[Cruze2.0TD]

So, there may already be threads on this, but I'm bored and felt like having a conversation as to why people decided to go with a Cruze diesel. Here are my reasons:

The fully optioned out Cruze was cheaper than the fully optioned out Jetta, felt more solid, has a better fuel economy rating, has more power, and is more enjoyable to drive. If I had a family that I had to drag around and often had people in the back seat, I would've probably taken the Jetta for it's superior leg room in the back, but to me it is irrelevant. I also trust the Cruze more for reliability than I do the Jetta. I often think to myself if I'd be happy if I had gotten a Jetta, and normally I start to think, "well I like how it looked more, and wow was it spacious in the back, and there is something that sounds better about owning a German car" but then all I have to think about is how it felt like all power was lost past 3800 rpm in the one I test drove, and I'm reminded of why I like the Cruze so much more. Honestly if the Jetta had more power, I may have gone with it, but the way it faded out on the top end, I felt was an instant dissapointment.

So why did you guys go with a Cruze diesel instead of a Jetta TDI?

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

I had heard that TDI's, and VW's in general, are a maintenance nightmare. Both in cost and just finding a dealer. Also, I found out this weekend that my CTD will stomp a mudhole in a TDI from a stop light. Plus, TDI's, let's face it, they're unbelievably ugly. CTD's on the other hand are a darn good looking car with a vastly better better interior.

Interior, I'd probably tie, but exterior, I think I actually like the Jetta better. It is all opinion though. And I had heard that too. Although I'm scared to know what the timing belt, water pump service, belt pensioner, and idler pulley service costs for the CTD. That service is probably 10 years and 152,000 km's away for me though

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

I test drove the Jetta TDI several times, but just never felt compelled to buy it. It just never had anything that stood out to me in the "buy me!" sort of way. The Cruze was different. I instantly liked the car from the moment I first heard the engine fire up and I liked everything about it on the test drive. There were a lot of little things that made up my decision, but hard to really itemize. I just simply liked the Cruze better and it very clearly said "buy me!". 67K miles later, I am still very glad I did.

I was kind of the same. I drove the Jetta once, and decided it'd be a "practical" buy, then I drove the Cruze. Not only was it a "practical" buy, but I fell in love with everything about it.

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

You know, it's a good thing I never considered the VW. I would rather wagon!

I had a weird list for cars I was considering.

2014/2015 WRX
2014 Cruze Diesel
2014 Jetta TDI
2014 Fiesta ST
2015 Focus ST

I loved the WRX, but I was looking in February and production on the 2014's stopped in December, and they hadn't gotten any 2015's in yet. It also felt cheap. Quite liked the Jetta, and no Ford dealership seemed to be able to find me a Fiesta ST or a Focus ST. So the Cruze was an easy decision. I think I would've liked the Focus and the Fiesta, but I think the Cruze just is an all round better buy.

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

I am trying to decide between the Cruze and the Jetta TDI. I prefer the look of the Jetta overall.

Jetta pros:
-Cheaper
-No DEF, and has a spare tire
-Manual transmission available; Auto transmission is much better than Cruze
-VW has a long history of making diesel engines for sedans

Cruze pros:
-Better fuel economy (although some debate this)
-Faster
-Better looking interior
-More features on the base model
-VW doesn't have the greatest reliability reputation.

If the Cruze were available in a manual, I would definitely buy it.

I'd have to agree with all of those. Except, I'm actually happy the Cruze didn't come in a manual, because if it did, I would've bought a manual transmission Cruze and would've regretted it. I drive a manual a fair amount (I've also got a '98 Camaro Z28 that is a manual) and have for the last couple of years. In stop and go traffic, the automatic is much nicer. I do wish that the auto in the Cruze was a little more crisp, but I think it is definitely designed to be comfortable and shifting for economy, not for performance.

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

^ DEF is defiantly a pro and not a con. I work in engineering at Detroit Diesel doing emissions performance work on a dyno everyday and if I were to pick a system w/ or w/o DEF it would be a system with DEF from what I have personally seen.

True, but having a DEF tank where the spare tire should be is definitely a con.

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

I have I probably don't have as many years behind the wheel as most of you. But I have been driving for 9 years and not once had a flat. Not having a spare tire is not big deal to me at all. If I ever do get a flat, I would not even think about changing it on the side of the road. I have driven a truck most of the time and to even get the spare out from underneath would not be worth the trouble.

Well, I'm only 20 so I've only had my license for 3.5 years (did get my learners permit right when I turned 14 though), but I have even less experience then most people here, but I'd agree. I was just saying that I am guessing that most people's issue with the DEF is that there is no spare tire. Either way, obviously I chose to still go ahead with the Cruze and not the Jetta.

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

In 75K miles on my CTD I have needed wheel bearings and an exhaust gas temperature sensor. Although not perfect, nothing near catastrophic and indicates to me it's a very solid powertrain. I expect it to be reliable well past 100K miles.

How many miles were on your car when the wheel bearings needed to be replaced and how many miles when the EGT sensor went?

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

That's ridiculous. If my wheel bearings go at all inside 100k, and GM doesn't cover it (dont care if the warranty is out), I'll be making someone's life miserable.

Wheel bearings were noisy from the high 40's but I thought it was my snow tires. I ended up replacing at 60K. The sensor went a week later at 61K.

I used to work at an Infiniti dealership and wheel bearings would go on most of the Infiniti's around 60k miles. I think the lowest I ever saw was 4k miles (can't remember why it was so low) and the highest any had ever made it was like 100k miles.

 

[Cruze2.0TD]

Good Day to all,
My golf tdi was totaled a few weeks a go by a gal txting and ran a light and hit the car and took out the front end . I walked away with out a scratch, the car well not so much total loss . I said I saw you on the phone why were you txting ??? her answer ...I don't know ...... So I don't care for the new 15 Golf TDI and the nearest left over Golf with a moon roof is like 300 miles + away from me and dealers are not really motivated on price all that much for a left over . I see a few left over cruze's can get almost 5,000 off msrp off . So I am thinking to give the cruze another chance as I become very well versed on this car and its issues and dealer screw up's and VW is no better . So what poison do I pick is the question lol I don't care for the VW passat as well and I want NOTHING that comes out of Mexico; Ask any VW owner what cars have the most issues and it's the ones built in Mexico..

Just curious, why don't you like the new Golf?