the timing belt maint. on the TDI. Mercedes has a chain and no change interval. Oil changes are similarly priced. My CDI got 42mpg on the highway at 73-75 mph. But it is hard to keep your foot out of the throtle while driving around town.

2slowcdi

I had a 2003 Jetta TDI and put 200,000 miles on I got it new.
It would get about 35 mpg in town and around 45 to 50 mpg on the hwy real world numbers "filling it up and doing the math", it was the last year of tha ALH motor that gets better mileage than all the newer motors of TDI's.
Mine was not stock , I had set it up to get all the HP out of it with out hurting mileage
I spent about $8000 doing it.
It was a good car till it was 7 years old then the car just started falling apart headliner started coming down the clear coat started coming off all the little things.
The drivetrain was better that it was new had the rest of the car held up as well I would never sold it.
Parts not covered MAS / glow plugs / temp sensor / wear parts & other small items glove box strap armrest clip ect.
Now my CDI 2006 I found it with 65,000 miles 2 years 8 months ago now with 145,000 miles the glow plugs , MAS , motor mounts & trany mount , mileage in town 28 to 32 mph hwy 35 to 38 mpg "real world numbers" my dash numbers at times has been off up to 5 miles per gallon showing low 40's.

The cost of the CDI was cheaper than what I paid for my TDI one new one used I just wanted the in line 6.
The upkeep is much more on the CDI than the TDI.
Trany service is $400 my TDI was a 5 speed so that was $50 , brake flush was $100 at VW , $225 at Mercedes.
Fun to drive BOTH in different ways the TDI always felt fast , the CDI is fast.

I looked at getting a new TDI but I was not sold on them at the time