Quote:
sycamore
my new car choices would be:
|
Opt for the Jetta, it's objectively the best of the ones listed.
The Beetle may be an interesting-looking car, but as far as value-for-money goes, it's overpriced. The Jetta isn't cheap, but you get a lot for your money.
Used Jettas are also very good; the most recent Jetta models (<3 years) are a cut above the rest, however.
Quote:
dave
it'll gel up in the winter [diesel]
|
The direct-injection VW diesel engines are remarkably good at avoiding that. It was certainly a problem with older diesel engines, but VW/Audi/BMW/MB have made incredible progress during the second half of the 90s. Diesel engine cars are usually lower-taxed, sometimes cheaper, and use cheaper fuel - in Europe. With non-diesel gas prices approaching $5/gallon, this is remarkably tempting.
Quote:
|
yeah, you can't go as fast as you can with gas
|
The VW TDI engines are tuned to prefer low end torque over high max speeds. Considering you will use it for city/highway travel at US speed limits or slightly above, this will be ideal; no need to race a Porsche 911 biturbo down the Autobahn. 90hp is more than plenty for everything you'll probably ever need the car for.
Quote:
Undertoad
And it's louder, and more rattle-prone
|
In average, possibly. In new cars of the makes listed above, only marginally, if they are <5 years old.
Quote:
|
But I've heard that the exhaust is actually more eco-friendly because diesel fuel will burn more completely.
|
To a certain extent this is true. Diesel exhaust fumes are much more strongly carcinogenic than non-diesel exhaust fumes, however. (there are diverging studies on this subject). Even simple diesel fumes (from pumping gas) are more carcinogenic than gasoline fumes; since both are a considerable health risk, many gas stations in Europe have isolated nozzles which re-absorb any fumes expelled during the pumping process; in Germany, it's been a law since the early-mid 90s. I wouldn't worry about the carcinogenic nature of diesel fumes in the US, however; you've probably inhaled enough truck diesel fumes and gas station fumes in your lifetime to make it a moot point.
(To quote from Chevron's own material safety data sheet:
"POSSIBLE CANCER HAZARD - CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT MAY CAUSE CANCER BASED ON ANIMAL DATA")
X.
Links:
http://www.whsc.on.ca/Publications/h...001/diesel.htm
http://www.gpmu.org.uk/hs/health/msg00014.html