Hoping to snag a Jetta TDI with your clunker cash? Too late!
2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sportwagen - click above for high-res image gallery
Undoubtedly one of the vehicles that could have profited handsomely from this week's expected rush by Americans to unload old gas guzzlers for something more thrifty was Volkswagen's Jetta TDI. With its typical 35-40 mpg real-world mileage, superior dynamics to most hybrids and relatively sedate pricing, the Jetta TDI was perfectly positioned to grab a lot of attention. Unfortunately for Volkswagen dealers, it just ain't happening. You see, there are virtually no Jetta TDIs to be had anywhere, especially if you were hoping to get a Sportwagen.
Bringing the story closer to home, this author has personally been out shopping the last several days in search of a TDI Sportwagen to replace the wife's nine-year old Passat (which unfortunately doesn't quite qualify for clunker status), all to no avail. After checking with local dealers and calling showrooms all over Michigan and Ohio, there are no TDI wagons. Anything still on the lot already has a deposit check tied to it and the few still on trucks are also accounted for. A few sedans apparently remain, but they are likely to go fast.
According to the salesman at Howard Cooper Volkswagen in Ann Arbor, the problem is that the 2009 model run has expired and Germany takes the month of August off. As a result, no diesel engines will be shipped to Mexico in August, so VW's Puebla plant follows suit.
Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sportwagen
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
chauvinist pig 12:11PM (7/28/2009)
Umm... my dealership has 9.
http://bit.ly/tJwtH
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Dave R 2:05PM (7/28/2009)
Yep, I searched two local dealers and found 2 TDI wagons and a dozen TDI sedans.
Brian DR1665 1:43PM (7/28/2009)
Fired up today, are we? Awesome.
It doesn't matter if global warming is real or not. There's no reason why man shouldn't be concerned about maintaining the quality of his environment. The bigger problem is people subscribing to the bi-partisan hackery that has us all by the throat. If you consider yourself a democrat or a republican, you're part of the problem.
You should consider yourself to be an American citizen first and foremost. Bi-partisan politics serves more to divide and conquer the American people than it does to serve them. So long as we're fighting with each other, we'll never be unified enough to affect real change in our country.
As for hybrids, until the biggest selling point is the reduced CO2 emissions - and the marketing plans for these vehicles reflect such - the biggest selling point of hybrids is increased miles per gallon. With that in mind, only those who are truly buying a hybrid for the reduced CO2 are in the right. All others are sycophants and mindless sheep subject to mass media marketing gimmicks who would be better served by a small displacement turbo diesel providing the mileage improvements without being overly-complicated, over-priced, poorly-handling econoboxes targeted at puppets more interested in how the radio sounds than actually driving.
Meh. Pot? Meet kettle.
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Mike!!ekiM 4:07PM (7/28/2009)
If you really want a Free and Strong America, you'd better start kissing Barry's Bottom. He's saving your butt. Take a look at the Texas Drought, or the US Drought, or the Global Drought, and this is just with a 2 degree increase in temperature. Can't wait for a 5 degree change and now the Crack Pot Right Wing media is going to spin that.
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Mike!!ekiM 4:31PM (7/28/2009)
Oceans getting warmer:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32105317/ns/us_news-environment/
FYI,
60% of those nations that pump oil have already reached Peak Oil. The oil that's left is harder to extract and therefore more expensive. Although, with the current increase in prices, there should have been an increase in drilling in the US and the world, and this has not occurred. Meaning, the oil industry seems to be attempting to run up prices by restricting supply. They might say "managing" supply.
Anyway, buying Solar Panels and a Prius or a Volt gives you some price protection from future oil shocks, and helps slow down Global Warming.
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Michael Hippenhammer 5:17PM (7/28/2009)
I hope you are joking because this is the DUMBEST comment
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Michael Hippenhammer 5:20PM (7/28/2009)
I hope you are joking because this is the DUMBEST comment one could make.
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lne937s 8:12PM (7/28/2009)
If you are concerned about CO2 output, there are some options to the diesel Jetta if it is unavailable that put out the same or less CO2 (remember that Diesel is more carbon-dense than gasoline):
www.fueleconomy.gov
for 2009 models
Sedans/small cars:
Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 6-spd, Diesel 6.2 tons/yr of CO2
Volkswagen Jetta 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel 6.4 tons/yr of CO2
Honda Civic Hybrid 4 cyl, 1.3 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 4.4 tons/yr of CO2
Honda Civic CNG 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd, RNG=170, Natural Gas 5.4 tons/yr of CO2
MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 5.7
MINI Clubman 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 5.7
Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 5.7
Toyota Yaris 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 5.9
Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular 5.9
Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 6.1
Toyota Corolla 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Chevrolet Aveo 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Pontiac G3 Wave 5 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Pontiac G5 XFE 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Chevrolet Aveo 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Pontiac G3 Wave 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.1
Kia Rio 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 6.1
Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (S5), Regular 6.1
Nissan Versa FE 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 6.1
Pontiac G5 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3
Pontiac G5 GT 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3
Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3
Honda Fit 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3
Chevrolet Cobalt 4 cyl, 2.2 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3 NA
MINI John Cooper Works 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 6.3
MINI John Cooper Works Clubman 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 6.3
Hyundai Accent 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 6.3
Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 6.3
MINI Cooper 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 6.3
MINI Cooper S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 6.3
Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3
Honda Civic 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic 5-spd, Regular 6.3
MINI Clubman 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 6.3
MINI Clubman S 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 6.3
Scion xD 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3
Nissan Sentra FE 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 6.3 NA
Nissan Versa 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 5-spd, Regular 6.3
Toyota Prius 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 4.0
Toyota Camry Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 5.4
Nissan Altima Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), HEV, Regular 5.4
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 6.3
Saturn Aura Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.4 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular 6.3
smart fortwo coupe 3 cyl, 1 L, Automatic (S5), Premium 5.1
smart fortwo convertible 3 cyl, 1 L, Automatic (S5), Premium 5.1 NA
MINI Cooper Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 5.7
MINI John Cooper Works Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 6.3
MINI Cooper S Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Manual 6-spd, Premium 6.3
MINI Cooper Convertible 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Automatic (S6), Premium 6.3
Station wagons:
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 4 cyl, 2 L, Manual 6-spd, Diesel 6.2 tons/yr of CO2
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen 4 cyl, 2 L, Automatic (S6), Diesel 6.4 tons/yr of CO2
Nissan Cube 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 6.3 tons/yr of CO2
Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 5.7
Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 5.7
Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD 4 cyl, 2.5 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular 5.7
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jay 11:58PM (7/28/2009)
I emailed Sam. I have the wagon he is looking for, maybe I can sell it to him!
Swede 8:26AM (7/29/2009)
LOL Jim has obviously lost his marbles
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wxman 12:12PM (7/29/2009)
Not to get too far off topic, but as an atmospheric scientist, I recommend against drawing any conclusions one way or the other with respect to the record cold temps in the Midwest/northeast U.S. and the drought in Texas.
These are the result of anomalous upper flow (“jet stream” configuration) and are more of a meteorological, not climatological, phenomenon. The upper flow this year has been anomalously amplified for this time of the year (summer) with a trough persisting over the northeast/upper Midwest and an upper ridge persisting over Texas. Upper flow in summer is typically very weak and nearly zonal, at least over the U.S.
Climate is weather averaged over an extended period of time, usually at least 30 years. The “normal” temperatures and precipitation amounts that you see on you local weather forecasts are calculated on a rolling average of the previous 3 decades (30 years) recalculated every decade (next year, 2010, will have a new set of climatological data based on the years 1980-2009; they’re currently based on the years 1970-1999).
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OpenMinded Patriot 5:22PM (7/29/2009)
replying to Jim:
We don't have enough oil in the US to make the difference that you imply by saying we need to "drill our own oil."
Check out Wikipedia - Oil Reserves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves
At current rates of production we have an 8 year supply.
Eight years! That's nothing.
I'm not a peak oil alarmist. But there is a certain reality here.
Global Warming or no Global warming -- oil is not the fuel of the future.
It just isn't.
Drill baby Drill is a great slogan,
but, as a plan, it is nothing more than a myth.
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jim 9:44PM (7/29/2009)
Wikipedia is NOT concerned about TRUTH, only SPIN to falsely validate the LIB DEM crowd!
IF you do your research from valid sources, you will find that we have MORE oil than all of the middle east combined, enough for another 100 years! IF you reverse the STUPIDITY of slick n hil and drill on land he gobbled up for the gov't so that oil COULD NOT be developed and drilled. Open up offshore drilling and relax the onerous and frivolous regs exacted on those who want to develop it.
It makes a LOT more sense than pushing the GLOBAL WARMING CRAP and BANKRUPTING our country and DESTROYING our economy for these LIES!!
IF you have the fortitude do your research and find out about ole barry, algore, pelosi and LOTS of other LIB DEMS who invested HEAVILY in "green" technology and THEN pushed their GREEN CRAP on the IDIOTS who fall for their LIES. NOW they are sitting back and making MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars off of the FOOLS who swallow their swil!!
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lne937s 10:41AM (7/30/2009)
Jim,
Look at the EIA/DOE numbers:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/otheranalysis/ongr.html
Drilling the Outer Continental Shelf will raise domestic oil production by less than 2%, and take 20 years to get there
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jim 11:34AM (7/30/2009)
and you believe that ine?? LOL!!
agreed, that is not near as large as the reserve under the land made govenment land by ole slick n hil!!
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jjasprl 3:25PM (8/12/2009)
If you don't sell it to Sam, let me know.
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jjasprl 8:23PM (8/12/2009)
good blog
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