[Vwdiesel] Just looked at VW.com for pricing on 2011 sport wagon tdi

[Travis Gottschalk]

Father owns and 09 sportwagon. He had the 06 "special" (07 year rebadged to get rid of them since they didn't have the emission yet on them) which was a sedan. He has to keep his cars under 5 years old due to company pollicy and he puts on so many miles. They used to have company car now it is a dumbed down version of "we pay you $XX for each mile, the more the miles the less per mile you get paid" Since he puts around 60K a year on he got the newer Common rail as he wanted the wagon as well as the sedan really didn't hold much (hard fitting long things in the sedan trunk). 

The car really is a work horse. It has pulled a stationary engine (take a JD "D" engine on trucks-2500 lbs then add the trailer) from Iowa to MN. It was filled to the Sunroof with coolers full of meet, oils and other heavy items the moving company wouldn't haul and then a trailer with a motorcycle and other things strapped to it behind it (very little movement in the shocks left). It went over the Bear tooth mountain pass with 4 adults and a dog in the back and didn't down shift or up shift at all (kept in sport mode-it is an auto as he won't buy a manual-know how to drive it but doesn't want it). 
 
I am honestly impressed with what the car can do. Lifetime average is 38 MPG. I get better when I am driving then him as it likes to use the power to much in city traffic. Rarely is he not passing someone. Lots of power. The auto tranny is a modern marvel with how they have it shifting and how it is made. Dry clutch and two gear boxes (odd and even gears). Fathers complaints are the auto tranny has an expensive oil/filter every 40K. The timing belt is 120K miles on it and is simliar to a BEW from what I have heard. I am going to try to watch it get done from a different person. Also the tires were really bothering him. But my whole family has underated tires. The newer VW's need a 91 load rating and an H speed rating. Everyone in my family (other then me) has 89T. They were all complaining about short tire life. Also some tires don't jive with the front wheel drive solid rear axle (I know-not on the 09). Hope that helps with the car some.
 
Couple other issues out there with the newer VW's are the exhaust on the jetta sometime stops working. It really is a car you need to beat on some to clear out the particle trap. If you never get out of town it won't clear out. Also the high pressure fuel system has come apart on several (both around $1500). The is some issues with the intercooler icing up and then sending a slug of ice water into the engine and some nasty brown stuff can build up. Happened to my father. Driving in some bad winter weather and the car went to limp mode a sevaral lights were flashing. Several restarts in the next town and it came back to life. Didn't damage anything that we know of but I found out what it likely was after the fact. Father says it is the best vehicle he has ever owned. He still wants to go with the diesel Cruze Chevy for the next car. Just don't get our family started on the gas 4motion passat. That is crap. 
Travis