2.5 Auto Models vs. TDI DSG Models Maintenance Cost?

[puma1552]

So let's forget gas mileage, sale price, and resale price for the time being. Let's also talk about the automatic variations.

Let's talk about the true cost of ownership in terms of maintenance. Let's face it, VW's free maintenance is a gimmick, it's really just three oil changes. Also I haven't looked in the owner's manual of my wife's '12 Beetle so I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure VW decided all of a sudden that tires don't need rotations until every 10k miles, double what any/all tire manufacturers/dealers (even ones who do free lifetime rotations) recommend as far as I know, but that's an aside.

So far I can see two things going for the 2.5.

1) It has a timing chain to the TDI's belt, which I hear is like an expensive service along with a forced water pump replacement?

2) The DSG needs a spendy flush at or around every 40k miles or so, from what I've heard.

I get the feeling that the 2.5, while the boring volume seller that's down on power, is much the old faithful that Ford's boring SOHC 4.6 V8 that they used in millions of Crown Vics was--not exciting, but dead reliable and dirt cheap to maintain.

So let's talk maintenance, any advantages/disadvantages between the two models?

[mknieri]

DSG is not limited to the TDI engine but is also on the V6. My local dealer said that they worked hard to get the 40K mile DSG service price down to around $220. For DIYers, you can do it yourself with the replacement fluid being the most expensive part of the project.

The V6 requires 91 octane gasoline and the TDI needs diesel which are both more expensive per gallon than 87 octane which the 2.5 uses. This increases your annual fuel costs, slightly, for both the V6 and TDI engines.

There are countless threads/posts on changing the oil before the 10K / one year interval recommended by VW for all engine models. Doing anything sooner than VW recommends will push up your maintenance costs.

When I purchased my car last year I started to put together a maintenance spreadsheet and tried to located intervals for coolant, etc. Other than the standard change your brake fluid every 2-3 years and what's in the manual, some of the intervals are not defined (engine coolant is one of them).

[RaidV92C]

DSG is not limited to the TDI engine but is also on the V6. My local dealer said that they worked hard to get the 40K mile DSG service price down to around $220. For DIYers, you can do it yourself with the replacement fluid being the most expensive part of the project.

The TDI and V6 required 91 octane gasoline which pushes up your annual fuel costs slightly over the 2.5 which uses 87 octane.

There are countless threads/posts on changing the oil before the 10K / one year interval recommended by VW for all engine models. Doing anything sooner than VW recommends will push up your maintenance costs.

When I purchased my car last year I started to put together a maintenance spreadsheet and tried to located intervals for coolant, etc. Other than the standard change your brake fluid every 2-3 years and what's in the manual, some of the intervals are not defined (engine coolant is one of them).

Ahem {cough cough}... 91 octane gasoline in a TDI???

[BudPytko]

I understand your gasp, but me thinks he meant 91 octane PRICED fuel... either gas OR diesel. In my area diesel is the price of 93 octane tho.....

[mknieri]

I understand your gasp, but me thinks he meant 91 octane PRICED fuel... either gas OR diesel. In my area diesel is the price of 93 octane tho.....

Yes. I'll edit the post to make it clearer.

[aleksl]

That sucks about diesel price where you guys are. Here Diesel is cheaper than regular

[Banshee365]

...the TDI needs diesel which are both more expensive per gallon than 87 octane which the 2.5 uses. This increases your annual fuel costs, slightly, for both the V6 and TDI engines.

I beg to differ. You pay a little more for diesel fuel over regular gas per gallon but there is where the savings stops for a 2.5 vs TDI as far as fuel costs...

[mknieri]

That sucks about diesel price where you guys are. Here Diesel is cheaper than regular

Canada?

[aleksl]

Canada?

Yes. Seems odd that a bigger market like USA would have more expensive diesel. But we pay way more than you for regular up here.

[BudPytko]

Yes. Seems odd that a bigger market like USA would have more expensive diesel. But we pay way more than you for regular up here.

Does Canada REQUIRE Ultra Low diesel?

[BBCoach34]

Canada?

Cheaper here than 87 in Chicago as well.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

[aleksl]

Does Canada REQUIRE Ultra Low diesel?

Yes.