RE: Did Audi make a Turbo Diesel?

["Paul Wilson" <pauldwilson@ne.mediaone.net>]

> >Unfortunately, these are only available in Europe.  Also
> available in Europe
> >is a Passat(not an Audi but very close) available with a 150hp 2.3l V5
> >turbodiesel.
>
> Bull.  My economics professor --here in the US--, bought one of these
> from a Boston dealership, probably 2-3 years ago.  Very quiet w/
> little bit of turbo whirr, mileage in the 40's to 50's. Nothing to
> hint that it wasn't a normal Passat except a little "TDI" on the
> front grille, a la "quattro" badges on our cars and the unusual sound.

Err, I guess you've been asleep for a few years.

The old Passat was available with the 1.9TDI for the last few years of it's
production.  The new Passat may have been available with a TDI early in '98
but, if so, VW pulled the plug early on and only a few slipped through.  A
similar situation to the Passat Syncro wagon that was supposed to appear.

Maybe I should have wrote "These are only available NEW in Europe".  I
thought this was obvious though.  Also, the original poster was looking for
an Audi diesel.  The new Passat is close enough to possibly qualify but the
old one isn't.

> It replaced his rather ancient diesel rabbit.
>
> Why did he have a diesel?  Well, let's just say it had something to
> do with his teaching subject...TDI's are -very- inexpensive
> fuel-wise.  He used to brag that he could get 45mpg with 5 adults and
> a full load of baggage going from Boston to Springfield.

I have a friend who has a New Beetle TDI.  The engine is actually very nice
to drive, better in a lot of ways than the 2L gas engine.  If the 2.5L V6
TDI was available in either the A4 or Passat, I'd have considered getting
one and not just for the mileage.

Paul Wilson