I purchased a 2009 VW TDI a couple of weeks ago. After 2 weeks of driving it I am very pleased, the car is very responsive and rides great on the highway. Got 41 mpg my first tank and expect much more when it gets broken in.

My CRD has 52,000 miles now and averages 24 mpg during the winter and and 26 during the summer. So far a great towing vechicle for my boat. Even though I have had no major issues I am always concerned something will break at the wrong time. I have the 85,000 mile warranty, so if Jeep stays in business for a couple of more years I should be in good shape. After that plan to do Suncoast, SAMCO, MOOG and some other mods.

The biggest difference I notice between driving the TDI and CRD is that the TDI six speed automatic transmission. It is very smooth and shifts at the right time. Really feel the torque on the TDI at all speeds. Also the TDI does not sound like a diesel.

I plan on keeping the CRD for a long time. Still have not seen any thing that come close in towing performance for the price. In fact during 2009 Jeep stopped producing the GC 3.0 diesel.

Its a shame Jeep did not keep refining a diesel in the Liberty model in the US. With a six speed transmission and some other refinements they would certainly have a vechicle that would make them competitive in the market place.

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VACRD
2006 CRD
AeroTurbine 2525 Muffler
FUMOTO, SAMCO Hoses
GDE Eco Tune, Euro Torque Con
New Fuel Filter Unit
2009 VW TDI

Be careful comparing the TDI to the CRD, there are some members on here that will take issue with recognizing that they are both inline-4, turbocharged, high compression, direct injection, light duty diesel engines.

Welcome to the forum.

For your observations, I would have to heartily agree to everything except the last point. My 01 Jetta TDI was equal in just about all respects to your observations, but mine had (sadly) the 4-speed 01M transmission instead of the 6-speed. I would have LOVED those extra two gears, as coupled with the increased power from the less-emissions-happy engine design, it could have found 60mpg every single day.

But what do I disagree with? The thought that MOPAR wants to be competitive in the marketplace. They want to build the easiest, cheapest, least-engineered designs they can, slap a pretty coat of paint over the steaming crap... And sell it for the highest profit margin possible to a gullible public.

Not that I'm saying capitalism is bad per se, but the way the "American" (built in Mexico) car makers have looked at "innovation" in the last dozen years or so, it can be summed up with one big development: heated and cooled cupholders.

The fact that our Jeeps EVER made it off the engineering design desk, is a testament to irony. They made something that is TRULY revolutionary, an SUV that is capable of nearly 30mpg, pulls like a TRAIN, is in a design that people want (SUV) and what do they do? Forget to market it at all, then wonder why more didn't sell. Oh, and they could have highlighted the fact that (IIRC) these CRDs were built in the USA... But no.

Genius. Or, the simple proof that they don't WANT to be competitive, or LEAD in sales.

You've been warned.

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http://www.Colorado4Wheel.com
"Its not about what you can DO with your Jeep, its about where you can GO with your Jeep."
Knowledgeable - But Caustic

Isn't the Jetta made in Mexico???

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2005 sport crd-SOLD No regrets

And that would be the bear, that I apparently have been poking. Why this is such a big deal, I don't know. They are very similar.

Yes, it is ASSEMBLED in Mexico from engines and other components manufactured in Germany. Here's a perverse twist for you tho:

The Jetta WAGON is built EXCLUSIVELY in Germany. Not ONE is made in Mexico. But, here's the fun part: The Sedan (Mexico) gets a Blaupunkt radio from Germany, while the wagon gets a Clarion radio from... Mexico.

Would someone like to explain that one to me?

Outsourcing. You would be amazed to find out where alot of things are made. Check out your wiring harness and see where it is made.

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No longer a CRD or Jeep owner. Selling everything I have, needs to go as I need the room for a project.

Ditto for me!
I have only 23k mi on my CRD and it has been relatively trouble-free (knock wood). I'm looking to sell it though, since it's one too many cars in the driveway, and we now have a Chevy 2500 Duramax for towing.
The TDI only has 2600 miles so far (since Sept 2008), and it's the car I've wanted since renting Opel and Ford diesels in Germany over the last 5 years. Comfortable, efficient, and fun to drive! If only GM and Ford had figured out how to integrate their Euro-models into the US market...

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Charlie
2006 Liberty CRD Sport
1972 Alfa Romeo GTV

I don't have the 09 TDI but I have tho 06.5 with the same body style.... I'm averaging 45.7 mpg mostly urban in winter with 27,000 miles on the clock. Mine has a 5 speed manual so my mpg starts to go down after ~75 mph. My sweet spot is ~60-65 mph. Best tank was 50.2 in summer with minor hypermiling. Awesome car. Enjoy

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2005 Flame Red CRD Sport
ASFIR Skids
245/75-16 KL71's
Al's Gen4 A-arms
Rubicon MOABs
Frankenlift II
2 ring clevis w/ rear spacer
Super Nerfs

Yeah, VW TDIs rule!

What engine did you get? The 1.9 or the 2.0?

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L.O.S.T forever!
Silver 2002 Skoda Fabia TDI, 235,000km
Former car: Jeep KJ 2003 CRD

DIESEL - saving millions of liters of petrol every day!

The 2009 VW TDI comes with the 2.0 engine in the US.

The key thing is that the diesel emmissions are approved in all 50 states and it can be sold in Calif. As a so called Green Car, even go a $1300 tax credit for buying it

If Jeep was bought by VW instead of MB in the past we probably would have a better chance of having diesel engine in a varity of Jeeps.

MB focuses on diesels in very expensive vechicles.


geordi - agree the Jeep blew its opportunity by not following through on diesels. I do not see where Jeep is offering any diesels vechicles in the US for 2010. Does anyone else know if they are.?

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VACRD
2006 CRD
AeroTurbine 2525 Muffler
FUMOTO, SAMCO Hoses
GDE Eco Tune, Euro Torque Con
New Fuel Filter Unit
2009 VW TDI

I have a 1985 1.6T jetta A2,she gets 55mpg.This is like comparing apples to oranges,ever try to pull your CRD with a TDi .I love all my diesels equaliy for there different qualities.My 2000 Ford X 7.3(vegistroked) for 8 people travelling on the cheap,and the ability to pull a brick #$ithouse off its foundation.My CRD (WVO powered) is our around town HOTROD its chipped ,cat gutted, segredand overall modded.My Pre-TDI is my beater(Greasecar),and it gets aggression taken out on it (less money to fix),also a good bad weather car.And lastly my Porsche 924/kubota 3 cyl diesel project,is just that something to turn wrenches on,and when I am done maybe 80-100MPG I know there are different things out there but I admire them all...............

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2005 greaser KJ,jeeper greaser

As a matter of fact, I have towed a Jeep with my TDI... When I was getting my Jetta looked at before I sold it, I needed to pick it up from the shop. The only problem was, I was alone. I had my other Jeep, the 97 Grand Cherokee with the V8 and a tow bar.

So I went to the shop, and drove the Jetta back, dragging the 2 tons of Jeep behind me. The handling wasn't the best, b/c the Jeep didn't have active brakes, but it pulled like a tiny train.

Do I think that cars are VASTLY under-rated from their true capabilities? Yes. Do I fault the engineers? Not at all. I fault the lawyers of the car companies, and the marketing wonks that only push bigger and heavier vehicles on the public, with no good reason. Lighter vehicles are plenty safe, but that isn't what they tell us. Our vehicles can get MUCH better mileage, but we aren't allowed to have that technology. It's kept in Europe, even when the emissions they are claiming are so much worse... Are virtually identical. Even more, we are prevented by the same enviro-tards from burning less fuel with the engines we all love, which would naturally produce less emissions overall.

Its stupid.

The problem with the Jeep range is the name Daimler. This status association affords the dealerships the opportunity of charging a premium and DC to target the higher income bracket although the product itself lacks the finesse of some of its competitors.