“A TDI but only 34mpg highway. Doesn’t seem like much.”
I’ve got a 2010 Jetta “Sportwagen.” It gets an honest 40 mpg but I never drive over the speed limit and I don’t race around. The car and the six speed transmission performs like a sprightly gas car. However, the company over-sells repairs that you do not need. The rep told me that my rear brake pads needed replacement. It was an expensive repair as the pads alone cost $89 at the dealer. I bought them at Advance. It turns out they were only worn 1/16th of an inch. They also tried to sell me other stuff I was able to determine I didn’t need.
My complaint about the car is that it is too small for the cockpit interior and needs a bench seat and no center console. But you can’t find a bench seat no matter how tiny the car.
I recently transported 14 cases of tile with 300 pounds of additional stuff that must have weighed in at over 1,000 pounds. It didn’t affect the mileage or handling. The VW TDI cars do not require Bluetec (urea.) Once somebody uses a few gallons of Bluetec to make a terrorist bomb you won’t be able to buy it for your diesel anymore.
Obviously your car will never work for me. Speed limits are advisory. If you are in the passing lane and see me in your rearview mirror ... :-))