Automobiles

[caleb]

Mazda6 diesel wagon allegedly coming here.

I drove a regular 6 a few years ago and loved it. If a diesel version could get 45+mpg, I'd seriously consider it even with the higher price of fuel right now.

[davids]

That ST looks like a pretty great car. It's nearly a wagon - I could certainly get a bike in the back of that. But, yeah, the Touch system sucks. And in order to forgo it you must also live without things like HID lights and heated seats. Not a deal-killer, but a bummer.

p.s. The wagon looks fantastic:

[nahtnoj]

It looks good, but how will it look in two years with that grill smashed to pieces from parallel parking? The new Fusion is just as bad if not worse.

[72gmc]

Am I the only one who sees Jerk picking up that Caddy from MisterDangerPants?

I like the Focus from afar but after a rental I'm lukewarm on the Fusion. Decent car with the turning radius of a cruise ship.

[maunahaole]

I think that jerk may make more hp than that Caddy.

[simple]

Thinking about selling this:



One of you guys should buy it. Manual + turbo + Cobb + wagon + Subaru = 5 years of fun and reliability (Thinking of getting a Golf TDi now)

[maunahaole]

Simple, what is your take on doing a cold start in the parking lot of the ski area with a diesel? I still remember some difficulty in trying to get my buddy's GMC 6.2L started one afternoon after sitting in the lot at Copper on a very cold day.

[simple]

I would assume that a block heater is necessary. Haven't looked into it but if I do I would search here Car won't start in the cold - TDIClub Forums

[simple]

Not definite on the Golf TDi yet. I really want something that can tow the moto and snowmobile trailers with ease like my Outback does.

Often I wish the VW Amarok TDi was available in the US :( (any diesel small pickup would be great actually)

['nati Chris]

16" VW Bionline wheels will clear the brakes on a MK 6 GTI but there wasn't much clearance. If one were to opt for 16" wheels on a GTI I would suggest mounting whichever wheel you'd want beforehand to ensure it won't hit the caliper.

[jitahs]

I drove a regular 6 a few years ago and loved it. If a diesel version could get 45+mpg, I'd seriously consider it even with the higher price of fuel right now.

Sounds like a great real-world engine:

"The particular diesel engine will be a SkyActiv-D 2.2-liter four-cylinder. Specifications of the unit are yet to be finalized, though on overseas models this engine can deliver between 148 and 173 horsepower and between 280 and 310 pound-feet of torque. "!

One is going to be campaigned in the Grand-Am Series @ 400hp. Yum.

I like Mazda's recent offerings over Ford's for reliability.

[Applesauce]

I would assume that a block heater is necessary. Haven't looked into it but if I do I would search here Car won't start in the cold - TDIClub Forums

My wife's Mk6 TDi Golf wagon (2011 I think, possibly 2012) started flawlessly all the time - even at -30°C. I would still call the current crop of North American TDi engines highly untested, especially compared to some of theirs and others' more famous gas engines, but we were pretty pleased with ours. We didn't drive it past 30k kms before selling it, though, so take that for what you will. Certainly some of the mid-2000s North American TDi motors were pretty crappy... (And she's ex-nats team skier and still works full time as a rep. So we spent our fair share of time at ski hills with that car.)

Having said that, I'm a BMW guy, and I'm much happier now that we're back into a Bimmer: I wouldn't want to try to maintain any of the current VWs past 250k km, especially a non-Euro diesel, and I'm confident BMW's current straight sixes will take a half million with only regular (read: constant and expensive) maintenance. And not that BMWs are free of electrical gremlins, but I've had several VWs with highly dubious electrical systems - as if they were going for a level of sophistication far beyond their actual capabilities.

[jtferraro]

Thinking about selling this:



One of you guys should buy it. Manual + turbo + Cobb + wagon + Subaru = 5 years of fun and reliability (Thinking of getting a Golf TDi now)

Nice. We have an '08 XT manual with factory STI short shifter too. How much additional horse/torque with the Cobb tune?

[jtferraro]

I think that jerk may make more hp than that Caddy.

Hah - maybe if it was the hearse style!

[shanerpvt]

Jerk,

What about the Porsche Macan (Tiguan/Q5 platform), out early 2013.

"Porsche will likely offer a Macan S variant that comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that develops 295 horsepower."

or the Turbo

"Porsche will fit the Macan Turbo with a new 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 370 horsepower and 400 lb/ft of torque. Likewise, the Macan will also be mated to a standard seven-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed, dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission."

sould be pretty quick on that platform.

[jtferraro]

Am I the only one who sees Jerk picking up that Caddy from MisterDangerPants?

OOPS - my previous reply of "Hah - maybe if it was the hearse style!" was supposed to be to the above comment (rather than the HP one).

[rydesteel]

I've got 35k on a 2011 Golf TDi, 6mt just put a new set of shoes on it, I average about 38 mpg year round and I drive it like I stole it most of the time. Make sure the little glow plug symbol goes off in the winter and it will start right up. I'll probably have it tuned next year by Malone or Revo, not that it needs a few extra ponies and a bit more torque :>) but it can't hurt.

[jerk]

Jerk,

What about the Porsche Macan (Tiguan/Q5 platform), out early 2013.

"Porsche will likely offer a Macan S variant that comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that develops 295 horsepower."

or the Turbo

"Porsche will fit the Macan Turbo with a new 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produces 370 horsepower and 400 lb/ft of torque. Likewise, the Macan will also be mated to a standard seven-speed manual transmission or an optional seven-speed, dual-clutch PDK automatic transmission."

sould be pretty quick on that platform.

Expensive- but awesome.

[swt]

Just picked up a 2013 Tundra 5.7 4x4 TRD White. Having a leer 100XR put in in a couple of weeks with a matching bedrug. Pretty stoked!

[simple]

Nice. We have an '08 XT manual with factory STI short shifter too. How much additional horse/torque with the Cobb tune?

Can't really remember what Stage 1 does. 10hp and 20ft/lb? Stage 2 is maybe twice that? I've been saving Subaru bucks for a downpipe. Almost there....