Subaru: '04 Legacy GT or Jetta TDI?

Harry Wilke wrote: 

I think both are fairly reliable cars. The Subaru has the edge on
"little things", the Jetta on the drive train (assuming you go for the
manual). The Jetta is smaller in some places. So it depends on what is
important to you. FWIW, the Passat is the equivalent, size-wise, to the
Legacy - not the Jetta (the Passat will now also be available in a
Diesel version in the US). However, it is mostly the rear leg room that
suffers in the Jetta (think Forester). I find the elbow and shoulder
room fitting my body type better in the Jetta than in the Legacy (YMMV).

All Jettas (including the TDI) handle very well and come standard with
traction control and are available with a very inexpensive but great
electronic stabilization program (ESP), but not with AWD in North
America. On the other hand, the Legacy has AWD and better clearance,
unless you get the Jetta wagon (which I would recommend, especially in
snow country).

If you can get around in winter tires and FWD (or don't have much snow
and ice), the Jetta TDI can make a lot of sense if you drive a lot (>~
20K miles/year). If you drive less, compare to the Jetta 1.8T instead
(more power, still reasonable mileage) or the 2.0.

Hope this helps,

- D.

"Harry Wilke" <net> wrote in message news:<76hwb.142189$jy.109716@clgrps13>... 

personaly i'd vote for the jetta on quality. i have a legacy, i'm not
terribly happy with it. my brother has a gti (same platform as the
jetta) and loves it. he has the 1.8T so i can't tell you about real
world experiences with the TDI. i've driven the TDI and found it has
sufficient power and think it's a pretty good engine. plus the vw
clutch and transmission are lightyears ahead of subaru in performance
and quality.

my main question is are you leaning toward the great fuel milage for
environmental reasons or cost reasons? my next car will probably be a
TDI (or big ford/dodge diesel) because diesels are much cleaner and
more efficient and better for the environment (hope i didn't just
hijack the thread for a big gas vs diesel discussion). and if you're
concerned about the environment that's great. but i need to point out
that the 65mpg isn't going to save you a whole lot of money.
actually, i've never seen 65mpg unless you're talking brittish
gallons, i usually see 55 quoted for the TDI. but let's split the
difference and say you'll get 60mpg on the TDI. on my legacy, on a
good day of nothing but highway driving, i'll get about 25mpg. let's
say 20mpg just so that i over estimate everything. that's 40mpg more
for the TDI.

in my area gas and diesel are the same ($1.40, but let's say $2)

let's say you drive 10,000 miles a year

10,000miles/20mpg=500 gallons=$1000
10,000miles/60mpg=167 gallons=$333

that's a savings on $667 over 12 months that's only $55 a month (an
over estimate!)

now, that's with all else being equal. the problem with the TDI
engine is that every 40K miles you need to tear apart the engine and
replace the timing belt (or else you WILL destory the engine). that's
a rather costly ordeal, i think in the $800 neighborhood (but you
should check on that price for yourself).

another thing to consider: if you spend a good deal of time in
traffic, it's not good to idle a diesel for a long time. i'd rather
not get into the detail here cause it's a bit off topic (google for
wetstacking), but you'have to make sure that you manually hold the
idle high (1500ish rpm) if you idle for longer than 30-60sec. plus
diesels are so efficient, that when idling there is very little extra
heat dissipated into the engine so in the winter the heater doesn't
work very good when stopped in traffic.

mike

Thanks for the response...

The reason for going for the fuel economy is two-fold. Environmentally, it
seams just the right thing to do. Conspicuous consumption (i.e. OB Wagon or
worse Cadillac Escalade) is not my style. Saving money, great but not a
primary factor. I do like the idea of spontaneously deciding to take a trip
and not consider fuel costs.

I live in Canada... Vancouver Island, so we use the Imperial Gallon here
also. My 90 Legacy 5spd gets 28 - 31mpg depending on load. This has been
steadily logged over many years. My old 86 GL (5spd) gets 24 - 28mpg in
spite of being lighter with a smaller engine, though it isn't fuel injected.

Re: The timing belt. I specifically asked the dealer about this. They quoted
me 150km (90,000miles) for a timing belt for the 04 Jetta. Previous to 03
the belts required change out at 96,000km (60,000miles). Even the Subarus
require belts at 96,000km. Older Subarus needed change at 48,000km
(30,000miles). Horsepower spec has also been changed for the 04 diesel from
90hp to 100hp with 177 lbs.ft torque. It seems to me that while highway
acceleration may not be fantastic, neither will I be downshifting as often
on some of the hill climbs I drive regularily.

I still have to drive the Jetta to get a feel for it.

Does anybody know where the Legacy GT Wagon and the Legacy L-Premium Wagon
is built.

Jetta Sedans are built in Mexico, Jetta wagons are built in Germany. Enough
reason to go for the Wagon, I'd say.

--
________________________________
HJ Wilke Consultants
2335 Marlborough Drive,
Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 3J3

Ph & Fax: (250) 758-4145
Cellular: (250) 751-4130
e-mail: net
________________________________
"Mike Deskevich" <com> wrote in message
news:google.com... 
news:<76hwb.142189$jy.109716@clgrps13>... 
owned 
Big 
test 

> Does anybody know where the Legacy GT Wagon and the Legacy L-Premium Wagon 
Enough 

Is it a given that Turks work better than Mexicans?

As long as the Germans are standing over their shoulder, yes.

--
________________________________
HJ Wilke Consultants
2335 Marlborough Drive,
Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 3J3

Ph & Fax: (250) 758-4145
Cellular: (250) 751-4130
e-mail: net
________________________________
"John Opezdol" <au> wrote in message
news:supernews.com... 
Wagon 

On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 05:58:27 GMT, "Harry Wilke" <net>
wrote:
 

I had a '96 VW Jetta, 5 speed, regular gas. It was a blast to
drive...I loved the handling and it had very good pick up. The gas
mileage at best was 28 mpg on the interstate, very poor considering
our '98 Corolla, 5 speed would get up to 40 mpg on the same trip.

My biggest complaints about the Jetta were the consistent problems.
My problems were mostly electrical including power window switches,
brake lights, instrument lighting. I had to have three different
seals replaced at different times. I bought the car new and kept it
for 1 year and 7 months, put less than 20K miles on it. The straw
that broke the camel's back, I went to the dealer for an oil change
and because of a leaking tranny seal, I was forced to wait and got the
car back 6 hours later. I drove it across the street and bought the
previously mentioned Toyota. Whew!

My Forester, at a mere 9300 miles, has so far proven trouble free.

James
'03 Subaru Forester XS-P
'03 Infiniti FX35/AWD/Tech
Santa Fe, New Mexico

they are build in indiana

and i thought in canada we use metric liter unless it's different in
vancouver island

"Harry Wilke" <net> ¦b¶l¥ó news:F%wwb.7445$oN2.4284@edtnps84
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injected. 
quoted 
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to 
fuel 

Do you mean metric litre?

foxmon wrote: