Hoping to snag a Jetta TDI with your clunker cash? Sorry, you may be too late!
2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sportwagen - click above for high-res image gallery
Undoubtedly, one vehicle with the potential to profit handsomely from this week's expected rush by Americans to unload old gas guzzlers for newer, more thrifty vehicles is Volkswagen's Jetta TDI. With owners reporting typical real-world mileage of around 35-40 mpg along with superior dynamics to most hybrids and relatively sedate pricing, the Jetta TDI seems perfectly positioned to grab a lot of attention. Unfortunately for Volkswagen dealers, though, it just ain't happening. You see, there are virtually no Jetta TDIs to be had anywhere, especially if you were hoping to get a Sportwagen.
Bringing the story closer to home, this author has personally been out shopping the last several days in search of a TDI Sportwagen to replace the wife's nine-year old Passat (which unfortunately doesn't quite qualify for clunker status) – all to no avail. After checking with local dealers and calling showrooms all over Michigan and Ohio, there simply are no TDI wagons. Anything still on the lot already has a deposit check tied to it and the few still on trucks are also accounted for. A few sedans apparently remain, but they seem likely to go fast as well.
According to the salesman at Howard Cooper Volkswagen in Ann Arbor, the problem is that the 2009 model run has expired and Germany takes the month of August off. As a result, no diesel engines will be shipped to Mexico in August, so VW's Puebla plant can't assemble more cars to meet demand.
Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sportwagen
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brian 8:14AM (7/29/2009)
Germany takes August off? Lazy buggers. I would never think about taking an entire month of work off - I'd definitely be fired. What are they all thinking?
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elpyrodude 9:20AM (7/29/2009)
Yeah... I'm jealous too
James 8:52PM (7/30/2009)
Most of Europe is on vacation in August.
I work in a company that does a lot of work with Europe, and I can't reach anybody west of Russia right now! People actually enjoy their summers in other countries. Go figure!
Welcome to America, boys, get to work!
atc98092 8:15AM (7/29/2009)
I can't get on my favorite dealer's web site, but on two others here in the Seattle area I did find one Sportwagen and a number of Jettas. It appears to be a regional issue.
I'm holding my breath for a Tiguan with TDI, or perhaps an Audi A4. The Touareg has everything I want, but $55,000 is a little more than I want to spend. May end up going that way, though.
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greyhounds 10:46AM (7/29/2009)
My mom just got a TDI Sportswagon. The dealer had only one more and a bunch of reg. sedan TDIs.
Sam Abuelsamid 3:25PM (7/29/2009)
Unfortunately what I found is that there tends to be a significant lag between the dealer inventory search results and what they actually have available. I found a lot of dealers that reported having 5 or 6 cars on their sites but when I called they had nothing available.
HotRodzNKustoms 8:19AM (7/29/2009)
Yeah it's not very German to not plan for something they knew was coming... other than the Russian winter...
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JacksonJeep 8:22AM (7/29/2009)
Take a month off?! You would think VW would want to do all in their power to supply the demand for the TDI. It would seem that they would want something other than the sluggish sales they're always complaining about.
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Swede 8:36AM (7/29/2009)
It'd be more expensive to hire people and train them just to have the factory running over the vacation weeks only to supply a few engines to Mexico.
Bobmarley 8:23AM (7/29/2009)
I saw one of these (wagons) the other day and my wife said she'd trade her highlander for one in heartbeat. She used to give me tons of crap because i like wagons...i guess shes not the only one thats coming around
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Bubba 8:27AM (7/29/2009)
"A few sedans apparently remain, but they seem likely to go fast as well."
TDI sedans seem to be in great supply here in southern NH. I just did search of my local volume dealer via the web and it claims they have 10 TDI sedans in stock right now. He had more than a dozen of them in stock when I was shopping back in April, so I believe he keeps his on-line inventory up to date.
Although yes, the TDI sportwagon is a hard find.
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john riley 8:28AM (7/29/2009)
We all _ know_ that Americans won't buy diesels and they won't buy wagons, so we must be talking about ~10 cars here.
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Zamafir 9:54AM (7/29/2009)
You beat me to it lmao.
want a diesel 8:28AM (7/29/2009)
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/items/Cars-Trucks_?Make=Volkswagen&Model=Jetta&Body%2520Type=Wagon&Fuel%2520Type=Diesel&Generation=2005%252DCurrent&_dmpt=US_Cars_Trucks&_fln=1&_sacat=6001&_sop=&_ssov=1&_trksid=p4506.c0.m282
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garlinski 8:28AM (7/29/2009)
Same thing here in CT... virtually no Jetta TDI Sportwagens to be had...
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dandanio 9:03AM (7/29/2009)
Call VW of Hartford, ask for Steve A. Tell him I sent you. They have at least two Sportwagens and at least 6-7 sedans in TDI trim. He is a sales manager there, able to do some amazing deals. Good luck!
garlinski 9:06AM (7/29/2009)
Excellent. I didn't see any last time I visited. Crowley in Plainville is sold out.
fallen1ceb4 8:38AM (7/29/2009)
dude their are two for sale in pittsburgh PA at Rorich VW and MAZDA
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SpaceGoatPriest 8:38AM (7/29/2009)
So apparently we Americans have so little interest in diesels engines, they are all sold out.......
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garlinski 9:08AM (7/29/2009)
Don't forget wagons... we don't like wagons either... virtually sold out