[Hydro]

In town, I prefer the Prius. Quiet, smooth, better gas mileage...it's an excellent city car for short trips. Yeah, I know some folks compare it to driving an appliance and some ridicule it's appearance, performance, snob reputation, battery replacement expense, etc. For us, it's a perfect second car.

For the rest, the TDI excels in every way. I took it out on I-70 headed east from Denver yesterday for a test run, averaged 60-70 mph, went about 20 miles RT, and had 47 mpg on the MFD with mpg still increasing (and this included several miles of city driving to get to I-70). At highway speeds, it becomes the quieter car with plenty of power to spare. Also, on the highway, fuel mileage (I'm learning to think diesel) begins to exceed that of the Prius. We're planning a long road trip in Nov. covering the same route travelled before with the Prius. Anticipating the same trip with the TDI in my head, I'm already grinning!

If we could only have one car, I'd choose the TDI. Now ask me again after 175,000 miles, the minimum we normally keep a car, and I'll have more of a story to tell. The journey is just beginning with much more to learn. Finding a good local mechanic will be an important early step. Mamma didn't raise no fool - I can learn from other peoples experiences and mistakes which is why these forums are so great. Rather foolish not to use the road if it's already been paved. I'll post my own experiences, good and bad, so others can learn as time goes on.

Driving Hondas and Toyotas all these years has led to a sort of reliability-induced, monotonous brain stupor. It feels good to be stimulated and alive again (yes, I read many of the 2009 Jetta TDI threads here and TDIClub before buying the car). And that's been an unexpected side benefit of this remarkable diesel car. Cheers!