Diesel MPG

[77 K20]

gm also had an optional manual trans known as the zf6

A few years ago I was looking for a extended cab duramax to tow my 5th wheel because with the addition of my second child the family of 4 could no longer fit in the '77 K20.

Found that the duramax trucks were too expensive and ended up getting a great deal on a 2003 Silverado with the 8.1L and the ZF6. The manual trans lets more power to the ground and gives better gas mileage. I get 14-16 on the highway empty and 11-12 towing. I've never wished once I had the auto instead.

And with all the $$$ I saved getting a gas truck instead of a diesel I had enough left over to buy a 2000 VW Golf TDI. I use that to drive to and from work and get 42-52 mpg.

 

[HotRodPC]

And with all the $$$ I saved getting a gas truck instead of a diesel I had enough left over to buy a 2000 VW Golf TDI. I use that to drive to and from work and get 42-52 mpg.

That's exactly what I'd do too. I've been keeping my eye out for a late 90's early 2000's Jetta TDI. Didn't even think of the Golf but will do that too. Maintained, you can get damn near a million miles out of those motors. The car will literally fall apart around the motor. And the mpg is unreal. The older ones do better on mpg than the late model ones. 48-52 hwy is pretty common in those cars and 40ish around town. I'd have one of those before I'd own a Hybrid.

 

[woodsrider250]

My family and I have been through a ton of VW's. 98 is the last of the best ones....have considered them to go downhill after that. The A4's (99-05) are OK if they are not plagued with electrical problems. The TDI is the shiznit of course....except for my brothers that broke a rocker at 190k right after we did a $400 timing belt job. Still went 190 and averaged 43mpg over it's lifespan....auto. I loved my 98, but it blew a trans at 130k/12yrs....Mostly city miles though so the trans was probably shifted like a 500k highway car. I moved to volvos, and it sucks that you can't get their TDI's.