Diesels make more sense than hybrids, says ex-Transportation Secretary

[dieselgeek]

I got interested in the Leaf after I drove the Volt. I really liked the Volt a lot but the Leaf is a better fit as far as a back seat and two kids are concerned. I also used to work on cars for a living and having at least one car without any ICE is attractive.

The salesman who sat shotgun on my first Leaf test drive shopped at the Big&Tall store if you get my drift so he needed copious quantities of AC. I view AC as a necessary evil. But the Leaf blew some seriously cold air. I asked him if I could switch the AC off for a second and he said sure so I did a couple of WOT runs with and then without AC and there really wasn't a difference. When I turned the AC back on it got cold fast.

That said, the climate control system on the Leaf will run the heater even with the AC on to keep the temps exactly where you program it in AUTO mode so I won't be using AUTO mode. (remember the heater sucks down some hellatious juice.) This is well documented on the Leaf forum so it's easy to steer clear of that little snafu.

[darrelld]

Originally Posted by dieselgeek

I got interested in the Leaf after I drove the Volt. I really liked the Volt a lot but the Leaf is a better fit as far as a back seat and two kids are concerned. I also used to work on cars for a living and having at least one car without any ICE is attractive.

The salesman who sat shotgun on my first Leaf test drive shopped at the Big&Tall store if you get my drift so he needed copious quantities of AC. I view AC as a necessary evil. But the Leaf blew some seriously cold air. I asked him if I could switch the AC off for a second and he said sure so I did a couple of WOT runs with and then without AC and there really wasn't a difference. When I turned the AC back on it got cold fast.

That said, the climate control system on the Leaf will run the heater even with the AC on to keep the temps exactly where you program it in AUTO mode so I won't be using AUTO mode. (remember the heater sucks down some hellatious juice.) This is well documented on the Leaf forum so it's easy to steer clear of that little snafu.

You trading anything in on the Leaf?

[dieselgeek]

Originally Posted by darrelld

You trading anything in on the Leaf?

No...buying it as a business vehicle.

[darrelld]

Originally Posted by chittychittybangbang

dieselgeek, can you post your review of the Leaf once you've had some time with it? Here's mine My Nissan Leaf test drive and review

A family member just got a base 2011 Prius for $23 out the door. That's about $21 before sales tax and fees (they're clearing out the 2011s). For someone who wants good mpg out of their driving appliance, it was a good buy at the right price.

I realize I might be a bit biased but TDI is the only reason I like VW. If not a TDI I would probably buy a Honda-Acura. The VW Jetta hybrid will be interesting but (before knowing any pricing or details), my outlook for the Jetta hybrid is not good. The VW Touareg hybrid is a dud. Much more expensive than the Touareg TDI for better acceleration which you'll really never use. It's a nice car but other than acceleration the features are a wash and way too expensive. I don't understand the point of a hybrid SUV either.

The biggest obstacle to the VW Jetta hybrid is that Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai all have decent hybrids but they haven't gotten any traction against the Prius.

Last months sales of the Hybrid Touareg as a percentage of total US Touareg sales actually run higher than the take rate for other vehicles offering a hybrid option.

The Jetta Hybrid is rumored to offer a turbo TSI with a 7-speed DSG making it unique among competitors.

[rytlewski]

There's more to life than fuel economy (at least for me). The Prius is uglier than a baboon's butt and about as much fun to drive as a school bus.

[darrelld]

You can see by my driveway what I prefer.

[Steadyhand]

In Virginia, hybrids get to drive (with just one person in car) on the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, which is a boon to commuters in Northern Virginia; however, better mileage TDIs are excluded, even if they run "alternative" fuel biodiesel (VA specifies, "Alternative" as being worthy of HOV travel).

After 201,000 miles, my TDI is running good (may need cam/lifters...) and I avoid the HOV lanes (darned Prius cars must be the bee's knees).

grumble, grumble, grumble....

[dieselgeek]

That's exactly what my Golf looks like. I took off my chrome tips, too.